I Am Not A Bet.

I wasn't going to write this, in fear of slander, but due to a few urgings, here is the story...

They put a bet on me. The teacher next door to me in the hallway came to my door yesterday. I told him I resigned. He said, "You're kidding." I said, "No, I did." And he stuck out his hand, as if to congratulate me and smiled and was excited from ear to ear and said, "YES! I Won! I Won!"

I looked at him dumbfounded and blinking and said, "Excuse me?"

And he was so excited he was nearly jumping up and down, and he was yelling about it, "Yes! I won! We put bets on who would make it and I knew you wouldn't make it this year. I won! I won!" He laughed and screamed and was so excited.

I stood at my doorpost, my mouth gaping, my head lead down and forward in shock, disbelief, and hurt. I didn't know what to say or do. I just stood there humiliated, hurt, shocked, and like someone punched me.

I walked into my room, put my kids in their seats, and quieted the class. This took a minute or two, and when it was quiet, I heard through the closed door and walls his voice booming through the hallways, passing so loud to other teachers from one end to another, "YES! I won! I won! I knew she wouldn't make it! Only one more teacher to go..."

He was elated. I was furious and crushed. I told my students to remain quietly in their seats and that I would be right back. I walked out, and called his name. He didn't turn around. I called again, and strove up to him in a bee-line and said, "This is completely disrespectful. This is inappropriate and I will not be treated this way."

He laughed and shrugged it off as if it was funny and he was just so excited that he won.

I was furious. I stomped to the assistant principals office, but she wasn't there. Then to the Principal's office, but he wasn't there either. The secretary asked if something was wrong, "I said yes and that I needed a principal.

She sat me down, I started to cry. She went and found another assistant principal who listened and was angry at the whole situation, which now had to be documented and I had to give statements for employee relations.

But in the midst of it, all I could think, all I can think, is that I am not a bet. I am not a joke. I am a human being. And I deserve to be treated and respected as such.

So if anyone wonders about my job. If anyone questions why I quit, or if my feelings outweigh my sense of logic, let this story be told. Let you understand that my school just isn't a safe place for my kids, but it is not a safe place for me.

Because I am not a bet. I am not a joke. I am a human being.