Personally, I think No-Child-Left-Behind was done for the right reasons, but that the implementation is terrible and politicians are too good at sticking their heads in the sand to recognize it. I'm a big fan of Evidence-based legislation, but we don't get a whole lot of that in this country.
You've taken a positive step by getting out of a hopeless situation. I know it took courage to cast off like that, but I'm sure that much better opportunities await.
Obviously everyone here wants to empower you to even greater achievements! Your good values will truly have a positive impact to the world and thank you for sharing this personal life story.
If you still like teaching but not for public schools, look at the corporate world. Especially if the economy starts moving again. I spent ten years training field engineers for a large medical OEM here and occasionally in Germany. Worlds different than the public. Lots of benefits, the best one being that 99pct are there to really learn. I just moved on because a software development job opened for me at the right time. I am actually surprised that there is not a greater cat fight for teachers with a technical background. Too many teachers just have no tech aptitude, students are regularly shortchanged in that environment so by the time Hi-Tech Widgets are us is hiring, they have to train what they need, sometimes more extensively than others. I will say from experience that that old phrase about doing and teaching is B.S. in technology. If you can not do it, you certainly will NOT be able to teach it. but, the higher the tech and complexity, the greater the need for corporate trainers
Pick up your training experience, fold up your pallet, and go find a fun place to work and go find a position that feels like fun rather than work.
Congrats, Scope. Resigning is scary and exhilarating at the same time. I had some issues with my employee agreement 8 years ago. I decided to resign. When I turned in my notice, it was one of the best days of my life to be in control.
Amazingly, a few VPs rallied after hearing I was leaving and some adjustments were made. I decided to stay (29 years now!). But either way, it is very empowering to have some real say in your career path.
Best of luck to you in your future activities. Can't wait to hear what great things you'll do.
Thanks everyone! I honestly never anticipated such an incredible and encouraging response! Very humbling - thank you.
I have an interview with a man who owns a shop that creates custom automated machines - this interview will take place about an hour after my last day on the job ever as a public high school teacher.
Not only would this be a "dream job" but it's much closer to where I live, only 8.2 miles (compared to 26.3).
Regardless of how the interview turns out, I'm very optimistic and my wife supports me 100% (I know I should have asked her before I resigned but she understands completely and seems to be more relieved than I am - ha).
Thanks again - let's make something . . . here's what I'm working on today . . .
There is this: My darling wife reminded me we can pay our bills even if I get another job
You know, I've had that support a time or two in my life and it made all the difference in the world. I've had to walk too. Hard. Turns out doing that was one of the best moves I ever made, both times, no regrets. There just isn't a good end game on these kinds of things.
Manage this scene to the best of your ability to preserve career options, then take steps to move on. From what I've read, this will never work and rather than battle that, it's time to go and seek what will work.
A lot of the angst they are demonstrating comes down to losing face with the kids and by extension parents. Simple liability management and you are a liability, not that you are doing wrong, but that you are trying to do good in an organization that is simply interested in doing and compliance. Those are like oil and water. They can be blended together for a time, but they never, ever truly mix.
I've seen some pretty amazing things happen due to administrators and educators not wanting to lose face for fear of what that could do to their career investments and or from legal who will minimize this stuff at any cost. It has zero to do with doing good by the kids, and IMHO, does a lot of harm as that same culture of conflict avoidance means kids miss out on interactions they would find very valuable.
However you sort this out, I believe that is the core issue and it runs in conflict with what you know how to do.
The whole thing is kind of bizarre really. It's as if they never want the kids to see "inside baseball" even though they are there day after day, most perfectly aware anyway, and it's not that seeing that stuff does harm, it's that it undermines authority and compliance, which takes time and work to sort out and when things are cut to the bone, nobody wants to take those risks because they can't see a good end game, so they don't. Never will.
I could tell you some experiences I had getting my kids through school, sometimes involving meeting an educator off hours to get the real story and it's shocking! There are tons of great people out there right now trying to cope and get through. I don't know how they do it. You are one of those and the last thing I want to say is if it turns out that you can't do that, and believe me when I say that is perfectly understandable, if not noble, do not beat yourself up over it, because you are better than that, worth more and need only extract yourself from a bad scene. Do that at any cost, particularly while you have family and financial means to do so. This stuff is thousands of times worse when one is trapped as well.
(seething over here at the pain of it all --cheers man!)
You order more Basic Stamp kits. Some former and new students want to enroll. Local news does a story... I can't help thinking that your attempts to teach Basic Stamps could create some buzz on a local level. Congratulations.
I would bet that Ken will donate whatever you may want/need to get off on the right foot. Per lardom, call the papers and TV stations.
Congrats again. What a great thing to happen to a fantastic forumista! This course in your life isn't random, it's meant to be. I can hear your old principal gnashing his teeth already.
I should refrain from being over zealous in my excitement, especially when there are still too many others who possess more useful skills and abilities than what I have yet they remain searching for successful employment opportunities. Let's hope my experience will strengthen their resolve to remain optimistic and they will continue pressing forward.
On another note, I decided to sort of "take the day off" and create a very simple project in celebration of my news (photos below). I'm determined to make this camera slider work with a Propeller Smart Board as the microcontroller. I have lots of ongoing projects and some use non-Parallax microcontrollers but I honestly want to move away from the dark side (ha).
@Scope, I'm interested to know how you will support the camera? I built a slider and cut off the top of a tripod. I then put a a long bolt inside the cut-off part and held it in place with epoxy.
I eventually found a camera supply which will sell me only the part I want.
@Scope: The only bummer is that you didn't really have the down time you had imagined to get to all the projects you wanted to, like your camera slider!
@Scope, I'm interested to know how you will support the camera? I built a slider and cut off the top of a tripod. I then put a a long bolt inside the cut-off part and held it in place with epoxy.
I eventually found a camera supply which will sell me only the part I want.
I built myself a camera mount for my car a while ago. I just put a 1/4x20 bolt through a 1/4" steel plate and it threads right in.
Comments
(sigh of relief goes here)
I can't tell you all how much your comments have helped me through this difficult phase of my life.
Thank you * 1,000,000
Much success to you in the "next chapter".
You've taken a positive step by getting out of a hopeless situation. I know it took courage to cast off like that, but I'm sure that much better opportunities await.
All the best!
-Phil
Cheers!
Paul
Being another educator who left the ranks of education, you'll do fine. After a few weeks, you'll also notice your stress level lower as well.
Best of luck to you. and I've found plenty of opportunity to use my educational skills in other venues.
Jeff
Pick up your training experience, fold up your pallet, and go find a fun place to work and go find a position that feels like fun rather than work.
FF
Amazingly, a few VPs rallied after hearing I was leaving and some adjustments were made. I decided to stay (29 years now!). But either way, it is very empowering to have some real say in your career path.
Best of luck to you in your future activities. Can't wait to hear what great things you'll do.
Everything happens for a reason. You have done well Scope. Good luck with your new lease on life sir...:)
-Tommy
I have an interview with a man who owns a shop that creates custom automated machines - this interview will take place about an hour after my last day on the job ever as a public high school teacher.
Not only would this be a "dream job" but it's much closer to where I live, only 8.2 miles (compared to 26.3).
Regardless of how the interview turns out, I'm very optimistic and my wife supports me 100% (I know I should have asked her before I resigned but she understands completely and seems to be more relieved than I am - ha).
Thanks again - let's make something . . . here's what I'm working on today . . .
There is this: My darling wife reminded me we can pay our bills even if I get another job
You know, I've had that support a time or two in my life and it made all the difference in the world. I've had to walk too. Hard. Turns out doing that was one of the best moves I ever made, both times, no regrets. There just isn't a good end game on these kinds of things.
Manage this scene to the best of your ability to preserve career options, then take steps to move on. From what I've read, this will never work and rather than battle that, it's time to go and seek what will work.
A lot of the angst they are demonstrating comes down to losing face with the kids and by extension parents. Simple liability management and you are a liability, not that you are doing wrong, but that you are trying to do good in an organization that is simply interested in doing and compliance. Those are like oil and water. They can be blended together for a time, but they never, ever truly mix.
I've seen some pretty amazing things happen due to administrators and educators not wanting to lose face for fear of what that could do to their career investments and or from legal who will minimize this stuff at any cost. It has zero to do with doing good by the kids, and IMHO, does a lot of harm as that same culture of conflict avoidance means kids miss out on interactions they would find very valuable.
However you sort this out, I believe that is the core issue and it runs in conflict with what you know how to do.
The whole thing is kind of bizarre really. It's as if they never want the kids to see "inside baseball" even though they are there day after day, most perfectly aware anyway, and it's not that seeing that stuff does harm, it's that it undermines authority and compliance, which takes time and work to sort out and when things are cut to the bone, nobody wants to take those risks because they can't see a good end game, so they don't. Never will.
I could tell you some experiences I had getting my kids through school, sometimes involving meeting an educator off hours to get the real story and it's shocking! There are tons of great people out there right now trying to cope and get through. I don't know how they do it. You are one of those and the last thing I want to say is if it turns out that you can't do that, and believe me when I say that is perfectly understandable, if not noble, do not beat yourself up over it, because you are better than that, worth more and need only extract yourself from a bad scene. Do that at any cost, particularly while you have family and financial means to do so. This stuff is thousands of times worse when one is trapped as well.
(seething over here at the pain of it all --cheers man!)
I found out today I was actually offered an adjunct teaching position at the local tech/community college!!!
WOO HOO!!!
Seriously, what a wonderful fit for you. You and your students are blessed. Have fun and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
WOO HOO!!!
Hopefully this will be your chance to use your talents and pass them on to others eager to learn.
C.W.
:thumb:
Congrats again. What a great thing to happen to a fantastic forumista! This course in your life isn't random, it's meant to be. I can hear your old principal gnashing his teeth already.
Keep us posted - erco's right - we're all over this... kinda like sawdust on erco.
-MattG
Best of all worlds if you like teacing, 16 to 66+ and all there wanting to learn and no where the restrictions if you got the right mgmt!!!!!!!
Run, Scope, Run!!!! Or should that be trace.......
Frank
I should refrain from being over zealous in my excitement, especially when there are still too many others who possess more useful skills and abilities than what I have yet they remain searching for successful employment opportunities. Let's hope my experience will strengthen their resolve to remain optimistic and they will continue pressing forward.
On another note, I decided to sort of "take the day off" and create a very simple project in celebration of my news (photos below). I'm determined to make this camera slider work with a Propeller Smart Board as the microcontroller. I have lots of ongoing projects and some use non-Parallax microcontrollers but I honestly want to move away from the dark side (ha).
Thanks again everyone
I eventually found a camera supply which will sell me only the part I want.