This is my 5th year teaching. (I'm a music teacher). I moved to a new school this year because we got a psycho new principal at my old school. I loved my old school but with a Principal who flat out told me she "hates music" and made my life a living hell, I couldn't stay.

So I got hired on the spot for my new school. We are WAAAAY over-populated at the school. 8 years ago, there were 600 students at the school. Now there are almost 1000. We literally do not have any more rooms. My music office is being used by the reading coach and the title 1 coordinator...I've been kicked out of my office.

Anyway - I'm constantly the "dumping ground" at the school. Oh, a classroom teacher can't find a sub? That's okay...let's just split their class up between the others and send them with that class to activity. An activity teacher can't get a sub? Just split their classes all day and send them to the others. Ex-ed class with Kindergarten through 3rd graders? Let's send them all with a 4th grade class because that makes sense.

I, very rarely, have the state mandated max number of students (18 students for K-3 and 24 for 4-6). I'm constantly having between 30-40 kids in my room at any given time.

It's really frustrating. ANd in a school this big, getting administrators in your class if you need that support is near impossible. So, kid having a huge meltdown, throwing things, running out of the room, etc....no admin to be found for at least 10 minutes. (My school is a high ex-ed population AND it's title 1...that combo makes for some interesting stories).

Anyway - I hate to go to a school and stay for only one year, but if another job opens up, it will be incredibly tempting to apply to it...especially if one opens up closer to home (I currently drive at least 40 minutes to get to work). But...that means I'll be switching schools AGAIN...I don't want to end up with that reputation...the one that says "oh, she won't stay more than a few years....).

So do I tough it out for next year? Or do I jump ship?

---------- Post added 04-19-2017 at 10:52 PM ----------

Let me just add...this has been, BY FAR, the most stressful year in terms of students and workload.

How heavily enforced is that limit? Seems like they are breaking a lot of regulations there. I'd say weigh the risk of being seen as flakey vs the risk of being "a teacher from that school"

Originally Posted by The Wandering Poet

How heavily enforced is that limit? Seems like they are breaking a lot of regulations there. I'd say weigh the risk of being seen as flakey vs the risk of being "a teacher from that school"

It's really not enforced, unfortunately. But if the classroom teachers dealt with it as much as we do...they would be calling the union and throwing a fit. We are just expected to deal with it since we are activity teachers.

That sounds awful...
My biggest concern really is that a child can not learn in that environment. Music requires at least some sort of quiet, or you can't hear any music.

I'm a teacher but I teach Mandarin to the 8th grade in a snooty private school. I wouldnt teach elementary because they still throw tantrums and need their hands held with just about everything. I will have 11 kids of my own come late June, most of them under 7 and deal with that enough. Why would I want to deal with it all day at work? Lol
Your school could potentially get in trouble with that. Also, are you not part of the union? You should be and you could pitch a fit if you wanted to.
Honestly though, I'd jump ship if I were you. As a fellow teacher, I know your not getting paid nearly enough to deal with that bullshit. Look for another school over the summer. As you know, schools are always looking for new teachers because a lot will retire at the end of the year. You could possibly look in nearby districts. I live in the corner of my state, so my city borders one to the south and one to the west. We have a few teachers who live in those states but teach at my school. We even have one who lives further north and commutes 45 minutes one way.

if you find something better...go for it!
you are too good of a teacher for this.
plus, first year of marriage, homeownership and all
is a lot on your plate already, you know?
no use adding even more stress if you don'thave too.
and I am sure your reputation of being a wond4erful teacher
will far outweight the moving around to find the best fit for you!

Something that just came to mind. Take advantage of the fact you've been around to many schools. Tell them you were exploring the various ways schools operate music classrooms so that you could teach more effectively in any environment.