Trying again!

I guess I have a hard time believing that anyone really wants to read masturbary musings by some anonymous blogger. I have to remind myself that I read others' blogs, so perhaps there is an audience out there. Regardless, I suppose I can just treat this as a catharsis, something akin to my diaries of yore.


This fall I began my 15th year as a BCPSS teacher. In the fall of 1994 I was one of a group of teachers, mostly career changers, who saw ourselves as catalysts for change. We were not young idealists, but older, experienced adults who felt that we had something to offer the students of Baltimore. Of the 50+ individuals I started out with, 3 or 4 of us are left. I am on my way out as soon as I can secure other employment. It makes me sad. Very sad.

I cannot say that it's the students who are causing me to leave. Their behavior and the challenges they bring to school have certainly gotten worse, but that's not it. It is the fact that I've been through about 6 CEOs who have done nothing but thrust their unrealistic, poorly thought-out (especially the current CEO) plans. No one has brought any solutions that have been implemented for a long enough period that we could even see if they might work. We're constantly taking one step forward and two steps back. That's not progress, to be sure!

Then there is the BTU. OUR proud union! Our champion! HAH! The Union's sole purpose is to perpetuate itself. It's so caught up in the good ol' girl network that there is never the opportunity to get new blood infused into it. They are so caught up in Christmas parties, cruises and retreats that the needs of the teachers are barely addressed. Try reaching a field representative! Try searching for information on that joke of a website. The BTU is a joke. Alonso knows it and so he violates the contract (like he did earlier this month when he dismissed students due to heat, but made teachers sta) on a regular basis.

Now I can't blame the BTU without also blaming teachers. We get the union we deserve. Unless we become active, unless we hold the union accountable, unless we run for office, unless we vote in elections we will never have the representation that we need.