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My reading list grows exponentially. Everytime I read a book, it'll mention three other books I feel I have to read. It's like a particularly relentless series of pop-up ads.
-A.J. Jacobs

Thursday, March 4, 2010

I Work In the Ghetto??

The crazy people of Texas have some strange rules when it comes to the state testing better known as TAKS. It starts with covering every wall with butcher paper, covering bookshelves, turning textbooks to face pages out in the cubbies, and removing the globe from the classroom (just in case they put on their binoculars and decide to write about Turkmenistan on their personal narrative). *rolls eyes*

On the actual day of The Test I am stuck "actively monitoring" the students which consists of walking around the room the entire day. No eating, no computer, no Iphone (which is normally attached to me at all times), NO NOTHING. Why bother breathing?

Anyway, a good way to describe this test is this picture, that I stole of off my friend's blog. (One of her students drew this.)



HeeHee! Torture All Keller Students!! Kids are so darn creative!

Oddly enough, after the test was over, three police cars, and ambulance, and a fire truck show up at our school parking lot. What now? Oh, no biggie, just a stabbing out in the playground. Oh. What's that? The stabber's on the loose? Fantastic! Cue helicopter.

Okay really? Walking into my classroom with a shattered window and my cute red and black containter with Post-It Notes inside stolen sucks, but not classified as working in the hood. Second break-in with LOTS stolen: I must work in a thuggish area. Stabbing? When did my school become a part of the ghetto?

It's no joke that I put my life on the line going to work every day to teach the future of America. I should get an award or something. Or at least a bullet proof vest. Because who knows what might happen next...

8 brilliant remarks:

Christi Goddard said...

I think America itself is becoming more violent. I work at an insurance company and in the last six months we've had cars vandalized, theft, and a shooting in the parking lot.

Although I do agree: Teachers deserve more pay than they get. I was just thinking of that this morning, actually. I was going to be a teacher, but didn't finish my education due to life, and now work in insurance. I make more than the average teacher does, but I'd still rather teach than do my job.

Anonymous said...

It was worse then that in my neighborhood. Sad really. It's one of the reasons why some of the people I know home school their kids. Just for the safety end of things.

DL Hammons said...

Hey...I have an award for you at my blog. It's not much...but its something. I respect what you are doing!!

:)

Christopher said...

That's awful! People can be so nuts. Whatever happened to skid row? At least they used to concentrate all the nutty bad people in one place. Now they're all free-range crazy.

This whole mandatory testing thing is such a crock in my opinion. I often think that "teacher accountability" is a cover-up for the fact that teachers don't get nearly enough support and it's much easier to create some random test than to support the teachers that are doing everything they can for the future of America. Keep up the good work!

Unknown said...

Thank goodness we don't have standardized tests in NJ in first grade. My daughter will take her first one this year in second grade, but the district where I teach doesn't start until 3rd. I don't think any of them cover the entire walls and have to turn books around and put away globes... jeez! A little paranoid, State of TX? Testing rules are so weird.

Sorry to hear about the violence and break-ins. I grew up in an area where things like that were not unusual. I am very glad that we live in an area where things like that would be very rare... but anything can happen anywhere, sadly.

Hey, did they ever find your computer?

Kristen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kristen said...

Do you know what is really sad about this country? Movie stars are paid way more than the people who teach our children...SIGH. Very sad indeed...ok stepping down from my soapbox now.

Geez woman, be careful at work, don't make me worry about you!!

ChristaCarol Jones said...

Lordie Tiffany, it's scary (funny when you write it) but scary. I can't believe I wanna be a teacher in the same school district. If Keller is suppose to be a grade A district, I'm sorta scared to go beyond our territory lol.