Not Happy- a little long

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Home : 2007 : July : 3

Not Happy- a little long
By pteach55

Back ground: I have taught for 36 years in the same elementary, most of it being 5th and or 6th lang. arts and social studies. District has built a new elem. and middle school. My teaching partner and I are going to the middle
school, he will teach 6th math, and I will teach 6th soc.st. Current elem. has been auctioned off and is slated for demolition along with the other 2 elem. in the district. We had to pack all our stuff to have it stored somewhere while the buildings are being finished. I dumped 30 some years of lang. arts materials since I would no longer need them. I was sooo excited that I got my

dream job of just 6th soc. st.
Yesterday I get a call from one of the 2 principals who will be at the middle school. I know him slightly as he was a principal at one of the other elems. It seems that one of the 2 8th grade Lang. Arts teachers has resigned under a BIG black cloud. The other one is also under a black cloud, but word is she has a lawyer. I have no respect for her from previous contact. GUESS WHAT???? I am now the proud owner of the 8th Lang. Arts position vacated by the first teacher. I did download the standards from our state's education website, but I have no idea what these 2 taught, what materials they used, etc. Of course with everything somewhere in storage limbo, I can't get anything to look at.
Bigger surprise: my 6th soc. st. position was filled by a crony of the principal who called me. It seems this teacher was at the 4th grade and wanted to be in the middle school, and just happened to get certified in only math and soc. st.
The principal sugar coated everthing nicely. The Jr. High has been noted for their unprofessionalism (duh, look at those 2 8th grade teachers), immaturity, lack of discipline, etc. The administration thought that I would bring a level of maturity and professionalism that was badly needed there. (Translation: she's old and has a 1-8 certificate so we can put here anywhere we want). I really did know this since previous students would come back and tell me I should move to Jr. High and make those kids behave!!! I did remind him that I have high expectations for behavior and work.
I'm just feeling put upon and out of my depth with the subject matter. I did email the other principal who I've met twice and explained that I was concerned about not having the materials, etc. She replied with a welcome to the team message and said that she would make sure I would get everything I needed. That made me feel a little better.
Thanks for listening:p