Hi! I'm Fighter Chick's little sister, and have been teaching (music) for two years.
I would second the motion of trying another school before giving up entirely. Last year at this time I was working at a failing, poverty-ridden middle school, and felt exactly as you do. These feeling got darker as the year progressed and certain situations (student and administration) decayed.
All that changed with dumping that job and replacing it with two others. One at a private school and another at a public. There is a culture of respect and friendliness in both places. The change has completely restored my faith in humanity and education.
If you have a degree in what you teach, I would especially look into private schools. They do not have to deal with NCLB requirements and generally give teachers a lot more lattitude in what they do in the classroom.
BTW, I believe NCLB is due up for re-authorization during the next Congress.
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I would second the motion of trying another school before giving up entirely. Last year at this time I was working at a failing, poverty-ridden middle school, and felt exactly as you do. These feeling got darker as the year progressed and certain situations (student and administration) decayed.
All that changed with dumping that job and replacing it with two others. One at a private school and another at a public. There is a culture of respect and friendliness in both places. The change has completely restored my faith in humanity and education.
If you have a degree in what you teach, I would especially look into private schools. They do not have to deal with NCLB requirements and generally give teachers a lot more lattitude in what they do in the classroom.
BTW, I believe NCLB is due up for re-authorization during the next Congress.