Saturday, March 12, 2011

Seeing Pink


1500 pink slips will be sent out from S-- D---- U------ S------ District, my employer. I have been on a leave of absence for a few years and I am planning on returning to the class his fall. I should be safe, prior to my leave, I worked for 9 years, but I know that my return will displace a newer teacher. I just don't know what to say about the state of our country's education system. When I left, I had a maximum of 20 students in my full day kindergarten class. Of my 20 students, I 'd say 80% spoke another language at home and I was unable to communicate with about 75% of the parents. We had refugees and immigrants from Somalia, Kenya, Burma, Cambodia, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam and Sudan. One of my first years, I had 11 different languages spoken by families and 14 out of 20 of my students began that school year at the very young age of 4. (In California you can begin kindergarten at 4, as long as your 5th birthday is at the beginning of December)
Primary classes will now have 30 students. This is why teachers will now be expendable, students will just be packed into classrooms.
I can't wait!
I don't know where I will be or what grade I will be teaching, the district will place me where I am needed. If you are among the pink slipped, I am so sorry.

4 comments:

~* steph :) *~ said...

beautiful card, sam. love the strips of patterns, the cute apple and ribbon and sentiment. wow, thirty students, that's a lot. best wishes as you start up again. have a great weekend! *hugs* steph :)

Natalie Elphinstone said...

What a difficult situation. Can't imagine what you must be feeling right now. But wishing you all the very best.

jen said...

Fabulous card- of course. Wishing our education system was more highly valued.... I hope you know that to many of us it is!!!!

Lexi said...

Don't. even. know.what.to.say....
Except you can move to MO and live on my basement and we can scrap :) I know you have mixed emotions. I will be praying for you!