I was placed in a school quite far from my home so I made it my business to leave at the crack of dawn to get to the school which is small specialized high school on the border between Bushwick and Williamsburg. Bucking most of the traffic, since I left before dawn, I arrived at my destination a little past 6:30 AM. I drove around and found a parking spot.
I entered the school at 7:00 and it was a ghost town. According to the Assistant Head Master (they are called by Latin names) she was expecting 4 ATRs. I was the only one who showed up. I wonder why.
Anyway, everyone was very welcoming and I was given a tour of the tiny school. I was assigned to do clerical work in the main office. OK. So, I traveled over an hour to be a clerk. Also, all of the teachers here are very young. I overheard that they hired a gym teacher. How would you like to make a bet it was NOT an ATR?
This school also must be a training ground for Leadership Principals. There are 2 "resident principals" here who are learning the ropes. They are very, very young. I think I was the oldest person in the school.
Anyway, it is now my lunch time. I will be doing cafeteria duty for the next two periods then back to my filing and alphabetizing. Joy! I want to teach! Such a waste!
Photo credit: http://www.homesecretary.com/cabinet.gif
What confused me was why they were sending 4 ATRs to a school with 450 students and when I was placed in a school with over 4000 students there were 2 ATRs. So ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteSue, I'm a chapter leader at a small school in the Bronx. I want to know my ATRs and keep them informed. My principal informed me that the DoE told her that they have assigned ATR-teacherA to my school. When I go into the main office to speak to ATR-teacherA, I meet ATR-teacherB. No one was expecting ATR-teacherB and administration and I don't know what happened to ATR-teacherA. That's when I realized that this algorithm of assigning ATRs will SNAFU within one month. It's not fair to the ATRs and it sucks!
ReplyDeleteFirst - you shouldn't be doing clerical work -only teacher duties - so just say no. I was told to answer the phones and I politely declined but the AP was not happy about it and I spent 5 hours sitting in the main office reading my book trying not to fall asleep.
ReplyDeleteSecond - so much for the computer formula - there are no openings in my school and I didn't even get to meet a single teacher - let alone my subject AP. What a horrible day - that I am sure will turn into a horrible week.
you can't be made to do clerical work - just say no - I said no when I was asked to answer the phones - sorry I am not a secretary or a para so say no!
ReplyDeleteno openings in my school so much for the computer program that is supposed to find us a job
Terrible....a shame! And the DOE just put out an ad on craigslist to hire more teaching fellows. I wish we can have all of these horrible creeps thrown in a cellar and throw away the key.
ReplyDeleteI thought there was a hiring freeze???? I'd rather do clerical work than just sit around. At least in the school I was placed in last month I actually was put in a classroom...with kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are setting us up to fail! Why are they sending us to schools where there are NO vacancies never mind ones in our license area! And Scarlet can you copy and past the ad for teaching fellows? This is going against the freeze!
ReplyDeletehttp://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/edu/2644381486.html
ReplyDeleteI was asked to carry boxes and walk kids to the nurse. Oh yeah, I did some clerical work too. No vacancies at this school. How many vacancies are there? I've been demoted to the mailroom. What a sham this profession has become. We are being victimized......come flu season will be busy, so I'll enjoy my walks to the nurse. And to think for five weeks prior to this I was a teacher developing a relation with my students.
ReplyDeleteplease don't do work that a teacher should not do - escort kids to the nurse - carry boxes - it just reinforces the idea that we are not teachers -jsut glorified aides. Buy a good book and demand to be treated like a professional
ReplyDeleteI agree. Do not do clerical work. Read a book, go to teacher's lounge etc.
ReplyDeleteThe high schools are in a tough predicament with the ATR stuff b/c of how the districts are structured, so i feel for the HS teachers.
The way I see it, this job is a paycheck and benefits now. The city excessed us, not the other way around
I dont understand how the DOE is placing us! We need to demand accountability.
ReplyDeleteWe are ATR's but we are still TEACHERS who have been shafted by the system after giving all of heart soul and dedication to this job to the point of neglecting our own children. I'll be damned if I go to a school to answer phone or do clerical work . I am not a secretary nor a filing clerk. I worked long and hard with four children, a mother with Alzheimer's and a huge house and property to care for obtain my education up to my masters degree in biology on full scholarships for any of that nonsense. Know your right teachers! You are to do only teacher duties. During your professional periods you do what is stated in the contract only. It's been going pretty good so far with this attitude I have and the pride I have for my profession. It is evident from the minute I walk into a school and meet an administrator that I'm not having the BS handed to me and I know my rights. Setting the tone is first and foremost. Showcase your skills. Don't be stagnant and sit around reading the newspaper or surfing aimlessly on the Internet when you have idle time. We are now in the position where we have to make ourselves an attractive choice. We have competition, being teaching fellows and such who get paid half the salary of a tenured vested seasoned veteran teacher. Not to mention teachers who have five or less years under their belt are basically clueless to what this system can do to your self worth if you let it. Ne, I got a plan. I'm working on my curriculum binder every chance I get. I teach living environment so my binder has 10 sections, on for each unit, that opens with a curriculum map for the unit,an outline of topics to be covered in the unit, a daily pacing calendar equipped with objectives, state, city, and CCLS standards, essential questions, labs and assessments, and vocabulary followed by a full set of lesson plans and accompanying handouts to be used each day. After these units I have individual sections for the living environment core curriculum, nyc science scope and sequence, NYS regents scope and sequence, Daniellson's framework for teaching, depth of knowledge, and the workshop model. To go with the binder I am developing a PowerPoint to accompany it when, one day soon, I will be able to teach my own class again. I've been lucky to be working with science teachers who have allowed me in their classroom and welcome my mastery of biology, teaching methods, and classroom management advice. Hell, the first two weeks of school I was a bonafied ELA teacher doing such a good job of teaching the kids expository writing that when they hired a real English teacher the kids couldn't believe it and were sad to see me step down. So I say to you find any opportunity you can to fit in and practice your craft. Use it or lose it as the saying goes and it's so true. I refuse to let anyone take away the most passionate thing in my life, my love of school and love of being a serious student and role model to my children. yes, i AM BROKEN OVER BEING EXCESSED FROM A SCHOOL I GAVE 7 OF MY 15 YEARS OF TEACHING TO but life goes on, and so do I, and so shall you all. If teaching is something you are passionate about, something you do for the good of humanity, please don't give in to the terror tactics and political garbage that's going on. Be strong. I have learned how to by just believing in myself and why I chose this job. After all, it's how I got this far and what will take me beyond all of this to a better place. This to shall pass. God bless all of you and please remember you are not alone in your struggle. Keep your head up. Show them what you're working with!
ReplyDeleteI disagree. If you want a principal to hire you be flexible!
ReplyDeleteAfter 12 years at one school, I am now an ATR. It is a shame how they are treating their veteran educators. At the ATR fair I met many ATRs with more than 20 years in the system also many were former chapter leaders or delegates. What is the UFT thinking? Their base of strength is being destroyed. The H.S. I am being assigned to have NO union representation. Who do ATRs file greieves with when you move every 5 days? I have seen many violations of the contract, from having teachers sign in, to working 4 in a row. If the UFT doesn't support ATRs and new teachers they will not have jobs or find themselves ATRs with NO union to help them.
ReplyDeletepay me 100,000 a year to do filing......no problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete