Today I have learned a valuable lesson. When a friend asks you to tell them the truth, they really want a lie. They desire to hear what they want to hear and pretend it is the truth. And if you give into the lie then correct yourself later, the lie will be held against you. There is no safe harbor. It is a double-edged sword.
And this applies to the majority of people, moi included. However, I am working to change that vile part of myself. I say tell the truth all the time when asked. Sparing someone’s feelings is done through tact not lies. But make sure that the meaning is understood.
Honestly, if you don’t really what to hear what someone honestly thinks, don’t ask. Remember even paranoid people occasionally have someone following them. If your gut tells you something is wrong with a scenario, rely on that not the opinions of your friends, family, and co-workers. You decide for yourself what something is and, again tactfully, test the theory. There are ways of finding out truth without relying on someone else’s honest.
And don’t count on someone telling you the truth. People, in general, are scum as well as sheep. If a person thinks that there is no way you will actually find out the truth, that person will fib their heads off.
A few months back, I told some pests exactly what I thought of them. Additionally, I avoided them like the plague when an event brought them out. I made no bones about not wanting to talk to them. I thought it was better to avoid them all together instead of yelling at them, or at the very least, being snarky in front of a bunch of kids.
To my chagrin others in my group were nice and welcoming to them after reassuring me that they felt the same way. Now, the new president of our club has extended an open invitation to them after they were evicted from the club for lack of paying dues. Apparently there is a movement to try to force me out. And yet no one has said one word to me. They’ve all been exceedingly nice to my face and not one private message has been delivered.
But they don’t understand something. I understand the silent treatment. No need for me to hang around. And that street runs both ways. In light of the evidence that these people don’t want to hear the truth and would rather humiliate others behind their backs, I don’t think this is the group for me. So I bid a not-so-fond farewell, albeit in a forum that none of them will read. Feel free to breathe a sigh of relief and talk about how much a bitch I was. The words only reflect back on you.
So I went to sign up for substitute teaching. I have done this before so it shouldn't be a problem. I am told that not only am I required to pay for my own background check but, also on my dime, I am to visit my doctor for a physical so they can be sure I don't have anything that would be life threatening to the county's bank account. No drug tests, no tests for communicable diseases, just a check to see if I am bringing anything to the table that they could potentially be considered a liability.
And, of course, the drones of the school system can't see my side of it.
1) They gave me a physical examination form that Traci could fill out for me. Hell, I could fill it out if I were inclined and looked up a couple of things on the Internet. So I could circumvent the whole doctor issue. in addtion I was told if I had had an exam in the past year, I could just take the paper to be filled out by my doctor. The form asks for the date the form is filled out, not the date of the exam. My last exam was in September. A lot can go wrong in four months.
2) The smoke screen is that parents are concerned about their children's well being in school. I am behind that 100%. However the secretary let it slip that the reason for the physical is that if I had say a bad back and I "injured" myself while working for them, they would be liable and could be sued. So they want to know my medical history BEFORE I teach. When you look at the first reason I stated, kinda makes this one moot. I mean, how often does this happen? And muscular problems are notorious for being hard to diagnose.
3) This is one that parents should be concerned about. The school system's education requirement for teaching is a High School diploma (I don't know about GEDs.) The difference in pay between a High School level education and a College level education for subbing is a whopping $5.65 a day. For less than a buck an hour I am expected to actually teach the class rather than just babysit them. And they just dropped the rate of pay for subs across the board. Not much. Before I made just a little over $50 a day and now I make about $0.75 less. But more will be required of me.
4) The background check. I would have had the background check taken out of my first pay check. But I was cleared to teach before they got back the results, presumably. So, if I lied, and background checks not known for being instantaneous (when I showed up today after applying and being released for work last Wednesday I don't think my prints had been sent off yet) I would have full access to their little darlings BEFORE anything had been brought up. Now, my background is spotless so I have nothing to worry about. Additionally I am very honest in interviews. But think, pedophiles are generally sneaky and evasive. So there could be a week or two where one could have full access to a child and no one knows anything about it. As we know, if one moves to a new state where they are required to register, they might not get around to it for a while. Just think about it.
5) Substitute teachers receive no benefits. Which is understandable since they fall under temporary workers. But to require so much money from someone who takes this job for less than $50 a day is asking quite a bit.
6) When you think about it, it's backwards. To dissuade unqualified and potentially dangerous applicants, the background check fee and the physical exam fee should be paid up front. Additionally, the physical exam should only be done by a doctor that the school trusts and knows. That way there can be nothing hinky.
7) In our small, poor school district, starting salary for teachers is over $30,000/year and they get a laptop. Now I think that teachers should be paid what they are worth but as a taxpayer I have to wonder where the tax money is going when all I get to hear is how broke the school system and state is.
8) When I taught before I found it a little disconcerting that, when the sub list had been exhausted, the cafeteria workers and custodians were enlisted to sub for classes. Obviously these are people trusted to be around the children. But what is the education level requirement to be a lunchroom lady or janitor?
9) People that need the money have unnecessary expense added to their problems. Considering the low level of education and criminal background expected of the job, the people applying won't necessarily be assets to the teachers or school. Qualified people will look elsewhere for employment. Those that don't need the money won't bother. And those that are qualified and don't need the money (like moi) will be perturbed that one is required to pay to be an asset and worked like a dog for something just above minimum wage. In addition, I get to lose a day's work to go to the doctor. So now I would be about $150 in the hole to work for the school system.
10) Additionally, it isn't worth the aggravation. The office where I needed to apply only took applications on Wednesdays because that was the only time a qualified individual could take fingerprints. But, she made me print myself while she took my information. And you couldn't get an answer out of them but on Wednesday.
So anyone looking to sub as a means to make money I strongly encourage you to get as much information as possible (provided the school system is willing to part with it.) Potential employees have a right to know.