I am so sick to my stomach

I teach in a large high school in NYC. Let me preface this by saying my school is a dumping ground for the city. We get all the students that nobody else wants.


We have a new principal this year that is on a witch hunt. He is all about numbers and passing rates. Last semester he took classes away from teachers who have low passing rates....GOOD TEACHERS who didn't deserve it. The classes he let them keep are now being "team taught" with an AP and the principal is in their classes every other day.

So I am doing report cards and actually crying because I am passing kids who don't deserve it.

I am petrified of my principal. How sick is that?

I just can't take the pressure anymore and even though I know that I am a good teacher but he just manages to make you look so incompetent. The stress is insane right now at work and I don't know how much longer I can take this.

I have tenure but so do the teachers that he has vilfied. Our union rep is a waste of space....I think they are in each other's pockets.

It is awful and I hate teaching right now. I've been doing this for 7 years and never had I been so sick to my stomach.

Sorry I just had to vent

Message edited 3/22/2009 6:03:05 PM.

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

If I didn't know better..I would swear you teach at my school. We got an F in November and it has become a numbers game. Everyday we are being asked to do more and more data. It stinks but it is the only way we are going to keep our jobs.

One of my friends told our principal that we feel incompetent. It seems like teaching is secondary to all of the other things we are now being asked to do.

I understand your frustration, but I feel stuck because in this economy...

it's almost April.

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

what did the students you are passing really get? Try not to get worked up about it...when I went from NYC to the suburbs, I was shocked at how I inflated my grading poilcy, unconsciously. I'm not sure if it was age or I was avoiding hassels from parents.

Is it a regents course? if it is...then I would feel even better, since they need to pass that too.


I think it s ucks that your principal has made the staff feel this way. I worked in Cardozo and I LOVED my principal. You can manage a large school and be a leader who encourages, motivates and inspires. I have had principals I've hated too and it s ucks. {{{{hugs}}}}

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

The feeling of intense fear that your principal gives off is identical to my principal!

At our monthly staff conferences he threatens that he is going to be coming around and "checking up" on us and if he doesn't like what he sees we will find a letter in our file. He also admits that this is a tough economy and he will be letting people go if he doesn't like what he sees so "don't be surprised if you find a letter in your mailbox" He also accuses the staff of being lazy and not doing what we are told. My school has an A across the board on our school report card!! What more does he want from us?!?!?! My principal's middle name should be "verbal abuser"

He thinks he will gain our respect out of fear and control. It makes me sick. He's a despicable man and if the economy wasn't so bad, I would be sending applications out left and right!!!!!!!!!!!


I should probably do that anyway, it's just I have so many teacher friends who have been looking unsuccessfully for jobs for the past 2 years- so I feel like what makes me so special that I will find something in the next 6 months?

Hang in there! It's almost the summer, at least! Just know that unfortunately, there are many of us suffering right there with you.

Message edited 3/22/2009 7:12:17 PM.

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

The education field is not supposed to be this stressful.

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

I teach in NYC too. It's a crappy time to be a city teacher (though it's never been easy) and I think what you are going through is happening all over the city. As a previous poster said, it's not supposed to be this stressful. But I find myself getting more and more angry because I feel like those of us who work in NYC, especially in the poorer communities, are expected to pick up the slack for the parents who don't hold up their responsibilities. The media and the politicians find it much easier to vilify teachers.

I have a feeling that your principal is a Principal's Academy person based on his tactics.

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

I can totally sympathize with your situation of feeling pressured to pass kids who don't deserve it.

We get called in & lectured if our passing percentages are too low (like it's OUR fault if kids don't show up, or do no work).

I have a nice principal who isn't mean to us, BUT the pressure is still there.

The kids know all about it too, and it throws their accountability out the window & makes grades seem like a joke! I've had kids tell me "I know you're going to pass me because you have to pass enough kids... you don't want to get in trouble!" Isn't that just awful?

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

I am so sorry you feel this way...I know working in a city school is tough enough as it is. there is so much pressure and politics and number numbers numbers!

Whatever happened to the fact that teachers are suppose to teach, be creative and stimulate young minds? It seems all that stuff we looked forward to is replaced with fear of losing our jobs over numbers!

If i wanted to be stressed about numbers I would work in the corporate world.

Many hugs

I hope that you can come to some kinda of inbetween decision on what you are going to do about the grading.

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

Teaching in the NYC system right now, SUCKS! Things really are out of control and so STUPID. The sickest part about it all is that people are making tons of money coming up with these ideas. I am hoping it all calms down but I really don't foresee it happening. I feel like it will be a long 20+ years. The ways things are now is something I never signed up for. 5 year olds are expected to do things some adults can't.

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

Posted by mathteach

If I didn't know better..I would swear you teach at my school. We got an F in November and it has become a numbers game. Everyday we are being asked to do more and more data. It stinks but it is the only way we are going to keep our jobs.

One of my friends told our principal that we feel incompetent. It seems like teaching is secondary to all of the other things we are now being asked to do.

I understand your frustration, but I feel stuck because in this economy...

it's almost April.

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

I hear you and the data piece is important, but if it is data just for the sake of data, then what?

What really needs to be looked at is why the students aren't completing the work. Are they not there? Is the work to hard? What do you really know about these students and what they REALLY can do!

It is so hard! I am DOE as well! The numbers game is a hard one, but since approaching it differently this year, I have learned a lot more about my students! I would love to know where you teach! If you feel comfortable, FM me! I teach high school as well on the UWS!

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

Same thing going on down in my school in Florida

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

Thanks Ladies! It is nice to know I am not alone is this. I keep telling myself it is almost April!

As for data...we have more data inquiry teams than needed. We crunch all these numbers but never seem to apply them.

I'm just tired of all the BS and scare tactics.

Re: I am so sick to my stomach

Posted by PennyCat

The feeling of intense fear that your principal gives off is identical to my principal!

At our monthly staff conferences he threatens that he is going to be coming around and "checking up" on us and if he doesn't like what he sees we will find a letter in our file. He also admits that this is a tough economy and he will be letting people go if he doesn't like what he sees so "don't be surprised if you find a letter in your mailbox" He also accuses the staff of being lazy and not doing what we are told. My school has an A across the board on our school report card!! What more does he want from us?!?!?! My principal's middle name should be "verbal abuser"

He thinks he will gain our respect out of fear and control. It makes me sick. He's a despicable man and if the economy wasn't so bad, I would be sending applications out left and right!!!!!!!!!!!


I should probably do that anyway, it's just I have so many teacher friends who have been looking unsuccessfully for jobs for the past 2 years- so I feel like what makes me so special that I will find something in the next 6 months?

Hang in there! It's almost the summer, at least! Just know that unfortunately, there are many of us suffering right there with you.