Contract hours - teachers

[Anonymous]

Teacher here who normally works way more than contract hours (as so many of us do). Recently offered an adjunct position that only occurs during non-teaching contract hours and I am getting all sorts of pushback from admin. If they even allow me to take unpaid time (still questionable), it will essentially equal the pay from the university for the course I would teach. I would just break even financially, but I am feeling like if I did this, I would be super resentful of the extra hours I put in at school. I currently don’t resent that extra time, I consider it a necessary part of doing my job and maintaining a strong program as an elective teacher. This adjunct position is a phenomenal once in a lifetime feeling opportunity, though, and if I’m not able to get my school on board somehow with letting me take it, I know I will likely feel dissatisfied. Just feeling like a no-win situation atm and incredibly frustrated with the pushback given that I wouldn’t miss any time with students to go teach a college level course.

[Anonymous]

I'm unclear why you are getting pushback about the adjunct job. Is this a situation where students leave at 3, but you are contracted to be there til 3:30 and you are trying to leave at 3:05 to get to the adjunct job on time? In that case, no, you can't do that. You have to stay until you are contractually obligated to stay.

But I understand your feelings on the matter. I moved to a private school where I have a full time TA, and because of his help (and because this school has less pencil and paper work, less testing) I literally do NOTHING outside of contract hours. I leave as soon as the kids leave. It is very freeing and after decades of giving my time away for free, I now use my time only for me and my family. I also used to spend time after hours prepping things because my students came to me so severely behind (poverty, ESL, etc). I felt I could make a difference for them, and did, but a huge personal cost. Teaching very wealthy kids can be freeing because I know their families have money to pay for private tutoring if they need it. I do my best work during contract hours, but give nothing more.

[Anonymous]

Non-teaching contract hours sounds like time they need you to be there otherwise it wouldn't be your contracted hours. I think you are off base asking to leave early for the purpose of taking on another job.

[Anonymous]

That’s one of the things I don’t like about teaching. If I need to take a half hour of leave for a doctor’s appointment, I’m charged 4 hours of leave. Then I end up working that evening to prep for upcoming lessons. So I can work 11-12 hours that day and still be charged 4 hours of leave.

One of the many reasons I’m thinking of quitting.

[Anonymous]

I'm just stuck on the idea of an adjunct position being a once in a lifetime opportunity. Adjunct is one step above volunteer. It's not an opportunity to do anything except work nearly for free.