Student Teaching: Am I Supposed to be THIS miserable?

[Roadtoad]

Sling, something genuinely stinks here. And there has got to be someone who can help you.

Grab your white pages, and look up "Legal Aid." Call them first thing tomorrow. There has GOT to be someone who will help you. Take along your notes, and talk to someone who can do some good for you.

Be careful. Some legal aid attorneys are worse than useless. Ask a LOT of questions.

 

[slingblade]

Hey, Toad,

My college says they can't force a tacher or a school to work with me. It can be for something as subjective as "I don't think she's a good fit, and don't want her here anymore," and pffft! I'm gone.

I will get an attorney somehow if they try to release me from the program entirely. But the prof I just spoke to said it's more likely they will instead try to find me a new placement and a better mentor, and I can just finish later than I expected.

 

[Roadtoad]

That's good. So long as they don't boot you out. If you can still finish the program, then there's some good in that.

In the meantime, I still say get with an attorney. Cover EVERY base, as much as possible.

 

[slingblade]

I hope I can finish. I'm still not sure what I did that was found unacceptable.
My supervisor says, "It's not what you did wrong, it's your performance."

That just tells me she's been lying about me, and the mistakes I have made, to which I admit, have been magnified out of all proportion.

 

[slingblade]

Grab your white pages, and look up "Legal Aid."

There's no such listing in my phone book.
I'll call someone else and see if they can tell me how to find such a thing.

ETA: I think I found it online. I'll call as soon as they open.



I wonder if Mr. Randi has an opening for an English major with good crit thinking skills and a sense of humor?

 

[slingblade]

I contacted Legal Aid. They can't help me. They deal primarily in domestic disputes. I did tell the woman who called me some of what's happening, and she said I'd need to contact a civil law attorney--legal aid couldn't help me.

Had the meeting today with the college. My supervisor, my professor from last semester, and the director were there. They gave me the following options:

1. Wait until next fall, at which time they will place me in a Middle School. They no longer think high school is a good "fit" for me. I will do 8 more weeks of student teaching, and will earn my certification if I complete them satisfactorily.

2. Withdraw temporarily from the teaching program, graduate in May with my English BA, and apply to be a substitute teacher. I can do that for one or two semesters--if I'm hired as a sub, that is--and can then come back to the program, do my student teaching, and get my certification if I'm successful.

3. Withdraw from teaching and graduate with my BA in English, and it was nice knowing you, good luck.

I haven't decided yet which option to take.

 

[Ducky]

My humble opinion is to do the middle school teaching. I loved middle school age teaching when I subbed.

That's just my opinion, takeit for what it is worth: Advice from someone who never actually became a teacher.

Whatever you do, I do not think you should feel responsible or angry at yourself for what has happened. You did the best you could do, and jackasses above you like to snipe the newbies. IT's crap. You are a good person, and will make a great teacher.

 

[slingblade]

Thanks, Fowl.

I do have to accept some responsibility for this, as I believe in personal responsibility. It would be too easy for me to say the big, bad meanies did it all to me, and I'm innocent.

I did make mistakes. I just don't see them the way the mentors and the college saw them.

I think I'm going to try the middle school student teaching, next semester. If I still have problems, then I'll have to agree that teaching's not for me, no matter how much I want to do it.

My big problem with that is not knowing what else I can do with a BA in English, at 47, and a lifetime work-history as a waitress.

Anyone got any ideas? Or any jobs?

Oh, and they also suggested I get counseling for my poor stress management. I tend to agree. (I'm afraid after all the abuse I've endured, I"m a "broken" person, and there's really no place for me in the world.)

I wish I could come up with a good plot. I could write for a living, but I can never think of endings. Good beginnings, good middles, no ends. Sigh.

Thanks a lot Fowl. You've been a real help to me. Hugs.

 

[Ducky]

Thanks, Fowl.

anytime.

I do have to accept some responsibility for this, as I believe in personal responsibility. It would be too easy for me to say the big, bad meanies did it all to me, and I'm innocent.

I can respect that, but at the same time remind you really, your fault is not in instigating, possibly in reacting, but not in starting this mess.

I did make mistakes. I just don't see them the way the mentors and the college saw them.

Everyone makes mistakes, and if everyone thought as though academics did, we'd all have some very high horses to ride. I have enough academics in my family to know that a sheltered view of situations at a campus is very different from reality outside said campus.

I think I'm going to try the middle school student teaching, next semester. If I still have problems, then I'll have to agree that teaching's not for me, no matter how much I want to do it.

I think you'll enjoy it alot. Very different scene.

My big problem with that is not knowing what else I can do with a BA in English, at 47, and a lifetime work-history as a waitress.

Anyone got any ideas? Or any jobs?

I could use a publicist. The pay's crap, though.

Oh, and they also suggested I get counseling for my poor stress management. I tend to agree. (I'm afraid after all the abuse I've endured, I"m a "broken" person, and there's really no place for me in the world.)

Horsesh*t. "Broken" does not mean exiled. You will endure and be better for it, just as you have up till now.

I wish I could come up with a good plot. I could write for a living, but I can never think of endings. Good beginnings, good middles, no ends. Sigh.

I have the same problem with music at times. Keep thinking, the muse will come to you.

Thanks a lot Fowl. You've been a real help to me. Hugs.

Anytime

 

[JamesDillon]

Slingblade,

Do you mind if I ask where you're located? (Feel free to pm if you prefer not to say so in public). Legal Aid is probably not what you want, but there may be other public service groups that could offer legal advice to someone in your situation. In reading through this thread, I'm not sure that you have a solid ground for taking legal action, or that filing a lawsuit is necessarily the best strategic move, but it can't hurt to speak with an attorney who has expertise in these matters and knows about your local law.

 

[slingblade]

No, it's all right. I live on the western slope in Colorado.

I don't even know what I'd want an attorney for, at this point. It'd be nice to not have to pay back some or all of those student loans if my career doesn't work out, but that's about it. I can't force them to let me be a teacher.

There are other things I'm interested in doing, but I don't know how one goes about doing them, or if I could find a job doing them at my age. But I love psychology, archaeology, zoology, and writing. I could write killer ethnographies. I'd also make an excellent proofreader.

Anyway, about the attorney, if you've any suggestions, I'm wide open at this point. And thanks!

 

[JamesDillon]

I know one attorney in Denver, and I just emailed her to ask if she knows of any public interest groups that might provide representation or legal advice on a pro bono basis. I'm informed by her out-of-office message that she's on vacation this week, so it may be a few days before I hear anything. I'll let you know when I do.

 

[slingblade]

I'm very grateful for your time, attention, and help.
Thanks so much, JD.

 

[BlackCat]

Hi, I actually did read through this entire thread, and you have my condolences. I don't know what else to say other than, hang in there, and you've done a great job sticking through this mess.

One thought that I did have, that others didn't mention was, do you have to teach high school? What I mean is, it's possible to go back to school, get your Master's degree (in anything you want), then, you can still teach, only now, you can teach whatever you want, and at the junior college level. At that level, there's no student teaching or mentors. It's all you.

You'll probably hate that idea though, because it involves more money and more schooling. But, here's why I think it's good: if you go back to school, you can delay paying off your loans, giving you some breathing room; your degree is not wasted, in fact, you're building on it; and you'll still get to teach!

That's how it is around here, anyway, but I'm sure it would be similar where you are. Just another idea for you....

BlackCat

 

[slingblade]

Hi, I actually did read through this entire thread, and you have my condolences. I don't know what else to say other than, hang in there, and you've done a great job sticking through this mess.

One thought that I did have, that others didn't mention was, do you have to teach high school? What I mean is, it's possible to go back to school, get your Master's degree (in anything you want), then, you can still teach, only now, you can teach whatever you want, and at the junior college level. At that level, there's no student teaching or mentors. It's all you.

You'll probably hate that idea though, because it involves more money and more schooling. But, here's why I think it's good: if you go back to school, you can delay paying off your loans, giving you some breathing room; your degree is not wasted, in fact, you're building on it; and you'll still get to teach!

That's how it is around here, anyway, but I'm sure it would be similar where you are. Just another idea for you....

BlackCat

And a good idea. I love being a student. I could be one for the rest of my life and be happy.

Can I do that through distance learning? My school offers only an MBA and a masters in education. I'd rather not work with anyone from that department any more, as you can imagine.

I've wanted to teach at my college, or frankly at any college. I'll look into this, and thanks for the encouragement!

(And wow...you read through 10+ pages? Thank you!)

 

[Ducky]

And a good idea. I love being a student. I could be one for the rest of my life and be happy.

Can I do that through distance learning? My school offers only an MBA and a masters in education. I'd rather not work with anyone from that department any more, as you can imagine.

I've wanted to teach at my college, or frankly at any college. I'll look into this, and thanks for the encouragement!

(And wow...you read through 10+ pages? Thank you!)

SB- PM me about this.

 

[slingblade]

my evaluations

Never mind this post. Sorry about that.

 

[BlackCat]

And a good idea. I love being a student. I could be one for the rest of my life and be happy.

Can I do that through distance learning? My school offers only an MBA and a masters in education. I'd rather not work with anyone from that department any more, as you can imagine.

It depends on the school and their programs. I would suggest looking into the junior colleges and universities in your area to see if they offer a Master's degree through distance learning or if you can transfer there. I understand not wanting to work with "those" people anymore.

I've wanted to teach at my college, or frankly at any college. I'll look into this, and thanks for the encouragement!

(And wow...you read through 10+ pages? Thank you!)

You're welcome. I did so because it was so compelling, like a good book, I had to see how it ended! (But it seems the ending hasn't been written yet....)

BlackCat

 

[slingblade]

Damn. See? I told you I can't do endings!

(Actually, here's one)

And then it came to her. The perfect revenge, and one perfectly suited to her talents and disposition.

She got up from the couch, wiping the tears from her glasses, and padded quietly into the den. Stale cigarette smoke hung in the darkness, but she dispelled that by lighting a fresh one and flipping on the light switch.

As she sat down and booted up the computer, she wondered if she should bother with the standard disclaimer, that "no relation to actual persons either living or dead" crap.

Nah. What would be the fun in that?

-30-

 

[JamesDillon]

Slingblade,

Sorry for the long delay; I've been stuck in Canada without regular Internet access for a week now (hopefully I'm going home tomorrow). I heard from my friend in Denver last week, and she had a few ideas as to how you might pursue legal advice if you're still interested in doing so. She recommended contacting the law schools at Colorado University or Denver University to ask if they have employment law clinics (courses in which law students take on pro bono cases). Also, she suggested that you might call the Colorado Bar Association for an attorney referral. Unfortunately she didn't know anyone who practices plaintiff's-side employment work.

I hope that helps-- good luck!