So, the search for a new job has intensified lately, given that there have been some negative changes at my school – new management who have cut existing fixed-hour contracts by 20% (which I don’t have), and they are making sure teachers with contracts get priority so they don’t end up paying them for hours they didn’t work; a new scheduler who has neither the time nor the inclination to make sure the remaining teachers have liveable hours, and one of the administration that I liked is on sick leave indefinitely since the management tried to forcibly buy her out of her lifetime contract. More on that next time.
On a good day, I am working from 8.30am-8pm and getting paid for 7 hours of teaching. On a bad day (like tomorrow), I have two classes, at 8.30am and 4.30pm. The latest cavolata (cabbage-derived word that means stupid thing) is a course that is in BFE, which takes 45-60 minutes to get there, for a one-hour course. Then of course I have to come back (which, FYI, every teacher doesn’t get paid for). At first, there was no transfer allotted for this course.
Let’s do the math = 3 hours = 1 hour pay.
I complained, and the next week, they told me that I could have a 5 euro transfer. Let’s do the math again. 3 hours = 1.33 hours pay. (By the way, in case you are doing the math, you’ve figured out my pathetic salary – in fact, one of my California friend’s RAISE was bigger than my entire salary this year).
Think you’ve had enough? Read The Slavery of English Teaching
This article has been circulating my school, written by a man teaching in Rome. Though I don’t recognize the author’s name, sadly I did recognize the suicidal Scottish teacher mentioned as a twin for an ex-colleague. I think someone removed the box of razor blades and the gun that was sitting next to the article in the teacher’s room for the safety of all of us.
So I put myself in the crosshairs, and said, I’m not working that lesson. We’ll see what happens. Wish me luck on my interview tomorrow.
McDonald’s posts nutrition labels directly on food packaging. McDonald’s has also reported installing larger, easier-to-use trash cans for the increased amount of waste they expect this information to generate.
And, in the legislation world here in Italy, fish bowls and dog-walking have precedence over educational reforms
Man…I really hope you find something soon! After reading that article, I got depressed for you. Fingers crossed Sara! Love ya. x
Yeah I saw that article about fish bowls and dog walking…odd. The city beauracracy cannot donate any attention to paying teachers anymore than they are. This is bull%#$!!!!Talk to you soon, Jay.
I am off for the w-e but am so glad you stopped by the blog. We had a GTG this w-e of expats in Como. And there is an expat that works in Pavia, sure email me via by blog, see my profile for the address and I will check it when T get back. Ciao.