Mar 16, 2006 4:27 PM
I recently met a woman who was surprised to hear me say that I had a “marvelous” job. “What do you do?” she inquired.
“I teach 2nd grade.”
“Oh, isn’t that great! That’s such a great job. You get to play with the kids. Your day ends at 3 o’clock and you have the summers off.”
“Not exactly,” I said, as I giggled to myself. “Boy, that’s an interesting picture of what teaching is like,” I thought.
But then I started to wonder how many people really think that that is an accurate picture of the life of a teacher. Too many, I decided.
So if you are one of those people who have an overly romantic view of teaching, let me tell you what it is really like.
Before the children arrive in school, many teachers are there getting their classrooms and materials ready for the day. Some teachers arrive a half-hour to an hour before the children. This before-school time is also used for meetings with parents and informal meetings with other teachers to discuss a child’s special needs. Also, some teachers belong to committees such as the School Leadership Team, the consultation committee, and the school cabinet. These committees usually meet before school, often more than once a month.
When the children arrive, it is not play time. The day is packed full of things that have to be done in a timely manner. The question is always how to get everything done in a way that allows every child to get the educational, emotional and social attention that he or she needs — and get the class to lunch, art, music, computer and gym on time.
In addition, there are the pull-outs for speech, English Language Learners, counseling, remedial reading and band practice that must be worked into the schedule so that every child gets what he or she needs, but doesn’t miss anything, either. Thrown into that mix is the need to keep track of the children who have to use the bathroom or see the nurse.
During the day, while the children are with a specialty teacher, the classroom teacher has a prep period. This time is very often devoted to checking homework, getting materials from the aides, dropping off materials to be duplicated, calls to parents, and planning with grade partners. There are also reports to be written and referrals to be made.
Oh, and did I mention bulletin boards and book-of-the-month projects? They have to get done, too.
After the end of the regular day at 2:40, there is the extended day which ends at 3:15. Then there is a replay of the before-school routine. Many teachers stay in school to get their rooms ready for the next day. Other teachers stay in school to supervise the club programs. And once a month we have a faculty meeting.
Even when a teacher leaves school at 3:30, 4 o’clock, 4:30 or 5, a teacher’s day doesn’t end. There are papers to be marked, tests to prepare and things to be bought at Staples or at a “teachers’ store.”
But it all ends at 2:40 on Friday, right? Wrong! The weekend is a very busy time for teachers. That is when most teachers do their lesson plans and homework contracts for the coming week. I would say that teachers spend from four to 10 hours each weekend in school-related activities.
Well, at least there are those winter, spring and summer vacations. Right, but many teachers spend a third to half their time off in school-related activities. There are report cards to prepare. There are courses to take, reading to be done, and long-term planning for the coming marking period or the coming year.
If you doubt the accuracy of this picture of a teacher’s life, just ask the significant others in teachers’ lives. Spouses, children, friends, and parents will all tell you the same story. Teachers are always busy being teachers! Being a teacher is a demanding, time-consuming profession. It’s not an 8:20 to 3:15 job!
And despite that, I would still say, “I have a marvelous job!” Because where else could you help shape the lives of our most important resource, our children?