After being interviewed by the school administration, the eager teaching prospect said "Let me see if I've got this right .
"You want me to go into that room with all those kids,
and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning.
And I'm supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their T-shirt messages and dress habits.
You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self esteem.
You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, fair play, how to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job.
I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of anti-social behavior, make sure all students pass the mandatory state exams even those who don't come to school regularly or complete any of their assignments.
Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps get an equal education regardless of the extent of their mental or physical handicap.
And I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, newsletter and report card
All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, a big smile AND on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps!
You want me to do all of this and yet you expect me -------- NOT TO PRAY???
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
Looks like I picked a good day to make a return visit to TF. At least the H.S. I moved to has 450 students in a rural community -vs- Ghettoville H.S. w/2,000 students. I made the right move but I sure have put more miles on my '05 ZX3 than planned and I can't keep her immaculately clean, like I was used to. Hope things are going well for you this school year. Almost holiday time, YEAH!!!
Growing up I always thought only the students got excited for breaks
Then I started talking to teachers, without being their 8 year old student, and I realized that's not exactly the case! My college roommate's mom is an elem. teacher, and she'll call Ivy on like Monday afternoon before Christmas, or whenever and be like "I'm on VacAAAAAAAAATION!" it's sooo funny, because her daughter's voice does the exact same thing when it applies to her too.
I think most teachers, psychologically set their school year clock when school begins and most have a way of expending their emotional, mental and physical energies, with the school year calendar. Teachers deal with so many people (students, administrators, diagnosticians, parents, etc.) you just get more mentally burned out than physically but it all takes its toll. Do you concur Mr.V?
I taught for 15 years, then quit & owned a business for about 15 years. I've since returned to teaching. While in business, I was kind of surprised at how leisurely the pace of the work was compared to teaching. Although teachers have a short year, the pace is 100 + mph all the time. I arrived at work at 6:20 AM today. I'm taking a break for dinner right now. When I finish, I have 2 more hours of paperwork, got to go to the drugstore to buy 2 locks for students who need them. I also have to make 5 phone calls to parents before bed tonight.
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
Boy does our country have its priorities F'd or what. Teachers serve our country as civil servants and all the politician's do is keep getting richer.
I appreciate how you serve our country Mr.V
Most people don't have a clue or the time to think about it. If they really took the time to think about the natural resource of our country we deal with (our students/their children) and look at the public school teacher's salary, an intelligent person would say, boy is the education system broken in the U.S.A. We'll see where we're at in 10 years. Have a good Thanksgiving Bro'
JTex wrote: Boy does our country have its priorities F'd or what. Teachers serve our country as civil servants and all the politician's do is keep getting richer.
Sooooo true. I mean when politicians accomplish things they can sometimes help out, but so often it's just a lot of butt-kissing and padding pockets and stuff.
Meanwhile, teachers are trying to educate the youth, make something of our future, maybe in a small way elicit change in the way things are done, to make the region/country/world a bit of a better place.
All while being drastically underpaid (more often than not) and having to put up with all kinds of stressors and responsibilities. It's gotta be tough, but rewarding when it works out. My hat's off to all you guys.
The rewards are not financial but when a former student returns that has made it, is the reward. That student doesn't necessarily have to made it big but just accomplishing more than expected, works also. You have to find the non tanglible benefits or you would burn out fast or not really care and kids can see through that indifferent attitude.
Thanks lil. 
