I feel like a giant asshole

[happyholiday]

That is absolutely unacceptable. Poor kids.

[irishbride2]

Oh man that is terrible poor kiddos!

[noodle]

Aug 7, 2014 19:23:54 GMT -5 janiejones said:

Are there any other dedicated "classrooms" that could feasibly use a space this small?

I'm wondering if they really will swap it for a study hall or special ed. class and give the K group a proper class. I mean, is there any chance they are sticking you here to force you to quit?

This is what I was wondering, too.

You are an incredible teacher for being so invested and wanting to advocate for this class of kids. 

[EmilieMadison]

I bet no one said anything because WTF are they going to say to meg, the teacher, who I'm sure the parents realize didn't choose this? I'm also betting that there are parents who's kindergarteners are the first child and they dont have anything recent to compare this to. Also, shock factor.

I would still contact the DoE and the Fire Marshall anonymously because all of the parents have good cause to make this type of complaint and it really could have been any of them.

[irishbride2]

Aug 7, 2014 13:42:42 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Aug 7, 2014 13:35:39 GMT -5 irishbride2 said:

ok

Are you confused? 

huh? no. I just was acknowledging your comments. 

I'm not confused. I'm not even being combative. I feel for the OP.  As I stated, I was not being negative. I was simply answering another posters questions about mat leave. 

[Deleted]

OMG that picture makes me so sad! No natural light.

[EmilieMadison]

Aug 7, 2014 19:32:28 GMT -5 irishbride2 said:

Aug 7, 2014 13:42:42 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Are you confused? 

huh? no. I just was acknowledging your comments. 

I'm not confused. I'm not even being combative. I feel for the OP.  As I stated, I was not being negative. I was simply answering another posters questions about mat leave. 

ok

[hymen]

Those poor kids.

Ugh, I wouldn't know whether to cry or throw shit.

[Eagles]

Aug 7, 2014 17:57:42 GMT -5 W.T.Faulkner said:

Aug 7, 2014 17:38:40 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Come now, this is exactly like pages' suggestion that women simply not accept jobs with benefits not to their liking. There are many areas of the country where teachers look for jobs for YEARS, jumping through every hoop. Megachoo is in an area like this, I believe. It's not as simple as just not teaching at a charter school; she may not be able to find a job at a regular school where she'll be represented by a union.

It is actually almost impossible for Megachoo to get a district job in her same city, given the $93 million deficit in its budget at this time. She could try to find one in the suburbs, but there are hundreds of applicants for every open slot. Teaching in this part of PA is competitive as fuck.

I really think that people who don't live here cannot understand the absolute clusterfuck that is education in the city of Philadelphia.  I know it's bad in a lot of places, but the students in this district are absolutely fucked.  They are essentially being set up to fail.

Megachoo, that's awful. Do you want me to call it in? I don't give a shit.

[kaybee85]

My sister teaches at a charter in Chicago, and this reminds me a lot of that. It really upsets me the way charters have turned into 'the answer.' I'm pretty sure her school DOESN'T HAVE A LIBRARY. Granted, it is in the city, and there is a public library nearby (across the street? down the block?) but damn.

[sawyerthedestroyer]

WHAT THE FUCK.

[Deleted]

The space between where the two chalkboards met in my K classroom where I used to sneak to kiss boys was actually bigger than this ( no really it was )

That is disgraceful!

[Deleted]

Also - how do you put a wall up in a hallway & make a room? I
Won't people have to walk through?

[berbles]

Aug 7, 2014 20:06:04 GMT -5 @savestheday said:

Also - how do you put a wall up in a hallway & make a room? I
Won't people have to walk through?

I'm assuming the left side of the picture used to be the dead end of a hallway.  

[W.T.Faulkner]

Aug 7, 2014 20:13:36 GMT -5 peachy said:

I am really surprised the parents didn't say anything. I hope you or your husband or whoever calls the fire department. WTF

I'm not.

The schools here have been broken for so long that parents have likely realized that complaint and outrage and advocacy are so often futile. And I wager that administrations like this one bank on no parent push-back: they know they can get away with this bullshit here, and that's why they do it.

Honestly, shit like you wouldn't BELIEVE happens in largely unregulated charters here.

[Eagles]

Aug 7, 2014 20:29:14 GMT -5 W.T.Faulkner said:

Aug 7, 2014 20:13:36 GMT -5 peachy said:

I am really surprised the parents didn't say anything. I hope you or your husband or whoever calls the fire department. WTF

I'm not.

The schools here have been broken for so long that parents have likely realized that complaint and outrage and advocacy are so often futile. And I wager that administrations like this one bank on no parent push-back: they know they can get away with this bullshit here, and that's why they do it.

Honestly, shit like you wouldn't BELIEVE happens in largely unregulated charters here.

Plus, charters were sold to them as the great salvation for their children, so their only options are to swallow bullshit politely or send the kids to public school, where there aren't enough desks, and no paper, nurses, or counselors. 

[bab]

I can't really comprehend why charter schools are gaining popularity. What's the draw? I'd rather work on improving the established schools in the area. Why waste funds on this type of BS? Also, it seems as if the teachers at charter schools have no recourse whatsoever when crazy shit goes down. Obviously, I'm sure there are some wonderful charter schools, but as a whole, are they really better than regular public schools?

[kaybee85]

Aug 7, 2014 20:40:57 GMT -5 bab said:

I can't really comprehend why charter schools are gaining popularity. What's the draw? I'd rather work on improving the established schools in the area. Why waste funds on this type of BS? Also, it seems as if the teachers at charter schools have no recourse whatsoever when crazy shit goes down. Obviously, I'm sure there are some wonderful charter schools, but as a whole, are they really better than regular public schools?

I think people really buy into the idea that private business = good in this country. Have you seen Waiting for Superman? It made me ragey. So biased. Anyway, that seemed to be the pro-charter argument.

[mirandahobbes]

That is so depressing There isn't even room for circle time. My K classroom had their own bathrooms, sand tables, dress up space, water table, arts and crafts...like a classroom for 5-6 year old's should have. I bet the Principals office is bigger than that room.

[W.T.Faulkner]

Aug 7, 2014 20:33:30 GMT -5 Eagles said:

Aug 7, 2014 20:29:14 GMT -5 W.T.Faulkner said:

I'm not.

The schools here have been broken for so long that parents have likely realized that complaint and outrage and advocacy are so often futile. And I wager that administrations like this one bank on no parent push-back: they know they can get away with this bullshit here, and that's why they do it.

Honestly, shit like you wouldn't BELIEVE happens in largely unregulated charters here.

Plus, charters were sold to them as the great salvation for their children, so their only options are to swallow bullshit politely or send the kids to public school, where there aren't enough desks, and no paper, nurses, or counselors. 

(Points to your eyes, then points to my eyes, then points to your eyes again)

[cville]

Aug 7, 2014 20:40:57 GMT -5 bab said:

I can't really comprehend why charter schools are gaining popularity. What's the draw? I'd rather work on improving the established schools in the area. Why waste funds on this type of BS? Also, it seems as if the teachers at charter schools have no recourse whatsoever when crazy shit goes down. Obviously, I'm sure there are some wonderful charter schools, but as a whole, are they really better than regular public schools?

PREACH.

I have trouble hiding my WTF face when people talk about sending their kids to charters. 

[bab]

Aug 7, 2014 20:47:29 GMT -5 cville said:

Aug 7, 2014 20:40:57 GMT -5 bab said:

I can't really comprehend why charter schools are gaining popularity. What's the draw? I'd rather work on improving the established schools in the area. Why waste funds on this type of BS? Also, it seems as if the teachers at charter schools have no recourse whatsoever when crazy shit goes down. Obviously, I'm sure there are some wonderful charter schools, but as a whole, are they really better than regular public schools?

PREACH.

I have trouble hiding my WTF face when people talk about sending their kids to charters. 

they need their thinking caps bleached so they can come to the right conclusion about all that charter school mess. 

[Eagles]

Aug 7, 2014 20:46:15 GMT -5 W.T.Faulkner said:

Aug 7, 2014 20:33:30 GMT -5 Eagles said:

Plus, charters were sold to them as the great salvation for their children, so their only options are to swallow bullshit politely or send the kids to public school, where there aren't enough desks, and no paper, nurses, or counselors. 

(Points to your eyes, then points to my eyes, then points to your eyes again)

[W.T.Faulkner]

Aug 7, 2014 20:40:57 GMT -5 bab said:

I can't really comprehend why charter schools are gaining popularity. What's the draw? I'd rather work on improving the established schools in the area. Why waste funds on this type of BS? Also, it seems as if the teachers at charter schools have no recourse whatsoever when crazy shit goes down. Obviously, I'm sure there are some wonderful charter schools, but as a whole, are they really better than regular public schools?

Charters are appealing because they are able to be more innovative, as they're not bound by district regulation. The charm of charters rests on the ideal that teachers and administrators would be able to do what they needed to do without the rigmarole of district bureaucracy.

That has made it a playground for corrupt assholes. lol

[gingerjar]

I am literally stunned that no parents said anything after seeing that room.

[silva]

I'm so pissed. THIS is our future people. ugh.

[themysteriouswife]

My daughter went to an amazing charter school. It had higher ratings and test scores* than the school we were zoned for. The classes are smaller and the school had more resources available. The parents donated a lot of time and supplies to make it work. It is regulated by the county and state BOE. They can't do whatever they want. There is a well regulated board who oversees operations too.

Not all charters are shitty. I do believe there are charters who take advantage. I also feel there needs to be a complete overhaul in all sectors of education. The US is pretty far behind in the education game.

* I think state testing is BS, but that is not the argument at hand.

ETA: we moved or she would still be there.

[KB]

Where the hell are the kids supposed to even put coats or backpacks? This is awful.

[redheadk]

I am kind of laughing at the responses about no natural light. I've been in many elementary schools and many of them had lots of classrooms with no outside windows. The school I taught in only had 3 classrooms with windows. Are windows really that common in other people's experience?

[steph196]

Totally unacceptable.