How do you think things should be accomplished at work? Do you go along with the flow, or do you fight it? Do you feel good at the end of the day?
These questions are especially important to me today. If you’ve ever experienced a day (let’s see a show of hands here) after which you came home and found that The Weight of the World appeared to be super-glued to your shoulders, you’ll know what I mean.
Here’s what I do. This method is guaranteed to cause conflict, the occasional sleepless night and time spent wondering why on earth you chose your particular profession.
Go Against the Flow if You Have To
I am a person who fights the flow until the current runs my way. If I have to keep swimming upstream for more than two years, I’ll say goodbye and look for a more flexible workplace that welcomes innovation. I am on Year 2 at my current school, a disciplinary facility (dumping ground) for students who have been expelled from the regular school system. It is my philosophy that students who have been unable to succeed in the mainstream schools need a different approach than what has been offered to them thus far in their academic careers. Also, since many of my students are on their fourth or fifth stint in this same school, it is obvious that previous methods were very ineffective in preventing recidivism.
I have been successful in promoting significant change at two schools, and unsuccessful at one. One of the ones I helped change became a recognized alternative school with a remarkable field-based learning program and the lowest recidivism rate in the state. So, the numbers are on my side! It remains to be seen what will happen at the school I am at now. So, I am not offering a perfect solution here, but rather, my thoughts on the process, and how I keep going–at least until I give up.
Nuke the Negative
Here are some of the things I hear on pretty much a daily basis:
1. There is a reason why the unemployment rate will never be zero. We have the kids who will never be employable.
2. These kids are stupid and lazy.
3. Too bad they can’t just go ahead and lock them up now.
4. You’re not allowed to do it that way.
5. You’re doing group again today? Are you going to fix them this time?
6. Watch out, because someone might (a) sue you (b) get upset (c) talk about you
7. I did your job for eight years, and I never did it that way.
I’ll bet you’ve heard those italicized ones before!
I’ve mentioned before that my collegues can be difficult. I use the strategies I mentioned in that article. I talk about it. I write about it. And I prove them wrong. That’s the best part.
Cry
Today, I went on a home visit to get a parent to sign some forms for some reading testing her son needed. The floor of the family’s trailer was down to splintered bits of wood. There were holes in every wall, exposing the wiring. The parent talked about how she beats her son with a belt until he “runs like a girl”. Two years ago, she took his dad to court, and he got to hear his father say, “It was just a one-night stand–he’s not mine”. DNA testing proved otherwise.
Sometimes things really suck. You’re human.
Keep On Keepin’ On, But Not For Too Long
When the going gets tough, the tough get going–to the next job!
The going is tough where I work, no doubt about that. As I mentioned before, I have a timeline that I follow. This job gets two years of my best effort, even though there are days when I am ready to quit by 10:00. After two years, if the current is not changing, then I will go somewhere else and do something that I believe in there, with hopefully better results.
Never, ever settle.
Set Achievable Goals
I do not walk into work and think, “Oh, today’s the day that all of my students will decide to ask me for those college catalogs!” Rather, if I can teach four students at a time how to play a game together without cursing, dogging each other out, giving up or getting myself fired (for playing a game in a disciplinary alternative school), then that is one goal achieved. On to the next one.
Be Brave
Anytime you have a passion for your work, you are going to find that someone is angry at you at some point–even if you have have the diplomacy of, um, (insert famous person who hasn’t ever angered anyone here). Don’t spin your wheels trying to make the perpetually pissed-off types happy, because that’s never going to happen. Don’t apologize for doing what you were put on earth to do. Smile, be kind, and keep on making a difference in spite of them.
If people can die for their countries, we can have the courage to stand up to irate colleagues when we are working with integrity.
Avoid Bureaucracy at All Costs
The other day, the director of the special education department explained to me why no one in the district knew how to get through the multi-tiered referral process for special education.
“We purposely make it difficult so that people won’t refer more students,” he said.
I was speechless (because cursing at work is not advisable), but not surprised.
I’m sure you’ve heard, “It is better to apologize later than to ask permission now.” So true, so true. Find the shortcuts that are available to you and take them.
Note: Remember, this has to do with working for what you believe in, not becoming popular at your job or gaining promotions. Although you can certainly do all three, there is no guarantee…
Happy Thursday!
Its always good to be remembered this kind of tips. Good post, keep on.
It sounds to me like you’ve got about as good a handle as there is to get on a very difficult situation. As long as you don’t blame yourself if it doesn’t work out. Sometimes standing in front of the tank just gets you squished but there’s no way to know with out standing there.
Just remember there are quite a few peple out there (here) that think quite a bit of you
Ah… I’m about to hit my two-year mark, and since it’s a start-up with my friend, I already told him that I’d go look for another job in a few months. Nothing personal. No hard feelings. But since it’s my first job out of college, I need to go out there and see the world more. (For example, now that I know what a small company is like, the next job would be finding out about what big companies are like.)
Oh that sounds like a tough job you have! My 7yo was sent home today for hitting another child, and I’m mortified. But his school has zero tolerance, which is a good thing. I’m very fortunate to be in an area where the schools are top notch.
It takes a special kind of person (and I mean that in a good way) to work with kids on a daily basis. I imagine you as a real spitfire and a force to be reckoned with
Excellent post! I needed to be reminded of many of these points. I imagine the kids under your care are very fortunate to have you.
Thank you ~ this kind of stuff is SO important to remember. You just made my day.
I bet some of the kids actually appreciate you more than you know. When you follow your instincts and do what you think is right, you can’t go wrong. Don’t get discouraged. Emma
Great advice! If you can leave this world making a difference in one person’s life, it is a job well done.
michelle
thank you for this. You couldn’t have written this at a better time. It’s so relevant to what I’ve been thinking about lately.
Keep on.
I really like your post and I will take all your advice to heart as working for a better world is one of my goals as well, just a little differently.
Thanks.
Michelle - it sounds like you have a really successful job. And I bet it was difficult not to slap that awful mother. Some women should be sterilized to stop them from having kids.
sorry - I meant to say “stressful job” not “successful”
I really enjoyed this post for two reasons.
1. I enjoyed learning more about you the person, not the blogger.
2. I now don’t feel so alone when it comes to changing jobs on principle and passion.
I was at one time a behavior specialist for the developmentally challenged. I was quite passionate about my job. Until I had several bureaucratic doors slammed in my face when I tried to expose an incident of sexual abuse. For months I tried to be an advocate for my client…no one listened…until one day on the front page of the local paper, I saw the perpetrator FINALLY being arrested for ‘alleged abuse allegations’. I quit my job. Many individuals could have been spared being ‘victims’ but because of some of the things you mentioned here…no one chose to listen. I also have the story about the Director of the Health Dept. refusing my offer of donating several “What to do when you’re expecting’ books to their “World’s Greatest Baby Shower’ community event and was told…don’t bother, these moms don’t know how to read. Sorry to take up so much comment space. I always have hope for humanity…I hate it when others don’t. So I move on to my next battle
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Cry - good advice. Keeps you fresh I believe.
Excellent post on “keepin’ it real”! It’s good to know that there are still people out there who knows what’s up and trying to fight the good fight. Hope all is well. (#):)
I chose this post as a Profitable Productive Post and included it in my weekly “link roundup” of posts that I feel would be of interest to my readers.
[...] Work for what you believe in and avoid bureaucracy at all costs. From a woman who knows - she works in the public school system. [...]
Michelle, I admire you!
As a trained teacher I had a glimps of what it takes to work with kids. I spent a year in public highschool as a part of my degree - once a week - and even that was too much for me. I think it takes a lot to be a teacher. I respect a lot those brave ones who has a vision and a goal to make a real change for these kids. I’m sure those lucky ones who’s life you’ve touched will forever remember you!
Thanks for the inspiring post. Keep up the great work.
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