Summer Work

Dear Bloggers,

This is directed towards the general public who thinks that summer is a time for beaches and shenanigans for all teachers. While yes, this may be true for many, it is generally not true to the extent that I think the general population thinks.

I myself have been writing curriculum since we've gotten a new language arts program. It's only mid-July and I have already spent multiple days of sitting at my computer reading, researching, creating videos, making a new website, etc... from early morning until long after the sun goes down.

Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining (just informing)- I'd rather be prepared for the upcoming year because that makes my life easier. I'm just frustrated.

This post was sparked by a group of teachers trying to plan an outing and failing to find time that we could all get together. This is not because of our extensive social lives, but a direct result of most of us having to have a second job. Weekend nights were out because a few of us cater and that's how we feed our families over the summer months when we don't get paid. Our little group also has a make-up artist that works getting bridal parties ready during the day on weekends. Then we have the house painter; the barista, the summer school teacher, the plethora of camp councilors, the adjunct professor, the S.A.T. coach, the retail specialist, the life guard, and the bartender. All of these teachers just trying to make a living and support themselves and their families over what America views as "vacation". Don't get me wrong - this 20-40 hour work week is much better than the 24/7 life style we usually live, and there's no way we wouldn't be burnt out or able to prep for the upcoming year without hitting the "reset button" each July and August.

So we finally settled on a day that the majority of our group could get together. A Tuesday night for Karaoke at a local dive. For a few of the group it was the first interaction they've had with adults on a social level since school let out. So we got rides and Ubers and let loose! We were only met with a barrage of "it must be nice" and such comments.

Granted, my group of dedicated colleagues may be the exception to the rule - but this is the life I live:

Last week I spent 4 days in professional development, driving an hour and a half each way with two of my colleagues only to be given "homework" and spend additional time to each of these 6 and a half our sessions reading and following up on the tasks given. I then continued to make my way through the new units I will be working on with my students and trying to read the total of six class novels I will be reading with my classes in this next year. I am also working with my technology supervisor to write and rewrite school policies for acceptable internet use and develop training materials to move us to a Google Apps school. (This aspect at least I'm getting paid for). These need to be ready to present to the board by the end of the month for approval and then the next phase - getting ready for new teacher orientation. Yes, I'm getting tan, but it's a terrible farmer's tan from sitting on my deck with my laptop. I will also be taking two grad-school "power classes" each of 13 1/2 hours to renew a certification that will be expiring this month. (These are not cheap and my district doesn't offer tuition reimbursement so I had to charge it).

So let me ask you America: Does this sound as nice as you thought it is to have your summers "off"?

As you are all about to call it quits for the workweek, I am getting ready for my weekend job where I will not be able to attend a family BBQ because I have to work Friday night, all day Saturday, and all day Sunday. Just so I don't go into crushing credit card debt that will take me until next summer when I am "off" again to pay back.


Sincerely,

Yet Another Frustrated Teacher

My first post from the frustrated teacher

Dear Bloggers,


I decided to start this blog simply because I have so many un-posted blogs entries in my archives that I simply cannot post unless I do so anonymously. As I was looking for a new name I couldn't believe how many versions of "frustrated teacher" there were, and so I had to settle on "Yet another frustrated teacher" - this to me is sad.


I have been in education for over fifteen years and teaching is (and always has been) my passion. Although I love the kids, I love my job, I love my colleagues, the atmosphere is, well, dreary. And it only seems to be growing worse with each passing year. There are so many negative views about education and teachers as a whole. It kills me to watch good teachers become jaded and leave.


I know many of us - no matter how dedicated - think of something else. Many look at articles or blogs on the scary statistics of how many teachers leave and why they do. I don't want to be a statistic, but I fear that I may be one. I believe that this will be my last year in education.


Recently we've had an administration change in my district. I fear that I will not survive this transition. Why? Simply because new administrators are looking to bring in their own people and I am the only nontenured faculty member in my department. So I guess the next school year will make or break my career and time will tell.


When I began this district, I made a promise to myself that this would be my last teaching job - one way or another. Not that I'm necessarily looking to retire here, but I after I leave, I will be retiring from teaching in general.


A very wise colleague told me that we would "out grow this district" and I've always known she was right. One day we will move on to bigger and better things. This life style is simply not sustainable. The hours I work, the events I opt out of (because I either cannot afford to attend or am stuck home grading papers or planning lessons), and the relationships that have suffered over this "calling" flood my memories with every repeated account. It is becoming less worth it each year. I've dedicated my entire adult life to the field of education and almost half of my life to teaching. And in the process I've given up so much, and lost so much more.


Sincerely,


Yet Another Frustrated Teacher