Tell me, Melissa, tell meI wasnt the greatest teacher in the world, but I was darn good one. Im sure youre doing wonderful things. Follow us on Twitter via @GuardianTeach, like us on Facebook, and join the Guardian Teacher Network the latest articles direct to your inbox, Looking for a teaching job? Parents requested that their children be put in my classes. ), but definitely not until the baby grows up a bitand it wouldnt be the same without our amazing staff and kids! So I apologize here to all those teachers I have not been able to contact in person for my behavior in your classes. Does that fact help me when a kid Ive never met bursts into my classroom, throws a condom in my hair, and runs away? I felt stagnant, miserable, and burned out. Thanks for stopping by. Ill never forget you being a student teacher and then coming back when I was a senior. The Teacher Career Coach community, resources, and course are all here to help people like you and me who, for whatever reason, are looking for an exit strategy. Im telling you, some positions out there were practically designed for former teachers. They add up the points based on that framework and if you get those points, then youre an exceptional teacher. This idea that test scores actually have something to do with teacher competence? Scott was, quite easily, the most brilliant history student Ive ever had. In some cases, having summers off with their children is invaluable. In the twelve years I was a high school English teacher, I watched people leave the profession in droves. A day or two later, I go and teach the lesson, adapting it as I go in accordance with the response of the children. Courses with real-world value(home economics, for example, or shop class) are dying a not-so-gradual death, as there is no Foods & Nutrition section on the SAT. I get to work less, enjoy my family more, and live life on my terms. And of course Scott iswell, you know what a brilliant young man he is. And lastly, educators work 9 months per year, and get paid for 9 months per year. (Oh, and you should be teaching education at a local collegeeven part time! Thank you for the blog! Within and outside of work, year-round, teachers put the job first. Click here and support independent journalism! Im glad this didnt discourage you it was certainly not my intent, so, yay. It is not some scam where they get 4 paid months off. ? I expected my headteacher to support me. I love the Spark Note Summary at the end of your posts. Administrators admired my classroom management. So funny that you readily admit youve been making it up. Authenticity is a valuable trait as a teacher, for sure! Participants were 4 consultants, 20 teachers, and 20 elementary school students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. And if you have other unanswered questions (like what jobs hire former teachers, what to know about leaving a pension, or how to rewrite your resume) make sure to check out my Teachers Changing Careers FAQ page. . Theres an app er, areason for that. My doctor told me the stress was killing me. Here are the other things that matter: Helping a group ofstudents work through a disagreement civilly. Thank you for sharing. In fact, it is all they know. How are the educators soBRAINLESSS? . Period. When I have been able to hire staff I always look for teachers. But even brand new teachers can tell: the view looks a whole lot different from behind the podium. My advice to people who are on the fence about teaching: if youre planning on teaching a core subject, find another career path and major in something else. The reality wore me down over time. However, after a lot of research, planning, and applying, I landed my dream role as an educational consultant. But a change in leadership has helped me fall back in love with education. Maybe I have a romanticized memory of what teaching is and I conveniently forgot the challenges and struggles that took the fun out of teaching? DATA. Only the top 10% of kids wanted his class. English and Drama at a California Distinguished School for 14 years. Teachers are leaving and it shouldn't be a shock. Second, teachers feel guilty about their decision to leave the classroom. I did not have any of his classes but I knew who he was. 3. If you would just get on board with the, GET ON BOARD? Im third year at uni in a four-year teaching degree. But I might argue that our job is also to challenge our students withsomething new and, to this generation, technology is not new. The assistant principal was punched in the face. Common Core is the boss of you. The reason for my leaving is that I have found something I want to focus onteacher professional development. Why cant we just be humane in what we expect of tiny people and their teachers? The kids are terrible. In fact, my test scores have come up over 30% over last year. Youre afraid of letting your colleagues and students down, so you sacrifice your own wants or needs. Im still in disbelief that Ive got to this point, considering where I was before. Ive read this three times over and HAVE TO share it, especially today of of all days! Im not enjoying corporate America very much and I long to return to the classroom. I dont do any work at home and if I fall behind, oh well, the kids are gonna get a study hall and I am going to do my work in front of them. You Don't Hate Teaching, You Hate the System, The Dismantling of Public Education Part 4: Regression, Teachers Who Teach in Schools in Lower-Income Communities Don't Get the Respect They Deserve, The Dismantling of Public Education Part 3: Privatization. You go home and plan and gradeand take required trainingand plan for student extracurriculars you sponsorand read articles for the teacher STEM program they signed you up forand wake up at 3 am thinking, how can I deal with these 3 students who are behind tomorrow (and then realize you have to be awake in an hour and a half so you might as well just stay up). Get rid of phones, google, computers (go back to Libraries and Dewey Decimal System!) I have been teaching for 32 years and have about 3-4 more years until I retire. But the bureaucratic red-tape, state standards, data, meetings, multiple behavior issues, room clearing, lock down drills, more meetings, paperwork and unrealistic expectations are crushing. I have been blessed with the come backs who tell me what my class meant to them, what I meant to them. Don't hold back; this will set the tone for . We need you. I want to encourage you if you are someone who has or continues to think about leaving - have you ever taught anywhere else? How wonderful to hear from you, Courtney! Anyway, keep it up! Education has become a wasteland, and I didnt want to be around when Big Brother and the Holding Company decided to come round and really put the smack down on us all. After surveying thousands of teachers and former teachers, Ive compiled the data to understand the trends behind this unique situation. Now, everyone in that district has an exit strategy. "It's not differentiated enough," they were told, "and therefore is a waste of valuable class time." I knew this school is what I was looking for and teaching there has been an amazing experience, a year and a half in. Amazing! Of course everyone knows how they would do your job better than we do. I think if you read with an open mind, you will see that there are large issues. I started to love teaching again and even at higher levels! Best of luck in whatever comes next for you. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Sure there are wonderful students and wonderful classes but they are few and far between as I get fried working the challenges ones. Plus, no politics or report cards! Teachers are leaving for their own survival and then made to feel guilty about it. Nope. Aargh! If youre a planner like me, it feels really good when you have it all figured out including your career. I have run and built the entire ICT syllabus for grades 1-7 and I teach the classes and I run the network, for 12 years now. I had seen 5 teachers in my building suffer hear attacks, and that fate was awaiting me. I know that I made the right decision prioritizing my mental health and taking a new role, but before I could get there, I had to realize that it was okay to be a little selfish and put my needs above anyone elses. Youre so good at this MB, but Ill bet theres a classroom in Cali just screaming for your presence!! Amazing to hear from someone outside of the U.S. educational system. Thanks for reminding me why I need to keep teaching. Wow, so much to say. 3. Their perspectives on life are so simple, yet at times they can surprise you with their wisdom. You get to be your own boss. The sheer ignorance of herdeclaration has stuck with me for years, and still needles me mostly because that line of thinkingis an extremelycommonmisconception. I want to thank you for all of these things. Challenge them. High school is rough and having something to look forward to during the day makes a big difference. If you find yourself thinking I hate teaching on a regular basis, its time to start considering making a change. I wish you the best of luck in this next stage! When I plan a lesson, I ask myself what the kids need to know or be able to do. I was given a tour of the school which was a newer building with plenty of amenities including 1:1 technology. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! Other people with good intentions telling you what an amazing teacher you are and that you cant leave the kids doesnt help. It makes me sad how things are changing and have heard the same from my friends in other independent schools . Hes so sweet. You see I was a good teacher. The virtual teacher trend is so scary, isnt it? This is the biggest bunch of BS from a person with cry baby Union mentality! Suck it up butter cup! Then help your child cultivate those new friendships with playdates focused around their shared interest. Here was my chance to work with the children that I will never have, and to nurture them and help them find their way. I hated how it changed me and how it impeded other aspects of my life. I'm not burned out by the kids, the parents or the salary. I love how you have captured the frustrations of teaching as it has evolved in the past 10 years or so, and am so proud of ( but not surprised!) I dont know if you remember me but my name is Samantha Hindle and I had you as a teacher. And nowoff to indulge in some Animal Fries. Of COURSE I remember you, Sam! As long as Ive given the kids a good day and they learned something, I feel like Ive accomplished something. It most frequently occurs during times of family stress or when a child is about to enter a new school. MUST READ. I work in corporate America now. Oh, I definitely agree, Lynette: it was so disorienting to feel like I couldnt call myself a teacher anymore. 2. For 10 years, thats where I was, in a freshman English class. To make matters worse, a child who had special educational needs was subjecting me to frequent physical assaults. Say hi to California for me and eat an In-n-Out burger for me. 6. At some point, just about everyone has satin a classroom. February 22, 2020 10:55am. According to court records, the incident happened on Jan. 19, 2009. Maybe in a private school if I could afford it, otherwise, definitely not a public school teacher. What a full, beautiful career you had you certainly deserve rest, relaxation, and some good wine. I want to pee when I need to not holding it because I have four periods in a row. and since then I have been working for 15 yrs in corporate foundations, international development, technology and stuff. I still care, but in an abstract sense. After 9 years of teaching high school, I left the profession 5 years ago. Eerie how when I passed this on to friends, they thought it was me. Additionally, I help course members identify new career paths, rewrite their resumes, and stay on track throughout the job search and career transition process. Thank you so much for reading, Deb. Then I work out ways that I can help them to learn those things. What Happens When Your Post Goes Semi-Viral, This Morning, When You Left for Kindergarten, You Need to Go to the Northern California Writers Retreat, PSA: Teachers Are Not in Charge of Choosing Snow Days. If we hadnt moved, I would still be there. , We all know teachers who are miserable and should have left the profession years ago. This was my Facebook post when sharing your great piece of writing: It is showing teenagers how to debate thoughtfully, how to think critically, how to disagree respectfully.. I have written for publication as well, and I know it is hard work (not as hard as schoolteaching, of course, but still). What were the reasons that led me to leave the classroom? Despite being a scrappy, hard working, strong willed woman, Im not sure I can make it. It was Number 7. Yes, there is no way to know who is really good at this and, yes, test scores mean nothing. It gives a rather disjointed picture of who you are as a teacher. . Im a newly minted teacher. This is my first year. The fear of facing rejection when applying for roles while battling low career self-esteem leads you to believe that it will never happen for you. What a fascinating perspective you have, as you worked 10 years in corporate America first! Melissa, I just read your article on The Huffington Post on this topic. 2. But at least now I no longer have detailed thoughts about suicide haunting me every week. I hate my coworkers who coo over Secret Santas and community sheet cakes like the chubby receptionist in office space. It is NOT what you think it is. Thank you so much for this article. I am not that fluffy, peppy elementary teacher who believes that love solves all, nor am I that . And no one sees that better than those who are on the front lines of the teaching profession for our public schools in America. My husbanddoesnt know how tomanage a restaurant just because wevegone out to eat. Im finishing up my 37th year of teaching at the elementary level; 7 years as a bilingual teacher in California and 30 years in Michigan. ), technology has become the mind-numbing thief of imagination, and in no way does your day resemble that of any other college-educated, white-collar worker. Many teachers have faced this very question. I feel the same. You get it. However, all that you blogged today is what I encountered. I also hate the youtube can teach me ideal parents and students have developed. Its not differentiated enough, they were told, and therefore is a waste of valuable class time. THE KIDS ARE IN THIRDGRADE. Or perhaps, you are saying that the education system is perfect, and there is absolutely no reason to even consider otherwise. Also, I cant afford to be a teacher here due to high cost of living. There was also little support for misbehavior so students walked all over me. Thank you for a spot on analysis of the state of the classroom. I have all the Special Ed kids and kids who struggle academically, etc. Some teachers, like myself, enjoy working in Title I schools and all that comes with that. One day he came home, and couldnt believe that you understood and explained how the atomic and hydrogen bombs worked, and the physics teacher COULDNT. It was always so nasty! By no means am I trying to downplay any of your fears. If you are considering leaving teaching, there are plenty of other options. I couldnt call myself a teacher anymore the parents or the salary of thinkingis an extremelycommonmisconception much and I to! Makes me sad how things are changing and have about 3-4 more until. Detailed thoughts about suicide haunting me every week of course scott iswell you. Back when I was before everyone has satin a classroom article on the lines! 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