To Write an Objective or Not to Write an Objective

Writing my resume has been hard. Deciding what to include and what not to include has been even harder.

My father says that my resume must have an objective. My friends and husband disagree and my coworkers arent even sure what an objective is (which was confusing in its own way). I've heard some say that your cover letter should serve to do what an objective would do.

Ultimately, I went with Dad's advice. And, I let him help me write it as well. As of now, I think it sounds good, but a little stiff.

Now that I have a resume written, I think I can start to think freely and try to get my voice into it more.

Reasons to Stay

A graduated student came to visit today. He graduated three years ago. At his graduation I could barely muster up a congrats - I was too busy trying to figure out how he was there.

When did he actually make it to class when he was in the suspension room all the time? He wasnt one of those polite students who did the wrong thing. The ones who are bad but you know that their heart is good. The kind that set fire to the garbage can on the 6th floor and maybe dont admit it to you but dont call you a fucking bitch liar when you catch them either. He cursed at all the deans, all the time. We must have suspended him a million times, a million and one maybe. But it didnt matter. What more is suspension for the trouble maker than a get out of class free card or another excuse for their failure?

About four years ago, this kid laid on the floor in the suspension room, face down for hours. Well, maybe not hours, but at least a couple of periods (at least it seemed to us). And refused to respond to our demands to get up. Refused to even speak. It wasnt until we had the phone in hand, dialing 9-1-1 that he stood up, looked us in the eye and nonchalantly sat in a chair.

And today, he came back to visit.

And his visit is what makes teaching worth it.

He's a sophomore at John Jay College and planning to continue onto law school when he graduates. And even more important is the good energy that exhudes from him. He just glows from within.

And, though he didnt apologize for the curses or all the work he put us through (we've had a few of those) he did come in to visit to show us that he's become a man.

And thats even better.

The Realistic Job Search

What do English/Theater teachers become after leaving the classroom?
I havent figured out what I want to do. But, I am sure of what I dont want.

I dont want to work for a publisher. I'll never actually become the publisher and I cant edit. And, I'm not going to pretend to be a professional writer whose looking for an in.

I dont want to work for a testing company or a test prep company. I hate making, giving and grading tests now. Why would I base my career around them?

I dont want to work for an after school youth theater company. For a little while, I need to get away from kids; not deal with them in a less structured environment than the class room.

I dont want to work for a nonprofit. Going down in pay is not what I have in mind.

I dont want to be a grant writer. I dont know how, I dont want to pretend to know how and I dont really want that responsibility for somebody else's brainchild.

I dont want to work for the regional offices of the Department of Education.
I dont want to work for a private school.
I dont want to work for a charter school.
I dont want to work for a college/university.

I didnt want to teach anybody anything.

Realistically though, what else am I trained to do?

First Draft of the Resume

I finally wrote the first draft of my resume. I wrote it at 3am this morning. I couldnt sleep - still jetlagged from my honeymoon. I guess that is a good thing cause who knows when I would really ever get around to working on it.

I used my colleague's resume as a template. The only problem is that she has no intention of leaving the education field and I do.

I sent draft 1 to my father at 5:45 am. For feedback. His first response was that I should have spellchecked it and as an English teacher I should be ashamed of myself. Who spellchecks at 5:45 am? Didnt he notice the time on the email and think of what a dedicated daughter he has?

His second response was that I need to include an objective. And, use the wording from relevant job postings in my resume. Of course, he phrased that much better than I am.

His third response was that I should include results. I wondered at first if he was just thinking more business than education but then after brainstorming with a colleague we decided that I may be able to include statistics: students passing the regents, attendance statistics, maybe passing and graduation rate, amount of students served, etc. Assuming that these are all good. I'll have to go to my Assistant Principal to get that information (they track everything now!) but how will I explain why I need it?

All of Dad's suggestions were great. And, I'm on my way to a second draft.

Except, I have no idea what my objective is because I dont know what kind of job I want. How can I look for jobpostings? I dont even know what to fill in the fields on sites like idealist.org, monster.com, or indeed.com.

One Prep!

Every time I consider leaving, the school gives me a reason to stay. It's like they have a sixth sense, special antennaes to feel out escaping teachers.

Five years ago they scheduled me to cover the suspension room all day. Yes, to me, this was a reason to stay. I'm warped. A year of being suspended brought me back to my senses and I was ready to mpoe on. They made me a Dean. Two years later, suffocated by work and graduate school, I reached my limits there too. The theater teacher retires and they give me the theater program. One theater class, per session for planning and the chance to see twelve free shows a year. Well, too good to pass up.

Until now. Teaching theater, being a Dean, organizng at least six field trips a semester and teaching a second unrelated prep has out me over the edge. The students want to know why we don't do a school show. The AP wants me to prepare my Support Service class for three different state exams. The teachers want me to fix all thier problem kids.


I actually have a life outside this building. I just got married. I'm leaving for a honeymoon. My rent is being raised another four hundred dollars. I have to be out by February 28th. Occassionally, I like to go to yoga. But, usually my exercise bag just sits, fully packed, next to my desk, in case, I actually have the time to make the 4:15 pm beginner class.

Now, my AP tells me I will only have one prep next semester. My schedule will be to teach two theater class electives. In one room.

How can I say no to that?

But, in the Spring, I am definitely looking for a new job.

Wait, THIS is Important

The Deans' Office was in chaos again this morning. I had to meet with the head dean and teacher of the walk out girl. We have to figure out what to do with this girl. Her mother does vodoo. Things are being hidden under her bed. Her mother's bed. Do you call ACS for such a thing?

The secreatry calls from the outer office. She cant find a file. Another dean comes running into the office. She has a question. She wants the head dean to help her. A parent is coming in and she doesnt know what the case is about. The parent will be arriving in the next hour or so. She needs the head dean's attention. The teacher and I sit there, conversation stalled. The head dean asks the other dean to...just wait. No! The other dean insists, this is important! Another teacher comes in, what is to be done about the girl who insists I dont speak to her? The secretary calls that the head dean has a phone call. This new teacher huffs. I said I wanted to talk to her after class and she refused. The secreatry screams, THE PHONE!

The teacher and I laugh. The head dean laughs. This is crazy!

The other dean scowls. Pay attention to me, Pay attention me. This is important.

She thinks we are laughing at her. And, the rampage begins.

This only makes me laugh more.

I am regressing.

I Can Walk Out Too

This afternoon I had to cover a meeting with a student, her mother, her guidance counselor and major teacher. I was there as the Dean. All Knowing, All Powerful, Whip These Kids into Shape Guru, Dean. Sometimes I wonder how many years it takes for a teacher to get that tired that s/he thinks a Dean can make a student behave that hasn't been behaving for three years. I mean really - I give consequences - I don't perform miracles. It is obviously a bigger issue. Bigger than the teacher. Bigger than a consequence. If I had the energy to do so, I would say it is obvioulsy a guidance issue. I would explain, but I just can't anymore.

I talked sternly. The parent looked pleadingly. The teacher explained. The counselor counseled on why her program could not be changed. The student looked at her fingers. I spoke about consequences "Possible Suspension!" the parent about futures "It's not her fault she's acting this way" the teacher about her bad behavior. The student sucked her teeth. I tried to counsel her, her mother yelled at her, the teacher gave up. Three adults sat there, leaning forward, elbows on the table, invested. The student shot out of her chair and left the conference room.

"I could do that too" I announced to the room. Yes. They said. You could. "I could just get up and leave in the middle of a meeting just like that." They looked at me.

I think I'm losing it.