What Teacher's Make

[teacher_jessica]

After recently suffering through someone who thought my profession was one that was all about ease and fun (my student teacher who I had to exit, AKA fail, two weeks ago) I have been reflecting a lot on how the general public must view what I do.  I really do think that a lot of people think my job is easy and hey, I get holidays and summers off (

Comments

[elissab]

Jess, I think that being a teacher is one of the most noble professions one can have, it is too bad that more people don't see it that way. How on earth that girl got through college now knowing some of that stuff is amazing, I am glad that you failed her and had the guts and courage to do so! I commend fully everything you do for your kids and wish there were more like you!

[gocougskaycee]

Sadly, it's not just the one you had to kick to the curb that has a skewed perception about things. Even some of the teachers in Josh's masters cohort had no idea of what went in to teaching. I would hate to see her in a place like Washoe County where we don't fund education appropriately at all. It just gets worse when things like paper aren't available, and both (12-year-old) copy machines break at once.

I estimate that we've invested upwards of 2,500.00 (which is huge since we live on a single income right now, and a teacher's salary at that) outfitting the kids in B-3 at Donner Springs Elementary (paper, pencils, scissors, everything). I had no idea that it would be like that, and Josh spends an average of 10 hours at school every day getting things done, and then brings stuff home. I had no idea it would be like that, but I can't imagine a person who's already at the point of student teaching not knowing things like this.

[raspberryliz]

My mom, husband, and many close friends are teachers, and it is astonishing to me how much time, money, and energy gets invested in it (if you're doing it the right way, that is!). I applaud you for taking on this noble profession - I think it is the hardest one there is. I was a teacher's assistant one summer in college and I lost 15 pounds that summer because I never had time to eat my lunch - I was too busy helping the kids poke straws through Capri Sun pouches, listening to kids talking, applying Band-Aids, you name it. It's exponentially harder, too, when the parents don't understand or appreciate how hard you work and consider you free day care for their child - I know from my mom and husband how maddening that is!

Thanks for all you do!!

[gigi_of_ca]

I loved that! I had to look him up because I could sense a style. It was interesting to find out that he is a slam poet -- hence what some are interpreting as "over the top." Thank you so much for sharing that. I think he articulated so much in so little time.

I definitely applaud you for taking on a very important career. We need caring teachers so very much. I'm glad you failed the student teacher. Maybe this isn't the profession for her.