Oh, this thread! What it awakens!
As an OT I worked with kids a lot, and I am, and always have been a pied piper to children. There is something wonderful about every child than makes me grin all over when I see a face. I have NEVER not had a response. Nothing enriches me more than getting down on the floor with a child.
Nothing makes me angrier than any sort of cruelty to children. In fact, I am totally against the death penalty, but am prepared to make an exception for pedophiles. There, I have said it.
I think that children are open and vulnerable to us at all times, and people who take advantage, are cruel to, or even simply crush a child's spirit through not opening to them are the worst kind of people who I don't want in my atmosphere. They are the most toxic of all.
Why do I feel worse in the mornings?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Lesley,
C.
It's true Lesley. There is nothing like the good energy one feels when working with kids--their innocence and enthusiasm. It is renews your own spirit.Nothing enriches me more than getting down on the floor with a child.
C.
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Carol I so agree with you! Teachers are amazing human beings and I'm quite sure that I couldn't have done that job when I was at my worst. I was able to hole up in my office with the bathroom right down the hallway! I hope you figure out what's going on and can get back to feeling better. I also can relate to your principal story although in my case we have a new special education director that is on the spectrum and has zero personality with parents and staff and really should be sitting at a desk playing with numbers all day long!carolm wrote:Jeane, I think it would be extremely difficult to have MC and be a teacher. Where probably 50% of my time is spent alone, teachers always have to be 'on'. When I had days of feeling rotten often I could rearrange my plans so I could stay in my office. I could take meds and do desk work, phone calls, write reports, etc. If I were a teacher I wouldn't have that option. Teachers are amazing people- so intelligent and can multi-task like no one else. It's a high energy job that requires you to have your finger on the pulse of the needs of all 25 students in your class, and it's physically demanding as well as mentally rigorous.
I understand your choice to retire and take care of your health. I am weighing pros and cons of early retirement in another year and would work part-time or work at something else (but what?). I'm glad you are doing better with the addition of Elavil. Certainly it's been helpful to me.
take care, Keep us posted on your progress.
Monique, I think if you took a poll people would say "you just do what you gotta do". I'm often not at my best first thing in the morning, but I know that will pass. I trudge through, pick my priorities and still find ways to get the job done. And I'll use a sick day if I feel I have to. It's just the way it is now.
Carol
CathyMe-- your new director is on the spectrum 
Whoa, working with people is never a 'black and white' prospect. You have to be able to read people. I'm sorry (for your sake) to hear that. If not for my director I would be in much worse shape--literally hung out to dry. I'm meeting with him tomorrow regarding the situation and am anxious to see if my current 'mini-flare' resolves some after that, although certainly the soy ingredient in my Omega-3 supplement probably knocked me off course too.
take care,
Carol
Whoa, working with people is never a 'black and white' prospect. You have to be able to read people. I'm sorry (for your sake) to hear that. If not for my director I would be in much worse shape--literally hung out to dry. I'm meeting with him tomorrow regarding the situation and am anxious to see if my current 'mini-flare' resolves some after that, although certainly the soy ingredient in my Omega-3 supplement probably knocked me off course too. take care,
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Oh boy, like Lesley, the turn this thread has taken awakens so much for me, Carol.
I was a middle school English teacher. If MC had struck me down while still in the classroom, I would absolutely have been unable to work. I now recognize that I had a couple of pre-diagnosis episodes at school. Fortunately, the worst did not strike till the winter after my retirement.
I worked for five years (late 1990s) in a school whose principal initially thought I was the best thing that had ever happened to her school, but soon decided I was a threat to her authority, because I questioned her policy, did not allow her to bully me, refused to teach from a scripted program she favored, nor would I do unethical things regarding manipulation of standardized tests (at the time, this school's scores were the city's highest). I came to realize that she was probably at least bi-polar or had borderline personality disorder, and was set on creating a toxic environment I could no longer tolerate. After numerous stress-related health issues and a conversation with my father in which he suggested that if I did not leave, I might not live to collect my pension (I was in my late 40s with two kids about to go off to college), I left the district, where I had taught for 25 years. I walked away from a severance package, took a reduction in health benefits, doubled my commute, and had the absolute BEST last ten years of my teaching career I could ever have hoped for in another district that honored my experience and expertise in every possible way, including bringing me in at the top of their (lower) salary scale, which would now be unheard of.
Regarding special needs children, in this climate of data and more data, and relentless standardized testing, I believe many charter schools (which often cherry-pick their students) and principals whose evaluations may rely on standardized test results, have come to view our special needs children as liabilities they cannot afford to accommodate. It is beyond shameful. I believe this is only one reason why many teachers and parents around the country are now rising up in protest against the testing culture. Who, better than a teacher, understands how children develop and learn? Sadly, there are many business people and politicians who think they do.
Carol, if you do decide to retire early I'm sure you will find many options for employment in your field. I would suggest looking at local state/community colleges or private schools, or healthcare related agencies, as possible options.
I was a middle school English teacher. If MC had struck me down while still in the classroom, I would absolutely have been unable to work. I now recognize that I had a couple of pre-diagnosis episodes at school. Fortunately, the worst did not strike till the winter after my retirement.
I worked for five years (late 1990s) in a school whose principal initially thought I was the best thing that had ever happened to her school, but soon decided I was a threat to her authority, because I questioned her policy, did not allow her to bully me, refused to teach from a scripted program she favored, nor would I do unethical things regarding manipulation of standardized tests (at the time, this school's scores were the city's highest). I came to realize that she was probably at least bi-polar or had borderline personality disorder, and was set on creating a toxic environment I could no longer tolerate. After numerous stress-related health issues and a conversation with my father in which he suggested that if I did not leave, I might not live to collect my pension (I was in my late 40s with two kids about to go off to college), I left the district, where I had taught for 25 years. I walked away from a severance package, took a reduction in health benefits, doubled my commute, and had the absolute BEST last ten years of my teaching career I could ever have hoped for in another district that honored my experience and expertise in every possible way, including bringing me in at the top of their (lower) salary scale, which would now be unheard of.
Regarding special needs children, in this climate of data and more data, and relentless standardized testing, I believe many charter schools (which often cherry-pick their students) and principals whose evaluations may rely on standardized test results, have come to view our special needs children as liabilities they cannot afford to accommodate. It is beyond shameful. I believe this is only one reason why many teachers and parents around the country are now rising up in protest against the testing culture. Who, better than a teacher, understands how children develop and learn? Sadly, there are many business people and politicians who think they do.
Carol, if you do decide to retire early I'm sure you will find many options for employment in your field. I would suggest looking at local state/community colleges or private schools, or healthcare related agencies, as possible options.
Suze
APPLAUSE!!I walked away from a severance package, took a reduction in health benefits, doubled my commute, and had the absolute BEST last ten years of my teaching career I could ever have hoped for in another district that honored my experience and expertise in every possible way, including bringing me in at the top of their (lower) salary scale, which would now be unheard of.
Suze--
I'm applauding with Lesley. Good for you for taking such a big step to improve your situation, your health, and I'm sure to the benefit of your family in the long run. Every change I've made has always proved to be well worth the effort, and I expect the next one will be too.
High stakes testing has taken the art out of teaching and the movement to manage schools like a business that produces a manufactured product is very short-sighted and ignores the fact that children are very diverse in their talents, maturity, and backgrounds. How this escapes people is beyond me, but it does.
Carol
I'm applauding with Lesley. Good for you for taking such a big step to improve your situation, your health, and I'm sure to the benefit of your family in the long run. Every change I've made has always proved to be well worth the effort, and I expect the next one will be too.
High stakes testing has taken the art out of teaching and the movement to manage schools like a business that produces a manufactured product is very short-sighted and ignores the fact that children are very diverse in their talents, maturity, and backgrounds. How this escapes people is beyond me, but it does.
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou