turmoil

It's funny how quickly things can change in only a day.

Yesterday, I left work feeling very adamant that I would NOT be back next year if my friend was fired and the new teacher stayed on. It's a long story, but basically if this scenerio were to occur, I would know that this is not the place for me because it would not be a JUST place. If that makes any sense.

Today, however, our staff meeting was a very sobering one. Actually, it started off really great. The principal was out at first and our vice principal was leading the meeting. Everyone was cracking jokes and having a grand old time. That is, until the principal arrived to the meeting and dropped a bombshell on all of us. You see, our school is not doing very well financially. This coming school year, in fact, our enrollment appears as though it will be the lowest yet. For this reason, our principal told us point blank today that all of us will not be back next year. She said she has created a proposal for the reorganization of the school and as soon as she gets it approved by the parish priest she will begin calling us into her office one by one and letting us know if we will stay or if we will go. *Wow. I've never heard a room full of teachers as quiet as I heard them today.

I have to say, I was scared. When I think about it logically though, it doesn't actually make any sense that I should fear for my job. There are a few factors involved in this. The first is that as one of the three junior high teachers at the school, I am by far most likely to be back next year. And believe me, I am not one to toot my own horn. These are my circumstances: One of the other junior high teachers is constantly butting heads with the principal and they aren't really even on speaking terms. The other junior high teacher is a disaster waiting to happen and may very well hold the record for "most complaints ever made about a teacher in one school year". Seriously, it's bad. On top of that, I've never received any negative feedback or even advice for improvement from my principal. The only thing I have heard from her is compliments.. and she constantly talks to me about "next year" -- so, for these reasons, I feel pretty secure.

I can't help but be nervous though. Not necesserily for me, but for the country in general. It was strange for me to hear that San Diego County had laid off hundreds of teachers, but to see the economy affecting my very own school is quite a wake up call.

Someone today said that times like these are how you know that this world is not the one that truly matters. Everything is temporary; here today and gone tomorrow. That's why we have to put our faith and hope in the world beyond this one.

But, on a less serious note.. I have been feeling guilty that while the country suffers through turmoil my husband and I have never been more prosperous. We've bought a few things recently, so I told my mom that I guess I shouldn't feel guilty.. hubby and I are probably single-handedly keeping the economy on its feet. ha. ha. :O)