Old School:
- small, 'close-knit' environment (children often in the same classes together year after year)
- some parents/teachers have too close of a relationship w/ administration, resulting in many unprofessional situations
- no school-wide curriculum
- limited resources for special education/talented and gifted children
- long hours, low pay
- reasonable teaching load (1 class each--ELA & S.S., Sustained Silent Reading)
- remained in the same room for 2 out of 3 classes/ my own filing cabinet & storage space
New School:
- larger, more impersonal environment (children coming from a wide variety of schools/educational levels)
- administration has a backbone (my assistant principal is the bomb and will suspend a child in a heartbeat)!
- pacing guide, scripted lesson plans for the 1st three weeks
- somewhat adequate resources for special education/talented and gifted children (although not enough paraprofessionals and aides to go around)
- shorter hours, better pay
- reasonable teaching load (3 classes of ELA + duty 2-3 times a week)
- floating for all three classes, no filing cabinet or storage space beyond what the regular teacher gives
So, while I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to continue to teach, I've got to find my niche so that I'm not stressed out on Sunday evenings. Mainly, I need to find a way to balance the paperwork, get the discipline issues in order, and prepare as much as possible for the next day before I leave the school building.
