Did you ever wonder how they know how many kids will show up for kindergarten on the first day of school? And how many teachers they will need? Well, let me tell you....
There is a very important person in an office whose job it is to predict the number of teachers needed in every school to teach all the children that will show up the first day. That guy's job used to be alot easier when it was "little houses on the prairie" and the school was one room. But fast forward to 2008 and the job just got a lot harder. The big metropolitan areas and suburbs are growing faster than weeds and the formulas that worked before are not so accurate. Although the formula is usually right on, this year there was a glitch.
In all the planning and good intentions, we seemed to have 2 teachers too many on our kindergarten team. Two teachers who have spent the last week getting their room ready for the children. Two teachers who have gone to classes this summer to improve their skills for the children. Two teachers who have spent much of their time and own money to buy shiny new things for the children. Two teachers who showed up for the kids who didn't.
The children's parents have now registered for the first day of school and the projected number is way off. So way off that two teachers will not be needed.......thank you very much. Oh, but we need an extra teacher over here at this other school. And we need an extra teacher up here in this older grade.
Excuse me, we're down here in kindergarten crying.....give us a minute and we will switch gears. Teams aren't built in a day and you can not tear them apart in a moment's notice. So excuse us while we attend a pity party for our team members who are no longer part of our team. (This "team" just spent 3 hours taking down a classroom and moving it out ...then tearing down a second classroom and setting it back up down the hall.)
I know that I am not in control. And I figured out a long time ago that God's timing is perfect and I am not to question it (although...I do). So, I know in my heart of hearts, that this will all work out for the glory of God and for the sake of the children.....but I sure cannot see it now.
So, I ask you, God.....please give us the patience the next few days to see the changes and plans you have in store for us. Remind us that we are here for the children and you will use us where you need us. Amen.
Having been a teacher I can totally sympathize. This same thing actually happened at our school last year. A teacher quit the day before school started, and the principal tried to get my daughter's 1st grade teacher to switch to kinder. HUH??? Funny how to administration, it is just a numbers game, but to a team and especially to those teachers who have prepared, and prepared, their world are suddenly jostled so severely, that you just know the first few weeks are probably going to suck. So sorry to hear that your world has been jostled.
ReplyDeleteWow, that sure is a blow. I taught for five years (elementary school) and am now a stay at home mom. I always tell people that teaching is the hardest job in the world, as I'm sure you know. I hope you and your team will rise above the mess and have the best year ever!
ReplyDeleteOh that is so hard! My daughter teaches 4th grade. I hear these stories! Your team is in my prayers today!
ReplyDeleteHopefully you can recover quickly. What an emotional even to have to go through...physical, too. I'm sure which ever class you are in will be a better class of children because of you!
ReplyDelete*Heidi*
amen.
ReplyDelete