I'm not alone

I just talked with a fellow colleague. She, apparently, went through almost an identical process this summer. She interviewed with the principal, was "hired" and then went to the admin bldg to put in an application. She was a long term sub at Dobie, so the interview process was just a formality. Turns out that the Hr director told her, on her first day, that she was fired because she filled out an application after she interviewed. She was supposed to have done the reverse. The principal goes down to the admin bldg and straightens it all out, so she kept her job.

Two months later, they send her an email that she needs to come to a meeting. In the meeting she is told that she is fired for not going to SBEC and getting fingerprints done. Apparently, the fingerprinting process goes like this: you pay $300 for a fingerprinting packet to be sent to you. The packet outlines the reasons for fingerprinting and gives you a piece of paper to take to Austin. You drive to Austin during business hours on a weekday, turn in the piece of paper, and pay an additional $100 to get the fingerprints actually done. Apparently, the police smudged her fingerprints during the process, and because they had to redo them, she had to pay another $100. Unbelievable.

The entire process of becoming a teacher allows me to realize why Texas ranks so low in almost every aspect of education (except population). What rational human being would want to go through this ridiculous process? I think I may turn in my resignation letter on Monday and leave mid semester, despite the burned bridge.