Any teachers out there feel like bitching? Or telling me off?

[Anonymous]

I quit teaching after 8 years for an office research-type job (get paid more for an easier job). You're right that teaching is hard and not the easy job that many people think. I miss the interaction with kids (I taught teenagers) but nothing else. Just wanted to say that you are doing a great job and that not many people could do it.

[Anonymous]

I am thinking about going into HS teaching and this thread is making me very concerned!

[Anonymous]

I think the notion that teaching is family friendly does not mean that it is a part time job. It is just a more family friendly job than some other professions. Talk to someone who left the world of international finance to teach and they will tell you not traveling all over the world or having to wake up at 3 am to see what the market in Asia is doing is a nice change.

It's all in perspective. Many lawyer moms on this board leave biglaw and find out that other jobs that let them work 9-6 M-F are incredibly family friendly. Yes, it's full time but it's not 80 hours a week so to them it's nice.

I think if you start out teaching and establish your lesson plans by the time you have kids, it is easier than trying to have a family friendly teaching job after kids. I don't mean that you never have to change a lesson plan, because that sounds incredibly boring, but you can at least have a template to build from. Also, in some schools, the longer you have been there the more seniority you have. We have a good family friend who has taught for 40 years and now sets her own schedule (within reason) and for the last couple of years, has all her classes in the morning and is home by lunch. So she would say it is very family friendly.

A lot of schools are in the suburbs and for many that means avoiding the trek into the city - which can be a better commute.

That said, I understand why teaching could get frustrating. Having to be "on" all day most days would be tough. I like having my own office and being able to shut the world out to get work done at times. or having the freedom to run to Starbucks, and yes, the bathroom. So I can see that. And obviously there are other challenges. A lot of people go into teaching because they love kids, but teaching means dealing with faculty, the politics of that, and parents too.

I can see pros and cons. I do think if you think teaching means "part time job" because of summers and vacations and the fact that school is out at 3 or 4, you are in for a rude awakening. But I do think it can be more family friendly than many other jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am thinking about going into HS teaching and this thread is making me very concerned!

PP, I think before going into teaching you really need to think about why you want to do it. I do think overall that teaching is pretty family friendly. In general, you are off when your kids are off and you can be home earlier in the day than most 9-5 jobs. I have been teaching HS for over 10 years and at this point, I have enough experience that it does not take me hours to formulate lessons and I am able to manage my workload pretty well. I like being home by 4 or so and being able to hang out with my kids for a few hours before bed, but of course I rarely see them in the morning since I leave the house before 7. And, for the time you are at school, it is a lot of work. You are constantly "on" with students coming to see you, ask questions, etc. There is not a lot of down time during the day. And of course, there is the grading. Depending on what you teach, that can be more or less. I think probably English teachers have it worst since they have a lot of long papers to grade. But there is always a lot of grading for everyone. Then of course there are the discipline issues and all the administrative stuff that comes with working in a school system. So, no it is not easy. But the students are fun and there is some freedom to do what you want (at least at my school). Anyway, I just think you need to go into teaching with your eyes open. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Current special education teacher here. Only a teacher could fully relate to your post. I tell my husband all the time that every parent should be required to spend one day shadowing a teacher. The stress is truly never ending and no one can really understand this until they have been in a teacher's shoes. Best of luck to you and hang in there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Current special education teacher here. Only a teacher could fully relate to your post. I tell my husband all the time that every parent should be required to spend one day shadowing a teacher. The stress is truly never ending and no one can really understand this until they have been in a teacher's shoes. Best of luck to you and hang in there!

That can be said about any profession. I am in medicine, and I say the same thing all the time. I just think it should be politicians who should shadow us rather than parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current special education teacher here. Only a teacher could fully relate to your post. I tell my husband all the time that every parent should be required to spend one day shadowing a teacher. The stress is truly never ending and no one can really understand this until they have been in a teacher's shoes. Best of luck to you and hang in there!

That can be said about any profession. I am in medicine, and I say the same thing all the time. I just think it should be politicians who should shadow us rather than parents.

Of course. Most people would agree that being a doctor, for example, is a demanding job. On the other hand, many people believe that teachers have it much easier and don't realize the long hours they put in behind the scenes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current special education teacher here. Only a teacher could fully relate to your post. I tell my husband all the time that every parent should be required to spend one day shadowing a teacher. The stress is truly never ending and no one can really understand this until they have been in a teacher's shoes. Best of luck to you and hang in there!

That can be said about any profession. I am in medicine, and I say the same thing all the time. I just think it should be politicians who should shadow us rather than parents.

Of course. Most people would agree that being a doctor, for example, is a demanding job. On the other hand, many people believe that teachers have it much easier and don't realize the long hours they put in behind the scenes.

They might have it easier. I have done both, but honestly, I only taught pre K in a public school system (no homework). Medicine is a real drain (^#@!). But this is no issue that should be compared. OP is just making a point about teaching. I think that with time, it will get easier. Also, as her kids get older, home life will become less demanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am thinking about going into HS teaching and this thread is making me very concerned!

PP, I think before going into teaching you really need to think about why you want to do it. I do think overall that teaching is pretty family friendly. In general, you are off when your kids are off and you can be home earlier in the day than most 9-5 jobs. I have been teaching HS for over 10 years and at this point, I have enough experience that it does not take me hours to formulate lessons and I am able to manage my workload pretty well. I like being home by 4 or so and being able to hang out with my kids for a few hours before bed, but of course I rarely see them in the morning since I leave the house before 7. And, for the time you are at school, it is a lot of work. You are constantly "on" with students coming to see you, ask questions, etc. There is not a lot of down time during the day. And of course, there is the grading. Depending on what you teach, that can be more or less. I think probably English teachers have it worst since they have a lot of long papers to grade. But there is always a lot of grading for everyone. Then of course there are the discipline issues and all the administrative stuff that comes with working in a school system. So, no it is not easy. But the students are fun and there is some freedom to do what you want (at least at my school). Anyway, I just think you need to go into teaching with your eyes open. Good luck!

Thanks for this post. I appreciate hearing your view. What kind of school do you teach at? Urban or suburban?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sucks but it could be worse. YOu could be a lawyer--but not a big firm lawyer. (Ie: not making the money but working the hours)

This is me! And I'm a former teacher. I make more money now than when I taught, but my law school loans eat up the difference. I was not happy with teaching as a career for many reasons, but there is no denying that even with all the extra bullshit (and I taught in a Fairfax County elementary school with HIGH teacher expectations), teaching is way more family-friendly than my current career. Bottom line, it's hard to be a working mom!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally feel your pain. I am a teacher myself. What's with the no-peeing during the work day comments? Is it an elementary school thing? I teach in a large high school and am very pregnant. I leave my classes at least twice during each 90 minute block to pee. Students keep working and there are typically no disruptions when I am gone.

PP,

HS teacher, too

If I left some of my classes for 5 minutes to pee, I'd see books flying out of the window and kids creeping out of the door. I'm sure others would be trying to get in a "quickie," too.

no can do . . . unfortunately

How about kids flying out of the window??? When I was on my maternity leave with my first, my sub informed me one day that one of my students had tried to climb out the window during class! We are on the 2nd floor, but luckily there is another roof right outside, so if she had made it, it would not have been a big drop. Thankfully this year I have good students in all of my classes and I am able to leave to go to the bathroom and even make copies if need be.

I am the PP. Your post is hysterical! Flying books is nothing compared to kids climbing out the window!

glad this year is easier for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am thinking about going into HS teaching and this thread is making me very concerned!

PP, I think before going into teaching you really need to think about why you want to do it. I do think overall that teaching is pretty family friendly. In general, you are off when your kids are off and you can be home earlier in the day than most 9-5 jobs. I have been teaching HS for over 10 years and at this point, I have enough experience that it does not take me hours to formulate lessons and I am able to manage my workload pretty well. I like being home by 4 or so and being able to hang out with my kids for a few hours before bed, but of course I rarely see them in the morning since I leave the house before 7. And, for the time you are at school, it is a lot of work. You are constantly "on" with students coming to see you, ask questions, etc. There is not a lot of down time during the day. And of course, there is the grading. Depending on what you teach, that can be more or less. I think probably English teachers have it worst since they have a lot of long papers to grade. But there is always a lot of grading for everyone. Then of course there are the discipline issues and all the administrative stuff that comes with working in a school system. So, no it is not easy. But the students are fun and there is some freedom to do what you want (at least at my school). Anyway, I just think you need to go into teaching with your eyes open. Good luck!

Thanks for this post. I appreciate hearing your view. What kind of school do you teach at? Urban or suburban?

Suburban (FCPS)

[Anonymous]

I think if you start out teaching and establish your lesson plans by the time you have kids, it is easier than trying to have a family friendly teaching job after kids. I don't mean that you never have to change a lesson plan, because that sounds incredibly boring, but you can at least have a template to build from.



Most teachers cannot "establish" lesson plans ahead of time. You get different needs on different days, and have to meet them. Teaching today is NOTHING like it was even 10 years ago. I also work in a highly impacted school (86% Free or Reduced Lunch) and the stress to meet AYP is crazy.

I don't understand the lawyer connections. Did anyone say that being a lawyer is easier than being a teacher? I doubt many people would agree with that.
Although I've always said that if everyone could bill their hours teachers would be millionaires too.