I've never been more discouraged in my life.  I'm alone, I'm broke, and I teach in a state that hates teachers.  How do I know that the state hates teachers?  This is how - the budget for the coming year will do this to education:

1. Eliminates 9,306.5 education positions -- 5,184.5 teachers, 3,850 teacher assistants, and 272 Support Personnel (guidance counselors, psychologist, etc.).

2. Provides NO pay increases for educators, continuing North Carolina’s race to the bottom of national salaries. In 2007-08 North Carolina was ranked 25th in the nation in teacher pay, last year our state was 46th. With no additional pay, next year North Carolina undoubtedly will be at the bottom.

3. While gutting public schools and educators, the legislature adopted a $50 million school voucher program ($10 million 2013-14, $40 million in 2014-15).

4. The North Carolina Budget eliminates career status for all teachers. Senate legislation, that received no public hearings in the House, was placed in the budget to eliminate career status for teachers. The new standard requires each school district to identify the top 25% of effective teachers without providing any criteria on how to accomplish this ranking of professionals. Teachers will be placed on a 1, 2, or 4 year contract. The top 25% will be given the option of receiving $500 to compensate them for the loss of due process rights. NOTE: the new system will be phased in over the course of the next five years.

5. North Carolina no longer values educators who work on their continuing education through Masters or Doctorate level degrees. Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, educators will receive no additional pay for additional degrees unless your job requires (counselors, school psychologists, etc.)

6. Grades Schools (A-F), 80% based on standardized test scores, 20% based on growth. No other variables will be considered in this grading.

7. Eliminates the Teaching Fellows Program, once heralded as a national model for recruiting teachers into the classroom, the program is no longer funded.

8. Reduces targeted education funding:
• Cuts Textbook funding by $77.4 million dollars;
• Cuts Classroom supply funding by $45.7 million dollars;
• Cuts Limited English Proficiency funding by $6 million dollars.

9. Retired educators will receive NO Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA).

10. The General Assembly will be back next year.

Why do I teach and why do I teach in NC?!

Holy Moly

Well...

I've moved from my teaching position at East... now I'm teaching at AC Reynolds High and I think I'm still in shock.  It's the end of the fall semester and I'm still in shock.  The program is MUCH bigger, the administration is completely different and the expectations are overwhelming.  I've gotten through two major concerts, three or four public outreach performances and final exams.  Now I'm looking at festivals, two more rather large concerts and the spring musical... and then, of course, there is graduation and all tat jazz.  I'm exhausted, but it's nice to get to teach such advanced music.

I miss my kids at East.

I've had another evening of remembering people and places and I'm feeling things I haven't felt in a while.  I hate it when this happens.  It hasn't happened in quite a while, so I'm wondering now how long it will last.  I hope not long.  I hope I can find a distraction.  This is the time I wonder what exactly is wrong with me and reexamine all the things I hate about myself and try to figure out which thing (f not all of them) is the cause of my single-hood.  I don't actually mind begin single... I can tend to be rather selfish at times and I don't know exactly what I would do if I were tied down to someone else' schedule, opinion and life.  I have very recently been in touch with someone I have loved for a long time - nothing romantic, just a kindred spirit and someone with whom I have been very close for a long time - and they are not the person I have known and loved because if the relationship that has enveloped them.  Suddenly there is no joy or laughter coming from this friend and they have become the very kind of person we use to hate being around; bitter, angry and self-important.  Is that what happens in relationships?  Do we become unrecognizable to our friends and family?

I'm exhausted and need to rest.  I'm about to enjoy some lasagna and am watching "Keeping Up Appearances" so the evening should be nice... if I can distract myself enough from the memories.