This has got to be an extremely naive question, but what will happen to the English language programs without you? Classes get larger for other teachers? Or will they cut the whole program and try to mainstream all the kids? How can a huge high school operate without any front office staff?! I’m wondering if anyone ever talks about what the plan is, or if it’s just cutting people and figuring that out later. I really enjoy these posts and am so impressed with the work that goes into helping these kids. Thank you for your service.
Not a naive question at all! We--the teachers in department--actually ask each other that weekly: what's going to happen to the ELD programs?
It seems like, for now the answer is fewer teachers are just going to have to do more. More experienced teachers have told me there have been efforts to dismantle/streamline the ELD program before--as in getting them into general content classes faster--and it was a disaster. Increased dropout rates, etc. A lot of teachers, admin think that throwing them into these kids into the deep end, they'll miraculously "catch on". But history has shown us that's not how it works.
The front office staff layoffs are incredibly depressing. They pretty much run the school, and so many have been doing it for 10+ years. Worst, is they don't have a strong union to go to bat for them. SDEA (the teacher union) is fighting on their behalf, but I think there's only so much they can do.
Wish I had more concrete answers! Everything just feels very up-in-the-air right now. But I appreciate you reading these! <3
This has got to be an extremely naive question, but what will happen to the English language programs without you? Classes get larger for other teachers? Or will they cut the whole program and try to mainstream all the kids? How can a huge high school operate without any front office staff?! I’m wondering if anyone ever talks about what the plan is, or if it’s just cutting people and figuring that out later. I really enjoy these posts and am so impressed with the work that goes into helping these kids. Thank you for your service.
Not a naive question at all! We--the teachers in department--actually ask each other that weekly: what's going to happen to the ELD programs?
It seems like, for now the answer is fewer teachers are just going to have to do more. More experienced teachers have told me there have been efforts to dismantle/streamline the ELD program before--as in getting them into general content classes faster--and it was a disaster. Increased dropout rates, etc. A lot of teachers, admin think that throwing them into these kids into the deep end, they'll miraculously "catch on". But history has shown us that's not how it works.
The front office staff layoffs are incredibly depressing. They pretty much run the school, and so many have been doing it for 10+ years. Worst, is they don't have a strong union to go to bat for them. SDEA (the teacher union) is fighting on their behalf, but I think there's only so much they can do.
Wish I had more concrete answers! Everything just feels very up-in-the-air right now. But I appreciate you reading these! <3