teachers- would you change districts?

fitmom82 · May 2014

I grew up in a middle-class suburban town, and assumed I would teach in a community similar. Unable to find a position, I accepted a middle school language arts job in an urban school. I had alot of classroom management issues, but over the 8 years it's gotten better, though far from perfect. I spend a great deal of time, effort, and energy on behavior and getting any kind of writhing out of the students. We are also constantly testing. Most of the material is boring, I would love to teach novels but we use an anthology covering a story a week. I have no freedom and I'm given a calendar of exactly what I should be doing everyday.

On the other hand, behavior problems are so great and testing is such a priority, teachers get away with alot. I never feel uncomfortable taking a day off or leaving at the bell. I'm not pressured to stay late, chaperone, ect. There are tons of opportunities to make extra money with tutoring and study groups if I wanted and I'm paid well. Because the students are so unmotivated grading doesn't take a huge amount of time and feedback is easy to give. I don't bring any work home. This year I'm lucky because I'm coteaching so we split all responsibilities, although that may not happen every year. When my children are school aged I get out early enough that I'll be able to pick them up.

I still search for jobs every year, but I'm starting to wonder if I should. I have 2 young children and my work/life balance is perfect. Ideally I"d like to get involved in writing for a textbook or some sort of curriculum for a business, something that would give me a break from classroom management all together and hopefully allow a little more flexibility.

Would you stay in a job where you're not too happy during the day, but have from 2:25 on to yourself to enjoy your kids, or find a new position in a school you may (or may not) be happier in but lose time with your own children and have to pay for after care?

cwm11985 · May 2014

Hmm thats tough. Speaking as a mom I would say to stay; it sounds super ideal for these years that you have young kids. Speaking as a teacher (I teach elem in a school totally opposite of what your's sounds like) I say to move on. It sounds so dull and uninspiring. I wouldn't be able to be the best teach I CAN be at your school; I need room for creativity for both myself and the students. I think to make your decision you have to decide how much you value being able to be a better teacher and enjoy the job more.

dglvrk2 · May 2014

Teaching an anthology with fidelity along with consistany battling behavior problems rooted in circumstances outside of school would make a job very difficult for me. I teach in an urban elementary school, but have a lot of freedom to teach what I want providing I meet CCSS. I also have a very supportive principal. I get a lot of personal fulfillment out of my job, even though the expectation to put in extra effort and time is often apparent. My advise: keep your CV up to date and look out for new work. Many districts are now hiring. Another job may have more challenges including longer hours, but also be more fulfilling.
In terms of better behavior....I find no socio economic group is without its challenges. Case in point, I visited a friend's school over my spring break to see if it would be a place I'd ever want to teach. It's a private school in a very wealthy community. Some of these kids demonstrated very challenging behaviors in the 90 minutes I was with them. Parents too can be hard to work with at higher SES schools. Just something to think about. GL!

fitmom82 · May 2014

Thanks, I know every school has its challenges which is why I'm hesitant to give up the freedom I have for a district I may not be any happier in. I've seen a few positions I'm interested in applying for which is making me second guess myself.

I also just want to make it clear I never said teachers get away with minimal effort, I actually said its exhausting. Just because we're not hounded to chaperone dances or tutor for free (we're actually expected to get the students to stay so that we can be paid to tutor them, which just results in us hounding them, them disrespecting us, us calling their parents, and 3 students staying for tutoring)

skibunny59 · May 2014

For the past 2 or 3 years I've been feeling sort of the same way. My situation is a little different than yours though. I teach in a very nice school district and I actually do have a lot of freedom to do what I want (I teach elementary school music) but I have become very bored and uninspired with what I do. I teach grades 1-5 classroom music and 4th and 5th grade band. I have become so tired of the classroom music and it seems that every year they give me more classes to teach and less prep time. I'm sorry now that I have DD I refuse to take work home. I really don't enjoy it anymore and I would love to find a position teaching just 4th and 5th grade band.

I'm hesitant to leave because, like you, I get out at 2:30. By the time DD is in school, I will be home in time to pick her up from her school. It would be impossible to find another elementary school job that gets out so early and I have no interest teaching middle school or high school. And my school district is very nice and the teachers I work with are awesome. Still, I've been at this school for 8 years and I just can't see myself staying at the same place until retirement. I need a change and it sounds like you do too.

yeah. · May 2014

You sound like you should get out of teaching entirely, honestly.

BlissfulBlessed · May 2014

amy052006 said:

yeah. said:
You sound like you should get out of teaching entirely, honestly.
Ditto. Kids deserve someone more committed -- whether they are middle class and suburban or poor and urban. And testing is going to be an issue anywhere, especially in a public school and especially if you are in the same state.

I do have friends who reach in private schools where the testing issues isn't as major, but there is a lot expected of them in terms of extras, and it doesn't seem like that would work for you either.

It doesn't make you a horrible person or anything, and you certainly can't control testing mandates. But all kids -- regardless of where they live or how much money they make -- deserve more from their teachers. If you aren't in a place to give it right now, yes you should move on.

This. Exactly.

XCrissCrossX · May 2014

This sounds perfect for you.

fitmom82 said:

Ideally I"d like to get involved in writing for a textbook or some sort of curriculum for a business.

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teachers- would you change districts?

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