Life At Pod Pre-School
This was an e-mail I sent out 2 days after starting my new job, and 3 days before Li Li morphed into The Bossy One and created some of the drama I swore wasn't there. Although it's not remotely funny, I'd like to re-read it a year from now and see what's changed and what hasn't.
Intro to e-mail:
I thought to myself, "Self, there's not going to be much to write about now that I don't have Scumrise to kick around anymore (and vice versa)." Ha !
What I can remember about my first week:
* I spent most of it ill, going back and forth to the doctor, and reacting to various medications. I missed the first 3 days at my new job and should have stayed home the other two. I still barely have a voice.
* I asked twice at my interviews and was reassured this is a secular preschool, not a religious one. Imagine my suprise to hear long prayers featuring Him, The Lord, who is not my Lord nor the Lord of many of our students, before every snack and meal. I refuse to lead prayers, but the aides (aka Pods In Training) practically trip over themselves to say it for me. I received a lecture on this issue from Juicie because I'm "not being a team player". Incidently, Juicie was fired on Saturday from yet another job (or "cut from the team", as I like to think of it).
* I responded poorly to the chaos that is Joy's Pre-School. Sometimes that's the reality of 2-year olds, but it's also a result of poor management. We have no area of our own, and I feel like I spend my day in that Capital One ad where the Viking hoardes are running all over fighting and looting. Li Li claims they will be asking me for input, but I've been warned by the other 2 teachers that suggestions are blatantly ignored.
* My co-oworkers: Most of them are reserved and helpful. They are good people, but never joke around or question anything. The benefit of this cult-like atmosphere is that everyone seems kind, there's zero drama and we help each other whenever possible (except for the aloof Waffle, but she doesn't create any extra work for us so it evens out). I can't tell if Li Li's gender non-specific aide is hitting on me or not.
* And then there's Banjo... he's got an aging hippie mom who wears a kids cowboy hat everywhere, he's got hair down to his ass, and he's got some variation of autism. Zero speech, little comprehension, and spends most of his playground time standing around/staring into space- just like Randy, come to think of it. I peg Banjo as a low responder- he doesn't stim, flap, respond to his name (who can blame him ?) or pick up toys. I wish Ronnie and Donna were here to assess him.
So, it's not what I expected, I feel frazzled, and I'm looking for yet another job. But at least the people here treat me well and I'm covered for the summer if I don't find anything else soon. That's more than I've been able to say for a while...
Intro to e-mail:
I thought to myself, "Self, there's not going to be much to write about now that I don't have Scumrise to kick around anymore (and vice versa)." Ha !
What I can remember about my first week:
* I spent most of it ill, going back and forth to the doctor, and reacting to various medications. I missed the first 3 days at my new job and should have stayed home the other two. I still barely have a voice.
* I asked twice at my interviews and was reassured this is a secular preschool, not a religious one. Imagine my suprise to hear long prayers featuring Him, The Lord, who is not my Lord nor the Lord of many of our students, before every snack and meal. I refuse to lead prayers, but the aides (aka Pods In Training) practically trip over themselves to say it for me. I received a lecture on this issue from Juicie because I'm "not being a team player". Incidently, Juicie was fired on Saturday from yet another job (or "cut from the team", as I like to think of it).
* I responded poorly to the chaos that is Joy's Pre-School. Sometimes that's the reality of 2-year olds, but it's also a result of poor management. We have no area of our own, and I feel like I spend my day in that Capital One ad where the Viking hoardes are running all over fighting and looting. Li Li claims they will be asking me for input, but I've been warned by the other 2 teachers that suggestions are blatantly ignored.
* My co-oworkers: Most of them are reserved and helpful. They are good people, but never joke around or question anything. The benefit of this cult-like atmosphere is that everyone seems kind, there's zero drama and we help each other whenever possible (except for the aloof Waffle, but she doesn't create any extra work for us so it evens out). I can't tell if Li Li's gender non-specific aide is hitting on me or not.
* And then there's Banjo... he's got an aging hippie mom who wears a kids cowboy hat everywhere, he's got hair down to his ass, and he's got some variation of autism. Zero speech, little comprehension, and spends most of his playground time standing around/staring into space- just like Randy, come to think of it. I peg Banjo as a low responder- he doesn't stim, flap, respond to his name (who can blame him ?) or pick up toys. I wish Ronnie and Donna were here to assess him.
So, it's not what I expected, I feel frazzled, and I'm looking for yet another job. But at least the people here treat me well and I'm covered for the summer if I don't find anything else soon. That's more than I've been able to say for a while...
posted by Fredrika Krueger at 1:18 PM
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