What I’m Reading
Nov
18
What It’s Like
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Before I started teaching full time I had a general idea of how tough it is. It’s hard to avoid that fact when you work in a school- teachers work their asses off. But now that I am in the thick of things I know exactly how tough it is, and I’m pretty sure I do not like it. I was talking to a friend about work and he mentioned that he spent eight full hours completely absorbed in one project. Eight hours! I barely get 45 minutes to become absorbed in something and then that horrid buzzer-bell goes off and I’m switching gears to a new project, a new grade, a new set of kids.
Today the bell sounded and I grabbed my stuff, set up my projector, and had my attendance ready to go for the sixth graders. Then no one showed up. Umm… the huh? I checked the schedule like twelve times before I was convinced I was not looking at the wrong day because even though it is the middle of November I still have no idea what groups I see on what days. Do you even know what that’s like? If I were to compare it to an office job, it would be like meeting with co-workers, bosses, clients, and customers at random but regimented times, all day every day. When would you get any actual work done? Answer: on your own damn time.
Anyway, when my sixth graders didn’t show up I sheepishly walked down to the office to explain that I’d somehow lost 23 eleven-year olds. I was kindly informed that they were on a field trip today, a fact which somehow entirely escaped my attention. I was mildly embarrassed but also elated to have 45 minutes to myself. What to do, what to do?
Oh, right. The Quiz Bowl rosters, the robotics club forms and documentation, putting plans in place for my sub tomorrow, making photocopies, placing work orders for broken computers, emailing my Principal to let him know that the library should be declared an official disaster zone even though there are “volunteers” in there checking out books, and then hopefully somehow squeeze in some time to pee.
Seriously, I am going to have a Bladder of Steel after this job. Maybe I should put that on my resume.
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12 Responses to “What It’s Like”
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i sooo feel for you darlin’. even when you’re responsible for the whole library, it’s still your domain on your time. i always admire the teachers for all they accomplish. the first year is the toughest. hopefully, when the economy picks up there will be more options and you can go back to your true calling.
I second that motion…..I had no sympathy for teachers until your change this year. Now I feel for every one of them….but you the most. I hope the library is in such a shambles that they have no choice but to put you back in your place.
I’m doing a project right now that involves interviewing teachers and the workload they take on is STAGGERING. PLUS they have to do things like, I don’t know, come up with lesson plans, deal with children who are struggling, read the kids’ work, grade it, and yeah, when is that you pee? Because I can’t figure it out.
I think you’re a rockstar, and I certainly think that a bladder or steel is a marketable skill/talent/other.
xox
I come from a family of teachers, and I have absolutely no desire to be one. There is a special place in heaven for good teachers. I’m pretty sure there are no bells sounding, and the planning periods are really, really long.
How is robotics club going? I imagine it being like that TV show Battlebots.
Thank goodness you didn’t lose an entire sixth-grade class!
Yeah, I’m in agreement with the “I don’t like it” part.
I can’t imagine being a teacher and having an audience ALL DAY LONG. Kind of makes you realize why they have summers off.
I don’t think I could handle that. At least not sober.
The only reason New Boy spends eight hours on one project is because he’s a BOY.
Yeah, I don’t think I could do it. One of my close friends is a teacher and I’m just super impressed. I don’t think I could do it!
I always wanted to teach but I have the attention span of a 2 year old and am constantly distracted by the bright and shiny. Plus, I don’t like kids all that much and apparently they play a big part of the whole teaching thing. But I have so much respect for teachers (and librarians) because you’re shaping the future leaders of our world. I had some really great teachers when I was growing up that I still look back and think “Wow, I owe this to them.”
You’re one of the good guys, NPW. I know it sucks that you’re not in the library and I hope that happens next year for you. I wish there was more money for schools and less for the stupid war.