Many teachers have considered leaving education, union says

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most people dislike their job.

True enough.. but teachers are important to the foundation of our society. If we can't find enough teachers, who will teach the children and the next generation?

My kids are 11 and 14. I'm hoping sh1t doesn't hit the fan until my kids are out of public school. I know, purely selfish, but there it is.

FWIW, I admire, respect and am thankful for the teachers. Except for maybe two teachers in all the years combined, so far, all of my kids' teachers have been pretty good, some better than others. When a 14 yr old DS says he really likes his xyz teacher, that makes me pay attention. I asked him what he liked about the teacher, and he said she was just a really good teacher, knows how to teach, makes it interesting, and has a good sense of humor. Some of their teachers did have different professions (in STEM) before becoming teachers, but then decided to teach. You can tell they are passionate about it. I don't know how they feel about upper management, but I do know they are passionate about teaching, and I'm thankful for that.

To teachers - many of us in the private sector also hate upper management. So, in that regard, we know how you feel. Hang in there. FWIW, my kids (and parents) really appreciate you. I've had my 11 yr old say to me, "I love my xyz teacher". You do make a difference.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP.

I am 22 years in. However, I took childcare leave after my first was born. In other words, I would have been able to retire.

Having said that, I'm now seeing a therapist for 1) extreme anxiety (this close to taking meds which I've NEVER done before) and 2) a game changer plan.

I cannot keep up with grading, as my classes are 30+ (high school), and I'm split between two dysfunctional teams who don't know the first thing about planning. I'm exhausted each night and the anxiety has become generalized.

Our school lost a fantastic new teacher, and one of my younger pals (three years in) is having second thoughts. My good pal broke contract mid-year to move out of state! When she was told that "MCPS would never hire" her again, she laughed and said she would NEVER return to teaching. Both her mental and physical health suffered. So what choice did she have? She LOVES her new life, btw.

So it takes guts to move on. I get it. But when my therapist asked me - "What exactly do you like about your job?" - I didn't have a solid answer. The kids not hooked to their phones came to mind but there are so few of them left. Most of my students appear dead inside - like zombies - which scares the sh*t out of me. No matter what I do to liven up a lesson - and I am a fantastic planner who knows kids (or so I thought) - many don't care.

So I no longer wish to be part of a dying system - of a dying field. Once more and more teachers leave - walk out the door after a few years in - the system will implode. I don't want to wait. I want to walk out, switch careers and find my happy spot.

cuz this ain't it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people dislike their job.

True enough.. but teachers are important to the foundation of our society. If we can't find enough teachers, who will teach the children and the next generation?

My kids are 11 and 14. I'm hoping sh1t doesn't hit the fan until my kids are out of public school. I know, purely selfish, but there it is.

FWIW, I admire, respect and am thankful for the teachers. Except for maybe two teachers in all the years combined, so far, all of my kids' teachers have been pretty good, some better than others. When a 14 yr old DS says he really likes his xyz teacher, that makes me pay attention. I asked him what he liked about the teacher, and he said she was just a really good teacher, knows how to teach, makes it interesting, and has a good sense of humor. Some of their teachers did have different professions (in STEM) before becoming teachers, but then decided to teach. You can tell they are passionate about it. I don't know how they feel about upper management, but I do know they are passionate about teaching, and I'm thankful for that.

To teachers - many of us in the private sector also hate upper management. So, in that regard, we know how you feel. Hang in there. FWIW, my kids (and parents) really appreciate you. I've had my 11 yr old say to me, "I love my xyz teacher". You do make a difference.

very nice

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fall is my favorite season by far but October is absolute hell as a teacher. I was hired 7 years ago today and if I could quit, I would. I fell this way a lot of the year but every October is the height of me feeling this way. It’s not the kids. It’s the ridiculous expectations put on us. I just finished writing my SLO and I know I will not make my target. They keep making the target harder to reach so they don’t have to give us raises. They are broke and instead of admitting this, they keep changing everything so it makes it impossible to be considered highly effective. The curriculum is an awful mismatch between reality and what sounds good when being presented to a district.

I'm at a new school where the SLO is apparently taken seriously. (In my previous spot, no one cared b/c the kids were so challenging.) It was another "check the box" activity.

So if my five don't make the mark, will that affect my evaluation? (It's my year . . . ) lol - If yes, ho so? Will it be reflected under one of the standards?

FWIW, I wrote the damn thing for the team.

[Anonymous]

If you think about some of the posts from the last several weeks. Extreme behaviors have increased in the past 5 years. Teachers can barely control classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]Most people dislike their job.[/quote[/b]]
True enough.. but teachers are important to the foundation of our society. If we can't find enough teachers, who will teach the children and the next generation?

My kids are 11 and 14. I'm hoping sh1t doesn't hit the fan until my kids are out of public school. I know, purely selfish, but there it is.

FWIW, I admire, respect and am thankful for the teachers. Except for maybe two teachers in all the years combined, so far, all of my kids' teachers have been pretty good, some better than others. When a 14 yr old DS says he really likes his xyz teacher, that makes me pay attention. I asked him what he liked about the teacher, and he said she was just a really good teacher, knows how to teach, makes it interesting, and has a good sense of humor. Some of their teachers did have different professions (in STEM) before becoming teachers, but then decided to teach. You can tell they are passionate about it. I don't know how they feel about upper management, but I do know they are passionate about teaching, and I'm thankful for that.

To teachers - many of us in the private sector also hate upper management. So, in that regard, we know how you feel. Hang in there. FWIW, my kids (and parents) really appreciate you. I've had my 11 yr old say to me, "I love my xyz teacher". You do make a difference.

Not necessarily. I was blessed to go to work for 45 years across 4 industries. I do no a lot of government workers who hate their jobs and are just putting in time
until their retirement. It seems a sad and silly way to live your life.

[Anonymous]

This is my fifth and final year. I only came back this year to make sure some of my seniors graduate. I came to this school their freshman year and moved up each year with them. Some don't have good relationships with their parents, and I made a deal with them that I'd come back one last year if they promised not to drop out. I love the relationship aspect of teaching. Three fourths of them could not care less about the stuff we teach them. Why should they? Most of it is just busy work from a bygone era. The only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning is knowing that a lot of them don't have any other adult in their lives who care, and the day I call out might be the day when they really, really needed someone to talk to or talk them out of doing something dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you think about some of the posts from the last several weeks. Extreme behaviors have increased in the past 5 years. Teachers can barely control classrooms.

School administrators are responsible for disciplinary action. How are teachers supported if school administrators allow problem students to get away with bad behavior?

[Anonymous]

The teachers in our cluster have been wonderful. I know it’s hard, but I am an attorney and would love to switch over to teach (maybe part-time) for a few years before I retire. But not possible because of licensing.

[Anonymous]

I am reminded of how school administrators treated teachers at our school during a bomb threat. Before the police could sweep the school, teachers were told to man the doors to make sure students did not enter the building. Where were the administrators? For those who were at school that day, they were safely supervising the students on the football field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am reminded of how school administrators treated teachers at our school during a bomb threat. Before the police could sweep the school, teachers were told to man the doors to make sure students did not enter the building. Where were the administrators? For those who were at school that day, they were safely supervising the students on the football field.

At that point I would have left with the kids.

Feel free to fire me. My life is more important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is my fifth and final year. I only came back this year to make sure some of my seniors graduate. I came to this school their freshman year and moved up each year with them. Some don't have good relationships with their parents, and I made a deal with them that I'd come back one last year if they promised not to drop out. I love the relationship aspect of teaching. Three fourths of them could not care less about the stuff we teach them. Why should they? Most of it is just busy work from a bygone era. The only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning is knowing that a lot of them don't have any other adult in their lives who care, and the day I call out might be the day when they really, really needed someone to talk to or talk them out of doing something dumb.

problem is . . . When you use up that much energy on your students, you have nothing left for your own kids.

My own son - 11 - said to me the other day, "If you quit this job, would you spend less time at your computer doing week?"

made me sad initially - But it was what I needed to hear to force me to look at other options. You have one chance to raise your own kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is my fifth and final year. I only came back this year to make sure some of my seniors graduate. I came to this school their freshman year and moved up each year with them. Some don't have good relationships with their parents, and I made a deal with them that I'd come back one last year if they promised not to drop out. I love the relationship aspect of teaching. Three fourths of them could not care less about the stuff we teach them. Why should they? Most of it is just busy work from a bygone era. The only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning is knowing that a lot of them don't have any other adult in their lives who care, and the day I call out might be the day when they really, really needed someone to talk to or talk them out of doing something dumb.

problem is . . . When you use up that much energy on your students, you have nothing left for your own kids.

My own son - 11 - said to me the other day, "If you quit this job, would you spend less time at your computer doing week?"

made me sad initially - But it was what I needed to hear to force me to look at other options. You have one chance to raise your own kids.

I really think that all depends on what job you have. There are plenty of other parents who are not teachers who spend a lot of time in front of their computers working. Think about the lawyers who spend 70 hours working + commuting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fall is my favorite season by far but October is absolute hell as a teacher. I was hired 7 years ago today and if I could quit, I would. I fell this way a lot of the year but every October is the height of me feeling this way. It’s not the kids. It’s the ridiculous expectations put on us. I just finished writing my SLO and I know I will not make my target. They keep making the target harder to reach so they don’t have to give us raises. They are broke and instead of admitting this, they keep changing everything so it makes it impossible to be considered highly effective. The curriculum is an awful mismatch between reality and what sounds good when being presented to a district.

I'm at a new school where the SLO is apparently taken seriously. (In my previous spot, no one cared b/c the kids were so challenging.) It was another "check the box" activity.

So if my five don't make the mark, will that affect my evaluation? (It's my year . . . ) lol - If yes, ho so? Will it be reflected under one of the standards?

FWIW, I wrote the damn thing for the team.

Our SLO is worth 40% of our end of the year evaluation so it is important. I need the raise every year to afford my bills and college for my kid I spent coming up soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is my fifth and final year. I only came back this year to make sure some of my seniors graduate. I came to this school their freshman year and moved up each year with them. Some don't have good relationships with their parents, and I made a deal with them that I'd come back one last year if they promised not to drop out. I love the relationship aspect of teaching. Three fourths of them could not care less about the stuff we teach them. Why should they? Most of it is just busy work from a bygone era. The only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning is knowing that a lot of them don't have any other adult in their lives who care, and the day I call out might be the day when they really, really needed someone to talk to or talk them out of doing something dumb.

problem is . . . When you use up that much energy on your students, you have nothing left for your own kids.

My own son - 11 - said to me the other day, "If you quit this job, would you spend less time at your computer doing week?"

made me sad initially - But it was what I needed to hear to force me to look at other options. You have one chance to raise your own kids.

I really think that all depends on what job you have. There are plenty of other parents who are not teachers who spend a lot of time in front of their computers working. Think about the lawyers who spend 70 hours working + commuting.

I'm glad you understood work for week. lol

But that's my point. You get one chance to raise your kids, and it's not worth it. Sometimes I spend an extra 4 hours at home doing work - whether it's grading papers or planning b/c my own planning period was eaten up by something.

It's not worth it. Summers don't make up for it either, nor do holidays. It's not even; it's bipolar. I need an even lifestyle where I can feel good about what I do WHILE placing my first.

good for the lawyer making hundreds of thousands working 70+ hour weeks - If memories include how many hours Mom or Dad spent in front of the computer, is is worth it?

not in my book