And The Screwing Begins!!!

So, yesterday at around 5:30ish, I get a call from Lisa, my roommate at school, who tells me to check my school email because FW (F%&king whore - NG's new name) has sent a doozie! Oh, the joy.

So, to preface: (See, I don't think I ever explained anything about last springs issues at school because my computer was on the blink) Anyway, last spring, the sped department met about 4 times to try and figure out who was teaching what and from that, caseloads. After fights and fusses and just all-around headaches, we all finally came to an agreement. I was slated to teach the low level Language Arts class and my male colleague was to teach the high level. One of the reasons for this was because I was going to have all those students on Alternate Assessment in my class and on my caseload. (Alternate Assessment is the alternate test for the Ohio Graduation Test that kids who can't handle the regular test "take". It's a huge pain in the ass and takes much of the year to put together and document). Anyway, knowing all this info before school ended, I ordered a ton of supplies for the low level since I'd never taught it and then prepared myself over the summer to teach this.

Guess what?! That's right, FW sent out an email that said I wasn't teaching it anymore; my other colleague (not the male) was. What a bunch of bullshit!!! What was the point of all that meeting and discussing and "collaborating" as a department in the spring if the decisions we ALL came to are then erased and you and your little eff buddy, HH, decide something totally different? Why is it that she and HH want total dissension in our department? Why? What is the point of trying to get us upset? Well, stupid question, I know why. I'm sure they would love to piss most of us off enough that we quit but guess what? That's not going to happen. Guaranteed, you will continue to dig your own holes and will be off to screw with some other district's teachers fairly soon.

So, after I read FW's email, I calmed down a bit and emailed back to say that if I was not teaching the low level, than I shouldn't have the AA kids on my caseload (or at least the one who would be taking the AA this year). I don't want her to think that what she and HH have done bother me. However, I do want to find out what the reason for the change is and I want to say, "Hey, you know, I'm happy to teach whatever I'm told, but I find it interesting that two people who preach "collaboration" and "unity" within departments, find it beneficial or even acceptable to make a decision totally opposite of what had already been decided, by the department. I'm not sure why the decision has been made but I feel like it was done without regard to others. I'm thinking that it isn't "good for kids" that which pits teachers against each other, which is what you're doing. I would expect my principal and "department leader" to have more professional courtesy than that."

It'll be interesting to see the reply email. I do feel bad, however, that I've sort of thrown JK under the bus. Nothing will change though which is such bullshit.

I'd love, too, for this action to be against our contract so that I could file a grievance. See we are supposed to have our teaching assignments by a certain date and because they didn't (maybe) differentiate that what I'd be teaching had changed, I was not given correct info? What do you think about that, Lisa? I should ask JG.

Okay, I need to go shake this off and have a good day. First Raeburn, fun in the sun and then dinner at Trip and Susan's. Later.