I understand

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I understand
By Carolyn

It seems as if first year teachers get the worst accommodations, both in terms of classrooms, and in classes. Quite frankly, I am appalled that they would consider putting emotionally disturbed kids in such a distractable
environment. These children do not need such distractions. Perhaps what you can do is set aside a cabinet for yourself with your name on it. Lock it up. If your principal can't provide you with a room, is there the possibility that there's another place where you can have a class?
If it makes you feel any better (I know I am not offering a solution here), I once taught a class

of remedial reading to fourth graders in a coat closet. There just wasn't any space anywhere else. It was either teach in the coat closet, or in a storage closet. Both places were tough places to teach.

One year I was given a trailer to teach in. I hated that so much, although I am sure you'd welcome that over a teachers' workroom any day!
This trailer, I was quite sure at the time, must have been resurrected from the junk yard. It smelled disgusting. I have dust and mold allergies, and the dust, mold, and mildew were really irritating. The ceiling was about to fall down, and the floor tiles were peeling up. It was the poorest excuse for a classroom for a fifth grade class I have ever seen!

Oh, I almost forgot. I once taught remedial classes in another building in the basement. I had fifteen students in a room which was so small that the desks touched the walls. It was so crowded. The heating pipes ran through the ceiling and made the room super hot. They made noises.

I just wanted you to know that you aren't alone in your misery.