Week 10
- Maria Pairitz
- Oct 25, 2017
- 3 min read
Today was a little slow. Ceramics 1 went back to working on their tile projects and I briefly went through a review powerpoint I created for them to study before the unit test on throwing on the wheel. I'm interested to see how well they do on my test. Then, Intro to 3D is working on finishing up their totem pole project. Ms. O is way over this project so she wants me to come up with a new project for their unit on clay. I'm thinking of doing an anthropomorphic ceramic vessel where they select an animal that is their spirit animal. She seemed excited about it and it'll change things up for her and the course. Hopefully it will go better than this totem pole project this semester.
The second half of the day I agreed to sub for another art teacher. She specifically requested me in the sub system because she wanted someone trained in art to be there when she couldn't be. I was flattered but when I came into class I realized that they would not be working on their main project but were rather instructed to do a free choice drawing in their sketchbook during the entire class period. This teacher HID the colored pencils and their projects so they would not work on the project without her supervision. Below is a screenshot of what she had up on the screen for me and the students.
So not only was I shocked that she took away a full work day for half of her classes just because she didn't want them to do anything without her supervision, I was offended that she specifically requested me, an art teacher, to sub for her but had me babysit her students instead of actually help them with their project. Any other sub could have sat there like I did, so I was mad that I missed out on the rest of Ms. O's classes, thinking that I would have the opportunity to work with students in a different medium than usual. I talked to Ms. O about it during passing period and she was so mad. Then I learned a bunch of dirt about the teacher I subbed for. She basically DOES the projects for the kids. She'll pick the images they draw from, edit the composition, and then literally hand the students one colored pencil at a time. She micromanages their every move. Apparently she was moved to Fishers because she was banned from the other high school, HSE, in the district. She took off for a full semester with out leaving any lesson plans or even any notice that she was taking a break for the semester and somehow still has her job. During PLC meetings, the art department has to split into two groups because she is not allowed in the same vicinity as another art teacher because of an altercation they had. She is never allowed to be the art department head again and she is never allowed to teach AP art classes again. And never allowed to have a student teacher again. I asked how it is possible that she still has her job and Ms. O said it was because of tenure and the teacher's union. Then I asked why she stays here when she's made it obvious that she doesn't like the other teachers in the department and not to mention the fact that she is banned and received so many complaints from parents to admin. Ms. O said she doesn't leave because she gets paid $75,000. That made me angry because Ms. O is a much more effective and engaging teacher than that other teacher but Ms. O caps out at $55,000. That seems so unfair to me.
Other than that, the rest of the day was fine. Here are some AP projects that were just finished this week!
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