Each summer comes to an end, which always means school is starting up. Also, with each year, teachers gear up for yet another promising year to inspire and educate the youth of America. I am such a teacher. Although I don't usually get much of a vacation, I plan out what I will teach the first week, what I'll wear to put my "best foot forward", and what kinds of students I'll have that will make my year either easier...or harder.
This year, I have to say, I'm not as excited. Don't get me wrong I'm glad to get back in the swing of things but I find myself completely preoccupied with other things in my life. Managing all of those "things" is going to be the biggest challenge. How do I be a great wife, mom, and teacher? And I'm sure I'm not the only one...
More than that, I see how little our job is related to inspiring and educating the youth of America. I originally got into teaching to do just that. Inspire and teach. I remember having great teachers that enjoyed teaching, thus prompting me to enjoy learning. I also remember having teachers that, over time, didn't enjoy teaching due to the "politics". In fact, I remember my junior year Spanish teacher, Ms. McKee. I was so excited to tell her that I had found my calling. I wanted to be a teacher. I didn't know exactly what kind of teacher at the time but I remember being very excited about the prospects of joining the elite group of teachers. I will never forget her response to me. "That's great! Teaching is a good job to have." Needless to say, I was a little let down by her reaction. "It's a "good" job? Why is it just a good job?", I asked. She looked straight at me and said "just the politics". At the time, I really had no idea what she meant. I'm starting my 7th year of teaching and now I understand all too well.
Like I said, I started into teaching to help the students I had in class, inspire people, educate on whatever the subject- be it school stuff, time management, respect, or just life. I had passion for it! Even in student teaching, there were days I'd leave school thinking, "This is what I was meant to do." As time as progressed, the politics of my job made me lose that passion.
Teachers have become "lower class", "babysitters", "paper pushers", and flat out disrespected. People (some people) don't look at teachers as the people that care for their students when mom and dad can't. Some people give snide remarks about how nice it must be to have summers off. Some people look at us as having very easy jobs, even when we don't judge anyone else's profession. We are looked down upon by politicians and pigeon-holed into certain duties that do not help us do our actual job. And no, I don't know many teachers that got into the profession for the money, summers off, or for a carefree, "make your own schedule" kind of job. I know teachers that got into teaching to help students- with many things. I know teachers that genuinely want to inspire and challenge our children. But rather than being given the freedom to challenge and inspire, we're told to "push the student through". We are expected to teach 30 kids in one classroom for 45 minutes- all of whom have different learning styles, needs, and abilities. We are expected to teach the students the curriculum, how to be an appropriate citizen, respect, and anything else that may come across as a new "buzz word" on Capitol Hill. We are expected to handle budgeting and working with NO money provided for our classrooms. (Yes last year I spent around $3000 of my own money to get my students doing the curriculum based projects.) We are also expected to take class and further our own educations...all while updating grades within a certain time frame, meeting the needs of any IEP or GIEP student, contacting parents, evaluating and assessing students abilities, meeting benchmarks and standards, bringing everyone to proficient or advanced on state tests, and so much more.
Our job has been changed to the point that we can't do what each teacher genuinely wants to do...TEACH.
Am I complaining about my profession? Yes a little bit, but please don't misunderstand my purpose. I truly do love my job. I love being in the classroom and seeing that student struggle and then finally "get it". It's a great feeling to know that I've taught someone something that they will carry with them through life. What I'm complaining about is all the "politics" of teaching that hinder good people and good teachers from doing what they should be doing...teaching.
So in conclusion, I'd like to ask for everyone, teacher or not, to support the education system. Not the paper pushing and politics. Support the people who truly want to teach students and work very hard (year round) to figure out new ways to do just that...teach.
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