wonder if I will ever get over this completely....

Never been good at letting things go.  It's no different this time.

Have seen three people, two of them men, do the very same thing I was persecuted for. Today I attended a dance, where the perpetrators were allowed to be in residence.  It's like what they did never happened and I am furious.

Still conflicted

Got a call this morning offering an interview for a 5th grade position at a local elementary school. I was tempted, for about 0.6 seconds.

No.

I came south to teach 6th grade science.  I will do that or go home to Carolina.

I refuse to hold back on my feelings.  I posted this on facebook this evening. No more worrying about offending facebook friends.  This is war. We must win.

"The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who, in times of crisis, chose to remain neutral"
                                                                              Dante

The union meeting is going forward after all.  Mr M. made it sound like he was hosting it, a technique he is apparently known for doing.

I will speak at the meeting and will tell how I feel.  Some will not because of fear. I fear none. I can just go home and I will.

A miracle happened in Alabama....deep red Alabama; a democrat won a senate election. I feared the republithug would, despite his being a creep.  I am ecstatic at being wrong. It is the first time in months that I feel hope, real hope.  And I love it.

Now I am conflicted ...

And I hate it.

There is a big meeting coming up.  Two meetings actually.

One involves the union, meeting with the superintendent over conditions at CLMS.

Been there before.  Didn't go well at all.

The other involves an admin arranged meeting  with what amounts to the second in command. Mr. M is trying to cover himself.  Wants to address "rumors."  One rumor claims he is looking at eliminating art class.  He denies that emphatically.  I have not heard about that.

Mr. M also claims he is not "after" anyone over referrals or their involvement with the discipline committee. That one I have heard about.  I sort of believe it.

From the start, I have heard (and seen) that admin does not back us.  The kids run the school. They do. That is the reason they felt empowered enough to do what they did to me.  And I am not the only one that's being harassed and bullied.

Bullied...never though I would ever apply that term to me.  Never.  But it's true. It's happening.

These kinds of things seldom end well.

Bureaucracy will defend itself and its own.  I did not come south to deal with this....

I am still livid...

And it doesn't seem anywhere closer to being over....

I didn't want to go this morning

didn't want to.

My second day back was okay, but I am becoming more and more aggrieved at admin every hour.

Jensen Beach

 Sitting here at the Cafe.

Earlier I sat at a table just across from the beach itself.  Haven't been on the beach as of yet, but I plan to be.

Just posted my lesson plans for the week. It's the only school work I've done so far this weekend. I'm about three hours drive away from Clermont.  Will do a little when I get there.

Notice I have not yet ever referred to 'Clermont as "home."

It isn't.

And they ARE!!!

Already decided this is a one year thing.  It might not last that long.

I am STILL angry.

Time to go down and sit in the surf for awhile.....


I did.  Got too intimate with some waves and got dragged, face first, across the sand. Some people had to help me get to my feet.

I hate growing old.

Stuart, Florida

I will going over to the beach in the morning.

This has been a hell of a three weeks.  Needed to get away.  So I did.

The GOP passed it's tax reform.  God help us. They aren't even bothering to hide or mask their intentions anymore.

Obamacare is gutted.

Social security and medicare are next.

Democracy on the ropes.

Where is this going to end?

Will it?






Something happened when I arrived at CLMS yesterday morning.  Anger.  A lot of it.

Got a few quizzical looks.  I was told that one student called me "Mr. Perv."  The overwhelming number of students were delighted to see him.  Three insisted on hugging me.  THEY did it. I did not.

Mr. M "counseled"me.  I absolutely HATE that.  Told me to high five and not hug and no more covering eyes.

That is what this thing has been about all along.  I've seen other teachers hug too.  Why was I the only one sanctioned?  Answer?  Because four students decided to target me.  One told another to go over and get me to put buy arm around her and he would take a photo with his cell phone.

A setup. A freaking ambush.

Why?  Because students feel empowered.  They feel they can bully not only one another, but teachers and teacher assistants too.  And I haven't been the only one.

I am still angry tonight.  Gotta get my head straight. Got to or I am going to say or do something I should not.

Already got into a bit of a shouting match with one of the Ops. Told her we were setting ourselves up for a lawsuit.

We are.

A few weeks back, a high school student blew his brains out because he was being bullied and nothing was being done about it, just like at CLMS.

My first morning back, the principal proclaimed that use of profanity will get an automatic suspension from school.  Bad words. A suspension.  But threatening students and teachers, harassing them...

This sucks.  It really does.

Makes me want to pack up and go home.  I very nearly did. Anything else happens and I will, immediately.

I was told that students went to the office in tears over my being gone, that parents emailed and raised  a fuss.  One of them asked straight out where I had been.  I did not reply fully.  Mr. M advised me not to.  My estimation of him has dipped significantly. I no longer have any respect for any of the admin. None of them.

Another student asked me if I was going to go away again.  My departure will upset a lot of people, should that happen. I know that.

But how much is a guy supposed to take??????