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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rfs on September 3, 2006, at 18:28:23
Hi
I am a school psychologist in NYC. Over the last 3 years our roles have changed dramatcly. We now do the job of 4 people. Before that, I would agree we had it a little to easy. Now . no matter how hard you work, how muc you do, I feel as though I have failed at my job. Myself and the city in general is furthe behind today then it was 3 years ago. While intellectually, I know the job is not doable, it sought of damages your self esteem when you are constantly being critisized. If you speed up and then make mistakes you hear about as well. Leaving might seem to be the answer, but after 11 years, pension high pay etc become big issues to consider. It is not like I have to stick it out a year or 2. I have at least 10 years to go. It could improve but I am not holding my breath. Any suggestions
Ray
Posted by sleepygirl on September 4, 2006, at 9:45:51
In reply to Work, stress, self esteem, posted by rfs on September 3, 2006, at 18:28:23
> Hi
> I am a school psychologist in NYC. Over the last 3 years our roles have changed dramatcly. We now do the job of 4 people. Before that, I would agree we had it a little to easy. Now . no matter how hard you work, how muc you do, I feel as though I have failed at my job. Myself and the city in general is furthe behind today then it was 3 years ago. While intellectually, I know the job is not doable, it sought of damages your self esteem when you are constantly being critisized. If you speed up and then make mistakes you hear about as well. Leaving might seem to be the answer, but after 11 years, pension high pay etc become big issues to consider. It is not like I have to stick it out a year or 2. I have at least 10 years to go. It could improve but I am not holding my breath. Any suggestions
> Rayany possibility of a response from the appropriate people about being over-worked? or if there isn't a response, can you set a schedule and/or be very clear about what is a realistic amount of work for you?
People tend to be very critical...I don't know why, tending to be unrealistic, not bothering to consider the details of it
sorry you're having trouble,
sg
Posted by rfs on September 4, 2006, at 17:28:13
In reply to Re: Work, stress, self esteem » rfs, posted by sleepygirl on September 4, 2006, at 9:45:51
> > Hi
> > I am a school psychologist in NYC. Over the last 3 years our roles have changed dramatcly. We now do the job of 4 people. Before that, I would agree we had it a little to easy. Now . no matter how hard you work, how muc you do, I feel as though I have failed at my job. Myself and the city in general is furthe behind today then it was 3 years ago. While intellectually, I know the job is not doable, it sought of damages your self esteem when you are constantly being critisized. If you speed up and then make mistakes you hear about as well. Leaving might seem to be the answer, but after 11 years, pension high pay etc become big issues to consider. It is not like I have to stick it out a year or 2. I have at least 10 years to go. It could improve but I am not holding my breath. Any suggestions
> > Ray
>
> any possibility of a response from the appropriate people about being over-worked? or if there isn't a response, can you set a schedule and/or be very clear about what is a realistic amount of work for you?
> People tend to be very critical...I don't know why, tending to be unrealistic, not bothering to consider the details of it
> sorry you're having trouble,
> sg
>Hi sg
A years a new mayor took over. He set up the education system like a business. So all that really matters is productivity. I think every administrator realizes the job is impossible. However when the people above them start complaining they have little choice but to push the psychologists, otherwise it looks like they are not doing there job.
The job has changed so much that while there used to be some professionalism, it is now gone. The administrators must have been told to tell us what to do, how and when to do it. It doesn't matter that these people have no training in school psychology. I am quick to point that out, which only makes matters worse. Education/school psychology is a strange sought of "business" because the end product is not tangible. How do you know or proove that the work you have done will stop a student from robbing a store or to feel better about himself 5 years from now. It is not like selling cars where you can measure the sales person skill/style by the number of cars he sold.
Ray
Posted by sleepygirl on September 4, 2006, at 20:18:54
In reply to Re: Work, stress, self esteem, posted by rfs on September 4, 2006, at 17:28:13
> Hi sg
> A years a new mayor took over. He set up the education system like a business. So all that really matters is productivity. I think every administrator realizes the job is impossible. However when the people above them start complaining they have little choice but to push the psychologists, otherwise it looks like they are not doing there job.
> The job has changed so much that while there used to be some professionalism, it is now gone. The administrators must have been told to tell us what to do, how and when to do it. It doesn't matter that these people have no training in school psychology. I am quick to point that out, which only makes matters worse. Education/school psychology is a strange sought of "business" because the end product is not tangible. How do you know or proove that the work you have done will stop a student from robbing a store or to feel better about himself 5 years from now. It is not like selling cars where you can measure the sales person skill/style by the number of cars he sold.
> Raysounds demoralizing to be sure :-(
I hope you can hold on to some faith in what you do. Our society is a sick one in general- perhaps this is part of what has so gravely affected both our educational and mental health systems.
no patience for humanity...we are really lost in "business"
strange how 'top-heavy' things can become, with the ones with the power as the most removed
:-(
Posted by finelinebob on September 7, 2006, at 23:09:32
In reply to Work, stress, self esteem, posted by rfs on September 3, 2006, at 18:28:23
> Any suggestions
Organize.
Are school psychologists in the union? Get your fellow SPs together and talk to your steward. Any sympathetic parents? Get them involved. If you teach in a Democratic ward, get the council member, state rep and state senator involved. Get everyone worked up enough to have a rally about the state of children-at-risk because of what Bloomberg is doing to the schools.Then call NY1 and let them know when and where it's going to take place, and who's gonna be there.
You think a CNN affiliate wouldn't LOVE to take Mr. Bloomberg News down a few notches?
But organize. I **know** there's a state association for school psychiatrists -- my best friend back when I was on Fordham's faculty was president of it one year. There has to be a NYC chapter. You think other SPs in NYC don't feel like you do?
If I was in your position, I know **I** wouldn't be able to do all this. That's why you need co-conspirators, partners-in-er-um-crime-(figuratively, not literally), colleagues. Unions. Professional organizations.
If there's an avalanche out there waiting to drop, all it takes is a little yodel in the right direction.
Posted by canadagirl on September 19, 2006, at 11:29:07
In reply to Work, stress, self esteem, posted by rfs on September 3, 2006, at 18:28:23
That is a hard situation to be in maybe it is be possible that there is support out there for a union --- or are you unionized already? (I haven't read all your responses so maybe someone has suggested that). There is strength in numbers. Do you have much contact with your counterparts in the other schools? Maybe you and others will need to band together and build a case and present it to the district school board administration or whoever governs your job, stating what the outcomes could be if this continues. And get parents involved if you can, teachers, other taxpayers, you need all the help you can get. This is one battle that you need a whole regiment to fight. I feel for you.
This is the end of the thread.
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