Teaching: The profession you should and shouldnt do..
This morning I read an article about Sarah Fine and the reaction to her decision to leave an inner city DC school. No one questions that Sarah is an exemplary teacher, and her decision prompted both outrage that she should “abandon” the class as well as understanding.
It reminds me a little of some of my own challenges - when I first decided I wanted to teach, that it was important to me I had to justify this decision with several people - including my then significant other who thought that was a waste and that I should go into the computer industry. The number of times I heard the phrase “those who cant, teach” made me question my decision to the point where I actually interviewed with several companies for systems administrator positions.
I started teaching in an inner city school in Ft. Lauderdale FL. 2000+ students and I was a minority. I had a student threaten to turn his gang on me for trying to enforce school policy. (that was on the second day) I did eventually leave that place due to the communities reaction to a tragedy that occurred. I did keep teaching, but I moved to a suburban school district with different problems.
I was burned out after two years, and if I hadnt had the option of moving to a better district I’m not sure how much more I would have lasted through. Now, as I hope to make a change, to contribute to a community of educators in a different way I again face questions. Only this time its along the lines of “why are you leaving? your students need you”.
It feels like a double standard. First teaching isnt good enough for intelligent, hard working people (clearly they should do something with better options for success) and yet, when they can take no more of the lack of support and difficulties that Sarah describes they are berated for leaving. We need to let our teachers know we value them - right from the time they decide to be a teacher. Maybe then more smart, excited people will pursue and stay with teaching.
If you have a teacher in your life (either a colleague or one of your childrens’ teachers) who is doing a good job, let them know you are glad they made the decision long ago to be a teacher. One comment like that used to get me through a whole semester.
August 19th, 2009 at 9:39 am
A very very nice article indeed. When I was a student myself, I had some really “devoted” teachers. Devotion, was not a part of their job description but they still went out of their way to make the lives of students simpler.
It is true, that teachers are not paid according to their contribution to the society. People should understand that the society as a whole will perish, if we donot have selfless beings like them….
January 20th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
This post really hit home for me. I started in the software industry, first in QA, then as a business analyst, and then decided to become a high school teacher. This is my third year doing that, and the burnout thing is definitely happening to me too. I’m considering going back into industry, although it’s not all roses there either.