diary of a schoolteacher.
I'm a public high school band director and I've been teaching for three years now. The job I have is a good one (comparatively by current standards) and I absolutely LOVE being a band director...but I absolutely HATE being a teacher.
Throughout my three years of teaching, I've grown more and more critical of the educational system I work for. I do admit that I did enter this profession with an unrealistically optimistic and naive expectation of how things would be and now it seems that I am either coming to terms with reality or just going through some sort of a phase.
Most of my complaints have to do with morality issues. I have to put up with behavior that I consider immoral and disrespectul by students, parents, and sometimes other teachers, I've been told by administrators NOT to enforce dress code rules (short skirts, spaghetti straps, etc.) because of the controversy it causes, I've been told to be silent about my views on morality and other issues because I'm not tenured yet, there is constant pressure for me to inflate grades so that I don't look bad, there never seems to be a problem until a parent complains and then I'm the one who is at fault, and the list goes on. Also, I do get a lot of vacation, but during the school year, I often put in 10 to 14 hours a day or more with all the pep band, jazz band, marching band, drumline, musicals, coaching, etc. I do. I'm thinking that this schedule is unrealistic for starting a family, and I know that my wife really doesn't like it.
On the up side, I've found that I can still try to influence these kids in a positive way, though I have to be very discrete about it, whenever a student tells me about how they stood up for their faith, I make it a point to encourage it. But those opportunities seem scarce.
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(later found on the ground, sent to found.com, and the school principal, with nothing better to do with the time, cranked out a letter in only two minutes.)
John,
A friend of mine was a teacher overseas and upon moving to the US began all the hoopla it would take to become a teacher here. It took her several years, but she got all her credentials in order. She now works as an administrative assistant for a random corporation.
After going through all this, she was finally awakened to the reality that you are now facing. It was pointed out to her that an overwhelming number of people leave teaching after their first year. When the administration refuses to stand with you, you have absolutely no authority.
Just do what you're here for.
Sincerely,
Your Employer