I don't know what to do either????!!

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I don't know what to do either????!!
By jodie

Jessica,
I can totally relate to your thoughts and feelings. I too am a first year teacher. I just graduated last May with my post-bach in elementary edu. Teaching has always been an aspiration of mine, well, that is
untill this year!!!
I started the year with true devotion and felt fulfilled. I was excited to work in an urban community. I wanted the challenge, which is exactly what I got!!!The children are mainly parented by single family households. Many live in shelters or trailer homes. For the most part, parental involvement is not considered. I have a classroom of 27 and 23 are ELL or ESL(90%

of our school's population are ELL). I have students with severe emotional disabilities. Due to these issues, it is very frustrating at times.
However, the frustration did not really set in until the district told us that the whole state of Arizona can no longer offer ESL/ELL sevices, due to a proposition that passed in Nov. (Remember, 90% of our school is ELL)!!
Suddenly, the socio and environmental issues were no longer a concern. I am now questioning, "How am I going to be an affective teacher if I don't have an educational backgroud in ELL or materials to suppliment my deficiencies?" Then, two weeks later, I learned that we were also facing financial cut-backs. We no longer have certain specials, like art. The icing on the cake was this: due to the decrease of children eating a FREE, warm and nutritious breakfast offered every morning in the school's caf, our principal decided that next year- we, as "teachers," should serve breakfast (cereal and milk) in our classrooms to ensure that each child eats!!! When I asked him if he had conferred with the staff or if he had sent a letter home to the parents to inform the community of this situation/DECISION, he replied, "I don't know!!!" This response, as well as, all the other "ploitical" issues surrounding education just outraged me. Where is the RESPECT?????
Like you, I too have forgotten the reason why I became a teacher in the first place. There are so many other 'outside' influences, that it is difficult to just....TEACH!!!! I never realized this, well, unitl now.
I am soo upset and confused that I have seriously considered changing careers. I have a B.A. in psy and am contemplating going back to get my doctorate in sports psy.
I really don't know what to do because I truly do love teaching, but I feel very unappreciated and disrepected---NOT by my students, but by the state and federal government. I feel as though I have NO control over what happens in education and I only see things getting worse- before they get any better. The question is, "Do I want to see things through or not?"
Well, thanks for listening and for sharing your thoughts. Good luck with everything. The only advice that I have to give is--just know that you are not alone- have faith that everything will work out. If you cannot see yourself in any other career than teaching, then try to stick with it, otherwise, research your other aspirations---you may be surprised by what you find??!
take care,
Jodie