School started on Monday.
But this year it is a totally different start. For the last three years I taught High School and went to school as a teacher. This year I go to school as a student again. Backwards maybe? I like to think it is a step forward but I can't help but be a bit nostalgic over the change. It is hard to see or hear my former colleagues back into the swing of things as they prepare their new lesson plans and prepare to meet their new students.
First and foremost the most transforming moment in my teaching career was meeting Kristin at the teacher orientation/training a few days before we started. Kristin was a great friend to have at the school and there is no doubt in my mind that I would have stayed as long as I did without her. It'll be hard not to be there chatting it up everyday (and by chatting it up I mean complaining and gossiping).
That said...Viewmont was one of the hardest most frustrating times of my life.
First I started knowing I was going to teach AP European History, debate, and a writing lab. Aside from that I didn't have a clue what I was in for. On the first day of school I was given another class to teach - World Civ. Who knew that that class would become the bane of my existence at school. Ugh - I couldn't stand that class. Debate was a whole other story. I had no idea what it was all about when I got it and figured I would just have some intense discussions each day. YEAH RIGHT. Come to find out there was structure and tournaments and lessons. I had to learn all of European History and the fundamentals of debate, in a manner that I could teach it, generally the day before I presented it to the kids. It was exhausting and miserable. I've never worked so hard in my life. I would come home and work from the moment I got done at the school to the moment I went to bed. All weekend was out with either preparation or debate tournaments. Just for reference this was also the year Brandon and I bought our house and moved in.
The next year I demanded to not do debate ever again. I couldn't stand it. Luckily they obliged (the only time ever at at that school) and I didn't have to teach it anymore. Instead they gave me a new class - sociology. This was my first attempt teaching seniors. Again a whole new class. A whole new preparation and again they gave me World Civ on the first day of school. FUN! This year was substantially better because I had AP Euro layed out. Another fun part of this year was I was able to teach my little brother. That was interesting - and fun. When it came to teaching seniors it was miserable. They were the muck on the bottom of the gene pool to begin with (seniors in an elective class) and then they had CHECKED OUT - ready to graduate. I understand that attitude from a students perspective. As a teacher - it sucked. They were good kids and I really liked a lot of them but it was hard. Oh I also was the Sophomore Class Advisor this year for the first time planning two dances and dealing with their drama.
Third year...yes, another class. they canceled sociology - I mean why would they allow me to use all the work I did last year again? That would be too easy. This time I was teaching AP American Government, still the writing lab and AP Euro and yes, still World Civ. I was excited to teach AP Gov and I was excited to see my students again that I had as sophomores (They were a great group of kids). This year they also implemented "advisories" or what I like to call "crapories" and SRC's which I like to call "stupid." Peace out. Honestly in so many ways those were what tipped me over the edge. I hated the administration. But that just did me in. Some of my students in Gov who had been my AP European History Students seemed arrogant and full of themselves. A lot of it was simply that they were checked out and felt they were ready to move into the World - little did they know what they were up against. It was frustrating teaching that class, just as it was sociology. AP European History was getting boring to teach, World Civ was still annoying, and I was getting tired. At this point I was on the Executive Board of the DEA and 1st Vice Chair of the Salt Lake County Party - to become Chair in April. I was also the Sophomore Class Advisor again. I was overextended, tired, overworked, and under-appreciated. There was no concern by the administration to insulate their good teachers or new teachers from being overworked. They were perfectly willing to dump anything and everything they could on teachers that were willing. There is blame for me there as well. I was willing. In every avenue of my life I realize how much of this world goes on resting heavily on the shoulders of the willing. We are a few select individuals who take on the volunteer work, who take on the low paying jobs, who take up the slack of those who feel it is better to coast through life working only for themselves and their own self interest.
Overall it was a nice little package of a life experience. I started with the Sophomores and ended when those Sophomores graduated. I went to their graduation and it was very moving to see them graduate. They were a great group of kids - very smart. They are going to do some amazing things. But it wore me out. So here I am three days into my new experience as a student. I miss teaching, somewhat. I miss many aspects of it that I don't think I will ever find again (mainly June, July, and August). I miss my friends I made there, Kristin, the Shannons, and so many great people that worked there. But I am moving on.
