A Not Quitting Letter
It has become its own internet genre-- the "why I am quitting" teacher letter. It is apparently on the rise again, because lately lots of folks have been forwarding examples to me. And I don't want to seem unsympathetic-- it has to suck to feel so backed into the corner that quitting looks like your best option.
But still, I long to read something different. Something feistier. Something more like this:
Dear Board of Education:
Just wanted to know that I am not going any damn where.
Yes, a lot of people have worked hard to turn my job into something I barely recognize, and yes, I am on the butt end of a whole lot of terrible education policy, and yes, I am regular instructed to commit educational malpractice in my classroom.
But here's the thing-- you don't pay me nearly enough for me to do my job badly, on purpose.
I'm not going to make children miserable on purpose. I'm not going to waste valuable education time on purpose. I'm not going to teach them that reading is a miserable activity with no purpose other than to prepare for testing. I'm not going to tell them that these big stupid tests, or any other tests, or grades, even, are an important measure of how "good" they are or how much right they CURMUDGUCATION: A Not Quitting Letter: