What Goes Around---Comes Around!

Tonight is my interview with the Toronto District School Board in order to be "Eligible to Hire". If you are not on this list, you can not obtain a full time contract. As an Occasional or Long-Term-Occasional Teacher, you must go through this process EVERY year...can you say REDUNDANT?

(Close your eyes and wish me articulation and calmness at 6:30pm.)

As some of you already know, last year I blew it...and the only reason that I made the cut was because the Principal of the school that I taught at last year corrected their "numb-skull" impression of me by singing my praises---and professing that I could walk on water...! (Phewf!!! That was a close one...)

Let's rewind time for the sake of the story. Before I took the (L.T.O.) job teaching History and Drama at (the name will have to remain anonymous due to "History Class Blog"...) I was hired as a FULL-TIME teacher at (another school that will have to remain anonymous...). They promised a full schedule of DRAMA. On the first day of school, I found myself teaching 2 sections of grade 12 English (Academic) and 1 section of grade 9 Drama (ESL). In the second semester, I had 2 sections of Careers/Civics and 1 sections of grade 9 Drama (ESL) to look forward to...

-After spending the morning walking the halls of Harlem, I became very leery...

-Try to play the "name game" with a class full of students who do not understand you or each other....I dare you!

-Also, one of my main purposes of moving to Toronto was to pursue my acting career and supply teach to pay the rent. Because let's face it---my job in Chatham was GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I took a brisk walk to the main office and sat down with Mr. Principal and said:

" I made a mistake! I am so sorry! I can't do this! I don't know what I was thinking! I want to be a Supply Teacher! I don't want to spend the year crawling on my knees in the depths of despair! (unravel new classroom keys from my key chain) Here ---you have to take these back! I didn't sign anything! I know that this is the worst thing I could do to you on the first day of school ---BUT I MADE A MISTAKE---(and I am starting to think that I am going to have to cop a cry for a more convincing display of INSANITY!)

Mr. Principal - "Hang on now Tara, what's got you all jacked up?

Me - "Nothing! This school seems amazing. The staff have been so kind. The students are awesome. YOU are amazing---probably why I got talked into this job in the first place (he was very charming and very convincing --- hell, I might of walked out of there with a MATH job...)

Mr. Principal - "What can I do to make you change your mind?"

Me- "Nothing! You just have to let me go...(and the academy award for MELO-DRAMA goes to YOURS TRULY)

Mr. Principal - "Would you stay if I gave you more sections of Drama? I was hoping to start a Dance programme next semester...This school needs you here..."

Me - "Thank you so much ---but I just can't...

WE NEVER SPEAK AGAIN---

Fast forward for the sake of the story to last years "Eligible to Hire" interviews with the school board.

Due to the size of the TDSB -- they conduct the interviews simultaneously in this massive school with several interview "teams" over a large period of time. When you walk into the building you have to state the number of your interview team and they direct you to the proper waiting room. From that waiting room, someone calls your name and takes you to a chair in the hallway outside of your interview team. You wait there until your interview team calls your name.

(basically there are millions of principals across the school board that conduct these interviews...)

SO--- My team comes to the door---one woman and one man----

THE MAN IS MR. PRINCIPAL!

My heart pounds. I start shaking. Out of all the freaking people --- this is how my world treats me ---- everything comes back to me tenfold! --- you would think I'd have learned my lesson by now---

Mr. Principal - (pats me on the back) "Ahhhh Tara -- good to see you --- what goes around comes around -- doesn't it?"

Tara - (pretty near a nervous break-down) " I just want you to know that not a day goes by that I don't think about you and what happened. I need you to know how sorry I am."

(That would have been nice if maybe I could have said that eons before he WAS INTERVIEWING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Mr. Principal - "No worries. We are all friends here. Have a seat. Would you like a class of water?"

Me - (Kill me now please!---can you imagine how every answer that came out of my mouth must have felt like a facade---

"Well, I always see projects through to the finish---"
"I am very committed to my school community---"
"I handle adversity with grace and ease---"

I actually try to insert my humour at the end of the interview when asked which zones I prefer to teach in ---(like as if I hadn't already buried myself 6 feet under...)

I lean in and smile my most charming smile and nudge Mr. Principal's shoulder and say:

"Well,--- we all know that I DON'T want to teach at YOUR SCHOOL--HAHAHA!"
(It wasn't funny!)

Peace, Love and Slowing down on the CRACK-PIPE! (if only for tonight's interview...)
xoT.