Are you #^#&#(#))# KIDDING me?
Otherwise known as: my meeting today

Let's just say, it's a good thing I don't have to go to these meetings on a regular basis.

Let's also just say that I have pretty much decided, after the meeting, that I will NOT be teaching middle school next year (at least, not at this school). Immediately after the meeting, I shot an email to the 5th grade teachers, begging "Please can I come join you next year??!?" There is going to be at least one 5th grade opening next year, maybe more (depending on who comes back), so I have a good shot at it. Plus, they set it up kind of like middle school, in the sense that one teacher teaches science to all kids, one does social studies, etc. Right now, they ALL teach language arts (they only have 3 teachers, so they have designated math/social studies/science teachers)--so there's literally a perfect place for me in the team for next year.

That is, IF the principal and VP want me back next year (which is why it's a good thing I don't go to those meetings regularly, because I was getting some looks from them based on my very angry and hostile body language).

Basically, the meeting was a waste, and the problems that I described in my earlier post are not going to change, at least not as long as the current administration stays in place. We spent about 75% of the meeting talking about the other concerns on the list (I think they did that on purpose) so that we had to rush through the "lack of support in disciplinary matters" portion of the meeting. I'm paraphrasing here, but this was the general message:

1) If you can't handle the kids, it's because you're a shitty teacher and your classroom management sucks. There are no problem kids, only problem teachers.

2) Things like insuborniation are "level 1" offenses (verbal warnings, etc) and kids will never be suspended for that anyway. "Yes," one teacher was quick to say, "the FIRST TIME. Repeat offenses are level 2 and level 3" (suspention and expulsion). This is according to OUR CORPORATE HANDBOOK. The powers-that-be, however, basically said that they will handle discipline as they see fit. "There are teachers who NEVER send referrals to the office," they said, "because they can handle the students." Yeah, like the 5th grade team--BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN THEY **DO** SEND KIDS DOWN, SO THEY'VE GIVEN UP AND HANDLE THINGS THEMSELVES. I know this for a fact, because THOSE TEACHERS HAVE TOLD ME SO. Furthermore, middle school students ARE a whole different animal, and you can still intimidate elementary kids in a way that you can't with the older grades. And guess what--if EVERY SINGLE TEACHER in middle school has a problem with a student, and if that student has been EXPELLED FROM OTHER SCHOOLS, THEN NO, THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH THE TEACHER.

So tomorrow, I'm going to email the powers-that-be and put the bug in their ear now that I'd like to move to 5th grade next year (basically, put my "dibs" on it). I'll start off very complimentary and polite, that I genuintely like and respect them both, I love the school, blah blah blah. I can play the corporate-kiss-ass game with the best of them. I'll also acknowledge that as a first-year teacher, I know that I have made mistakes, that I can always improve in classroom management. and that I still have a lot to learn. However, I would prefer not to teach middle school next year because of a couple of students (namely, "F" in 7th and "D" in 6th). I'll say that I'm really sad that two or three students have "ruined" middle school for me, but that's how disruptive and outright disrespectful these particular students are. And I'll say, tactfully, that although I don't necessarily agree with some of their views regarding discipline, I have to agree to disagree, as I defer to them and their vast, almighty knowledge and wisdom, blah blah blah; therefore, since certain middle school students will continue to attend this school, I would prefer to not teach at that grade level.

What do you think? I do want them to know why I don't want to teach that level next year; I think it IS important for them to understand, especially because they're going to have one, MAYBE 2 returning middle school teachers for next year, whether they know it yet or not (although "0" is also a possibility, too, as my friend really wants to teach PE next year). However, I will still have expressed my respect for them and my desire to remain a part of the team; I will also take some of the fault/responsibility onto MY shoulders with the whole "I'm a first year teacher so I KNOW I still have a lot to learn, I've made mistakes, as well, etc" part, rather than saying "The fault is all with you since you won't do anything about these kids."

Suggestions?