Reduce, Reuse, Recycle :) Hold the line or return to class for a 2 week cooling off period so that mediation can (might) happen. Although it was pretty hot outside this summer it was very cool as far as negotiated talks go, dont know how much cooler things could possibly get in two weeks. But, back to my dilemma...decisions, decisions. So, if I return to class without the security of a signed, fair deal and the stress and worry that I may be turning around and walking out on my students again shortly, this is what I have to look forward to: - tension between admin and teachers - uncertainty about what I am and am not supposed to do over and above teaching - inability to put parents and students at ease, or even answer their questions properly - A class room equipped with nothing but desks, chairs, a table, text books ( not necessarily enough for each student), one shelf of classroom reading materials (the kids should burn through those in about 2 months), a roll down screen, and.....an overhead projector (remember those), hopefully there will be a few 1/4 full bottles of paint and some brushes that last years teacher managed to stash away. I wasnt allowed to enter the school this summer to bring my truck loads of personal and non-tax deductible resources in to get prepared to meet my kids needs the best way I can. I dont mind not being ready because it is for a very important purpose, a purpose that will hopefully involve less truck loads of personally bought supplies and resources because funding for these basic educational needs will improve. If you are not sure what personal resources I am talking about, please ask, or look at any basic elementary classroom on the internet or tv. Anything you see that I havent listed above has either been bought by the teacher or with donated money raised by parents, NOT through government funding. Last year we ran out of copy paper and it is now an optional purchase added to students school supply lists!!! Dont even get me started on art or science materials (psssst, I buy a lot of them). Schools cant afford the basics, but Im being asked to meet the many diverse needs of my learners thanks to removal of class size and composition language from our contract. These needs could be any combination and number of learning disabilities, chronic health issues, physical disabilities, brain injury, giftedness, autism, ADD/ADHD, ESL/ELL, not to mention an average learner who may need a bit of support or one on one time here and there. 30+ kids in my room, periodic visits from an education assistant depending on need and availability, whats the big deal? Im learning in university (Im in my 7th year and teaching full time) that I can meet the many needs of my learners with a few simple teaching and classroom adaptations and accommodations, and remember, I only know about these because I personally paid to go back to school to learn them. Unless teachers are able to pay for and attend specialist training, there is no funding or training provided to prepare us to meet the increasing classroom demands as support funding decreases annually. We are, for the most part, left to our own devices to figure it all out. So back to my easy classroom fixes, which I do believe in by the way: - create several quiet spaces in your room equipped with visual cues to focus, calm, self regulate, etc. have cushions and hands on materials for the student and sound blocking earphones - provide all instructions and directions orally, visually with picture cues, with kinaesthetic options when possible, provide recordings of instructions when possible - provide reading materials at all levels, for all your units and projects - have computers, iPads, and a smart board for those who learn and focus best through technology - create differentiated options for lesson activities and projects (basically plan and prepare for 3-5 different ways for students to learn the same content) - work in small groups, have student conferences, assess progress and adjust lessons I could go on, but I wont. Now think back to what my classroom is equipped with presently. Do you see any problems I may run into making these adaptations and accommodations? No only can I not personally afford it, I dont think I would get any sleep and who is going to train me to run all the small groups each doing something different, and who is going to help me make sure my kids are learning despite any difficulties or challenges they are facing. This hands on, visual/audio, inquiry based, high tech classroom sounds fantastic and one I would dream to teach in, but I need funding, training, and physical help to make it work. Fortunately, and much thanks to the generous donation to local community service club, our school has 15 mini iPads to share :) Without the type of help and adjustments I have outlined, teachers are not meeting the needs of all their students and are not helping them achieve their personal best. It can be done, but not on a shoe string. Real class size and student composition limitations need to be in place or the majority of students cant receive the support they need in order to achieve. Each student in BC receives an average of $1,000 less per year than any other student in Canada when it comes to education funding. With out a doubt, I would choose to HOLD THE LINE, and continue the fight for a better learning environment for all students. Please believe me when I say that the system we have now is failing and will continue to decline as funding reduces each year. If Im not mistaken, the government is actually changing special education policy so that disability categories that used to bring funding to schools, now no longer qualify for funding. Another sneaky, covert way to strip funding with out setting off too many alarm bells. Oh yeah, and I wouldnt mind a raise either.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 04:40:19 +0000
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