What’s something you used to worry about but don’t anymore?
These worries used to keep me up at night. In the York Region District School Board, performance appraisals were used to keep teachers in line. They were a clever weapon to punish stressed out but earnest teachers. If an administrator had an axe to grind with a staff-member, if a teacher was anxious or didn’t fit the desired staff profile, it was used to drive them into stress leave (I’m looking at you, D.C.-K. And J.P.). I had a teacher support advisor call TPA a celebration of your teaching craft. I think she was out of touch with how administrators gained prestige in the YRDSB. If I could repeat my career, I would have avoided the YRDSB like the plague. Or, abandon the science department and join Special Education a hell of a lot earlier! Unlike neighbouring school boards, there was a lot of expansion and money available to employees unscrupulous enough to capitalize on it. The union in that board embraced common norms with the board. Teachers were playthings or votes during the next AGM.
I survived that toxic work environment with many invisible bruises. The last school I was assigned to was the healthiest I could find: G.W.W.S.S. …it closed down about a year after I retired and moved into a brand new building.
Yes, I finally passed my TPA in the last year of employment. My administrator noted my struggles (of passing teacher assessments) in its executive summary. It felt like a backhanded compliment, that’ll remain code for any future employers (i.e., don’t put this guy in any capitalist-performance-based gigs). These reports are 1-way discussions about a teacher. Anybody who tells you they are based on collaboration isn’t paying attention to the process.
I enjoyed the students and many of my colleagues. The bureaucracy was a meat grinder. No thanks. 🙂↔️
I don’t have to step foot into a classroom as a paid employee. I don’t have to worry about such bureaucracy any more. I just need to keep re-inventing myself and co-manage my rock farm.
AUGUST 6TH FARM UPDATE.
TS is collecting raw ingredients for her cat treats. First, she needs to process fresh leaf and flowers.
I was able to enclose the bottom of the storm door. I also took measurements to install reinforcements on the door to keep it firmly locked. 🔐
I might install a kick-board across the base of the door after I add addition door locks. That storm door will be getting only occasional use, so a raised lip can be added to reduce the risk of uninvited guests from squeezing in or feline prisoners from escaping (to certain death). It’ll also weatherproof the door a bit more!
TS is losing her fucking mind on her recently repaired sewing machine. It was cleaned up, yes. At a fair price. The pressure foot keeps slipping off. Both TS’ Hamilton friend and I agree some gentle re-machining of the pressure foot’s anchoring screw & post should make prevent it from falling apart. I won’t hazard a repair, as sewing machines are like mechanical clockworks. I don’t want my Dremel-work to throw its synchronization off. The original repairs carried a 30d warranty that we can use (back to Owen Sound goes the Janome sewing machine).
TS continues to apply permaculture techniques to our east lawn. She’s building a spiral path of sheet mulching, strategically placed limestone rocks, and sparing any desirable established plant species. Deep rooted shrubs get pulled out. We don’t want their roots to crack and break up the buried weeping tile from the septic system.
And finally, a word about breaking belt buckles, meditation, and dog/cat domestication:
BCB&B, neemtree, bdb, and blog 
