When I first caught wind of this story, I really thought 'there is a teacher who shouldn't be in the classroom'. However, I have had a chance to read your blog, and while I don't agree with everything...I really do get it and I understand what you were expressing. As a fellow teacher I see personal responsibilities go right out the window, I see our measure of excellence lowered yearly, I see others being "set up" for the wrong reasons. I always thought teaching was about children and learning, but now I see it's about Power, Politics, and Paperwork. sad. I wonder if you were a member of a teacher's union and if that has been a help to you? I wish you all the luck.
I'm so grateful for my past teaching experience, in part because I gained insight into my own special snowflakes (bless 'em), and I also agree with you that the best lessons our children often learn are through their own failure.
My older son (13) got his first C ever this year. Kid's bright as the blazes, in our middle school's "accelerated" program, and he simply failed to get his make-up work in after an absence. Oops. He'll not forget again.
He told me what happened, I verified that was it with the school, and that was the end. He worked for and received straight A's the rest of the year.
From what I've read, Natalie, you were a good teacher and still are. I hope you're able to overcome this ridiculous behavior on the part of your former employer. And I wish you the best in winning your lawsuit.
It's not fair. It's unjust. It's cowardly and lazy (on the district's part). The students who had you for a teacher this year were probably the luckiest students in the entire CB District, and I'm sure they and their parents feel the same way.
That's not how the bosses see it, though, because they had their minds made up 12 months ago. Reality bites, and it bites hard. Here's hoping that you and your attorneys are successful at biting back. Good luck to you!
I'm sorry you weren't able to recover from this. I admire you for expressing yourself so honestly. Teachers are held to unrealistic standards these days. In 2005, I wrote a letter to the editor regarding an article that suggested teachers were at fault for the failure of California students to pass the exit exam. Instead of being published as a letter, it ended up front and center on the opinions page. Needless to say the principal bullied me out of the school and blackballed me from there. It took a year of teaching in Crip territory in South Central Los Angeles to get my reputation back.
Hang in there, Natalie. I admire you and you WILL find a school, students and parents who do as well.
Hi Mrs. Munroe, it's Adrienne from 4th block first semester. I just want to let you know my opinion on your class this year. I came into the class very skeptical about your abilities (after all I had spent a good six months hearing how horrible everyone thought you were). But after half a school year with you, my opinions were very different. I loved your class. Like every teacher there were some problems but I still enjoyed it. I've never really been one to care about English class but in your class I finally understood what teachers had been trying to hammer into my head for so many years. As a result, I did well. I'm not saying that I think what you did was good or acceptable but I'm saying that I don't think you should have been fired. You were definitely unjustly criticised. I feel bad because I was a source of the snacking but I also know that every other teacher allows it. I think if the district wants to help their students, they should take the same deep look at every teacher that they did with you. They'll see any problem they had with you was wrong with many other teachers. Thank you for a good year, Mrs. Munroe. I truly enjoyed it. -Adrienne
Thank you, Adrienne, for your words. I truly enjoyed your class as well. It was a learning curve for all of us, I think, because there were so few of us, but I genuinely enjoyed getting to know you guys and trying some fun stuff with you because I knew you'd all be open to it or it would challenge you but you'd rise to the challenge. There are good things that come from not-so-good things, and I count our 4th block among those. Thanks to you, too, for a good year. Best to you moving forward. Thanks for your hard work and for sharing some of yourself with the class--we were all better for it! -Ms. Munroe
After I first read the article, I was so angry with your administration I couldn't think straight. How dare they continue to punish you when you've already fessed up and apologized for the blog. You are an amazing example of grace under pressure, and I hope you get the justice you deserve.
Please feel free to comment. However, please note that not all comments will be posted, and that it does take time to read through them, so your comments may not be read the day you write them.
When I first caught wind of this story, I really thought 'there is a teacher who shouldn't be in the classroom'. However, I have had a chance to read your blog, and while I don't agree with everything...I really do get it and I understand what you were expressing. As a fellow teacher I see personal responsibilities go right out the window, I see our measure of excellence lowered yearly, I see others being "set up" for the wrong reasons. I always thought teaching was about children and learning, but now I see it's about Power, Politics, and Paperwork. sad. I wonder if you were a member of a teacher's union and if that has been a help to you? I wish you all the luck.
ReplyDeleteI'm so grateful for my past teaching experience, in part because I gained insight into my own special snowflakes (bless 'em), and I also agree with you that the best lessons our children often learn are through their own failure.
ReplyDeleteMy older son (13) got his first C ever this year. Kid's bright as the blazes, in our middle school's "accelerated" program, and he simply failed to get his make-up work in after an absence. Oops. He'll not forget again.
He told me what happened, I verified that was it with the school, and that was the end. He worked for and received straight A's the rest of the year.
From what I've read, Natalie, you were a good teacher and still are. I hope you're able to overcome this ridiculous behavior on the part of your former employer. And I wish you the best in winning your lawsuit.
It's not fair. It's unjust. It's cowardly and lazy (on the district's part). The students who had you for a teacher this year were probably the luckiest students in the entire CB District, and I'm sure they and their parents feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteThat's not how the bosses see it, though, because they had their minds made up 12 months ago. Reality bites, and it bites hard. Here's hoping that you and your attorneys are successful at biting back. Good luck to you!
I'm sorry you weren't able to recover from this. I admire you for expressing yourself so honestly. Teachers are held to unrealistic standards these days. In 2005, I wrote a letter to the editor regarding an article that suggested teachers were at fault for the failure of California students to pass the exit exam. Instead of being published as a letter, it ended up front and center on the opinions page. Needless to say the principal bullied me out of the school and blackballed me from there. It took a year of teaching in Crip territory in South Central Los Angeles to get my reputation back.
ReplyDeleteHang in there, Natalie. I admire you and you WILL find a school, students and parents who do as well.
Hi Mrs. Munroe, it's Adrienne from 4th block first semester. I just want to let you know my opinion on your class this year. I came into the class very skeptical about your abilities (after all I had spent a good six months hearing how horrible everyone thought you were). But after half a school year with you, my opinions were very different. I loved your class. Like every teacher there were some problems but I still enjoyed it. I've never really been one to care about English class but in your class I finally understood what teachers had been trying to hammer into my head for so many years. As a result, I did well. I'm not saying that I think what you did was good or acceptable but I'm saying that I don't think you should have been fired. You were definitely unjustly criticised. I feel bad because I was a source of the snacking but I also know that every other teacher allows it. I think if the district wants to help their students, they should take the same deep look at every teacher that they did with you. They'll see any problem they had with you was wrong with many other teachers. Thank you for a good year, Mrs. Munroe. I truly enjoyed it. -Adrienne
ReplyDeleteThank you, Adrienne, for your words. I truly enjoyed your class as well. It was a learning curve for all of us, I think, because there were so few of us, but I genuinely enjoyed getting to know you guys and trying some fun stuff with you because I knew you'd all be open to it or it would challenge you but you'd rise to the challenge. There are good things that come from not-so-good things, and I count our 4th block among those. Thanks to you, too, for a good year. Best to you moving forward. Thanks for your hard work and for sharing some of yourself with the class--we were all better for it! -Ms. Munroe
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAfter I first read the article, I was so angry with your administration I couldn't think straight. How dare they continue to punish you when you've already fessed up and apologized for the blog. You are an amazing example of grace under pressure, and I hope you get the justice you deserve.
ReplyDelete