December 16, 2007
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It’s a Sunday evening, and unlike others who I’ve heard complaints from (in regards to my teacherly schedule – you know, the three months ‘off’ and the long holiday ‘break’), I just finished up another hour or so of “work” known as grading. “Oh, you faculty,” I believe is what D___ said Friday night. I guess, from her point-of-view, it appears that we have schedules that are not complaint-worthy. But I chose this job, and she chose hers. If she wants a teacher’s schedule, she could have one. In fact, why aren’t more people teachers with our ‘easy’ schedules so noticeable by ‘all’?
THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER…
She also asks, “Do you really grade that last assignment?” Well, I do. I’m not going to generalize my colleagues into the same category. I do believe I kept quiet with her first moan (about us faculty), but I replied that I did grade that last assignment just as I have the other ones. In fact, I gave my online students longer than most to get that last project in and now have to delay my grading a bit to accommodate them.
I think I’ve gotten used to the rolling of the eyes when I explain that “yes, we’re on break, but I’m working on next semester’s classes.” I feel I need to mention (to back myself up by saying) I’ll spent at least 50%, or more, of my ‘break’ preparing for next semester. Sure, I get to clock those hours when I want to, but I’m still working. I want to be the best teacher, and I want each semester to run smoother than the last.
I mean no ill will to D___ by mentioning her in this entry; she’s a friend of mine, and I appreciate what she does for our campus too. Like I’ve said, if things are so ‘easy’ for us, why aren’t more people begging to be teachers?
Comments (4)
Sometimes people just have to walk a mile in the shoes before they understand.
ARGH. This makes me so mad too… teaching is such a demanding profession, and on top of that, we get paid poorly and treated poorly. Then, right when we’re exhausted, someone’s always there to demean us further by saying how “easy” it all is!
If it’s so easy, why do half of all teachers quit within five years? If it’s so easy, why don’t they get up and do it instead?
(And the “three months vacation” is a joke. I always spend half that time preparing, too, AND it’s unpaid time. We get paid for nine months of work, never get overtime, work most weekends, don’t get paid vacations, and can’t even choose when we’d like to take those vacations. Lucky us!)
Thanks for the comments.
Maybe I shouldn’t “just get used to” those types of comments, yet there’s a time & place to argue/take a stand. D___, I’m sure, didn’t mean any harm; she probably sees many teachers leaving before she does from campus. Whether they are going home to grade from couch or not, it probably gets to those 8to5-ers.
I should be honest that the lot you reply looks like true
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