Rant - During the Teacher's Strike

Well isn't it funny -- today I got called and asked to answer a survey about my post-secondary exploits. And one of the questions they asked me was what I do in my job as a TEACHER.

Like, holy crow, as if anyone can do that in one sentence:
- create and develop curriculum, unit & lesson plans for all subject areas
- teach all subject areas, including: Math, Science, English, French, Social Studies, Drama, Art, CAPP and Physical Education
- integrate learning activities to address tactile, auditory, visual and billion other types of learners
- do a zillion hours of marking every week (one of my my least favourite parts)
- use authentic assessment activities from a variety of sources; provide feedback to students and myself
- run an integrated Advisory program
- address all of my students' academic, social, and behavioural needs
- develop adapted and modified learning plans for students that are: Learning Disabled, ESL, Gifted, Emotionally Challenged, Physically Challenged, Behaviourally Challenged, Special Needs
- deal with conflict, racism, bullying, hormones, drug use, sexual actvity, child abuse & neglect
- communicate effectively with all parents regularly via email, telephone, interviews, formal and informal reports
- evaluate student performance in all academic, social & behavioural areas
- sit on several commitees that promote the academic, behavioural, or social development of students
- attend mandatory workshops on Professional Days to develop and improve my own skills
- give up lunch hours, break times, and after school time to volunteer to coach sports teams throughout the year, and sponsor clubs
- participate in the Intramurals program
- offer extra help and tutorials before and after school, as often as possible
- develop meaningful connections with students (that's my most favourite part actually)
- attend and coordinate school events and other functions that happen outside of regular school time
- act as a parent, counselor, arbitrator, mediator, disciplinarian, judge, jury, confidante, advocate.

I'm going to stop here. Making a list like this is frustrating because putting some of these items in point form, doesn't do justice to their scope. And if you're not a teacher, you might see similarities among points when in fact they don't overlap in the slightest. There's SO much involved with teaching that doing this job for a week wouldn't really give an accurate picture of what the school year is like.

It's the most difficult, challenging, at times demoralizing, frustrating, sad and scary job I have ever done. But it's also meaningful, inspiring, rewarding, joy-filled, pride-filled and the best experience I have ever had. I love going to school. I love working with kids, getting to know them as people and helping them succeed in even the smallest endeavors (which may or may not be academic).

Let's keep in mind though, that I have only been teaching for 5 years. Is it any wonder why teachers have a super high burn-out rate? Is it any wonder why so many new teachers leave the profession within the first 5 years? If you care enough about what you do, you put 200% into everything -- and the responsibilities never end, and there's always more you could be doing.

Yes, teachers are underpaid. I know we aren't the only ones. But nobody gets into teaching for the money. I don't really care that I spent 7 years in university, have worked 5 years in my chosen field, and only make 45 grand a year. I wish it was more, so that I didn't have to carry the huge debtload that I incurred after university. At the moment I am doing coursework to improve my position on the payscale. Yes, MORE education on top of my job. This is my first semester -- we'll see how it goes, hopefully I can avoid dropping out, quitting my job, or having a nervous breakdown.

But my working conditions? The students' learning conditions? That is just going too far. I don't give a flying fig about a pay raise if you put 10 more kids in my class. Having 30 teenagers in one room is more than enough for one person to handle, thankyouverymuch. There's only one of me!! The more students there are, the less I am able to help them. And they all need their own particular brand of help.

Plus, the more kids I get with special needs or learning disabilities, the more time I spend on them. Which would be great if I was TRAINED to help those kids. I'm not. I'm a generalist -- kinda like a jack of all trades. Master of none? I'd like to be Master of some, anyways. Other kids that need a little extra help can't get it if all my time is taken up dealing with a Special Needs student, explaining to an ESL student, or calming down a Severe Behavioural student. All those kids need to have support in order to succeed in the classroom! One teacher can't do it all!

Anyways, there's enough stress in the job of teaching that it's hard not to feel beaten down. Then, throw the media in there and a few ignorant people that make you feel like crap. Then, have the government try to take away everything you've fought for in order to make the best learning environment for kids, and a somewhat pleasant place to work.

And here we are today. A little part of me wants to quit, because this whole thing is such a kick in the teeth. But then I shake my head, and remember what we are fighting for. The best job I've ever had! I'm not settling for less than what we deserve -- we, as in the teachers, and the students.