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Please Help

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tdmatthews

Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 1

Please Help
Is there a school out there for me?

Hi,
I am Tammy Matthews and I have taught in public and charter schools in the US for over 15 years. I was most recently teaching in Baltimore. I went into teaching to change the world one child at a time. I have spent most of my time in schools near housing projects where children live in poverty. Over the past 15 years my job as a elementary school teacher has been reduced to nothing but a test taking coach. I still tried to make learning interesting while working within the system. I recently quit my job because I can not take one more day of drilling test taking materials into these wonderful childre''s heads. I was admonished for giving my students one little project that was not directly linked to the test. My principal ordered me to stop! I could not take it any more. Now, I need a job. Does anyone know of a school that teaches compassionately that is looking to hire a wonderful, innovative, passionate teacher mid year. Please help. I WILL relocate to anywhere that I can take my two wonderful dogs with me.

Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:57 pm

John Gruber
Site Admin

Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 124

Schools and teaching

Dear Tammy - I'm quite touched by your posting and very familiar with the feelings, frustration and hopes and wishes you describe. Your experience sounds so very much like that of my friend Lynne Feldman who battled similar situations but also carved out her own beautiful classroom and mentoring relationships with students in the middle of a system that was very unsupportive. At the same time, I also want to offer the vision of schools where creativity, wholeness, and spirit are really nurtured. There are places where the vision of education really fully embraces the possibility of human growth and learning along all the lines of development. I am finishing my twentieth year of teaching in a learning community that has been an exceptionally supportive, liberating, engaging, optimistic place. There *are* schools out there where you would find your vision of compassionate, innovative education wholly met and furthered. Having said that, I don't have any specific job openings I can pass along to you, but you should certainly check the Friends' Council website for openings in Friends' Schools - Friends' Council job site, - and perhaps also consider exploring Waldorf schools, integral schools, or other independent schools that are recasting the experience of education for teachers and students.

Finally, I hope you will consider connecting with other like minded educators to join with a community of support, reflection, and practice. If there is any way you could join us at the integral education seminar in California this August, I know you would find it very inspiring adn valuable. The dates are August 3 - 8 and full information is available here: http://i-edu.org

Finally, I am in Philadelphia, and if you would just like to connect a bit more to talk about experiences and possibilities, drop me a message and we can be in touch by email. (You can click the email icon at the bottom of the message)

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 7:56 pm

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