Stumbling Through Work
Working in education is to stumble through your everyday! We love what we do, but staff, families, policies, regulations and sometimes even the children make us quit everyday then come back the next day. Just remember, you are not in this alone.
Stumbling Through Work
Bubble Sheets and Here We Are
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Welcome to Stumbling Through Work, where educators figure shit out. I'm your host, Jarek Huff, and I'm here to explore and share the complexities of our work and let you know you are not alone. Before we start though, please follow this podcast and share episodes with others. You can find me on my website www.jerickhuff.com where you can find links to my social media and where I share information and tips for educators. Now let's jump into today's episode. Hey team, welcome to another episode of Stumbling Through Work where educators figure shit out. I came across this story in my Instagram feed and I really wanted to share it with you all. So here you go.
SPEAKER_00:I'm no child left behind. I showed up in 2002 with a simple dream. Every child proficient in reading and math by the year 2014. I brought you endless standardized tests and punitive measures for schools that didn't add up and given to learning how to fill in bubbles. And don't forget, a lot of joy for learning was lost on everyone in school because the end goal between teaching to adapt. If my call third and your school, you deal with it. Don't call me. Screen or fine and part of their future. Don't blame us if they can't focus. Yeah, I'm not buying supplies. I already pay taxes. Schools can figure that out. And here we are, lowest test scores in 30 years.
SPEAKER_01:Whew, okay. That she summed that up real well because I'm like, this video is a lot, and we definitely have to unpack it. Let's start off with No Child Left Behind, and there was definitely a switch in school. And although this was focused primarily on K through 12, early childhood education began more structured academic learning, focusing on literacy, so vocabulary, letter recognition, things like that. But it started to put academic pressure and undermined play-based learning. So within early childhood, we believe in play bas play-based learning because that's how children learn the best by being hands-on, by having control over the learning. But this kind of took that away from that when you're focusing on math and literacy, and you focused on that a little more than social, emotional, and creative development. And then we moved into common core. And ECE has common core aligned early learning guidelines. I did the quote sign with that, so I'm going to quote common core aligned early learning guidelines. And they do align with pre-K, but it's still kind of the same thing. It's you're taking away that play-based learning, you're making kids become really academic. And by pushing the math and literacy, it actually creates frustration and anxiety, and it makes children have a loss of learning, and they just don't care. And we're seeing that now where kids just don't care about school. And I can see why. But it is some money, so we got a little bit of change. Although it is not guaranteed year to year. So one of the things we went through this year was kind of wondering was it gonna be here with all the cuts and things that are happening like that. I will say ESA encourages alignment with pre-K as it says it on paper, but we just don't know what the hell that means. And yeah, we we don't know what what the hell that means, and then we add in the parent aspect of that. Some of these parents just give I don't give a shit, and I can kind of see why just a little bit. Now hold on. Now the attendance thing, I bring your damn kid to school. That I'm not gonna, I don't I don't understand. To me, it's more work having a child at home than dropping them off at school. That I I don't understand, but and I and I can also see how behaviors because behaviors are tied into screen, they do reflect one another. When children have more screen time, we tend to see worse behaviors out of them. But when you're pushing kids through the system as we've been doing since 2002, they've had little time to focus on that social and emotional development, those behavior skills that they need. So, of course, when you're pushing them through, of course, they're gonna be nasty acting and have ugly ass attitudes. For parents, I can see their frustration a little bit because common core is one of the most complicated things that I've ever experienced in my life, and as an educator, I feel like I had to relearn how to do things in math, and I just go, this is a lot of work, and it's frustrating, and it's a lot of extra steps, and it doesn't account for our children that are that learn differently. So our children that may have ADHD, our children that get IEPs and 504s when it comes to literacy or whatever need they may have, you're adding in extra steps, and I get it, they're trying to break it down to make sure that you're under that you're understanding and not just memorizing, but it's confusing because I've looked at it and said, Well, what why the hell are we adding in these extra steps? And I'm like, What you're gonna do is just do it this way. This is how I learned it, and this is how you're gonna do it. It is frustrating, so I see why parents just say F it, I just leave it to the teachers, but when you do that, because you're asking a generation before to teach math to help their children with math in a way that they just don't understand, and then when you just say F it, the teacher can help you, you can deal with it at school. Now more behaviors have come across because now it's showing that my parents don't care, so why do I care? And now we're having this issue on top of you know, coming back from COVID, so we have COVID issues, then we have screen time as an issue, it's just a lot happening. We have definitely derailed, and I really do like the way that she summed this up in a cute video because it kind of just explains where we are now. But share this with someone who needs to know why these young adults are acting like toddlers in public and why they can't read past a sixth grade level, and we'll be right back. We all want our schools or programs to be the best, and although every school is different, all successful programs have the same fundamentals. Best practices for high-quality preschool, after school, and enrichment programs by Jarek Huff share standards to foster a high-quality program. These tips will help you put your best service forward, focusing on your children, families, and communities. Best practices for high quality preschool, after school, and enrichment programs by Jarek Huff is available on Amazon and Amazon Kindle. And we're back with asking for a friend. I need help urgently. I just started at a school this year in August. Things were going well, but right off the bat, two different teachers who have been at the school for two to three years warned me about a teacher they had issues with in previous years, and nothing has been done. Fast forward to last week, I have seven or eight teachers who have come forward saying that saying the same thing this tea about this teacher, that she makes a hostile work environment and feels threatened, and they feel threatened and harassed. A few examples are giving them extra work, creating extra meetings, saying things like admin said, or you need to fix your classroom management, etc. But not in a helpful way, more of a demeaning way. Most recently, this teacher was caught on camera bopping another teacher in the forehead for what I assumed was a joke, but the teacher was extremely upset about this and it not only caught them off guard but made them feel like there are no boundaries. I'm stuck. I don't know how to proceed. HR is also is almost useless and everything is and everyone is looking at me to fix things. Given the long history and countless issues with the teacher, I'm curious why nothing was ever recorded. Some of the things I was told are very concerning, but on the other hand, this teacher seems to own up to her mistakes and tries to correct them. She is a wonderful, highly effective teacher. Any advice, insight, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Dear lady person, who I'm assuming you're the principal, director, whomever it may be. I cannot fathom a grown adult bopping another grown adult on the forehead. I actually forgot about everything else that I read and that stuck out to me. Just her going blop like I shouldn't be laughing, but the shit is funny. You know, this is, I think, because no one is having an honest conversation with her. People like to beat around the bush, they like to say things that are really quote unquote professional. And by being professional, you're actually not being professional. Someone needs to have an honest conversation. I will pull homie in and I will say, Hey, I have a few concerns that we need to go over. One is about, you know, keeping our hands to ourselves. That is definitely unacceptable. I don't even want to know the reason why, what the purpose was for it, but we shouldn't be touching anyone at all. For me, these type of conversations, these aren't going back and forth conversations. These are this is about to be what it is. You're about to hear it, and let's move on. Some things are coaching, some things are, you know what, let's let's come together for a resolution, some things are not. You are nobody's administrator, so why are you giving people extra work? That is not your job. Let me go back. Um, telling other people to fix their classroom management. That is not your job and your responsibility, lady. What I need you to do is focus on your children in your classroom. That's what you need to be doing. And of course, I wouldn't say it like that, but I would say I need for you to focus on your classroom. What's happening in someone else's room is not your concern unless it's an imminent, imminent threat to children at the moment. That's about it. Somebody just needs to have a real conversation with her and not like, well, you know, we need to be nice to one another and make sure we're spectacular. She obviously isn't getting the shit, so say it in a way that she understands. Break it down so it is forever broken, and then she will get it. But do it respectful though. Moving on to the next one. I got called in for a quick chat by my boss yesterday. Went into the office and there was a police officer. We've called you in because there's been a report that you've been drinking alcohol in the classroom. I was stunned. Of course, I completely denied it, and I was asked to take a breathalyzer test, and I blew a zero. Then it hit me. I was drinking a bottle of Blue Gatorade yesterday and left it on my desk. I showed them the bottle and there was a massive sigh of relief all around. The parents were called and the police officer showed them the bottle, and the kids said, Yeah, that's the alcohol. From now on, all liquids go into a metal flask. Lord, Lord, Lord. Now, I am a big fan of always drinking out of something that's not labeled and in a clear container or in some type of flask like that for multiple reasons. One, I guess that's one now because I wouldn't would not have thought of the alcohol thing. But the reason why I do it is so that children aren't seeing like certain logos, they'd be like, Oh, that's McDonald's, and like I want McDonald's, and you created a whole situation. But later, yeah, you need to do that. Let me tell you how pissed I would be that y'all done wasted my time. Got a whole police officer up here. I wonder, was he like a detective or just a regular beat cop? So he up here in uniform, embarrassing us all down to the schoolhouse because this child said that I had alcohol in the classroom. Whew Lord, I can only imagine how nervous she was. I she like, what the hell did I do? And lady, you've been drinking down in the classroom. Well, yes, make sure you keep everything. I actually do usually keep things in a in a some type of flask or cup just for that reason. So I recommend anyone to do that going forward. Alright, here's our next one. Last year, another lead teacher at my school was charged with domestic violence involving her 15-year-old daughter. The details are unclear, rumors vary, but the verified the verified facts are her mugshot and the charge. Family domestic violence, battery, which is a misdemeanor, listed on the county website. Another teacher reported it to our director at the time, but she remains employed. One rumor suggests it wasn't just a fight, but the teacher beat her daughter and the daughter called the police. Again, that's a rumor. Recently, the teacher told me she had to call the cops on her daughter again for violent behavior. This concerns me, especially since her daughter may come up to the preschool and possibly retaliate. I'm also uncomfortable with someone charged with domestic violence against their own child working with young children. She also babysits some of the kids that are enrolled at the preschool. I'm considered reporting the teacher in the center for failing to notify the state. I'm hesitant because no one else has reported it, and I don't want to make things worse for her, but I'm generally concerned for the safety of the children and staff. Am I overthinking this? Am I meddling? The I'm gonna start off with the obvious. Why is your ass in her business? Let's go back to beginning. The details are unclear, rumors vary. Why do y'all even know what is happening? Are y'all just sitting around looking at other people? I just have questions. My next thought is if it's on the county page, I'm pretty sure that the state is somewhat aware. Now, I don't know what your child care licensing regulations are. It could be a variety of situations, it could be something that was on, she could have not said anything. One, that is a possibility since you want to be that person, lady. That could be a possibility, but it could be something where she's already had to go to child care license and maybe explain the situation to them. There are so many things in here that actually have nothing to do with you, but I'm finding you all in this woman's business, and that I can't understand. This woman should not have to come and explain herself to you or anybody else except for her boss and who needs to know. And you're like, oh well, no one did anything. How do you know that? How did what does your classroom look like right now? Obviously, you're not thinking about your kids because you sitting here writing on you sitting here writing this shit down. Look, I didn't got mad. Just thinking about how this woman pissed me off. Because people love to well, no one did anything. That's not your business. You don't know what what the director has gone through, you don't know what she's gone through with child care license, you don't know any of the business. And then you keep saying, Well, the rumor, again, that's a rumor. This, what is this, Lindsay Lohan? I'm sick of rumors. This is out of control. And for you instigating, I wish I knew you were so I could pull you in for gossiping. Somebody needs to pull them in for gossiping and go through their handbook about gossiping and creating a hostile work environment because that's what I'm getting from this. Because she about pissed me off for the damn day. Am I over thinking this meddling? Yes, your ass is meddling. This ain't got shit to do with you, but you all in the Kool-Aid and don't know the flavor. Yes, that came from the 90s. I said it. I think that she should stay out of it because there's so many things. Once you report it to your director, that's all that you need to do. And you don't need to be concerned and just know that whatever handles us, handle it. You don't need to know this woman uh background, just like she don't need to know all of your background and what you did and what you could have done, what you could have not have done, what you didn't did and got a sponge off your record, which you didn't did and slid by and got by. None of your business. None of your business. And on that note, we'll be right back. I love sharing information with educators and program administrators. I have had so many successes, but also so many failures in my education tenure. I want leaders to know what not to do, but better than that, what to do. So, I decided to write a helpful guide. Best practices for center program and activity directors. It's short and to the point. It's a compass to guide education leaders. These best practices will give you a foundation to lead your school, program, or organization. You can find best practices for center, program, and activity directors by Jared Cuff on Amazon or Amazon Kindle. Alright, here is our interview corner for today. You ask the question, how can you apply your specific skills to help the school achieve sustainable growth? And they respond with, I know how to talk to people. Don't hire them, but some of y'all will because y'all hire out of desperation. The question is asking, How will you help us? What benefits do you bring us? Why should I hire you over someone else? I want you. Let me say that again. I want you to tell me three to four ways you could help us. Now, if you tell me more than four ways, I'm gonna think you're full of shit because ain't nobody that damn productive and that that damn good. So I want you to tell me about four different ways. Every position is responsible for this, no matter what the position, whether you're a teacher, you're admin, you're a custodian, every position matters and it helps with the growth. If you are a custodian, it comes down to keeping the school efficient and clean, making sure there are no hazards, it's creating an environment that is clean and makes people want to enroll. I think the teaching one is pretty obvious, you know, working with the children, growth, administrator is more of your customer service and handling problems. No matter what it is, every position helps with growth. I want to see if you, the person that's being interviewed, knows how this works into the bigger picture. Because saying I know how to talk to people, that don't work for me. That shit don't fly. Because we all could talk to somebody. You just skating through, just trying to say what sounds good. No, I need details. I need to know what in your personality is actually going to help us. So, moving along, it's policy time, and remember, something became a policy because someone then messed the shit up for all of us. The policy is drugs, narcotics, and alcohol. And why is this a policy? Because Brenda then came to work smelling like the devil's lettuce, the left-handed cigarette, the jazz cabbage, the old sticky icky. I don't think we need to continue, but we're going to for dramatic sake. We're gonna talk about how she has the glazed over look in her eyes, and how she walks into her classroom and just stares at her children as they're running, hitting, and meleeing one another, doing cartwheels and backflips, and then she just looks at them and says, Damn, y'all doing the most. Brenda, or anyone, you cannot come to work under a control substance. Period. You just can't. Of course, there's a supervision reason. Actually, I did have a teacher come to work high one time, but she didn't realize it. And I actually did not fire her, and this is the reason why. So she went to the doctor the day before and had um, she was having some back pain, and they prescribed her Tromadol, I believe, and she didn't take it that day. So she's on the way to work, she takes she took the bus, and while she's on the bus, she decides to, ooh, my back hurt. Let me try this experimental drug that I've never taken before in my life. And she pops one in. When she came through that door, I was I was in my office. Uh, I think my assistant director at the time came and got me and was like, I think you need to see so-and-so. Something ain't right with her. She she giving, she like she high. So then I go out there and I'm like, hey, what's going on? You can see it in her eyes. They were just glossy and wet, just moist in eyes, uh moist eyeballs. And I was like, come come talk to me real quick. And then she was able to say, like, hey, I I just took these pills, it was for the pain. I said, Okay, girl, you are definitely high. You cannot work this way. And we actually ended up, um, actually, my assistant director took her home. That is the only time that that was acceptable, and she technically wasn't with the children, but she walked in. But and I urge everyone, if you take something, please make sure you you take it before you come to work so you know how your body handles it. Because she obviously did not know how her body would handle that. So, well, that's all that I have for y'all today. And all I can say is our education has been on a journey, and it continues to be on a journey with our children. Don't drink alcohol while you have children, and um somebody please fire Brenda. Other than that, I'll talk to y'all next week. Bye. That's it for today. If you like this episode, it would mean so much to me if you left a rating, review, and subscribe to the show. I'd love to hear from you. You can visit my website, which is in the show notes, to contact me, and I hope you have a great rest of your week and speak to you all soon.
