rubysparkle

Here is a run down of that has been happening over the past 5 days. I copied this from another blog I keep.


September 11/06...

I'm leaving my teaching position.
I'm not quiting the Calgary school board but I can not remain at the school I was placed at. I am requesting to be placed on the substitute list as soon as possible.
I was placed at a segregated special ed school. I have never seen a segregated special ed school. I thought they no longer existed & were a civil rights violation. I was wrong.

I have taught special ed (and home ec) in BC for 9 years in inclusive, integrated situations. The kids were in the regular schools with regular kids. They may have their own classroom & program needs in some situations but they were not completely separated from "normal" kids. I thought I'd be ok with segregation. I was wrong.
I find that it really, really bothers me & weighs heavily on my conscience. I feel sad. I think segregation is the wrong thing to do. It goes against my values & principles as an educator & human being.
The students at this school are great & I have enjoyed being with them. I think they deserve more.
The staff at this school are amazing educators & wonderful people. We just have very different approaches to special ed.


Update September 12/06...

So I have resigned from my contract.

They are quite pissed off with me. I have spoken with 2 people from Human Resouces. They do not believe that a profound conflict with my values & philosophy as an educator are a valid reason to leave my placement. They believe that I am unprofessional, unreliable and I am not to be trusted. They asked me to prove how & why they should trust me. They believe that it's more professional to remain in a placement where I do not believe in the methods & philosophy being applied.

They tried to use guilt, threats & intimidation to get me to change my mind (This will go on your file! you may never teach here again! what about those children-you're disappointing them!). I get the feeling that they are shocked by my ability to stick to my guns & not be a push over. They will be having a meeting about me early next week to determine if I am worthy of the sub list!

I spoke to a teachers association rep & he told me that they will most likely "punish & make an example of you". I was told not to be suprised if I get fired even though they desperately need home ec & special ed subs. He said"they don't give a damn what your values & philosophy are". My school principal totally supports me & my decision. She thinks what I have done is admirable & to be respected. She will be calling HR to advocate for me.


September 15/06...

Today I spoke with my school principal. She called Calgary Board of Education (CBE) Human Resources & told them that I am not flawed or unprofessional, that my placement at this school was a mistake & that the placement process is flawed. She told them that if I had been placed in a home ec or integrated special ed position that this situation would not have occured. She told them that she knows I'm a fantastic, creative teacher & that even after I gave notice that I continued to put in 10 hour days in the school, attended staff commitee meetings & did volunteer work within the school.

I was also told by another alberta teacher association rep. that the CBE human resources department is run by Telus (an international communications company)! It is not run by the CBE, they contracted it out.


Update September 18...

The CBE teacher staffing & recruitment department falls under "Talent Management & Sourcing" I find that odd. I'm not a teacher, I'm talent.


Who knows what will happen now. I may have to look for other work if I am not permitted to be on the sub list.
I guess that is the price I must pay for sticking to my values & beliefs as an educator & human being.