I work in Romulus, Michigan. This semester, I have 22 classes in a week.
Last semester, I had 24 classes in a week) (Next year, it will be
different. The school is building a sixth elementary school. I haven't
heard a single thing about a part time art teacher. Which means I may
not be sane by this time next year.) I see the children for 16 weeks, and
then get a fresh batch at the middle of the year. I travel between three
schools. (Thank god the people who do the scheduling were traveling
teachers at one time and understand not to schedule me between two
schools in one day.) I have between 25 (k-3) to 36 (4-6) students in
each class. I have no time between classes for recovery and am expected
not to be a second late. (There are two of us at the moment for the five
elementary schools.
My cart is a metal TV cart in one school, and a 100 lb. cabinet on wheels
in another school. I have to carry my water with me in three to four 2
liter pop bottles with a bucket to store the dirty water. (I pray that
the children do not lock themselves outside when the dump the water for
me.) I share the gym closet in one school, hoping that my supplies are
not being knocked over by thrown basket balls. I have a small closet in
back of a special ed. class in another school. ( I pray that they don't
change their room around so that I have to move all of their stuff to get
the cart out in the morning. )
Thank god I have one art room in the third school. (The art room school
ends my week on a wonderful stress free day. If I run short of supplies,
all I have to do is walk to the storage area. I also have better success
with students completing their projects with skill and not frustration.
I also have less behavioral problems.) I am expected to do displays in
the hall ways of each school, do at least three art shows (where I mount
all student work selected), I teach after school art in one school for
Boys and Girls, and have asked to submit a curriculum for a gifted and
talented program for the summer (Which I taught last year for the first
time, but didn't have to write a strict curriculum. Only half of the
students attended the program at any one time.)
I also don't have spaces for children to dry their artwork, and some of
the classroom teachers resent my intrusion into their workspace. So I am
learning alot in my second year of teaching. Has it always been this
insane?
