Teaching is all-consuming, even at the subbing level; so many things to put into place to start a classroom on a good track. I suspect I am preaching to the choir here, but don't ever, ever fall for the line that teaching is an easy way to make some money, the 3-month vacation storyline included. I have learned to dismiss without argument those people who spout that falsehood. I know for a fact they have not spent a week or a month or a year in an elementary classroom either as a teacher, para-educator, or volunteer. Or they have no teacher who lives under the same roof. They can't have. The only thing that could change that tune would be to take on the job in any of those roles themselves. Even worse - those in power who speak in glowing terms of teachers as heroes and education as the motor that moves our democracy, but refuse to fund at the level that makes a difference, argue that classroom size has no effect, and establish the latest and greatest systems that require teacher buy-in, set up teachers to take the blame for failure of the systems to work, ignore solid research and teacher input, and change at the next whim of politics.
Off my soapbox. Thank you to my friend Claudia for sending me over to this lettering artist. Beautiful calligraphy. Enjoy.
3 comments
Well said!
I was just talking to Tom the other day about how hard you worked (work!) as a teacher... when I used to stay with you and Bob once in awhile, I'd be kicking up my feet and reading the newspaper while you'd be grading papers well into the night... it makes me so mad when people talk about how easy teachers have it -- "and THEN they get a pension that WE pay for." Someone I know well actually said that the other day and was surprised when that I got my back up. Anyway, now I'll get off MY soap box! Glad you liked the calligraphy site... I especially like the sound effects!
xox
"I know for a fact they have not spent a week or a month or a year in an elementary classroom either as a teacher, para-educator, or volunteer. Or they have no teacher who lives under the same roof."
Thank you as always, Roomie.
Am back to my new "day job" - retirement :)....reading, making art, blogging, walking, and enjoying the free evenings and weekends. Paid for by Washington State tax payers. (Umm...do not I, as consumer and stockholder, pay for pensions, by the way? And those CEO salaries and pensions?)
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