April 12, 2006
Reassignment
The biggest disappointment of my professional career happened last week. After two very productive years of development of my AP Language classes, creating content and honing the curriculum, I'm assigned only regular classes for next school year. No explanation, no reason given. Just reassignment, slave.
It takes a while to figure out exactly what needs to be and can be taught to high-level juniors in a college-level composition class. There's no textbooks, no district curriculum or materials, just the teacher and the exam and lots of knowledge and writing skills to be taught. Exposition, narration, close reading, critical thinking, rhetorical devices, argumentative techniques, research skills: a very difficult class to teach. Practically everything for the class must be created from scratch, which consumes an enormous amount of preparation time outside the paid workday. I'm proud to say that I think I've provided a top-notch experience for my students.
So it saddens and mystifies me why the administration feels I don't need to teach these classes any more, but it doesn't surprise me. Teacher advocacy and an educational environment are not top priorities on my campus. It's more athletic fixation and pissing contests.
So I'm outta here. Denise and I have talked about moving back to East Texas so the girls can be closer to family as they grow and we can get out of the mean, mean city, which we have grown tired of. The insult of demoting me without the courtesy of an explanation removed any doubt I had about the move, so we're starting the process of applying for jobs and selling the house. This will be move number twenty for me, as far as I can remember. Sigh.
Posted by tat at April 12, 2006 10:41 AMB,
I'm sad to hear that you'll be leaving. It's definately going to be the school's, and ultimately the students' loss.
-Busta
Posted by: Busta at April 13, 2006 06:56 AMC'mon back to east Tx, we'll go fishin'.
Posted by: Dale at April 13, 2006 04:40 PMMAn that just suxs about you leaving.. sniff sniff.
But then i understand. And the more i heard about that school the more i heard about athletic stuff.
And busta is right its the kids that will suffer. i was hoping for you to teach Lynise. she will be going to that school next year. you better keep in touch....
or we all will come down there and kick alittle ass....lol j/k man.
well we will miss you. and we need one more lan party before you go...
I'm sorry to hear about the disappointment, Bryan. It's a sad day when things like that happen, but it goes to show you that there is no appreciation for what good teachers do.
Best of luck to you guys! I hope you find good jobs and another cool house like the one you had before.
Much Love to both of you! :)
Posted by: Deb Taranik at April 13, 2006 10:38 PMI went through a similar situation, except that while I was trying to find a job back home, they "terminated my employee relationship." Just be glad that you're able to do it on your own terms.
Sometimes I still get upset by the way I was played and you'll probably ponder your "reassignment" many a night as well, but do I want my old job back? No thanks. The berries on this side of the river might not be as abundant, but they taste better and they don't give me indigestion.
In short: Tell the gimboids to smeg off.
Posted by: ToddDrevers at April 13, 2006 11:26 PMArlington's loss is East Texas gain. The students that you taught here in Lufkin still ask about you. (And we love you, too.) Momma2
Posted by: Linda DiStefano at April 18, 2006 06:50 PMBrian,
I am thinking that even though you got mishandled by the system, it is best for your kid. Your kid will benifit an enormous amount from being around family.
I moved back to Texas under simular handling by a large corp. And my childern love being around aunts, uncle, grands...
But believe you me, being mishandled by one set of "uppper managment" and I use the term upper loosly, should not move your sights away from your goal.
I think your goal of bringing ideas, opening thier minds, of the youth of today, is about important as anything I can think of.
You always amaze me, and I hope and wish for the best for you.
I know I ended in a better place (God first, family second, work last), and I know you can also.
PS. Please don't grade my comments, it would kill me :P
Posted by: Bill Benrhardt at April 25, 2006 07:08 AMBesides, nobody ever laid on their deathbed and said, "Gee, I sure wish I had worked more!"
I think this is a blessing in disguise. :)
Deb
Posted by: Deb Taranik at April 25, 2006 07:53 AMI am so proud of Bryan for being the human being that he is. The work he does as a teacher is amazing and I am fortunate enough to see it on a regular basis. I just wanted to thank our wonderful friends for the supportive comments in this stressful but exciting time in our lives. We are so lucky. O.k. the happy hormones must be flowing. :)
Thanks Zoe.
