[kyteacher1]

Here's the deal: I was told by another teacher who is our school's literacy leader that if I would attend the monthly district meeting tonight in her place I would receive $60 stipend (she had class and couldn't go).

I get there and was told NO - you can only get pd credit- no money. Well, I already have all the credit I need. I only agreed to fill in as a sub for the teacher because of the $. So i call the teacher and tell her this and she's very apologetic to me and is pissed because no one ever told her about this rule that subs can't get paid) and she tells me she doesn't care if I leave.

Well I go back in and 3 other teachers are in the same boat I am - they are subbing for other literacy leaders who couldn't make it too and thought they'd get paid - but the 3 other teachers say "Oh that's ok -- I don't care - I'll just stay for the 3 hour meeting anyway" and I was thinking -- you know what NO! I do care. I am leaving. I am tired. I just finished report cards. I have a class that is driving me crazy this year. I just sat thru an hour and 15 minute faculty meeting yesterday. I have a million papers to grade. And I don't feel good and miss my family.

So I didnt' say anything to the people in charge - i just walked over to the sign in sheet scratched my name out, picked up the papers the teacher at school will need to read, got my s--t and walked out.

It felt really good. I've been so aggrevated this year - it feels like the pressures and demands of teaching are weighing me down. I like teaching but not all the bs that goes with it. This yr alone we've had to implement morning meetings, do all of our own reading interventions in the classroom, learn new technology, learn how to do new report cards - which we now have 6 major report cards instead of 3, principal also wants us to also do progress reports every 2 weeks, every week it's like here do this too and this too and this and this and this. I feel like I'm ready to buckle under the pressure.

[imafive]

I walked out of a meeting today that no one had told me about! I stayed for 15 minutes and said I was sorry that I had other plans. I know what you mean about the pressure. I've been teaching for over 25 years and have NEVER had this much work to do. Most of which has no affect on the individual children in my room.

[luv2chat]

Good for you for walking out!! I think as teachers we need to stop doing things for nothing sometimes to make a point. Good for you for doing it. I hope you got to spend some quality time with your family instead.

You go girl!!! You had no reason to stay...what a bunch of bs. I'm glad you got up and left and didn't waste 3 hours of your life there. Good for you!!!!! Maeetings are the worst part about teaching...well and paperwork.

[TommysMommy]

I know you thought you were getting paid, and unless you are desperately strapped for cash, which I hope you aren't, the $60 that you would've (and should've) been paid for your time isn't worth the additional exhaustion you'd likely suffer extending your day another 3 hours.

I'm sorry you weren't given the proper information and wasted your time.

Given the stress you're under, unless you're really bent on helping someone in a bind, it is fine to politely decline these favors in the future. We all have those days, some of us have those YEARS with the troublesome class, fatigue, etc. Focus on your health, family, and your class.

I had to sit through a technology meeting as a sub, and while I'm not computer-impaired, it wasn't appropriate for my level of understanding. I was promised by the tech rep at our school that she'd give me a gift card to Starbucks for my time. She never did. I forgot about that until just now.