On vacation

Monday: We arrived at Derek, Erin, and Nick's house yesterday afternoon. The drive seemed short because I read an engaging book almost to its conclusion. D, E, and N live in a beautiful, three-story townhouse in nice neighborhood. They have a deck/balcony in the back. Yesterday while E. and I were outside on the deck talking and grilling burgers and dogs, a loud helicopter flew overhead, and E. noticed that it said "Air Force One" on the side. We ate a hearty dinner, followed by a cake and champagne to celebrate Liberto's P.E. Erin and I have our careers as teachers in common and had a lively discussion about teaching and the politics of teaching. When I told her and Derek about the new job offer, they both said I should tell my current employer to "K*** M* A**!", and not worry about resigning after having signed a contract. They said the school should have been grateful to have teachers like me who have been not only willing but enthusiastic about working with a tougher population of students. If the thanks I've received for my hard work is a poor evaluation for such infractions as an 88 minute lesson rather than 90, then I have every right to walk without guilt. That's exactly what Diana said during a telephone conversation Saturday. Diana used to work in employment law, but her thoughts on this matter came primarily from the gut. She said I worry too much and obsess over unimportant details, such as breaking a contract. That didn't sound like her...she, too, usually worries and stews about "What if's" much more than I do and sees life more pessimistically than I do. But I guess if it's my problem rather than hers, it's easier to see it as a no-biggie. It's not guilt that I'm worried about, though, it's any legal repercussions. I've heard that if a teacher breaks a contract, the system can arrange to have one's state teaching certificate suspended.

Monday morning, as planned, I called the President of the Savannah Teachers Union to ask her advice about the contract-breaking situation. She said that the district might indeed try to give me a hard time about breaking a contract. In recent years, they've been cracking down because they can't seem to retain teachers. (Wonder why?) She said, however, that I should go ahead and write a resignation letter and if the BOE tried to interfere, the union attorney could step in. She said to emphasize in my letter that the reason I am resigning is that the school gave me an unsatisfactory evaluation and I fear that I can only look forward to more of the same in the next year. I will compose this letter carefully, without sarcasm or bitterness. I will refrain from pointing out that if they want to keep teachers in their system, they might try being more supportive and less punitive. It's not that I fear venting all my grievances, but a part of me still believes that in business or professional writing, one gets the best results from a contained rather than an outraged tone, no matter how I really feel. Next Monday, when we're home, I will start the wheels rolling on what might prove to be a tumultuous process this summer.

My daughter-in-law is thinking about transferring schools within the same system, and is experiencing some of the same anxieties I am: holding onto the familiar versus facing the unknown. She loves her school and is doing well there, but it's an hour away. She could transfer to a closer school, but like me, wonders about the new set of teachers, routines, and students at a new school. As much as I dislike the current school, I am familiar with what to expect, ranging from the little details such as how to use the grading software to the big details of what the administrative culture values the most. Taking on the unknown is always a little scary, but it hasn't stopped me yet, has it?

Monday, while D & E worked, we took Nick to the Olympic-sized community pool. He and Paul and I swam for an hour while L. sat on the sidelines. In the afternoon, we took Nick to see Wall-E . These few activities took up the whole day, and we got home at suppertime to enjoy Erin's homemade lasagna.

Tuesday: Now we're deciding on the activities for the day: the choice this morning is between a water slide park and a re-enactment farm from the American Revolution era. I favor the latter, but will happily do whatever my darling grandson wants!