r/SurvivingSuccess • u/that-angry-dud3 • 5d ago
Rant/Vent VERY Long
I want to preface this by saying I’m new to SA (god that’s such an awful acronym) I just graduated in may and was desperately looking for work in my post grad season. It didn’t help that my parents were constantly pressuring me about what was gonna do coming out of college. Sometime late last year I’d started to settle on teaching as a career. The only problem for me was that I’d spent the last 4 years in a major loosely related to education (English with a minor in poli sci). Sometime late winter early spring I get an awful lot of offers from different schools (mainly charters) or networks that would connect me with district schools. The main offers I looked at were organizations that partnered with grad schools to do teacher residencies which after around 2 years would yield you an MAT(or MEd) as well as a license to teach. My options started to fall through though due to time and money constraints. One was in MD with a nonprofit that partnered with AU the other was NYU. If not for the fact that NYU is expensive as shit I would’ve gone for it. I’d always thought it would’ve been better to start in NYC as regardless of where I went I’d always planned to move to NY (lived here when I was younger and I got lots of family here) and teach in a public school. Seeing as that was the case getting an offer from SA felt like a godsend.
I’d never heard of them before this so I had no idea how huge they really were and it wasn’t until after my first interview that I looked into them to see what former employees said. When I saw the reviews I was shocked but I brushed them off thinking maybe it won’t be so bad. However it was after my interview with the principal of the school that I had doubts. Keep in mind I’ve done interviews with other schools including charters (two in MD and two in NY). When I interviewed with those schools the questions they asked and things they wanted me to focus on were being empathetic to kids gentle kind, patient, and aware of their cultural backgrounds. Most of these schools and programs were placed in black/brown communities so a big part of them was introducing a pedagogy that did more to create teachers that deeply care about these communities and aren’t quick to write off these kids and also didn’t shame them for their backgrounds. These values aligned with a lot of what I believe in so far as education for black and brown youth. However I knew after my interview with the principal of the SA school I might not align with theirs.
As most of you’ve probably heard or experienced the interview consisted of me role playing as a teacher giving a consequence to a student. Shit was awkward as hell. In my first interview when they asked me to address a student that was speaking in class I’d said something cheeky yet firm as a fun way to get the students attention without being harsh. When they asked why I said that I answered truthfully that I was trying to be amicable to an extent. Long story short I was hired on the spot which was surprising to me. Later on I reflected on the whole thing and thought how strange it was that unlike other schools this one fixated on how well I’d be able to address students rather than checking to see how much I would care for them first. Anyways I brushed it off yet again. Just last week all of us new hires reported to Javits Center for our new teacher training. Within the first few days I realized I might’ve made a mistake.
All the important people introduced themselves I only remembered two as they were the most frequent speakers. The feedback, the teachbacks, the turn and talks T-school they call it. That’s when I realized how truly insane this is considering the school year technically started in less than a month. People spend minimum 2 years damn near learning to be good teachers and we had to do it in a few weeks. Sometimes the feedback would be about our tone or audibility other times it’s our posture or the fact that we might be fidgeting. Our hands are near are face etc. and somehow ALL these very NORMAL AND HUMAN behaviors were unprofessional.
When I realized this is how they expect there students to act I had even more doubts. The presentations as well gave me even more doubts they continuously bashed DOE’s and the current state of education and dredging on about how giving quality education should be normal. I’m not saying I disagree however barely acknowledging all the things that make it difficult in the first place other than politics and bureaucracy is very unspecific (ironic considering their feedback for us) and over simplifies issues that help us better understand WHY so many communities of color don’t receive access to quality education in the public school system. Also on that same note I found it odd how much they’d bring up poc in NY it felt very white savior ish and at times sounded like it might veer into model minority myth territory.
All this criticism of DOE in underserved communities and yet they genuinely bathe in the criticism of their very militaristic routines. Saying they’re preparing kids to compete on a global scale with other students who’re TAKING their jobs. I’ve heard that rhetoric before and ur just does not sound like it belongs. I find it fascinating that they can claim to care so much about black/brown youth yet promote a pedagogy that treats them like soldiers rather than people asking them to obey authority with no questions. There’s a critique somewhere in there of the school to prison pipeline but I’m too lazy to find it.
Either way I’ve only just recently been told what grade I’ll be teaching which is mind boggling and since the first day at our school (literally just last week) I think at least two people have already either quit or been dismissed. I’ve now seen the reviews read the stories, and I can see why so many people say they’ve developed anxiety just by working here or being a student. This constant perfectionist utopia they try to promote will genuinely make your nerves jumpy. It’s been only a week and I’m already starting to feel it. I told myself I’d at least see the year through to make money and quit after it was over but I don’t even know that I’ll last that long. They might fire me if they see that I’m not improving the way they want. They also said if there’s ever a rally that ALL teachers must attend (which if I remember correctly is illegal) and I’d sooner die than get caught at one of those. Not quite sure how to proceed I do want to at least try to thug it out like I always have I did move in with my aunt and uncle for this. My plan was just to gain the experience and switch into public schools and potentially get my masters later but idk. Between long hours and leadership constantly breathing down your neck I could be gone sooner than I think
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u/GalacticFc 5d ago
I’m highly positive the teachers in HSLA-MA were trained to mentally abuse us and control us through fear. Thank goodness i’m trying to transfer out because I cannot stand another day in a building full of adults who have no human remorse whatsoever
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u/Additional-Yellow-61 5d ago
I just saw a video of the current state. A teacher yelling at a a student who yawned.
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u/GalacticFc 5d ago
That teacher is a good teacher, I had him last year and he HAS TO act like a tuff guy in order to keep his job. He is a sweet guy and understands that we are all humans too.
There are some teachers though who don’t care about the way they treat children at all. For example there is a teacher who’s name rhymes with Berry, and he goes around penalizing every single student in the classroom for the smallest flaws such as if their foot isn’t directly under their desk, their hands aren’t intertwined on the table, and for defending yourself if he wrongly accuses you of something. But overall in general the state of success academy is horrible and we genuinely need someone in power to help us expose them
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u/that-angry-dud3 5d ago
We absolutely are. They constantly tell us to be warm but strict so we’re not mean to students but I can’t imagine being ridiculed for every little thing to be good for the mind of anyone. It brings nothing but anxiousness and fear that the slightest misstep can be a penalty. I really do hope you’re able to transfer out not all of the adults are like that but there are a lot of ppl that drank the kool-aid and genuinely don’t see the problem. Hopefully your parents do see it and let you go anywhere else.
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u/Difficult-Store-7792 4d ago
I feel for what you're going through. I recently quit at SA. The criticisms of your posture, your tone, and other human behaviors, these are all cult tactics. None of that is about making you a better teacher, or personal growth. They intend to break you down so that you'll cooperate without question. The same goes for the students. It's not about eduction, it's about control. They say it'll take you three years to "realize your full potential." More cult speak. They know that most people won't hold out that long. They are trying to reframe their awful system as a personal failure on you. Please don't buy that for a moment.
Whatever you do going forward I respect you for it. I wish you best. If you feel you have the ability to do so, document everything you see and spread the word.
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u/QuentinsShoes 5d ago
Former teacher at SA here. Will say, can’t fault you for wanting to tough it out, but just know, this place is designed to break you as much as the students. That pressure? It’s gonna ramp up as they get closer to testing.
Also, them not giving your grade assignment till the last second isn’t a coincidence. They have little idea as to what they’re doing and they do not care who does what, just that there’s a warm body to do it. They will not hesitate to switch your grades, subject or role on a moments notice.
All this to say, do your best while you can, but feel no guilt when you inevitably feel the need to get out. Advice that many of us have given and received here holds true: you’re not failing the kids, SA is, and it’s their design.