Anonymous, East Coast, USA

I found your wonderful website through a search on "teacher attrition." Many of your points really "hit home" with me. I am a second-year teacher who is being severely abused at work- administration, mentor teachers, and classroom teachers. I am riding this position out until the end of the year- need to save money. I am going to join the site within the next few days. I want to write my story carefully and completely. I have received abuse from many staff members, and I'm sick of it.

Right now, I am recovering from a nose injury inflicted by one of my students. The principal and mentor teachers complained that I hadn't been given the students (most of whom have not learned to respect anyone or anything) enough time at "centers." Yesterday, I decided to put the three reading groups at different centers. At dismissal, I asked the students to clean up and return to their desks. Most complied, but three continued to play at the computer. I asked them twice to shut down the machines. They refused. I went over and knelt down to get the mouse. Student A goes, "We're gonna do it!!!" and whipped his head around, hitting my right nostril with his skull. (Keep in mind he shaves his head and is pretty solidly built!!!!) I immediately put my hands to my nose and started crying from the impact. I had a mass exodus of kids running into the hall to get the nurse. (This is where it gets PATHETIC!!!!)

The librarian began buzzing for the nurse. The nurse did not respond, so the librarian went looking for her. One girl went to the office, and the secretary and cafeteria cook came running back. There I am in my room, crying from the pain. They watched my class AS I WENT TO FIND THE NURSE!!!! (Meanwhile, other students went to the principal and VP.) I found the nurse, who didn't even look at my nose first. She was like, "Oh, who did this to you?" "Oh, and you have a nose ring in!" To make matters worse, she could not even tell if my nose had sustained any injury. I was getting questions like, "Is your nose usually red in that part?" "Is it the same shape it has always been?" Then, she took her sweet time getting ice!

She made me file an incident report as I was crying and holding ice to my nose. I was so upset that she couldn't tell me if my nose was going to be okay. Thankfully, the principal and VP were concerned. However, the nurse gave me misleading medical information. She said not to lie down because of a nerve in my nose that could send something to my brain that could knock me unconscious for awhile. (I am not kidding...those were her words!!!!) She was unable to explain herself, and I was trying to gain more information. She also told me not to drive home; however, I have a brand new VW and I did not want to leave it in the lot overnight. (We teach in a bad neighborhood.) We are kind of accessible by the subway and bus, but none of my friends would do that simply for their safety. I was scared, and scared that I could knock myself unconscious. So, the nurse sends me back to my room.

In my room, I began to feel lightheaded. I was scared- was this from my nose, my blood sugar, anxiety. I started to walk back to the office, but my legs started to wobble. I felt very woozy, so I said to the special ed and other third grade teacher, "Guys, I'm feeling really lightheaded." They just looked at me. I was losing color and holding the wall....and they simply stared... I repeated myself....they stared!!!!! I finally said, "Someone, please hold me and get me to the office!!!!" So, the other third grade teacher was like, "Oh, alright!!!!" and she walked me. I made it to the office and could not walk to the nurse's room. I got myself on the floor and put my head between my knees. I was saying I was going to pass out and I was scared. I asked for soda or juice to revive me, but the nurse would not comply!!!!! The principal and secretaries were asking the nurse what to do....but she was like, "um, no, she shouldn't have a soda because it's not her sugar." They were like, "Well, what are you going to do? " I was so out of it that I said to the nurse, "I 'm scared! What 's going to happen!?!?!? I couldn 't even get a straight answer! Am I going to have an aneurysm or embolism???? " (Judging from her reaction, I don 't think she knew what those were!!!!)

I took myself to the bed in her office and she conjured up a WARM CARBONATED BEVERAGE. She was like, "drink this! " I said, "Ummm, that 's warm. It 's going to sit on my stomach. " I had to ask her if I had an anxiety attack.

So, I waited for my husband to come and follow me home in his car. I chatted with the staff, three of whom were genuinely concerned for me. I heard that some other staff members were like, "Oh, Mrs. Teacher is just exaggerating! It was an accident! "

I am okay now, just infuriated that 1) eight year old students responded better to my emergency that a licensed health care profession and certified teachers 2) a state licensed LPN was not able to survey my injury and give me a competent medical response 3) certified teachers were not able to respond with common sense and compassion when I was fainting

****************************************************************************** I compare my experience to what I have seen recently. In Montreal on a Friday, EMTs were administering care to someone on the street, and people were staying with the person. When my uncle started having a heart attack on the streets of NYC on a Wednesday morning, people stayed with him, called 911, talked to him, gathered his belongings, etc. (Unfortunately, he died about 20 minutes later.) I have also seen kids try to help each other when one is injured. One would assume that business-people in large cities would not have the compassion to help strangers, but they do! Worse, my school nurse knows that my uncle died suddenly of a heart attack SIX MONTHS to the day of my nose injury. What she said was horribly unethical and... STUPID!!!! ******************************************************************************

I'm sorry to vent, but I feel I need to tell someone who has been there!!!!

NOT ONLY IS THIS A NEW DEDICATED TEACHER WHO IS LEAVING THE PROFESSION, BUT HER STORY ILLUSTRATES HOW INTENTIONAL THIS ABUSE IS. READ HER FOLLOWING COMMENTS SHOWING HOW HER SUBSTITUTE WAS PERMITTED TO ABUSE HER WHEN SHE HAD A TRAGEDY IN HER FAMILY, BUT WHEN SHE WORKED AS A SUBSTITUTE, OTHERS WERE PERMITTED TO ABUSE HER. IT PROVES THAT THE GAME IS ALL ABOUT WHO IS “IN” AND WHO IS “OUT” AND NOT ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD FOR CHILDREN, TEACHERS, OR SOCIETY. NAPTA

This has been bugging me for a long time.

When my younger sister passed away, it was unexpected and at the end of the 2003-2004 school year. I ran out of emergency substitute plans and didn't think of replenishing them because it was the end of the year. I am a healthy woman and did not anticipate her death because she was in a tragic accident.

Anyway, I typed up a list of things to accomplish for five days. I left hard copies and my photocopier key for the substitute. I told her all she needed to do was make photocopies. She started yelling at me, telling me she refused to make photocopies. She also lied and said she made copies for me the last time. I explained the situation to her, but she continued to yell. I said, "A little sympathy would be nice" and walked out.

Administration was more concerned with my lack of substitute plans than my personal situation. The sub tracked down the secretary to tell her she was going to file a complaint with the principal. When the secretary said the principal was busy, the substitute went on and on about how I yelled at her and she didn't appreciate it.

Karen, why do we permit these people to work in our buildings? If this substitute was working for a temp agency, the agency would have fired her for being unprofessional. Additionally, it has been to my understanding that a substitute functions like a temp and is supposed to be able to handle things under all kinds of circumstances.

I believe your website features stories where teachers have been laughed at for having relatives die, or treated terribly after they've been diagnosed with cancer or diabetes. I am wondering if, in my case, it was a racial thing. I am a white woman who was working in an all black, inner city school. The entire staff was black, as was the sub.

It still makes my blood boil to think people can act like this.

I forgot to mention I am going back to school for a certificate in legal assistance. This means I will become a licensed paralegal.

Right now, I am a "school-based" substitute at a local high school. The administration is supportive of me, but I dislike how they insult the instructional assistants. Teachers treat me as a peon, which is unprofessional. Again, in any corporate or government place, staff would not treat a temp this way.

The teachers are never rebuked for such snobbery because they keep the school highly ranked. No, not every child learns and many play favorites. Only the rich kids are doing well. The learning disabled kids have been screwed with so many times. To the point where a boy with severe reading difficulties is forced to take four reading (2 English, 2 history) classes just to get his diploma. I'm really glad this boy is working at the local supermarket and has pride in what he does there.

I've realized there are other ways to help kids on the side. I refuse to be part of such a messed up system.

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