Question of the Week Archives

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CT
This is not your mothers school. We get kids who can't speak English, who can't sit still, who won't do what they're told because nobody ever made them, who are here because their parents need babysitters, and whose parents think whatever the kids want to do is OK and whatever the teacher says is a lie - all in the same classroom. They also hunger to learn, even when their own bodies and classmates distract them. I welcome the public to come try teaching for just an hour - I have always observed that guest speakers come away with new respect for the profession.

Sue Podoll - Rapid City, SD
What I think is so difficult for the general public to understand is the make-up of the 'modern' classroom. The diversity in today's schools is phenomenal. Teachers must adapt and adjust to variety of factors and influences well beyond their individual control. The levels of support for students and faculty is 'hit and miss' in many of our classrooms. Student ability and aptitude, not to mention attitude, range well beyond the general labels of NCLB. The same can be said of educational leadership. I'm thankful to have a building leadership team and colleagues that know the importance of a supportive learning and working environment in order to best serve our students.

Terri - Port Orchard, WA
The most difficult thing, for me, is helping my parents to understand that I am not only a teacher, but I am also a parent, friend, counselor, advocate,disciplinarian, and role model, for all 145 of my students every school day.

Sharon - Big Bear Lake, CA
Those on the "outside" that find it easy to criticize that teachers have an easy schedule, too much pay/benefits, 9-3 work hours...etc., all I ask is that they come in and spend 1 month (not a day or even a week) in my Kindergarten classroom and they would leave wondering : Why did you get a "pink slip"? I can't believe you are at school from 7am-5pm everyday? When are your coffee breaks? And you have how long for lunch? Why aren't you paid more? Why are you doing this job? And they would never return. We teachers know we don't have it easy but how do we get the public to understand all that we do? They don't care that we are preparing the next generation to read, write, and function amongst them when they are older. All they care about is that they think we are overpaid and we should have 40 kids in our classrooms...unless it is their own child's classroom, of course.

NC
Many people seem to think that because they have been in a classroom as a student they know what we teachers do. Some parents think because they have a child in my class that they could handle it. There is a world of difference between handling one or two children and a class of 25.

Helen - no, no
How hard we work at home too. Many people think we stop worrying, caring or working when we leave the school. The truth is we do a lot of planning, meetings, evaluation tools, paper checking and lesson planning from our homes.

S.J. Warden - Elizabeth City, NC
I think the most difficult things for the public to understand about our jobs is the time that it takes, and the challenges it presents. The public sees "summers off" and "getting out before 5:00 or 6:00." However, what they do not realize are the hours given to planning, meeting, grading, tutoring, etc. that are most often times given without pay. I think that many people remember their experiences in school, and although they may be grateful to past teachers and remember many with fondness, they do not remember the teacher as she dragged home much later than they with papers in tow to grade. They did not witness the preparation that went into those lessons that were presented. They fail to realize that the "summers" are for gearing up for the new year and often attending workshops or planning sessions to refine subject matter or to improve school procedures. Many remember the teacher "giving" the work and the student "doing" the work. Teachers and schools need to do a little better marketing job on themselves. We need to help the public see us as equal workers who have a passion for the career we chose. The public needs to see us as they see other career people, just much more underpaid!!

Elaine - St. Louis, MO
I think it's very hard for the public to understand what is most difficult about my job. I became a teacher (and now counselor) because I love kids - from kindergarten through 12th grade. Many of the public love their own kids but the thought of spending hours each day with someone else's kids may drive them crazy. So, it may be hard for them to understand that the seemingly useless paperwork that keeps me from preparing great, interactive lessons for my students (and sometimes prevents me from being with students who need counseling) is a problem. Many of the 'public' would rather do the paperwork than teach Johnny and Susie yet again how to add, read, etc.

Leslie Snow - Saint Paul, MN
I don't think they appreciate the energy and patience that it takes to work with over forty students in a classroom built for 30. I make literally thousands of decisions a day on my feet, and then have to take home work to grade for approximately 180-200 students per day. I have spent up to 8 hours per weekend in coffee shops or libraries reading and responding to student essays/papers. That's just the tip of the iceberg, when you consider how many students are coming to school, tired, hungry, and unable to concentrate well on what they are supposed to learn. Urban classrooms should just not be this stressful due to the sizes of the classes. I fear for the future of our profession, because so many young people are leaving before they have really had a chance to become master teachers.