Equitas Academy #2 was an incredibly challenging school to teach at, and it was by far the most difficult job I’ve ever had in my life. There were several significant issues that made it an extremely negative experience for both the students and the teachers.
One of the most frustrating aspects of working at Equitas Academy #2 was the lack of freedom to be creative in the classroom. As an innovative teacher, I believe in creating engaging lesson plans that cater to the individual needs of my students. Unfortunately, the school imposed strict guidelines and required all history teachers to follow scripted lesson plans. These plans heavily focused on reading and writing, often assigning texts that were above the reading level of many students. This approach not only failed to meet the students where they were academically, but it also resulted in a lack of comprehension and engagement. Consequently, some students gave up, while others acted out and misbehaved due to their frustration and inability to understand the material.
Furthermore, the school had a culture of stress that permeated throughout the entire environment. From the moment you walked in, it was evident that the students were unhappy and that their stress levels were high. The students were grouped into cohorts and spent the entire day together without any breaks from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. They ate breakfast together, had lunch together in their cohorts, and moved from class to class in a rigid and regimented manner. This lack of variety and opportunity for individual expression inevitably led to chaos and discipline issues. When I approached the principal for support, I was met with minimal assistance and later discovered that she had been gossiping about me with my colleagues, which was incredibly demotivating. Karma hit her though when she was fired a few days after I quit.
The combination of unhappy students, stressed teachers, and an overall negative atmosphere made it clear to me that I needed to quit. It reached a point where I felt terrible every morning when I had to go to work, and it became evident that this environment was not conducive to my well-being. The emotional toll was so severe that I found myself entertaining dark thoughts, such as considering crashing my car rather than going to work. It was a truly distressing realization, and with six teachers having already quit before me, I decided it was time to speak with the principal and inform her of my decision. It was a difficult choice to make, and I felt guilty for leaving the students in the middle of the school year. However, I acknowledged that I was not capable of effectively managing the chaos and that it was in the best interest of the students to have a teacher who could better meet their needs.
In conclusion, Equitas Academy #2 was an incredibly challenging and distressing school to work at. The lack of creativity, the culture of stress, and the negative impact it had on both the students and the teachers ultimately led me to realize that it was not the right fit for me. Although I feel remorse for leaving the students mid-year, I know that my decision was necessary for my own well-being and for the potential of a healthier learning environment for them.
