Topic : A...Clayton COunty Schools
February 27, 2008
Clayton County Schools, currently on the edge of losing its accreditation if the situation is not resolved by September 1, 2008, does not surprise me. For years, I've been aware of the many problems Georgia schools seem to be having. Georgia students’ low test scores seem to be one indication that things aren’t quite right in many public school systems through Metro Atlanta and surrounding counties. Clayton County, populated predominantly by black residents, a place that has become highly publicized in the media for gang violence in recent years would be a nice place to live if many black people who live there had general respect for their neighbors as well as their neighbor’s property. However, for many years, I've personally seen total disregard for the feelings of others and overall lack of respect from individuals in not only Clayton County but also Fulton County. I think Clayton County Schools’ accreditation issue is indicative of the often uncaring attitude that I’ve witnessed among many for quite some time now.
Just this past year, I was forced from an administrative position with Fulton County Schools. After one month of employment, I was given a poor job performance evaluation form and told to sign it. I signed it, although I disagreed with many statements on the evaluation form and did voice those concerns. Before signing the form, it was agreed that I would continue my employment but if my work performance did not improve within the next thirty days, my employment would be terminated. At the end of the work day, I was called into the office and told that my services would no longer be needed. Ultimately, I was given the option to either resign or be terminated from employment. Unfortunately, I resigned because I wanted to have a second chance of gaining employment with Fulton County Schools. Then I was told to hand back the job performance evaluation form that I had signed earlier. The form was then torn up in my presence. Not only was I forced out of a new job, but I also felt humiliated. During my last two days of employment, I was called into three different meetings which were not very pleasant.
A couple of weeks after my forced resignation, I met with an attorney to discuss possibly filing a lawsuit. The attorney explained to me that I really didn't have a case, because no discrimination had occurred because of my race, religion, sexual orientation or gender. The attorney said that I can't sue employees for mistreatment. It was also explained to me that Georgia is one of those states where employees have very little rights against an employer. "If this was up north, it’ll be different," the attorney said.
This entire situation I felt was unnecessary. However, this is the world that we live in. The world is not always going to pat you on the back, give you any free rides, or tell you what a wonderful job you’re doing. Neither is the world always going to encourage you in your endeavors. This is why you must learn to value yourself, because self-worth can only be gained from within you. Others can teach you the meaning of self-esteem, or work to instill this value in you. But, until you feel and live self-esteem, it won’t be an effective instrument in your life. Understand that the world is constantly working to tear you down. This is why you must have enough personal strength and dignity to build yourself up, even in the midst of your failure or downfall.
I was angry for months after being—what I believed—unfairly forced from my position. Then depression followed. Even in the midst of my anger, frustration and depression, I survived each day. During the two months I was unemployed, I survived. Even after my car was repossessed by the dealership, I survived. I was highly pissed, but I’m glad I didn’t physically retaliate against anyone. I glad I didn’t verbally threaten anyone. I’m glad that I’m not someone who possesses a heart of stone and can feel comfortable unjustly erasing a person’s livelihood.
Many times, s*** will hit the fan and disperse all over our faces. Just don’t let the s*** get into your mouth and subsequently swallow it. You don’t have to eat s*** just because the fan of life blew it in your face. Yes, it was wrong when your manager or supervisor terminated you over something insignificant. The key is to get back up and keeping moving forward after the s*** of job termination is slung in your face.
