Before I get started I have to share with you some troubling news. I've been diagnosed with an affliction. It's an affliction that I'm familiar with but from what I can tell this is a very specific version of the affliction that may even spread to Gnu. Before I get to the specifics of my affliction lets change the subject and talk about my former colleague.
A text message poured in from Gnu one day last week. I was a little hesitant before reading the message as I knew she was working with "bat shit" scholars and I was fearful that it was more bad news but I opened and read the message anyway. Paraphrasing, "I've just had a great week. There were only a couple eruptions but I think the scholars are finally settling in and we are going through our academic work stations and doing academics." I immediately texted her back, "that is great news." Right after I sent the text message to Gnu I sent her a second text message, "is it alright if I call you?" The reply back from Gnu said, "sure."
The cellphone only rang once when I heard the voice that I sat across from for over three school years say, "hey." "I'm so glad to hear that things are settling down for you," I said. "From the day I walk out the door I've been thinking about you and praying that things would improve." "Yeah, it took almost eight weeks but things appear to be finally settling down," Gnu replied. "I'm so happy for you," I said. I've been feeling so guilty that I abandoned you and left you to deal with that nightmare of a classroom."
As Gnu and I continued our conversation the topic changed and not for the good. Gnu speaking, "did you know the high school teacher that you were supporting found another teaching assignment and quit?" "No," I replied, "but I knew the teacher was looking and had two interviews scheduled." "Well," Gnu said, "she is gone and now there is no teacher or instructional assistant in either the middle school or the high school." "That can't be good," I commented. "Do you remember the middle school scholar that had a major eruption that ended with him giving Czar an overhand right to the left side of her face," Gnu asked me. "Yes." "Well, this scholar had another eruption. Adults were trying to keep him contained in his classroom but he forced the classroom door open despite two adults trying to keep the door closed. The adults thought this scholar would attempt to run out of the school like he did the last time but he didn't. Instead of running, he began attacking the adults. The hallway outside my classroom was chaotic. Adults were scrambling to get away from the scholar. A couple of the little scholars in my classroom were crying. I was so afraid that I locked myself into my classroom."
As I listen to this nightmare of a story I kept thinking about the decision to put so many scholars, from first grade to seniors in high school, with anger issues in such a close proximity to each other.
Gnu continued with her story by saying this, "Czar arrived in the hallway and made an attempt to get the angry middle school scholar to settle down. It didn't work as the scholar grabbed Czar, picked her up and dropped her onto the floor and starting hitting her."
This is easily the worse incident that has happened in the five years and seven weeks that I've worked with scholars that have an emotional handicap. As Gnu was relaying the story the thought that kept crossing my mind was what would I have done if I was still in the school. I'm not sure what I would have done but I know this much, if this scholar, that is a little shorter and at about my weight, came at me in a fit of rage I would have defended myself and I wouldn't have been by using the approved therapeutic techniques that I was trained to use.
I found out about my affliction in the strangest way. It was so strange that I had to schedule a luncheon meeting with my friend A.O. of Vino, at the Metro Diner, to discuss the matter. While we were eating, A.O.of Vino knew I was buying lunch as payment for his consultation services so he order a massive quantity of food, I logged into my blog site and showed him a comment that was left by anonymous directly on the blog website. When he finished reading the comment I said to him, "can you believe it, I have the sixth year affliction." "That's crazy," he said. "I know, I responded. "This is a sixth year affliction, not a first year, not a fifth year, not a tenth year, but a very specific sixth year only affliction."
While dining I realized that I had been seriously misdiagnosed by anonymous. In the past, anonymous told me that I worked in a school corporation that was "in a downward spiral" and I strongly disagreed. Thinking that Gnu and I had just started our sixth year in the same school corporation and the fact that I had departed, anonymous told me that I had the "six year burn out which so many others have experienced." Anonmyous went on to say that Gnu will be fine. She should apply to one of the eight or so surrounding school systems. This is what happens to most of these dedicated souls.
It's decision time. Should I come out firing with one barrel of my shotgun or both? Both! Listen carefully anonmyous, it is impossible for Gnu and I to have a sixth year burn out which so many have experienced because we changed schools for the start of this year. We are both at one of those supposedly better schools in the surrounding area. I am not burned out. I loved the school that I was working at and I enjoyed what I was doing. I chose to not return to my old school for one reason, I'm getting old and I didn't want to work a full time job anymore. Gnu, like me, loved our previous school. She chose to make a change for two reasons. First, the new school has child care services in the same building she is teaching in. Second, despite taking a pay cut to switch schools she made the change because in the long run she will make quite a bit more money than she could at her original school. So, to put an end to this downward spiral crap let me tell you this. Three times at my new school I was asked I if preferred to work at my new school or my old school. Three times I said as quickly as I can snap my fingers, I'd return to my old school.
The end. But I have more to say so stayed tuned.
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