amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Momof6

iTrader: 4 / 100%

I'm in my fourth year teaching.

There are many great perks having my second income, but I have to be honest when I say that the drawbacks really are so much more than the perks.

I'm having to give up starting grad school so we can put the money I earn on debt this year rather than grad school. But honestly....grad school can wait.

School just started and it was too late to get out of my contract for this year (now would I have even tried because it would be really unprofessional and unfair to the students/families expecting me to teach them this year), however dh and I have talked and have a plan. I'm at a private school.

I'll try to get a part-time teaching position with our local public school where I'll make more in salary as I do working crazy hours at the private school where I currently teach more than full-time. (usually 10 hour days minimum....ugh)

If I can't get part-time, I'll consider a full-time position with the public school locally. I'd work only 8 hours a day and I'd make 2.5 times more than I make right now. Nearly 3 times more if you factor in benefits...which would allow us to easily afford to hire out some of the jobs that are not getting done at home and we can't afford to hire out on my private school salary.

Worst case, I'll sub teach.....gather my thoughts and see what comes up.

I have come to realize that what I am doing is not working and it is causing too much stress on our family. Why I'm working the hours of a public school administrator for pay that is nearly only 1/3 of what my peers who teach at our public schools with normal teacher hours....is beyond me....and also beyond my family....

What is funny (not ha ha....funny...but sad funny) is that I deal with worse behaviors at the private school than classroom teachers have at our public schools! Public schools have the resources to deal with behavior kids....but at the private school I teach at, there is nothing....and if it is a family that has "clout"....well, you just suck it up as a teacher.

So.....if I don't leave after this year, I'm afraid I'll leave the field of education totally and I don't want to get to that point becuase I do love teaching and am good at it. I am just at the wrong school.....

I hope posting this helps....I had to get that out.

Thanks everyone.

Michelle

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My blog:
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Sunflower_Momma

iTrader: 2 / 100%

so why are you teaching at a private school where you have to work more hours for less pay than public in the first place?

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Jonathan
Louisburg Cider Mill
October 2009

"Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?
Jesus said until him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And, the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments have all the law and the prophets."

Matthew 22:36-40

Robin

iTrader: 14 / 100%

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Robin wife to one awesome guy for 19 years,
mama to four beautiful boys

A Little Bit Country

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boodamama

iTrader: 10 / 100%

Michelle -I taught in a private school for a few years and ended up leaving because the money was so bad. The place I taught was wonderful so that made it a bit harder to leave but really I couldn't stay making so little money. Teaching really is so demanding.

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Momof6

iTrader: 4 / 100%

lol....great question! Let me think and process outloud...which is better for me than for the actual response in itself.

Couple reasons....beyond the fact that our hours have increased even more this year and we did not see it coming. (private schools do that)

1. I did not want to have a long commute to a surrounding rural or reservation school and the local public school is very difficult to get into. (as compared to the surrounding schools that are either small/rural or on the reservation....and have a commute which in Wyoming is risky in the winter...I've done that and it was rough) My private school position is less than 4 minutes drive from my house.....love that part of working there. (and our youngest child is in what we think will be his last year there...so it is nice for us to be at the same school even though I don't see him a lot during the day due to the grade differences)

2. The amazing thing about teaching at a private school (beyond being able to teach my faith) is that we don't have the scripted lesson plans that many public schools have moved into. Teachers at private schools still get to use the art and science of teaching to really teach....we are free to do what we were trained to do. (and our public school peers are having more and more of this taken away and are handed scripted lesson plans. That is the largest negative of teaching at a public school, but it does not hit special ed as much and I'm also certified to teach that K-12)

Most importantly at the time of taking the position is that I do believe that this is where I needed to be at that time. (this was 2008 year) I put a great deal of prayer into my decisions and I can't explain this w/out possibly looking a bit wacky but I do honestly know when a life change is needed or on its way. I'll spend a great deal of time contemplating it to be sure I'm not reacting or being emotional. I guess I'm moving into that time......along with processing things logically and with my husband, of course. lol

My son is in his last year there (at private school) and that had something to do with me going back for another year....as did moving out of the kindergarten to second grade which is an amazing grade to teach and will hopefully help in future job interviews. (now all my experience is not at the youngest grade level!! Yeah!) Maybe I should have pushed for a local public school job, but honestly it was not the time. I do know that....but the extra hours suddenly placed on me this year really do stink and I can't help but complain a bit about it. ( not the most productive thing to do....lol....but necessary at times)

However, this is the time (meaning after this school year ends and I honor my contract) to move into.....what.....I'm not sure yet, but I do know from past experience in my life that it is time and something great will be waiting for me. Maybe a time of rest, growth, or back to volunteering like I use to do combined with some part-time work....or something new?!? I suppose it comes down a lot to my faith that while I'm under some stress now and am giving up a couple things short term..... there is indeed a reason and time for change and I know it is coming (change) and I'll see the reason eventually. Seems like life has been that way for me the past 4-5 years since I started what I see as walking closely with God. (for no words can explain that; or do justice in making what I know within myself ....making that "knowing" be clear to those who read this)

Then again, being human and all......I can get into the "worry" cycle of thought and the "what if" cycle of thought which seems to occupy future issues rather than present ones. Something I work on not doing, but yet can't help but sometimes do. lol

Thanks for asking your simple question.....and bring out my helpful (on a self-level) dialogue/response.

Momof6

iTrader: 4 / 100%

Hi Robin.....I think of you often, you know.

In a nutshell...a season of change coming and I'm taking steps and trying to follow and discern the path/way I need to do, KWIM? ( I know you do know what I mean)

thanks for the hug.

Michelle

Momof6

iTrader: 4 / 100%

Yes...very true. The other staff where I teach are amazing, probably much like you also enjoyed when you were at a private school...I just don't see the cattyness or problems that I saw in the public school I use to work at (in a different town). I think a lot of it has to do with our unity of faith and how that is the foundation where I teach. Most of the other full-time teachers have grown children, are single by choice, are nuns, or some other place in life that allows the crazy long work hours since this is their current focus in life. True also....about teaching being so demanding.

Did you move into a public setting? Can I ask that? (I guess I just did....but you don't have to answer) It does help to hear from another who has been there, KWIM?

Thanks for the response. Time for me to go to sleep.

boodamama

iTrader: 10 / 100%

I actually left teaching and have been working for the Department of Environmental Protection in my State. I looked very hard for a public school job but just couldn't get my foot in the door (not even an interview and I sent out hundred of resumes). On a whim I applied for this job and got it-my salary tripled and it was the right move for me. I love where I am and the people I work with but I do miss teaching and think about going back for my masters.

I am like you, I also loved the freedom to teach I was given in the private school but it was a lot of extra prep time. I hope everything work out for you and this year isn't too trying.

Momof6

iTrader: 4 / 100%

I am not going to rule out working outside of the teaching field. I feel like I need to look...but I also think I am limited in what I am qualified for. (beyond my studies related to my B.S. in Ed) My mind is open to possibilities after this school year.

Yes, it is a lot of extra prep time. My school is a very poor private school (most are, I think?) and so I'm combining three different partial math programs and two different partial reading programs. It takes a bit of time. My Science and Social Studies are either partial or totally not there, so I bring that in on my own based on state standards. We will also have specials teachers not show up and we are not given notice. On Friday, after the Latin teacher was a few minutes late (and our intercom system is not working), I sent a student down to the office with a note asking about the Latin class and he came back with a response that the teacher was not coming that day....so I had 40 minutes of planning time evaporate and 40 minutes time that I had to figure out what to do with a room full of 7 and 8 year olds. We managed fine, but I was a bit miffed about it.

I am glad you found something you love. I suppose, even if you never return to teaching, you'll think about it now and again and contemplate a return. Sometimes I think teaching is a love/hate relationship. Love the students and teaching them....but hate everything else...and the "everything else" seems to be increasing at both private and public schools.

My local public school district is tough to get into also. I hear it is based on who you know. So this year, I'm going to play the social game (which I don't like and try to avoid) and make as many connections as I can. I may be fighting an uphill battle because the current (but at retirement) personnel manager at the local public school district is the one who has all the power re: who gets an interview...and she and I served on a board of directors together and she did not like me. Sooooooo......it will be interesting to see what I do in the next couple of years.

Thanks for talking about this a bit with me. I just hope to make it through this year focused on the students as much as possible. (and the things I do love about that school)

Michelle