I'm a first year teacher at a charter school, and I'm ready to give my notice. We have in session days (9.5 hours) and for the first 6 weeks we have NO breaks, not even lunch. I'm there from 6-6 and STILL have work to do at home! I'm at my wits end! I leave crying every day. I have kids of my own who cry at night that they never see me.
How do I approach my principal? Do I give notice? Im so conflicted
How do you not get breaks at all? That seems a little off. I've worked at 2 different charters (loved my last placement and was there for 4 years) and now I'm at a new position in a charter as well. Both have standard district hours, with breaks, prep time etc. I wonder how legit that school actually is bc I think charters can be great, when you are in the right one. I would job hunt until you found a place who values you. Charters aren't all bad..I'm so sorry that's your current experience *hugs*
That's a long haul and I can see why you're so stressed out.
You must be utterly exhausted.
Why don't you get any breaks?
I thought getting lunch, prep, bathroom breaks were a law.
Are the long hours with no breaks the main reason?
What grade do you teach?
How are your students?
Can you devise ways to have students help you, help themselves, and help each other?
I'm a Special Area Teacher with 325 students.
Last year was really easy and calm for me because I had my students do everything.
They really love the responsibility, independence, and trust.
They love being Helpers.
Completely terrible. One reason I would never want to work for a charter school- I've heard too many stories like this.
I'm sorry you are dealing with this. I would talk to the principal and let them know that you cannot keep up this kind of schedule. See what the response is and you will have your answer. If serious changes aren't made, I would leave. Those are not reasonable working conditions.
No prep is standard at many charters but no lunch is against the law. I’m guessing they make the OP eat with the kids.
I’d give 2 weeks notice and leave. It’s not going to get better. They’ll tell you they have a plan, but my guess is that this is their standard practice.
I know the above poster had a good experience with charters but I feel like the good ones are the exception, not the rule. This sounds like the experience I had with a charter a few years ago. horrifically long hours, expectations that we would work on weekends and do many night events, no support, no supplies, disorganization, a business model style that made parents our customers and put teacher in competition. Ugh RUN AWAY!!!
I think that if I were you I would put in notice and just start subbing in my local public schools. IF they start the year treating you this way, and putting new teachers under this kind of stress then it really shows how much respect they have for them.
Teaching in the beginning, or in a new district with new a new grade level and new curriculum can mean longer days while you get the hang of it, but it should NEVER require what you are describing.
The demands of the job in most places have gotten insane. I thought legally employees were entitled to a 30 minute duty-free lunch, so I don't know how they get away with that. The no break thing is bad, too. I would talk to some of the other teachers, especially those who have been there longer and/or at your grade or subject area. There might be things you can do like plan together. Have the kids help grade homework and go over it together. Decide which things are important and prioritize and let other things go. Plan on getting out at whatever hour you need BEFORE 6 at least a couple of days a week and stick to it. One thing about teaching I've found, you can be in your room for hours and there still will be things you can do. I wouldn't give notice yet if you like the actual students and the job description. But, if after all that, you feel like you are drowning a can't do it, I would leave. Your physical and emotional health and family life are priceless, the job is not.
It’s a “6 week plan” so the idea is after 6 weeks teachers do not have to follow and escort kids everywhere. During the 6 weeks we assist the lunch monitors and enrichment teachers.
The first 6 weeks are about building habits- like how to read sitting up “correctly” or how to write in the correct position. How to sit with your hands folded in your lap or on your desk unless told otherwise.
I greatly dislike this there’s no freedom and the work they’re doing is literally busy work. I struggle to find a “good” moment in my day
My principal and I have already had conversations- she validated my concerns and makes me feel like I can do this and get through it. She makes it feel like I’m being heard and I can stick it out, but as soon as I leave her office I’m like “what the hell just happened?”
We literally stand up the entire lunch and silently remind students of the right things to do (silent lunch for the first few weeks) and try to eat while watching our tables. We are lucky if we get to eat our on lunches while we stand and monitor
Are you saying the kids have to sit with their hands folded at all times, unless given permission otherwise? And silent lunches? That just sounds so cruel and unhealthy for children. And the working hours with no breaks are equally unhealthy for you!
Nothing about this seems like a good situation for anyone. I hope you are able to leave.
Any place that would think that it is ok to expect this from teacher, even if its only for 6 week, is the type of place that has no qualms about walking all over you for other reasons the rest of the year. its this 6 week thing now but something else later RUN!
Your principals reassurances and your after the fact feeling of "what the heck did she just talk me into" sounds like a con game.
And silent lunches sound kind of cultish and totally counter intuitive to developmentally appropriate practice. Children need to explore social and pragmatic language freely during down time. This not only builds their social skills, their language skills, and their self confidence, it improves concentration in the classroom. ELL's especially need need this, as they are often more comfortable experimenting with language with peers outside of the classroom.
Cult is the perfect way to describe this place. I call it a cult all the time!
Yes they are now given 7 minutes of talk time during lunch because they “earned” it.
The expectation is that kids are silent, eyes on you 100% of the time, hands laced feet still (were literally supposed to call them out for moving their feet). You’re not on task if you’re doing anything else
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08-28-2018, 06:48 PM
*hugs*
