The Sad Reality of Teaching in New Jersey

I'm working part-time at a job I adore. The kids are amazing. The staffs at the schools I visit are kind, supportive, and knowledgeable. My bosses are incredibly disorganized, but still great people to work with. The pay sucks. Especially when there's snow days. I barely made tuition payments this past month for my licenses. That led me to the sad realization that, while I can keep this job for a little bit longer, I need to start looking for something full-time again. I need to look for a full-time teaching job that:

1) Isn't a mere replacement position for a pregnant woman who's just going to come back in 3 - 6 months.
2) Is dedicated to English, Spanish, or K-5 in some kind of combination of those subjects.
3) Will take a person with just two years of teaching experience and no standard license but a lot of provisional licenses.
4) Is full-time, meaning I work the same amount of hours but get a better salary and benefits.

It was impossible when I was looking for a job before. Nothing was open that I could legitimately apply for. When I did find those rare positions I could fill well, they were often code for "This is part-time. You will work to the bone and we will give you nothing." It's why I started with my company if the first place. They've given me experience, connections, and confidence in my skills. But I can't live on just those things alone.

Things are different now. I am more well-rounded. I am prepared to be competitive. The only question is, where will I be this September? Will I finally have my own classroom in a school that knows what I am capable of? Will I still be working for my same little company, hoping to get more hours? Or will I be somewhere in between?

Can't really know until I get there, I suppose.

RG

Would It Kill You Guys to Make Some Good Decisions?

Lately, I've been noticing a very disturbing trend among people I know. It's a trend that involves people chasing after things or people they know are terrible for them. A trend that involves making the worst possible choices and expecting the best possible outcome only to be severely disappointed.

And no matter how many times these decisions don't work out for them, these people keep making them. And then they whine about it. A lot. *sigh*

I want to be a good friend, I really do. I want to be there for people when times are tough and when times are good. But I don't want to be a part of watching people destroy themselves and others for no good reason. What is the difference between being a good friend and being an enabler? When does one stop and the other begin? Does telling someone "That's a terrible idea," put me in the bad friend box even if it's true? It seems that way, sadly.

Everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect. Hell, I know I'm not. Thing is, I learn from my mistakes. I try not to make the same one twice, never mind multiple times. And don't get me wrong, plenty of other folks I know also learn from their mistakes, and I respect them for that. I can always respect growth and change in a positive direction. I can't respect growth and change born out of selfishness or a change that harms others or oneself, intentionally or not.

This whole need to reboot is so I can grow in a positive direction and make choices that will make me and others happier in the long run. And really, as long as I don't stray from that, I'll be fine. I just don't want to go so far and leave folks behind. It's a real shame they've decided to walk backwards, because they won't find anything they need by going that way. I'd tell them, but it's not my place, apparently.

RG