So, I had a conversation today with a person who is a member of the community, but not a teacher or other member of the board of education.
( okay, it was the Indian guy who owns the local liquor store. Yes, they know me there and they know I'm a teacher. I'm a frequent patron. Sue me).
In this county, we have a balanced calender, meaning other than the usual breaks like Thanksgiving and Christmas, we have a week off is September and in February. Several counties in Georgia have adopted this calender.
This new calender was such a FANTASTIC idea. It allows students and teachers to have a break between the 6 week report card periods. On a personal level, I got to take a trip to DC during a non peak time of year. which helped save money. Also, I save the county money by not take that many personal days because I knew that break was coming soon.
Well, this knucklehead at the store feels it's quite the inconvenience.
Him: What am I supposed to do with my kids? I cant afford daycare for a week and I cant take the time off.
Me: (Only in my head )Seriously? What do you do during the summer? Well...Just do the same thing!elloooooooo??!!!!
Unfortunately, he continued.
"Why do we need this break? I don't understand why they need this time off. It's not good for the students and teachers already get those other holiday breaks and the long summer. Teaching isn't really that difficult. I teach Sunday school at church AND I tutor my two kids every day after school".
I said Uh........That's totally not the same thing. those are YOUR kids, not someone else's. Other people's children are a whole other issue.
Then, I promptly left the store before I really went off on this dumb ass and forever ruined my right to buy good beer for a lesser price.
So, this interaction inspired me to share just what exactly it is that teachers do. In case you are one of those people who think that teaching is easy and that summers off is just a bonus to the easiness.
Here is a glimpse of a day in the life of a teacher/parent/academic coach/ cheerleader.
Of course, teaching your subject area comes first. Keep in mind that these kids are being bombarded daily with ads, video games, cell phone apps, music, texting, etc. Your lessons have to be content based ( to please the man) and entertaining/engaging ( to please the kid). This requires a lot more preparation than you think.
Teaching is also modifying your style to meet the needs of 36 different personalities / learning styles including the gifted genius kids and the learning disabled. You have to be ready for the ones who finish first and the ones who just cant grasp it.
I say 36 because that's the average class size. If 36 people showed up at your house, wouldn't you feel overwhelmed? even if you knew they were coming?
Now, take a moment to contemplate on how much work just that ALONE would require; the research, the brainstorming, the planning to just be a good TEACHER.
In addition to "teaching", there is the
grading of papers, worksheets, projects, overall participating, and clean up of ones space,
the kiln loading,
the clay recycling,
the getting the materials ready for the next day's lesson,
the phone calls home because that knucklehead in fourth block does jack shit but be an asshole in class or because the kid has been absent too many times and is failing,
the making of signs / artwork/ other various paraphernalia for whatever student body "program" happens to be going on that month i.e. Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage, pep rallies just to name a few,
the hall duty for tardy students,
the weekly faculty meetings,
weekly department meetings,
weekly other-various- committee meetings,
various dealings with the other knucklehead jerk kids in your second block who apparently think it's okay to cuss out their teacher and overall pissing off of anyone who crosses their path,
the mentoring of new teachers,
the observing of other teachers' classes because you're considered a good teacher and other people want advise/criticism/mentoring,
dealing with other teacher's and administrator's personalities and or working styles and/or NON working styles,
not to mention the personal issues involved with teenagers i.e. crying girls and kids who don't get along with their other teachers, and where should I go to college, how will I pay for it? can you help me get my portfolio together? can you encourage me on EVERY SINGLE DAY because I lack the skills to encourage myself?
In addition, there are various other OPTIONAL activities such as coaching a sports team, working the ticket counter at a game, chaperoning teenager activities, tutoring after school, mentoring low functioning students, etc.
Oh! I almost forgot. Somewhere in there I'm supposed to eat lunch and take a leak when the opportunity arises and find some energy to have a personal life once I leave the school.
