Comments on: The Best Time To Be A Teacher? http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-best-time-to-be-a-teacher/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:07:56 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jane http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-best-time-to-be-a-teacher/#comment-1304 Jane Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:11:26 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/01/the-best-time-to-be-a-teacher/#comment-1304 In thirteen+ years of teaching I have worked for seven different principals in different schools, states and socioeconomic situations. I have worked for administrators at the pinnacle of their career when they have the school in ship shape and have the ease of life to manage the huge task of being principal. I have worked for principals at the brink of retirement when school boards are trying to push them out in favor of a newer model. I have worked for principals who seem (by the hours put in on campus-holidays included) to have no life outside of school and ones whose health or family circumstances hinder their job performance. What I gather from this is that the job is almost an impossible task. It is so consuming that it takes a rare person with excellent health, social skills, time management, thick skin and most of all a tremendous support system at home to be an effective principal. I know I could never handle it. So, while I think there is some truth to the statement, "effective principals are the exception" part of that is that they get moved around a lot (and I too have moved around a bit) and I have just see a part of their overall career. Teachers talk often of the immense job that is teaching, admins have it far harder. I think they need to be viewed with a lens of patience. Dealing with your admin 101 should be a class in teacher prep. There is so much that can be done to help that relationship. Teaching is only as enjoyable as the principal you work for- I disagree. We currently have an extremely challenging situation administratively. It is not unusual to be taken to task for things such as pencil grip or line order IN FRONT OF THE STUDENTS! I have give myself a pep talk before going into her office to talk about the most routine things. And, I am on the "good list." It's very hard on the whole school. Still, as a teacher, so much of my job is in my own room. I am fortunate to close my classroom door, block out the politics and create the school I dream of right inside the four walls of my room. "... only as enjoyable as the principal you work for"-true for secretaries and office staff, not for teachers! In thirteen+ years of teaching I have worked for seven different principals in different schools, states and socioeconomic situations. I have worked for administrators at the pinnacle of their career when they have the school in ship shape and have the ease of life to manage the huge task of being principal. I have worked for principals at the brink of retirement when school boards are trying to push them out in favor of a newer model. I have worked for principals who seem (by the hours put in on campus-holidays included) to have no life outside of school and ones whose health or family circumstances hinder their job performance. What I gather from this is that the job is almost an impossible task. It is so consuming that it takes a rare person with excellent health, social skills, time management, thick skin and most of all a tremendous support system at home to be an effective principal. I know I could never handle it.

So, while I think there is some truth to the statement, “effective principals are the exception” part of that is that they get moved around a lot (and I too have moved around a bit) and I have just see a part of their overall career. Teachers talk often of the immense job that is teaching, admins have it far harder. I think they need to be viewed with a lens of patience. Dealing with your admin 101 should be a class in teacher prep. There is so much that can be done to help that relationship.

Teaching is only as enjoyable as the principal you work for- I disagree. We currently have an extremely challenging situation administratively. It is not unusual to be taken to task for things such as pencil grip or line order IN FRONT OF THE STUDENTS! I have give myself a pep talk before going into her office to talk about the most routine things. And, I am on the “good list.” It’s very hard on the whole school. Still, as a teacher, so much of my job is in my own room. I am fortunate to close my classroom door, block out the politics and create the school I dream of right inside the four walls of my room.

“… only as enjoyable as the principal you work for”-true for secretaries and office staff, not for teachers!

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]]> By: Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-best-time-to-be-a-teacher/#comment-953 Joel Sun, 25 Nov 2007 23:56:09 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/01/the-best-time-to-be-a-teacher/#comment-953 It is the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I was off for the entire week. I realize that Tangerine's comments are right on target. When we are busy working, we forget that we enjoy the time off so much. When we have the time off, we forget how hard it is to get back into the swing of things again. It is the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I was off for the entire week. I realize that Tangerine’s comments are right on target. When we are busy working, we forget that we enjoy the time off so much. When we have the time off, we forget how hard it is to get back into the swing of things again.

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]]> By: Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-best-time-to-be-a-teacher/#comment-61 Joel Wed, 04 Jul 2007 21:42:50 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/01/the-best-time-to-be-a-teacher/#comment-61 <p>One of the hardest things for anyone (students, teachers, anyone) is to accept responsibility for our own problems. As I've <a href="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/06/17/where-have-all-the-good-teachers-gone/" rel="nofollow">written before</a>, <b>recognizing failure and accepting responsibility allow us to grow more</b>.</p> <p>Accepting responsibility is the first key to <a href="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/06/07/how-do-you-keep-them-quiet/" rel="nofollow">keeping students quiet</a> and being a great teacher.</p> <p>To many teachers take the easy way and don't end up <a href="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/05/19/be-the-best-teacher-in-the-world/" rel="nofollow">being the best teacher in their world</a>.</p> One of the hardest things for anyone (students, teachers, anyone) is to accept responsibility for our own problems. As I’ve written before, recognizing failure and accepting responsibility allow us to grow more.

Accepting responsibility is the first key to keeping students quiet and being a great teacher.

To many teachers take the easy way and don’t end up being the best teacher in their world.


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]]> By: Tangerine http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-best-time-to-be-a-teacher/#comment-63 Tangerine Wed, 04 Jul 2007 21:06:46 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/01/the-best-time-to-be-a-teacher/#comment-63 While I don't think that the best part of teaching is June-August, I think that the weeks off in the summer are incredibly valuable. It's a chance to reflect....to destress.....to redo a filing system or book leveling or whatever project you'd like to tackle but can never find time for...time to read a book or two....time to pay some good attention to family that can feel neglected when you're knee-deep in papers to check and technology projects to complete. Summer break (and spring break for that matter) is a Good Thing. And I think that most teachers being honest with themselves will say that come the end of May, they need the time off. Teaching is a go-go-go job. When we finally take a breath, we realize we were even more tired than we realized! ~Tangerine While I don’t think that the best part of teaching is June-August, I think that the weeks off in the summer are incredibly valuable. It’s a chance to reflect….to destress…..to redo a filing system or book leveling or whatever project you’d like to tackle but can never find time for…time to read a book or two….time to pay some good attention to family that can feel neglected when you’re knee-deep in papers to check and technology projects to complete. Summer break (and spring break for that matter) is a Good Thing. And I think that most teachers being honest with themselves will say that come the end of May, they need the time off. Teaching is a go-go-go job. When we finally take a breath, we realize we were even more tired than we realized!

~Tangerine

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]]> By: sellen http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-best-time-to-be-a-teacher/#comment-59 sellen Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:58:02 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/01/the-best-time-to-be-a-teacher/#comment-59 Our school has been through three principals since I've taught there, and each one did bring his/her own weaknesses and talents to the position. I have been lucky in that I have never been a target, however, the last two principals did "pick on" some members on the staff. For the majority who were singled out, the reason was that they weren't doing their job and were not open to improving. They also did a lot of complaining about being brought into the office, when they could have improved the situation if they wanted to. I work with one teacher (who I really like personally) who sits all day, gives massive amounts of worksheets, yells a lot at the kids, offers nothing at our team planning meetings, and complains about discipline in her class. These are second graders! While she has relented and attended some of the mini classes and workshops suggested by our principal, she has said that she already knows how to teach and doesn't plan on changing. She just wants the principal to get off her back. She just doesn't get it. It's just easier to be the "victim" than to take charge. This can't even be attributed to the principal, because she had problems with the former principal as well. Our school has been through three principals since I’ve taught there, and each one did bring his/her own weaknesses and talents to the position. I have been lucky in that I have never been a target, however, the last two principals did “pick on” some members on the staff. For the majority who were singled out, the reason was that they weren’t doing their job and were not open to improving. They also did a lot of complaining about being brought into the office, when they could have improved the situation if they wanted to. I work with one teacher (who I really like personally) who sits all day, gives massive amounts of worksheets, yells a lot at the kids, offers nothing at our team planning meetings, and complains about discipline in her class. These are second graders! While she has relented and attended some of the mini classes and workshops suggested by our principal, she has said that she already knows how to teach and doesn’t plan on changing. She just wants the principal to get off her back. She just doesn’t get it. It’s just easier to be the “victim” than to take charge. This can’t even be attributed to the principal, because she had problems with the former principal as well.

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