I am a 20 year veteran teacher in California and have seen many changes to our school system. One thing that has not changed is teacher harassment and bullying. I have been bullied by "popular" teachers, older teachers, and even administrators my entire career. I have had school orders stolen from me my my department head, been cussed out and screamed at by "popular" teachers in meetings when I ask questions about student reading material, gaslighted by co-workers, and had my career derailed by an influential teacher who was stealing money from a student fund.

There are so many good things about teaching, but there is a dark, ugly side as well. My new principal, who still wears his high school letterman jacket to school believe it or not, is set on only having his staff be former graduates of the school we work in. He is harassing/bullying those who are not former grads into leaving. Some are leaving in December while others, like myself, are freaking out because we are older and lets face it, age discrimination is very high in the teaching profession. Where would we go?

I've seen teachers come to school hung over, stoned or even just flat out not show up for work without calling. I've seen sexual harassment (female harassing male) and physical assault (principal before this one backed up a history teacher to the wall and got in his face, fists clenched). Ive seen stolen property in classrooms, expensive stolen property like city park benches. I've also seen these incidents reported and laughed off by those higher in authority.

I dread going to work everyday, wondering if today is the day I get physically attacked by a co-worker who is under the influence or by my principal who is angry that I haven't quit.