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I must vent, therefore I must blog

I am so frustrated on so many levels. So why all the frustration you ask? Well if I understand it all correctly (because when I call the departments of education for two different states I sometimes get the same answer) It all is going down like this...

1. I let my Professional Educator's Certificate expire. Not much I could do about that not working in the classroom and having kids in '02, '04 and '06 kinda kept me from going to work or taking two college classes. (Hind sight I should have made time.)

2. Alabama will not let me get certified in this state because my degree is greater than five years old. I graduated USF in 1999 and 2001. Yes, twice I graduated and have a loverly masters in elementary education that I am being told is not worth the paper it is printed on.

3. I must get re-certified in the state of Florida in order to get certified in the state of Alabama. What this means is I have to take two college classes in the education field from an accredited college, take the certification test IN Florida, apply for reinstatement and pay to be fingerprinted to be certified in a state I don't even live in or even plan on teaching in again.

4. Then and only then I must turn around and apply for certification in Alabama certificate in which I will have to pay for application of certification, take two more tests and pay again to be fingerprinted.

In my best estimation we are talking $100+ for fingerprinting (over 50 for each state) $300 for three tests, $1,000 + in tuition and fees, $110 for applications for both certifications, time to go to Florida to take the test $?, $20 in transcript requests, $100's in peppermint mocha lattes to get me through this mess, plus all the other stuff they are going to require that isn't written.

I am the most frustrated that I have a degree that is supposed to help me get a job, not cost me more to get a job. Frustrated because I feel like I have done the right thing for my family by staying home for 7 years yet I feel like I am being punished for doing so. Frustrated because I will not be going to the classroom to teach anytime soon. Frustrated because I feel like this is just a big waste of my time and resources. Frustrated the government has so many crazy rules that vary from state to state.

The best is today when I asked, " If I went to an Alabama university and was not certified and it has been over five years what would I have to do?" She couldn't answer me. Surely, I wouldn't have to get another degree in teaching. It just doesn't all add up!

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