Nominated Transfer: Five Stages of Grief

Due to a reduction in student numbers my school will be over-staffed in 2012, and a teacher needs to be relocated to another site. On Friday 11-Nov-2011 I was nominated to transfer.

Five Stages of Grief

I found it interesting to observe my own reactions and how they fit into the Kübler-Ross model of the five stages of grief. The model is based on interviews with more than 500 dying patients, but it can also apply to catastrophic loss (job, income, freedom).

Denial

I feel fine; This can't be happening, not to me.

The principal had informed all the staff that a nominated transfer was forth-coming on Mon 07-Nov-2011. Later that afternoon he privately informed me that I may be nominated. There was a brief shock; a few seconds of "this isn't real."

But I had 5 days to consider the eventuality of the "loss". I trusted that the principal would meet the needs of the school and take everything he needed to into consideration. So when he informed me that I would be nominated there was no denying it.

Anger

Why me? It's not fair!; How can this happen to me?; Who is to blame?

I think because of the 5 days notice the anger was subtle. Trying to keep a positive and professional outlook; there may have also been some emotional suppression.

Unfortunately, my Year 8 class felt some misdirected anger today (Monday). I apologised to them for my lack of patience and energy during that lesson.

Bargaining

I'll do anything for a few more years; I will give my life savings if ...

While discussing the nomination the deputy-principal and principal described how they had gone through the numbers, and considered alternative solutions. Their sincerity and honesty was apparent, so there's no wriggle room for bargaining.

Depression

I'm so sad, why bother with anything?

Depression came in waves over the first weekend, mixing with denial, anger, and acceptance. It seems that the stages are not mutually exclusive, and that I can quickly progress or regress through them.

Monday morning: coming back to the workplace seemed difficult. Feelings of rejection, disappointment, anxiety. It seemed a bit of emotional overkill for a simple job relocation. I'm even feeling distressed about being distressed ("I should have better control than this!")

Ten years ago I chose to move to this location, and had no concerns about the school, the position, the subjects, or the students.

Now I have a family and home here, the risks of the transfer seem greater and the rewards seem negligible. Also, I am not in control of this decision, although I can nominate some preferred schools to transfer to. If no suitable school is found nearby I might be placed in a mobile permanent position in my current school.

I also wonder if being older now, I seek stability rather than excitment; predictability rather than spontaneity. This would fit in with the article about Teenage Brains that Darcy Moore recently blogged about.

I'm also feeling sad about the loss of investment in people and resources I've made at my current school. The good relationships, and the IT structures and processes that have been implemented. I hope that the next location is as warm and welcoming.

Acceptance

It's going to be okay.

I haven't lost my job, my income, or my freedom. I will only have a change of circumstances - possibly a change of school, possibly a relocation of home and family. The unknown is the point of fear.

I don't think I will have full acceptance until I have more certainty and self-determination.

I'm also starting to consider the affects of leaving my current school. How well will my current classes (especially HSC IPT) adjust to the change? Will the students in the chess club continue to develop and grow (in game-play and life)?

And, I've been more creative in the past few days than in the past year. Maybe I've just been lacking lustre for a while, and these events is jolting my brain back into action; out of a rut.

Perspective

Keeping things in perspective:

• I haven't been told I'm going to die
• I haven't lost my job, or income
• I still have health and family
• I might be relocated to a new work environment

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs I'm doing OK. My Physiological , Safety, and Love/Belonging needs are met. But maybe Esteem and Self-Actualisation are lacking.

Hopefully, when the paperwork is done, and I know more about where I am headed, acceptance will come, and the stages will end. There might be new and exciting opportunities, but I'm just a little nervous about looking out the door.

Publicness

A final thought: I have never expressed my thoughts and fears so publicly before. But Jeff Jarvis has highlighted the benefits of publicness; and I've found writing this post good for clarifying and organising my own thoughts and feelings. Maybe it will help someone else too.

Update (30-Nov-2011)

I've been appointed to another local school starting in 2012. It's a change of subject area, but at least it's not a change of house! Acceptance is getting better :-)

Comments

Copied from original post

Deb Hogg says:

14 Nov 2011 at 05:18 PM
Hi Tim Well written... but that's a hard piece to read! The whole number crunching reality of school staffing is appalling - sorry to hear that you are at the pointy end of it. Anger is an appropriate first response but I can already see the hint of adventure and the thrill of "what comes next?" hiding in your post! A change of school is always difficult but you've already had a benefit in the past couple of days - a creativity boost comes in all shapes and sizes! Just hope that some amazing, fabulous opportunity comes your way in all this - new place, new people, new learning, new fun! ...with manageable disruption to your family (they need adventure and fun too!). I have no doubt that it will all turn out to be wonderful! Regards, Deb

Deborah Moore says:

30 Nov 2011 at 03:22 PM
Hi Tim! Don't go on Maang much anymore but I just saw yur post and read your blog.... That would have been a tough time for you and I thank you for your reflections. It was an enlightening post! BUT great news about your new posting... I wish you luck and am sure you will succeed in whatever you do!! Debbie

Vivi Mattiello says:

01 Dec 2011 at 06:31 PM
"There's always a rainbow after the storm" This blog post is so true, been through all those steps myself when my position was cut off unexpectedly (for me). Things like this happen, though that's not really encouraging is it? Take it as a learning experience that will make you better as it might lead you to reassess your identity as a teacher. All the best for 2012!

Home Network: King of My Data Castle

I recently purchased a couple of gigabit switches to run as the backbone of my home network.

Before the new switches I used my ADSL modem and wireless access point as switches. Now the increased speed between devices is outstanding. And since we're studying communication systems in HSC IPT, I thought this would be a good source of classroom discussions.

The network diagram

Points of discussion could include: twisted pair, ADSL, modems, firewalls, DHCP, IP addresses, switches, Cat5e (and Cat6), USB, wireless access points, 802.11n, network-attached storage, backup strategies, digital TV, coaxial cable, HDMI, fibre optic cable, and HDTV and surround sound (fitting in with multimedia).

And, of course, the primary reason for the new switches: transmission speeds.

Here's the network diagram (click to enlarge):

• Green = gigabit capable hardware
• Red = external data sources

The diagram shows how devices are connected, and how data moves around my house. Area A is the library/study where most of the data (and this blog) is created and assembled. Area B is the consumption room, where media is displayed.

The backbone cable between the new gigabit switches runs under the house. The wireless access point sits there too, broadcasting up into the house (through wooden floors) and down into the back garden.

External data is sourced from the internet and TV transmissions. (Radio is also used, but via a non-networked device). Internally, most data is stored and retrieved from the network-attached device (NAS) in Area B, with regular backups of critical data stored on the desktops in Area A.

I'm thinking of moving the NAS to a spot under the house too (to minimise the noise and heat in Area B), but I first need to ensure I can ventilate it and protect it from dust.

I deliberately chose not to include brands, makes, and models in the diagram for two reasons: first, this diagram is just to demonstrate a network structure and it's components, not promote a product; second, the less information I provide about the specifics of my household network devices, the fewer vulnerabilities I expose it to from targetted attacks.

Creating the network diagram

Previously I've used Microsoft Publisher to draw diagrams, but with Office 2007 I couldn't find connectors (they seem to have last appeared in Publisher 2003). So I went looking for a free online solution and found http://gliffy.com.

Gliffy is really easy to use, it has great clipart, excellent connectors, and allows for saving (as XML or various image formats) and online viewing. With a free account I can draw and save up to 5 diagrams. If I want more than that I'll think about subscribing. You must have an account to save diagrams, so in a classroom situation students where I don't want to force students to provide personal data to external entities, they could build their diagram and then use screenshots to store them.

Technical Duplicity: Some birds don't fly

Just as cars and planes move people, the internet is a great way of moving information. But, there seems to be a lot of work being done using electronic tools in an inefficient way. It's like using a plane to drive around on the ground, not knowing that your technology can now fly.

Birds Can Walk

In 1806 the first cars powered by an internal-combustion engine appeared, and a completely new paradigm of travel was ready for mass-production.

Similarly when personal computers got underway, everyone could create and store digital work electronically. And when synergised with the internet we could store and share that data across networks of electronic devices.

But that was Web 1.0; the internet was static; the bird didn't have wings yet.

Birds Can Fly

In 1903 the Wright brothers achieved sustained and controlled heavier-than-air powered flight. They used an internal-combustion engine, but added aerodynamic technology to create a new travel paradigm.

Similarly, Web 2.0 uses interactive technologies to allow us to create and share digital work in one step. Documents are "live", shared and edited from any online device.

Now the bird had wings, and it could fly.

Some Birds Don't Fly

But just because you have the technology, doesn't mean everyone will use it.

Today most people learn to drive a car to transport themself, and some may even know how to change the oil of their internal-combustion engine. A much smaller group will learn how to fly a plane. The majority don't learn to fly because of

• the expense of learning
• the expense of acquiring and maintaining the technology
• lack of knowledge and skills required
• lack of understanding the benefits
• lack of interest

When we think of the Web, lot's of people can consume Web 1.0 content, and successfully navigate through websites and webpages. Some might even know how to write simple HTML and CSS. But it seems that few learn how to use Web 2.0 technology, using blogs, podcasts, RSS, or wikis. And since these technologies are free, this could be because of

• lack of knowledge and skills required
• lack of understanding of the benefits
• lack of interest

An simple example of this is when text and image data are created and formatted as paged documents using software like Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat. They could be the minutes from a meeting, or a newsletter for parents. The document is usually stored on a file server or web server, but it can't be displayed simply in a browser, it needs to be opened using proprietary software.

This isn't the most efficient way to store, share, or search data. It's a duplication of data and data processes, and is like using a plane to drive from Sydney to Perth.

Will They Ever Fly?

To successfully integrate Web 2.0 technology I think we need to get away from the shackles of print media. The page was invented to make it easier to publish and distribute books on paper. But if we aren't using paper, why are we still using pages?

Do education leaders need to further promote the knowledge and skills? Increase an understanding of the benefits? Overcome a lack of interest?

Old habits are hard to break. It may be a generational change before the knowledge, skills, understanding, and interest, enables an integration of Web 2.0 technologies into mainstream education. Just as it took 30 years for the telephone, television, videocassette recorder, and mobile phone to become common-place after their invention, we might have to wait until the children of today become the teachers of tomorrow.