I work in a very conservative school. For example, I occassionally get political emails insulting the president, etc. Personally, I don't think it's particularly smart to send political emails through the school's email system. Anyway, I did not grow up in this area and just feel like a fish out of water.

I have really considered leaving this area but unfortunately, the area where my family resides has an abundance of teachers...I would never get a job.

Just feeling kind of down. Thanks for listening.

[GraceKrispy]

I totally get it. In a different way, sometimes it's very obvious how out of place I am at my school.

Sorry you're feeling this way. Hopefully you won't feel this way forever.

[natnclay]

Do you live in Utah too???

[Linn]

love Utah. The people are friendly there and very nice. Conservative, yes but I think it's a great place.
Having lived all over the country, I have friends from very diverse backgrounds. I find them all very interesting. I may not agree with their politics, religion, or something else about them but I always love learning about new cultures and different lives. I don't think you have to embrace the culture you are in if you don't care for it but I think you can always look for the positive no matter where you are. I feel very lucky to have lived in so many different areas with many different people and backgrounds.
I've learned that we become more tolerant when we learn more about people.
Enjoy where you are, look for the positive in your environment, look for what you have learned from being where you are.

[mstngmom]

Hey at least be glad that you have a full time job to go to. I live in UT and there aren't any jobs anywhere. Although I am a certified teacher, I have had to accept employment as a a sub. Maybe my family and I should have stayed in NC, but I grew up here.

[I ♥ cats]

I know this is only a small part of what you're talking about, but the political email thing was happening at my last school and finally some of the teachers went to the principal and told him they were offended by the emails. He then gave the directive that NO political emails about either party were to be sent through school email, and that stopped it. Personally I would never send a political email except to my closest friends and certainly not on my school email, but some people seem to feel it's OK to do otherwise. Talk to your principal - he or she can at least stop that part of it.

[Bookwoman]

I had a situation very much like yours. I went to my principal who agreed with the messages being sent but realized it was a legal issue and put a stop to it. All e mail sent over a business/school's system must follow certain guidelines and political e mail violates it. Please say something to your principal-maybe under guise of wanting to protect system from legal problems.

[natnclay]

Hey- Where do you live?
Send me your email and I'll let you know if we have any openings. I work at a great charter school with two pregnant teachers!