I recently got a new job. I was formerly subbing and just switched to teaching. I’ve taught before so I know what you need in order to make a classroom function. However, nothing is going my way. For starters I have 192 total students for middle school. I was lied to about what exactly I would be teaching and how many total subjects I would have. I don’t have a planning period so that has to be done at home. I still haven’t been given keys to my classroom because they are busy so I have to ask someone with a master key to open it and i have to wait to use the restroom as well. I don’t have access to technology because they are working on it. I can’t see my students in my digital roster yet so I’m having to do it on paper and they told me that should take 24 hours. It’s been 6 days. Also, because I’m new, other teachers went to my class schedules and picked good kids out and gave me some very troubled ones on top of the ones I already had. They didn’t even make it a fair trade. Example, They gave me 8 student and took 4-5. My biggest class is now 35 but i only have 27 desks and i don’t have the space for more. The worst part is these students know I can’t access parent info so they are acting like they own the place and I have no control over it. I was known for having amazing classroom management skills but with not enough seats, no technology access, and support I have no backbone. I want to quit so bad especially with the level of disrespect I have endured so far but I need the job to support my family.
After a few days I need a mental health day. For now, I will look for another job that wont spike my heart rate all day. In the meantime, i will continue to put myself in that setting so my children never have to.