Ranting about work, I'll get over it!

I work in a small town that was dependent on the textile mills for it's economic well being. As the mills closed, the unemployment rate grew until the rate seems to remain at a figure well over 10% and sometimes nearing 20% or more. Although the town itself boasts a home where Jefferson Davis visited and several homes with architecture that is recognized throughout the state, there is also a great deal of government housing and many homes that are in ruins. The idea of generational poverty is not new here and because they have had government support for so long, many of the youngsters have no idea of how hard some people have to work to obtain things. They view the world as a place where Santa is in the shape of their single parents or step families and they get things without having to work for them.

There are also no consequences for misbehavior. I work in a school where the students can talk to me any way they choose because the Principal thinks that I am too strict and does not believe in firm discipline. It is her philosophy that these children should be nurtured no matter what they do. I had a child yell at me yesterday and when I told him that he wasn't going to talk to me like that he said, "Well!" Which means, "well I just did, didn't I and nothing is going to happen to me is it?" And it's true, if I had sent the child to the office nothing would have happened. Another child was told that she shouldn't do something and when I asked her to please go to her seat, telling her again not to do what I told her, she looked right at me and said, "Well, I just did it anyway." The children know that no one is going to make them behave and that if I do they can go to the Principal and say that I am too mean and that there will be no consequences for them. It is very frustrating to say the least.

I have begun to feel as though someone is out of touch with reality. I am not sure if it is me or the administrator that I work with. I have talked to others who agree with me so perhaps I have not totally lost my grip. I do know that nothing you say to many of the people I work with is the least confidential and that much of what is said is twisted and retold to best serve the teller of the tale. I know that many of the women that I work with smile in your face and then run back to others to make sure that they are the first to carry the latest bit of hopefully damning news. It is all so tiresome. Just yesterday I, being naive, told a fellow employee, in confidence, something that had happened that involved their position. I was not being malicious or anything else. I was just carrying information that I thought the person should know. I had no idea that they would immediately carry the tale to someone else to verify it and try to find out more information/gossip. Now I will have to wait to see how soon I get summoned to the office for yet another letter telling me that something I have done has ruffled the feathers of the administration. What comes after tiresome?

Well, it's off to bed as I have yet another day at the Salt Mines awaiting me in about 3-4 hours. Oh JOY! At least I have a job and that I AM thankful for.