Florida Teacher

A month later....

2008-04-05T17:51:00.000-07:00

Nothing has changed... yet. I am still determined to leave my current school and I will keep trying... The more I think about it the more I realize that I do want to teach middle school. It is not something I like to talk about with coworkers, because every time I mention middle school to any of them they say it's soooo much worse. I think it is all about perception. I think elementary teachers cringe when you mention high school. I think certain teachers have more of a personality for certain schools ages. Middle school seems exciting to me. I am still trying to get over to the next county, but now I am considering trying to see if I can get a transfer to a decent middle school in my current county. The thing is I might have to get my current principal's permission, and I have no idea how that will go over with him. I will have to think of a tactful way to ask him. I am almost positive he will say no and then be furious that I want to leave or that I even asked. Technically I not been at the school for 3 years (so I am not allowed), but I know that if he signs a paper that I can or they may even be able to do it without his blessing.

I just do not think I want to teach high school right now... I know my blog is endless string of complaints and job hunting posts, but it's my blog and I will complain if I want to...

......

2008-03-05T18:11:00.000-08:00

58 teaching days and counting.... that is all

I tried not to... I really did

2008-02-11T18:10:00.000-08:00

I have this one kid on my class.. He is the biggest goofball. He comes to my class determined to pretty much do no work what so ever. For instance today he spent maybe 30 minutes or so drawing a confederate flag.. He is always cracking jokes and distracting other students. And normally this makes me very irritated. If this happens I either speak quietly with the student or give my best "you better get to work and stop doing that or I will I rip out your eyes" glare. But this kid makes me crack up every time I try to go in for that look. I just can not help it. I know I
should keep my composure , but I can not help it... Today he was VERY pleased with himself when I laughed at his antics.. I do not know what it is about this kid...

How offensive...

2008-01-24T18:29:00.000-08:00

I spoke a couple of times about how I have been called a racist. Well every time it happens it offends me, but not only that I see how ignorant people truly are to their own behavior.

Confession.... I am engaged to a black man. I have been with him for 4 years. I am in love with him and I am marrying into his family. I will have his children. This is something I will never tell my students to defend myself, but it is always in the back of my mind when I receive comments like this.

I am not sure why that always has to be the first thing a black student or person runs to say if they feel there is injustice in how something was handled. Now I am definitely not saying that racism is not present in our society. I have seen it and heard ignorant comments made about several different races. I have even experienced it. However, it is time that everyone admits and sees that it is NOT ONE-SIDED!!!! The kind of behavior that I have seen should not be tolerated in the classroom (or anywhere) by a black, white, or any kind of a race.

What makes me sad though, is that I do not think anything will ever change.

update

2008-01-23T14:36:00.000-08:00

To Tristan. Thank you for the offer, but it is really not just about the behavior and even the environment for me. The straw that broke the camel's back so to say was my realization of how administration perpetuates the problems and how little respect they have for the staff.

So my job search has not ended, I am still looking but now I am waiting for another science opening. I have decided that I will take it my portfolio up a notch. I will be making a DVD of some of the ongoings in my class (my best one of course). I have some ideas of what I want to show and how I want to edit it. I might put it on here for all of my 3 readers and password protect it, but I am very iffy about it. I handed out permission slips in my class. I did not tell of my direct intent, however, and now I beginning to wonder about that.... I will have to double check it.

In the mean time I am trying some new things with my classes. I was inspired when I saw this. http://youtube.com/watch?v=XroJtR9gQc8 I am trying some of the techniques. Right now I am getting mixed results. Today my 4th period seemed to really like it, but then I have other classes where it was referred to as babyish, which I was expecting. I think some of the techniques will not work at the high school level, but some of them definitely have merit.

.....

2008-01-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

Well, I did not get the 2 jobs I interviewed for during Christmas break. I was called back for a second interview for the one I really wanted. I thought my chances were good. Every time I have applied for a job I email my resume and my kick ass cover letter, and I go down to the school and give them my portfolio. The woman I interviewed with seemed to be impressed with it. Well I went down there for my second interview, which did not last that long. I know that I did not do anything wrong, but I probably could have done something more. I was told that there 113 applicants and I was second so I should have been very proud of myself... This is the second time I was told that I was the runner up. Both times I was told they picked a more experienced candidate. Now I have a year and a half of experience, and have had 3 sets of new classes. So yes my experience does come up short when comparing a candidate with 10 years or even five years. It was pointed out to me though (by a colleague) that I have a year and half experience with an urban school, and that I should use that my advantage. Well I have another interview next week.

One of the schools that I was the runner up has another opening. I went down there on wed and gave them an updated portfolio. One hour later the Principal's secretary called me to set up an interview. Well I went down there on Friday for my interview, and the principal was not there. It turns out that they had called me at 8:00 that morning to see if it could be rescheduled. Well I didn't get that message. What I am worried about is that he will pick someone over me because he needs to make a decision soon. The secretary said that Tuesday would probably be the day of the interview. So now I have to wait a little bit longer and drive back down there.

If I do not get this job there is a good chance I will have to be at my current school for the remainder of the year... I am tired of the interviews and the constant let downs, among other things but I am more tired of where I work and being depressed all of the time.

well i thought....

2007-12-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

I guess I have been fooled. I thought math and science teachers were in demand... I still have not heard back (and yes I know that I was told that a decision would be made on Jan 7th and that they are on Christmas break). No one is jumping through hoops to hire me either. It has not even been 2 days yet, and I climbing the walls. All I am doing is driving myself crazy replaying the interviews in my head. Why can't I just relax?

waiting...waiting...

2007-12-21T16:04:00.000-08:00

I had 2 interviews today. I HATE interviews, somehow I think I always manage to say the wrong things, even with preparation. I am sitting here now thinking about all of things that I should not have done and all of the things I could have done.... damn it.. I will not know until jan 7th what the decision is. One of the schools said that he might know by the end of today, but I have not heard anything. I do not have great feelings about of either of these interviews, but then again I have become very pessimistic when it comes to this. This county seems to be unattainable. 3 weeks....of waiting...

Will changes ever come?

2007-12-17T20:15:00.000-08:00

I am beginning to wonder if change will ever happen in the system we have today. It seems like the answer is no. Everyone in power who is capable of change has no idea of what is actually happening in the classroom, in fact some of them have never even stepped foot in the classroom. They tell us to do things that just sound good, and everything that happens in the classroom is our fault.

Our superintendent was recently quoted in an article saying that teachers need sensitivity training on how to de-escalate extreme situations. Yes I definitely need training on how to calm children down, who tell me they are going to beat my ass, or those who throw objects in the classroom, or prevent students from grabbing their hammer out of their backpacks and using it on another student. (apparently the hammer is now the choice weapon among the up and coming gangsters/street pharmacists because it is legal to carry) Yes, I and every teacher definitely need training on how to calm these students down... (Please note oozing sarcasm here)

I think the only thing that can change is where I am. I am waiting on yet another phone call from dream county. I will be delivering portfolios to dream county this week as well.

We are nothing without support

2007-12-01T14:03:00.000-08:00

Well I went to the meeting, and I should have known better. Nothing was accomplished. All the admistration did was blame us (what else is new?) and we tried to explain our side. One of the best parts of the meeting was when we (the teachers) were told that if there is a problem in the classroom, we should stop whatever we are doing at that time and call the parents. Well for one thing I only have a fraction of the students phone numbers (most of the numbers I have are incorrect), in some of my classrooms I do not have a phone, if I do stop everything for this one child they have won, and I am sorry WHY CAN YOU NOT DO YOUR JOB????

I am beyond the point of frustration. I need another job.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RLh-KQuxcG8

A Sinking Ship

2007-11-28T17:12:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow our school has a shared decision committee meeting. This is the first time I will be going to one. I am eager to speak my mind and hopefully will see the deans get their asses handed to them.

The list of complaints and incidents are piled up and the union reps will be there to address these issues. The deans are not doing their jobs. Referrals are not being handled (sometimes I never get them back)or they are being handled improperly. Detentions are not being given as they should, consequences and rules are not being enforced. I am getting referrals back saying to schedule a parent conference when I have done everything I can before writing the referral, and the only thing that was done was that they told me to schedule a conference. I am sorry but once I have written the referral it is out of my hands. DO YOUR JOB and DISCIPLINE THE STUDENTS! I have a long list of incidents with 2 out of the 4 deans.

The administration has been sending the message that they do not respect teachers as professionals, nor do they trust them, and that respectful decent behavior is an option. IT SHOULD NEVER BE A TEACHER'S WORD AGAINST THE STUDENT'S WORD. Never. It should be the teacher's word, and that is it. I know that we are human and we will mistakes, but an administrator should never question a teacher's word in front of the student. NEVER. Administration and teachers are supposed to present a united front against the students. And that is not how it is.

I doubt that anything will change from this meeting, but at least the spotlight will be on the dean's and it should make them very uncomfortable.

More and more teachers are talking about leaving. It is like rats abandoning a sinking ship.

oops

2007-11-26T13:36:00.000-08:00

Our "brilliant" county decided this year it would be a great idea to waste more money on testing. Our state test is known as the FCAT. They decided that they would start doing "practice" tests for the science FCAT for juniors. Now I teach 10th grade (mostly with a lot of 9th graders), so I thought that they would be making the chemistry classes give it and the few 11th graders that I had would be spared, but no... They have given 3 practice tests this school year... I have given one of them. The first time the VP personally came to me and gave the tests to me, the 2nd and 3rd time they were placed in my box without warning and I was not told when they should be given by. The 2nd time I honestly forgot, and before I knew it they had already been submitted for grading (I was not alone in this). The 3rd time they were placed in my box sometime mid week (the week before thanksgiving). Well I was giving a test Monday/Tuesday (before thanksgiving) and I was going to review for the test (the one that actually mattered...mine) on Thursday/Friday. I received the tests on wed, and apparently they were due on Monday (last week). I had a total of 2 teaching days to give it and get the scores back in. Today before I left the VP asked to see me and a few others over the PA system. I ignored it and left... What I hate the most about the situation is that they give us absolutely no warning, so I have already planned what I am going to do. And then I only have about 5-10 kids to give this too, so they have to stop working and paying attention to me to take a test that will probably do them absolutely no good and costs lots of tax dollars to give.

I will probably get an earful about this tomorrow... Maybe this makes a me a bad teacher, but I have a lot going on in my head right now, and this extra testing is bullshit, and there really is no other way to put it.

Conferences and confrontations

2007-11-15T16:33:00.000-08:00

I have a conference with the father of the girl who accused me of being a racist tomorrow during my prep. It was supposed to be wed afternoon, but he cancelled. Today in my 3rd period I received a notice about the conference. I do not feel like going to a conference when I need to be prepping for my observation on Monday. Especially not for one which I am pretty sure that I will be defending myself on these accusations.

So here is what I would say if I had another job secured....

Your daughter is an ass and she failed (is failing) because she refuses to do any of the work. Neither of which is my fault or my problem. Good day to you.

What I will actually say I am not sure.... And when I will finish my portfolio and my lesson plan I do not know either.

Dr. I'm God's Gift to Teaching

2007-11-13T14:03:00.000-08:00

I decided to take a step back from the job hunt and negativity about student behaviors and administration today.... to focus on negativity about a certain teacher at my school. Our new science teacher at our school is probably the worst person that I could have imagined to be teaching. He WAS a dentist at one point, so he believes he is god's gift to teaching. Which is why he will be known as Dr. I'm god's gift to teaching, or I used to be a doctor and now I have my head so far up my own... You get the idea. This man has told me on numerous occasions that teachers are losers..... Word for word that is what he has said, with some elaborations. He also tells me on a daily basis what a waste of his time "this" is. His teaching methods rely solely on lecturing and he only grades tests (that is it, nothing else). He tells me that this is how they do it in college and this will prepare them for college... (Umm, yeah except these kids are 16, and if you tell a 16 year old that you are not grading something they will not do it). From what I hear when he lectures he mostly talks about himself, college, how it is in the real world, etc. This has very little to do with science, and even though nice tidbits here and there are good, it is a science class. He believes his method is GREAT. I know this because he tells me on a daily basis how great he is... The point I am trying to make is that even though having more education can make you more knowledgeable (which can make you a better teacher), but all that education does not make you a teacher. It can however make you a pompous ass....

where is the line?

2007-11-08T15:29:00.000-08:00

Scene in the classroom:

I am lecturing on ecosystems. At the very beginning of the lecture I let out two students on a hall pass. Both of these students talked to me before class (one was new and needed to get her books, and one was having female issues(which i believed)). When they got back I had a boy ask me, I told him to wait until after lecture (he said it was an emergency so I relented when I should not have).

The girl that I have been having issues with all year asked me for a tissue to blow her nose. I handed her a paper towel and she said no she wanted tissue. I told her to take it or leave it and that this was all that I had. She then asked me to go to the bathroom, I told her no. She asked me several times after this, and I told her no. She then got up and took my hall pass off my desk and started to leave. I told her that she would be leaving without my permission, she left anyway. She came back in five minutes, but I had decided that I would write her up after class, because she failed to follow my directions.

Sometime after lecture I let another girl to the restroom. I asked to speak with her. At this point she asks me if I let the other girl because she was white, and she could not go because she was black. I told her to sit down after she said that. I am not going to defend myself and my actions against remarks like that. Well at this point another boy (who is another difficult student who happens to be black) chimes in. She says to me "you're just getting angry because I am speaking the truth". I just sighed and told her to sit down.

I am sick and tired of this bulls***. I am not racist, unless stupidity and ignorance is a race. Just another reason I want to leave.

I am still hunting for a job. A job where I will not be accused of being racist, or be shoved into lockers with no consequences on the students, and just have a place where I will actually be able to do what I want, which is to teach.

Can I make it until december?

2007-10-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

I am not getting any of the jobs I have applied for, so I will chalk it up as a learning experience for the next go 'round. I think I can make it until December. I was just wondering how many teachers do you think bow out in December?

Because I am so miserable, sometimes I wonder if teaching is for me. The thing is when I thought I might be going to another school I was so excited. I imagined what kind of activities I would do, labs, the new kids I would have, and how I would decorate my classroom.

The interviews went pretty well, I definitely did not have the "I know they are not going to call me" vibe. The first principal told me if the guy with 12 years of middle school experience had not taken the job, he would have given me the job. I have not received any feedback what-so-ever from the other school. I have emailed (twice) the principal, called, and I left 2 messages over the course of about 3 weeks. But I received nothing, NOTHING at all. It makes me angry knowing that he does not have the decency to pick up the phone or just to email me, to tell me that they have decided to pick someone else. I would really like to know what kind of person they picked over me, just to have an idea.

This has made me think about what really defines someone as a good teacher. It seems to me that principals are determining this based on years of experience and a credential. Now I know I have a lot to learn still, but I do not think the lack of experience makes me a bad teacher. I genuinely care about my students and I work hard to make class interesting, but yet I am falling short somewhere with these interviews. This is why I really would have appreciated some sort of feedback from both schools.

I am really hoping something else opens up in the county, but I am not sure I can handle another rejection. I put in a lot of effort for these jobs and still fell short, so I am not sure what else I can do.

To teach or not to teach?

2007-10-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

Today was very depressing. I now have one confirmed no. The sort of good news is I was in second place, or so I was told.. I am waiting for the other principal to come back from a funeral. I wish I could just quit, just not go back... I am responsible adult...so I will not do that. I have a house (sort of) with a mortgage, a boyfriend who is very attached to money, and lots of bills. And of course it is not just the responsibility that is keeping me from quitting it is the drive for me to figure out if teaching is what I really want. If I just walk away from the job, I do not think I will be able to get another teaching job for a long time.

On another note, XBOX 360 is the devil that sucks the souls out of men... Damn all video games..

Plan C?

2007-10-20T05:26:00.000-07:00

Well a grand total of 10 regular days (8 business days) since interview # 1. It's been a total of 7 regular days (5 business days) since interview # 2. I have not received any kind of real feedback. I waited until this Wednesday to call school # 1(he said he would let me know by early this week). Every time I have called I got his voicemail. I left him one message, and no call back. Thursday I called school # 2 with the same result. I left him a message. I decided to write an email to both schools..

Here's the email.

Dear Mr. Principal,

I just wanted to check in with you regarding the position. I hate to
bother you because I know that you are busy, however our quarter is about to end
and I would like to make the transition for my principal and students as smooth
as possible if I were to leave. The timing right now is perfect to make such a
transition. Please call me at your earliest convenience at ###-#### or email me
at email@emailaddress.

Sincerely,

Ms T

Well I received no response. I started getting angry, because the least they could do is tell me that they are looking for someone more qualified or they just have not made a decision yet. One more desperate attempt I called school # 2, expecting no response. Well he picked up, and I began by profusely apologizing for bothering him. He told me I was no bother, and that because so many qualified for the position he HAS to interview more candidates and that I was still in the running. wtf?? He also told me he would have a decision by Friday afternoon, and I received no phone call. WTF??!? I have no idea what to think about that or the fact that school # 1 has given me NO feedback what so ever. I realize that a lot of people apply for these jobs in this county, but I did not think it was this competitive... I think I have done all I can do with regards to my portfolio, resume, thank you letter, and reminding them I exist. I definitely will stick out, if anything they will think I am that pesky teacher who really wants the job. I know I could have done more with the interviews, but it's too late for that. I do not want to give up hope on these jobs, but it is looking more and more grim. And the worse part is the not knowing..

I had a phone call about a forestry position though. They want to interview me next week. I think this whole situation has made me realize that I do still want to teach, but I do not think I can do it for a whole year at this school.

And the waiting....

2007-10-15T14:10:00.001-07:00

Now that I have the interviews out of the way, and the thank you emails, the waiting begins... I have done everything I can do, now all I can do is wait... But how long will I wait? I am so nervous..

Interviews and Parents

2007-10-11T15:51:00.000-07:00

Well I have interview #2 tomorrow. The first one went pretty good, but now that I have secured another interview I'm feeling better. I do not want to get too confident but if I get put in a position where I would have to choose one over the other I'm not sure what I would do....

I am starting feel a couple of pangs of guilt about leaving some of my students, and neglecting some of my teacher duties.... I need to make sure that I do stay on top of things until I leave. I will also make sure I do finish GGDs for the quarter.

And on the parent note... I received an email tonight....
This is the email..

I would like to no what A------ T----- grade is?

Thank you
Doris T-----

And here I am still shaking my head...

Is it raining?

2007-10-08T15:01:00.001-07:00

I went to the middle school today to give them my portfolio. And of course the principal was not there... But I still gave it them to give to him and I will be making a call to "see if he got it". This should at least secure me an interview right???

Well a few minutes ago I checked the website at the desired county. (who am I kidding I check it every 10 minutes) There is ANOTHER job opening for science teacher at a middle school. Surely this has to be a sign or something.... I have been checking that website (and others) and looking for a job for months, and all of a sudden it is practically raining jobs from heaven.

I think I am getting too excited.... But this is the first time in awhile I have felt anything like this..

Please, please, please let me get another job..... please?

job search

2007-10-08T03:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally snapped last week. I had to leave work early, I had already requested to have Thursday and Friday off from the week before. So I left on Wednesday VERY upset, and I will return tomorrow. I know that my principal will probably give me a reprimand for taking off so much time, but I do not care.

I had a job interview on Friday for another school district. I'm not sure I amazed him. He kept asking questions about standardized testing (FCAT)and honestly I was not sure how to answer some of it. But what he said about his school gave me hope. When I told him why I wanted to leave, he told me that his school and his county do not have the same behavior problems that we (my current school) have. He worked for my county before and told me he was completely shocked when he came to work at his school. I believe him though.

I decided to take off again today because I got an idea from a coworker. Her son-in-law (who has no education background and would have been out-of-field) made a portfolio and just went up to the schools (in the same county I am interested in) and introduced himself. After I blew my last interview I discovered a new job opening for a middle school math and science teacher. I have already applied online and emailed my resume to the principal, but I need to step it up. So I have decided to put a portfolio together and go to the school uninvited (whether they like it or not) and introduce myself. I would give my right arm for this job.

Unfortunately I am still unsure how to answer the question "why do you want to leave your school?". Is the truth enough? (lack of administrative support, which is what pushed me OVER the edge) Or do they see that as a weak excuse?

one more push....

2007-09-19T18:12:00.001-07:00

I had another 2 incidents, and now I am weighing options... Not just 1 but 2...

Incident #1
There was a fight in the hallway with 2 of my students (during lunch). They were shoving each other. I told them to stop. One of the boys then proceeded to push me and the other boy into a locker. I now have a gigantic bruise of my arm. I wrote both of them up for fighting (and included the fact I was hurt in the incident). Administrator gives him 2 days in-school-suspension. Not out-of-school suspension which is what they SHOULD get for fighting. Well at the end of the day I decided that I will press charges because after Incident #2 I realized I would not be able to get this kid out of my class without doing something for myself.

Incident #2
I have a rule, which I have enforced from day one. It is that if you are not in your seat when the bell rings you are tardy. So even if they are in the classroom but not sitting down they are tardy. I had a student today who decided to argue with me about it, to a point that I felt the only thing I could do was call security. After security came and got her she came back five minutes later looking very smug with an administrator. The administrator then proceeded to tell me, in front of my students that the principal did not like this rule and that I could not enforce it. IN FRONT OF MY STUDENTS! Now other teachers have the same policy, and the principal did say that if it was on my syllabus from the beginning of the year and that I always enforced it was fine. So I am sure what she had been told, but she had absolutely no right to say that in front of my students. I am so livid right now.

I do not want to remain at this school. I do not know if I want to leave teaching. I am just not sure what to do at this point. I have contacted another school district, and they are opening 2 brand new high schools next year. If I leave in the middle of the year it might be hard for me to get a position teaching somewhere else. (Leave for a "normal" job)

It pains me so much to think that we are bringing these people into society letting them think they can get away with anything.

A Day/B Day

2007-09-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Our county is now on AB schedule. In other words the schedule from hell.. The students have 4 classes one day and then another 4 classes the next day. I hate it for a variety of reasons.
1. The students are even more forgetful of homework, projects, tests, etc (even
though I did not think that was possible.)
2. I have twice as many students as I did than with the block scheduling. (more
grading, and I still do not know their names)
3. I still hate 90 minute classes. It is a lot of time to fill...

I have, however, discovered that I have a good day and a bad day of classes. A day is my good day, and B day is my bad day. When I come home from A day I feel optimistic and hopeful and then those hopes are shattered when I come to B Day...

Today, for instance, I caught one of my students cheating. I asked him to come with me. I told him that he would receive a "0" for the test (He could take my make-up after school, which is much harder), and then I brought him to the room next to mine and asked if he could work on his assignment while the rest of the class took the exam. At this point he became belligerent to the point where I had to call security. sigh..

Even though I am exhausted by this kind of garbage, I have been reminded several times this past week by old students coming up to me that they are not all that way. Those kids are one of the only reasons that I am still here.

Why teachers leave

2007-09-06T17:51:00.000-07:00

I was reading a blog about why teachers leave the profession and it really struck a chord with me. Considering the fact that I have been plagued with some of the same problems recently. I truly feel that a lot of teachers do leave due to those ill-behaved students. As I was reading the blog I became angry and somewhat relieved.

I was angry at the fact that she was completely right. The students who disrupt the class continually, take away from those students who truly want to learn. I want them out of my classroom, but administration wants me to coddle them, and their parents (not all of them) will not parent their children. They allow students who are just there to disrupt to abuse the system. For instance, I have a student who recently went to jail/juvie, who is 17, and still in the 9th grade. He will probably end up in my classroom again for me to deal with, after he makes an agreement with the court that he will go to school and get back on track (ie disrupt my class and disregard my rules). (I had it happen before) Why do I and the other students (the ones who are actually there to learn) have to deal with it?

I was somewhat relieved to see that I am not the only one dealing with it. Now I know I still have a lot to learn about class management so I will be the first to admit that some of the disruptions can be avoided, but sometimes I feel that there is only so much that I can do. It's just nice to know that I am not alone on this issue.

I will continue to try to implement new strategies and try for those kids that really want to be there and get something out of the class. I will also continue to look for that dream teaching position... Or apply to grad school....

New Year, Same Stuff

2007-09-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

I just started my year with a new batch of students. I can already tell that I Will have some of the same problems I had last year. Last year it was my first year teaching. I made loads of mistakes. I did not establish my rules, or consequences. I ignored ill behavior until it was so late in the game there was nothing that I could do. I am a science teacher, so I should do labs and activities that engage the students. One of my classes was so bad last year that I refused to do labs with them. I also travel which makes doing labs very hard.

I was so fed up, that I started looking for another job. I know one thing is for sure. Either this school is not right for me, or teaching is not right for me. I love my students (most of them), and I love teaching, but I do not feel like I am teaching at this school.I feel like I am babysitting.

Unfortunately, I am stuck at this school for another 2 years if I want to stay in this county. The main problem I have with this school, is the behavior of the students. I know that a good teacher can manage their classrooms, and that students respond to me, but something I tells me that some of the behavior I have seen, is not seen or seen very frequently at other schools. Let me stop dancing around the subject. I teach at an urban school and I would like to see the differences between this school and an suburban school. Like I said before either this school is not right for me or teaching is not right for me. I feel like I need to see for myself. I am not ready to give up on teaching yet. So I have decided that I will keep looking for jobs in the next county over, even though the school year has started. IF another job comes up and I have a chance to leave, I will take it. I know it is selfish because then I will be leaving my kids without a teacher, but I cannot go another year like I did last year. I already have signs of trouble after only 2 weeks and being more experienced and a little more wiser. I need advice.