You know, when I picked education as a career, I do not believe I fully understood that it actually is a hard job. The politics of education alone is daunting, and as they say: "s*** rolls down hill". Not only does it roll down hill, but it piles up at the bottom of the hill! As teachers we often wonder who sits around and makes the decisions, because it is obvious that no one communicates with the others. It's like having two hands that cannot function together. Though I have plenty of examples, and probably many I should not actually mention on a public blog (!), I cannot even think of one at the moment because my brain is so tired, but I love the high school that I am at, hands down. However, I do realize the exhausting atmosphere I am in, and the challenges we face at "Suburban" high school. The suburb we are in is an eclectic mix of wealthy, poor, spoiled rotten, and attitudinal children. It is a largely ethnic school, but that just makes it all the more interesting in my opinion!
Unfortunately our school does not always have the most successful students when it comes to passing their classes. They face a variety of challenges, and while we as teachers try to help them, it is sometimes like banging my head against a wall. In fact, my head sometimes feels that way when I leave at the end of the day! I am beginning to get that old joke about teachers not knowing who Letterman is because they are never up that late, because I am lucky to make it past 8:30 anymore! I give so much energy to my students, and I work my hardest to help them, that by the end of the day I am empty. When you add in dealing with parents, administrators, and the people who just do not understand what it's like to care about your "kids" this much, it gets even harder.
I hate hearing from people, "Oh, you are still a new teacher, you'll give that up eventually", or my favorite "you'll stop caring so much when you get more jaded." Well, I certainly hope not! I do not want to get more jaded. I do not want to give up on my kids. I do not want to give up all the things that I do for them. If I do that, then I may as well get out of the field because that is absolutely NOT why I became a TEACHER! I became a teacher to do what I could for students, to help them learn and grow, and I have always said that if I can make a difference with just one student then I have done my job. I give to my students what I always wanted from a teacher, because I figure if I wanted it, then my kids might too.
I guess I could be being naive, but you know what? I know teachers that have not given up and that still help their "kids" day in and day out just like I help mine. So, I know that not all of us give up. Of course, that's just My Big Fat Opinion.
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