If you are a teacher, I do not have to rant about how hard the job is. You know already. But not everyone does know. Some people (most people) will say, "Oh you're a school teacher? That must be fun, you just play all day and get summers off." HAHA that is cute, really cute that you think that. Obviously, the job requires much more than that. Planning, meetings, projects, after school events, dealing with that crazy kid and his crazy mother, the assistant principal that wants you to know she has a "Master's" degree and you are her inferior for life.... she knows all things about all things and you know nothing about kids... your kids... that you are with everyday... anyway....
The point here is this: public school teachers kill themselves to please everyone. Not just the bosses (I say bosses because you have about 10), but also the kids and the parents. Long hours spent trying to create the perfect classroom, the perfect unit, the perfect lesson, all to be pooped away really, because rarely do things go "as planned". Short version: teachers are more than just babysitters, the good ones really do make school their life, and the job is beyond stressful.
I spent 5 years teaching Pre-K and 2 years in Kindergarten. I then got married and moved to South Texas where I taught 4th grade... for ONE semester. That's right, ONE semester. But we will get to that later. So here is the thing I want to say about this... I LOVED my kids. I made a difference. And I never wanted to have to choose between happiness and my kids who I loved so much. But that day came, and I knew I was done. Teaching became about making other people look good. It became about test scores. It became about who has the best behaved class, and the straightest lines. See I never spent and abundance of time training students to walk perfectly straight or silent. I never worried much about talking in my classroom as long as the talking was productive. But these are things I was slashed for all the time. I was the fun teacher. The one the kids and parents alike could appreciate. Why? Well because they knew I loved them.
Did I teach state mandated curriculum? Yep. Did my kids pass testing? Yep. Did they do as well as other students in other classes? You guessed it... they sure did. So what was the problem? It would seem nothing. But the small stuff constantly being thrown into my ears was enough to make me crazy. There were no "pats on the back". Never a "way to go gal". Nothing but criticism. In the nearly 8 years I taught... the only appreciation I ever got was from parents and students. You would think there would be some uplifting motivation from administration... but sadly, no. The fleeting moments of praise given... I can count on one hand. In 8 years... one hand....
So what happened? Why did I give up all these years in education? Even that Master's degree I got just 3 years into my teaching career? Not going to use it? But why would you do that!?!?!? It is simple really... I got tired. I got tired of the never ending, "teachers, you aren't cutting it." I got tired of the, "we're gonna need you to analyze this data and come up with new ways to teach these TEKS." I got tired of trying to help kids get through this broken system. When I couldn't take anymore, I decided to leave peacefully. I decided to be totally honest about what the real problem was. And truly, at the end of the day... I knew I would rather work in a fast food line than have to spend one more day trying to fix something so broken. Public schools are broken. Who is going to fix all these problems? Not teachers. Teachers already do everything they can. It has to come from the know it all types up top. The guys who haven't set foot in a classroom in 20 years. Those guys. They have to be the ones to "change".
I left teaching in December of 2013. I have since had 9 months of just being a simple housewife and now a part time job at a local sandwich and gift shop in the tiny town in which I now live. Do I miss teaching? Not one bit. I love my varied schedule, I love not being stuck in that 5 day a week, 9-12 hour grind, I enjoy being able to take off work at whatever time I need to. I like the people I work with, I like the stress free environment. Truly, I don't need to make 40 grand a year to be happy. We live simply, but comfortably, and if we get "poor" we will find a way to budget for less. I won't suffer in a job that ruins my health, both mentally and physically just to have nice "stuff"!
I pray for the teachers who keep up the good fight. Your students NEED you. And for those who just can't take it anymore... please remember there is no shame in giving it up. Life is too short to be absolutely miserable. Because for some of us, it becomes not just a job... it becomes our life. Nobody should ever believe that what they do for a living, is actually who they are. You are more.
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