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Thread: teaching... sucks.

  1. #1
    Featured Member tampadancer's Avatar
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    Default teaching... sucks.

    Okay, so I don't want to be a teacher anymore. This is my second year teaching high school English, and I never thought I'd miss stripping this much. I hate getting up at 4 in the morning to workout before work. I hate having to stay after school for bullshit meetings and "professional development" (which generally leaves my braincells committing suicide). I can't stand the "sense of entitlement" of some of the little shithead fucker students I have. I hate spending my weekends grading papers and planning lessons. I hate the bureaucracy of the education system. I hate that I go through all this for $38k a year. No wonder the teaching shortage is so extreme.

    I called in today because I was on the verge of unraveling yesterday at work. I'm not sure what's next. I think I can make it through to the end of the year. But MAN do I crave the freedom of stripping again. I would love to have the time to work on freelance writing and training for marathons and bike races again.

    blech. But when I was stripping, I always found things wrong with that too. There's got to be more to life than working to live I just needed to vent... I need something more.

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    God/dess pookie's Avatar
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    Default Re: teaching... sucks.

    hmmm.. How about you start dancing again and become a substitute teacher for next year? Or maybe teach a different subject?




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    Default Re: teaching... sucks.

    I really sympathize with this, Tampa. I teach in college, which works well for me, but I have many, many friends who teach at the high school level and who talk about how quickly they burn out, and with, as you say, good reason. From what I know of it, I don't think I could last in a high school very long--seems like one really has to be on a crusade to make it work, especially with the administration so often not supportive. My mother, who teaches at the high school level, tells me things have changed greatly over the years in this regard...some time ago she had a couple of parents gang up on her because she was imposing discipline on kids who were completely out of control! And no support from the administration. That was enough for her. She substitutes now at a high school that is much more familiar to her, and likes the students there very much.

    I've sat in on some Charter school classes, and was impressed--a much better spirit there. And you might consider teaching at the college level; I'll bet you would like that age group. Teaching is not something you should hate, and I think you're getting there. It would be nice if you could get in a situation which, on a day by day basis, reminds you of why you were interested in teaching in the first place.

    So I'm afraid I don't have much to offer in the way of advice, but I'm a kindred spirit and completely understand. I like what Abraham Lincoln had to say about situations like this: sometimes if you've got an elephant by the leg, maybe you're better off letting him go.

    Please feel free to PM if you want to--I'm always up for hearing teaching stories and can share some myself!
    JK Jim

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    Veteran Member Jenna78's Avatar
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    Default Re: teaching... sucks.

    I'm so sorry you're not happy with your job. I know where you're coming from--I was a HS special ed teacher for 2 1/2 years and it was hell the whole time. So much work I never caught up no matter how long or hard I worked. And not being able to do all my work affected my students which just made me feel worse. And I did all this work for a salary I could barely survive on.

    I started stripping after quitting teaching, but I know what you mean about not being happy with that either. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever find a job that I am ok with going to every day. It seems like most other people don't mind their jobs, why do I end up disliking every job I am skilled at so much?

    My dad is a school principal and taugh HS history/pe for years and told me that you have to give it 5 years before you decide to get out. He thinks most teachers are very unhappy for the first few years but if you stick with it it will become manageble. Obviously I did not take his advice, so neither do you. Do you have any experienced friendly teachers at your school to talk to about this?

    Sorry I don't have any solutions or answers for you but I am in the same situation so you're not the only one like this!!!
    "I wear tight clothing, high heel shoes
    It doesn't mean that I'm a prostitute" En Vogue

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    Featured Member tampadancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: teaching... sucks.

    jhuka - I worked at a charter last year and it was even worse. There was NO structure or control, and the place was run by total idiots. I had hoped that the public system would be better.. but not so much.

    The thing is this: I am very good with teens. I know how to connect with and get through to the toughest kids. I have the patience and understanding of a saint... and I like being able to reach out to and help them. Especially those who are troubled. I feel like this is my "calling." My students adore me, and for the most part, I love them too. I am the "cool" teacher at my school because, well, I'm real with the kids. I'm tough - we do a lot of challenging stuff, but I make my students think. I force them to consider issues that are often controversial or "not suitable" for school. I am not popular among the other English teachers because students are always trying to switch into my class... and they assume I must be a lax, bad teacher because kids want to be there. I pick my battles. I don't yell at a kid of he says "shit," or fail a kid because they were a little late turning in an assignment. To me... that stuff does not relate to their level of learning. And that's what I'm there for.

    Bah. I know why I became a teacher. I guess I am just frustrated because I work so hard for such a pathetic salary. The stress of finances combined with the stress of work (and the stress of grad school) just makes things worse.

    There are so many BAD teachers. And I think that is reflected in the fact that so many students have to enter remedial classes in college, after they graduate high school. So part of me feels obligated to keep teaching. I know.. its twisted.

    I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say. Maybe I need to go do work for an NPO that involves teens or kids. Not that the money would be better, but the bureaucracy might be less intense.

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    Veteran Member Jenna78's Avatar
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    Default Re: teaching... sucks.

    Oh wow you are going to grad school as well?! I'm impressed! Perhaps you should consider putting that off for a couple of years it may help reduce the stress of the first few years of teaching.
    "I wear tight clothing, high heel shoes
    It doesn't mean that I'm a prostitute" En Vogue

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    Default Re: teaching... sucks.

    Tampa--I know the charter school thing is iffy...one can be great, another terrible based on the "charter" and leaders of the place. I've seen a couple of good ones but I can't defend the idea much because I've heard of some awful ones too. I wish, for you, there was something better nearby.

    I'm so impressed with the way you speak about this being a "calling". No wonder you've stuck it out as long as you have--clearly, given the right support, and fewer students perhaps and more respect coming your way from the administration, you would be in the right groove. I taught in a community college in Chicago for a time and felt the same as you do...right down to having students switch into my classes and having other teachers (especially those who were unionized) get angry about it. I was moving around for a while until I found the right fit, but as I look back on it I'm proud to have spent time with young people and to be a part of their lives. I can see that you have changed lives--a great tribute to you. So listen: this is temporary. There will be something that opens up for you: in some way you'll get to do what you're good at and make a good living from it.

    So hang in there.

    I'll PM also with some information that might help in the future.
    JK Jim

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    Featured Member minnow's Avatar
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    Default Re: teaching... sucks.

    TD; Welcome to the "real world". Where there's seemingly green grass, it takes a certain ammount of horse manure to grow the grass.

    TD, you sound like the type of teacher a school would want to keep around- connects well with kids, yet educates them beyond classroom & boilerplate stuff. I can recall some of my best teachers being ones that were relatively junior in tenure. You are definitely in your "dues paying yrs."

    OTOH, how many jobs pay $38K with summer off? I know, you're going for advanced degree(Masters, I assume). I don't think thats a bona fide requirement for the teaching level that you're at, yet could be for more advanced positions that you may or may not get in 2, 10 yrs, whenever.

    I wonder if you'd be better off dropping grad school, and concentrate time stripping in the summer mos to supplement income and focussing more effort OTJ towards "networking" in the teaching field. Those after hours conferences (especially if they involve other schools) can be effective in developing contacts. See what other school or even district you'd like to work in. A lot of breaks are right place @ right time- cultivating contacts increases the likelihood of that happening.

    Some final thoughts teaching vs stripping: 1) Your current employer is empowered to levy taxes on citizenry, stripclubs aren't. 2) School districts have been around since before SW board members were born, and will likely continue to be around well after they're gone- not so stripclubs. (RIP, Tanga Lounge). 3) x yrs teaching experience looks better on resume than stripclub.
    In short, putting up with BS 3/4 of yr, then doing your thing 1/4 of yr can be good springboard towards reversing %'s in better direction.

    In closing, best wishes in whatever you choose- I'm past school , I'd gladly buy you a drink & lapdance(s) should our club "visits" coincide

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    Veteran Member jannisary's Avatar
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    Default Re: teaching... sucks.

    I kinda feel your pain TD and Jenna, except as a dorky guy I've never had the option of dancing instead of teaching. lol

    I heard the same argument that your dad made Jenna, stick with it and after a few years it will get better. I stuck with it as long as I could but it really didn't seem to get better. And I wasn't making no $38,000 a year either.

    Don't have any solutions or answers either but I feel where you're coming from.

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