The Job

In 3 weeks, I will be a teacher once more. Not working really has agreed with me, so I’m a little anxious about re-entering the classroom. Here are some of my main concerns presented in the form of a bulleted list:

• Right off, my colleagues will ask about my dissertation progress. Not a huge concern because I’ve already planned my cheery responses---“So close!” and “It won’t be long now!”
• Despite the fake-it-til-you-make-it facade, I am nervous about making dissertation progress once school gets underway. Teaching is a way time consuming job. Check out this comparison of the work day of a pharmaceutical salesperson and that of a teacher in the new book that I will soon own called Teachers Have It Easy.
• I love teaching, but I hate resisting stupid mandates and restrictions. I do resist quite successfully, but why must I? Just let me do my job, you evil standardizers. Sunday NYT has several articles in their Education Life about rigid restrictive curriculum making new teachers rethink their gig choice.
• Another NYT article wonders if education schools present too much theory and not enough practical tips. They reach the startling conclusion that teachers need both. Doi. The author infers that new teachers are leaving in droves because they haven’t been taught how to teach, but they offer no evidence to support their claim. The one woman they interview who left teaching went her merry way toward jewelry consulting for an insurance company because teaching had too much paperwork, took up too much of her time and the pay was bad.

It’s good to write down my concerns. I can store these away for now and go back to my summer evening with a glass of wine, a little blog reading, and sitting on the deck watching the last few visitors to the birdfeeders before the sun goes down. Saw 2 goldfinches today. I'm wondering if 3 weeks is enough time to get the backyard birds to handfeed. Saw Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill this weekend.