Change

My room mate from college visited. We had a great visit. She is one of those friends who is faithful and dependable. We once taught at the same school. It was a charter school in Vallejo. I only lasted on year. It was one of the hardest years of my life (and one of the best). Had I not been dating my husband at the time I would have been severely depressed by the circumstances I had to teach in. For example: going from room to room having all my stuff on a cart that I couldn't barely push from the main building to the portables because of the thick gravel between the buildings. Not having my own room. Teaching kids whose lives were in constant chaos who brought their chaos with them to school. A lazy administration. A board school board member who thought I was chicken for walking away from totally irate parent who thought that if she yelled louder I'd understand her better. Threats from a parent for treating her gay son like he was worth something. Not having enough books or resources to teach my subject properly. It is this environment that my room mate has been teaching in for nine years and counting. She finally decided to make a change but the economy tanked so she stuck right where she is right now. Not wanting to teach but having to stay where she is at so that she can pay all her school loans off. I now understand why teachers stop caring about their quality of work. It's hard to care when you're in a situation like this charter school provides. Obviously the challenges change from year to year but they are still there and they are numerous.