More Bitter than Sweet

Hi there, Amanda.

That new job of yours sounds more and more perfect. Really. I'm so happy for you. Just what you needed, I dare say, just when you needed it.

Meanwhile, back here in New England your teacher friend Barb said at least a dozen times today "I can't take it." Half way through the day today I said I don't know if I have it in me--physically or mentally--to get through the day tomorrow (my schedule is that I am free first block, then go straight through with five blocks to the end of the day). Every time we turn around we are given something else to do, another responsibility in our "free" time. In other words, the micromanaging administration is going out of their way to make sure we haven't a single minute during the day to correct or photocopy or prep. I guess the message there is that we should be grateful to have our jobs, and willing to work 16 hours a day to keep them.

Perhaps the worst thing for me these days is coming home from work and seeing at least one news story in which teachers are blamed for...well, everything. It started with teachers being to blame for failing schools in America. Nice broad stroke to brush there. Kids can't read or write, or can't read or write on par with the rest of the world, because of their teachers. Yeah. Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it? I haven't really gotten over that yet. But no rest for the weary. Last night teachers were blamed for bullying. Well, not directly, but when people are quoting laws that are broken when teachers don't report bullying--especially related to race, gender or sexual orientation--the inference is that we are not reporting, and therefore we are responsible for all this hateful bullying. It all just makes it hard to be a teacher these days.

But enough woe is me. After school I had a delightful time with C at happy hour, after which we discovered a new accessory store in our favorite outdoor mall. And now I'm home, sipping another glass of wine while I enjoy the balmy rain with my windows open.

Hope you're having a sweet day...Clearly I'm bitter enough for both of us.

Love,
Barb