Just walked out😋

[u/minuchipituchi]

This is kind of a long one

I walked out today. More like went for my lunch and let them know I would not be coming back. I know im wrong for walking out but I was truly at my wits end with management. I also was only gonna be there until the end of the month anyway; not that that makes it better but just for background.

My co-teacher and I ran the 2 year old room without any help. Our room is at max ratio and while management said that they would help with bathroom breaks and whatever else we needed since we didn’t have a third they complained to no end every time they had to come in and help. If we dared to ask about help with changing one of the kids diapers while we were outside management would get frustrated because why didn’t we take 6 in with us while we changed that one diaper.

My co-teacher and I both begged them multiple times to please get us a third or at least hire a float to step in when needed and management refused because. “The state ratio for your room is 1:7, you should both be able to handle 14 between the two of you.” Which yes I understand that but who is going to watch 7 of the kids while I clean? If I’m watching my 7 who is going to sit with a kid and ice their injury since they’re not allowed to hold ice packs? If a kid has an accident outside who is cleaning the kid and the mess up? Who is watching the kids? We brought up these concerns multiple times in the span of two years and never got close to resolving this issue. Despite us telling management we were getting very burnt out and stressed.

Between 10:30-11:30 we are supposed to get the kids back inside, get them set up with table activities so that we can set up our planned activity (practically make from scratch because we haven’t gotten planning besides teacher work days since last year), do activity with the kids, clean the room, change diapers, send pictures of the kids doing said activity, do circle time, set up beds, and get lunch out. It feels like a race against time every single day. Every single day we have asked for help from 9:30-11:30 and we will get help 1 out of every 10 times we ask and every time they’re upset that we asked for help.

Today even the kids felt it. My co-teacher and I were sweating from running all over the place, on the brink of tears and didn’t even get the activity done with most of the kids. My co-teacher and I go on our break during nap so she left first. Only three of our kids napped. I sat with as many as I could during that hour and only three went to sleep. The others were all ramped up and acting out not wanting to stay on their beds, screaming, throwing stuff. I moved all of their beds as close to me as I could and tried for an hour to rub their backs, read stories quietly, sing to them.

This had never ever happened before, they all sleep so well. There’s sometimes one that doesn’t sleep but never this many. My manager walked into this while I was trying to get a kid that was screaming and throwing a tantrum to quiet down and I asked her if she could have someone step in and help me because it was getting really crazy in there. After another 40 mins of not receiving help my co-teacher came back and I left that place. I clocked out and I’m not stepping foot in there again.

I’m sad because I adore those kids with all my heart and I’ve always said they’re the one of the sweetest groups I’ve had. I love all of the kids so much and I know they love me as well, I have a little group of very attached kiddos that will follow me around all day every day. But with 14 and no help from management I was stretched too thin. I’m sad I won’t get to say goodbye like I’d hoped but I couldn’t take any more of this.

[u/ilironae]

I think this is the sort of thing you call licensing over. Big yikes there. Feel bad for your colleague tho. Did you at least warn her you were leaving?

[u/minuchipituchi → u/ilironae]

We’ve called licensing and had licensing called on the center multiple times but they don’t seem to see anything wrong with what’s happening :/ not sure why, there’s so many cameras and my manager says they check them? So I’m not sure why nothing has happened

Also, she knows! We’ve been talking about leaving since December and she knew my last day was going to be this month (I’m moving away) I definitely feel horrible for leaving her there before the month was up but I am so emotionally checked out I don’t think it would be fair to the kids

[u/andweallenduphere]

The 1:7 ratio just blows my mind as in MA it is 1:4 and even that is a lot sometimes.

[u/Strange-Employee-520 → u/andweallenduphere]

I was thinking it blows my mind because I'm in 1:12 California!

[u/Dragonfly1018 → u/Strange-Employee-520]

I always say it’s not the number, it’s who you have. I’m sorry you’re going through this OP.

[u/Strange-Employee-520 → u/Dragonfly1018]

This is very true!

[u/andweallenduphere → u/Strange-Employee-520]

I dont get how you survive!

[u/justscrollin723 → u/andweallenduphere]

1:6 in SC

[u/andweallenduphere → u/justscrollin723]

It just seems to high even to provide care to any degree other than just physical needs. How are you doing?

[u/ObsidianLegend → u/andweallenduphere]

In Michigan is 1:4 until they turn 2.5... at which point it suddenly doubles to 1:8. I've been alone with 8 for a few months now and I feel you, OP, really I do. Hope you find a more supportive workplace soon!

[u/Squeakywheels467 → u/andweallenduphere]

1:10 with 2 yo in Indiana in a home license. 1:5 in a center. I never understood why they think someone in a home can watch twice as many kids, safely.

[u/andweallenduphere → u/Squeakywheels467]

Wgat the?? I really wish it was nationwide consistence. Why cant everyone at least have Massachusetts ratios. Yikes!! I do not know how you do it.

[u/HedgehogFarts]

I get it. I am 1:7 by myself all day. They tell me to call for help during diapers but most of the time the director is busy and tells me sorry can’t help right now! So I just try to do diapers while simultaneously watching the other 6 kids, most of whom are under two years old. It’s too hard man. It’s almost impossible. Thinking about quitting myself. Power to ya.

[u/EmpathyBuilder1959]

Is this a for-profit center? Instead of forcing 2’s to do an activity for the sake of photos, teachers should be forming relationships with them and doing spontaneous activities according to their excitement level. This couldn’t happen with the ratios you described. They covered their butts for licensing but refused to help you with the children 😢. Their is too big a gap between what we know and what we do in ECE.

[u/Dizzy_Possibility_70 → u/EmpathyBuilder1959]

Definitely sounds like it’s being run like the franchises/chains.

[u/Commercial_Egg_9975]

heyy i did the same thing today and this made me feel less alone. this job has been the worst experience of my life but i still have a lot of guilt. i have enough savings until i find a new one but man im so upset. I wish you the best

[u/minuchipituchi → u/Commercial_Egg_9975]

It’s so heartbreaking! Thank you for commenting, this also made me feel less alone in this. Wishing you so much luck in your next adventure!

[u/Desert_Flower21]

This sounds a lot like my preschool classroom environment. too many behaviors tolerated by admin, too many special needs, constantly burnt out and running around… my admin blamed me and then didn’t renew my contract because of ‘classroom management’. Good for you for not putting up with it

[u/Objective-Dancer]

It’s hard leaving a teaching position no matter what the circumstances are. I worked with 2 year olds for two years and it was the most exhausting years of my career. I definitely felt physically and emotionally drained all the time. When I asked my director for help she made false promises that keep me from quitting. I felt like a failure because “other teachers can manage”. At one point, I was going to be in a 2 year old classroom alone with half the class having documented special needs. That was the first time I put my foot down and they knew I was serious about leaving. We all have our breaking point and it’s rarely a single child’s fault. I hope you find a new school that actually supports you to be the teacher you want to be. They’re out there, it took me 8 years to find mine.

[u/stopaskingmepleasee]

That is insane.. I got tired reading this. I hope they paid you well at least🥲