All Things Education

I only worked for you an entire semester. Sorry I wasn’t good enough.

Just because you’re 50 and you’ve “Put kids through school” doesn’t mean you know everything there is about teachers and teaching. Just because your child had a bad teacher doesn’t mean “there are more bad teachers than good in the system. Most teachers know how to use the system to protect themselves so they can enjoy the benefits.” Most of the teachers are in teaching because they love it. It’s parents like that that chase many good teachers away. Just because they don’t let your child skate by doesn’t mean they’re a bad teacher. It means they’re doing their job. Our job as teachers isn’t to pass your lazy student because they “deserve it” or because “That’s our job”. Our job is to teach them, not just the information in their textbooks, but also things like responsibility, work ethic, how to be prepared for the real world (not just college). It amazes me how many people think that because they went to school, they know how schools work, they know how to teach. I’ve been to the doctor’s office before, but does that mean I can be a nurse or a doctor? I’ve been to the vet before, does that mean I’m qualified to work on animals? I don’t tell engineers how to do their job, I don’t tell surgeons how they’re supposed to work, I don’t tell accountants how to do their job. So why do you think you can tell me how to do mine? Do you have a degree in education? Have you ever been in front of a class? Have you ever had to deal with work an hour or more after the end of your day, EVERY DAY? 

To people who complain about teachers “needless vacations” I ask you this: Do you spend your vacation time preparing for work after vacation? Do you spend your vacation taking classes because you have to to update your certificate (often on your own dime?)

Walk a mile in a teacher’s shoes before you call us lazy, overpaid, babysitters. Can you step in front of that class and present your lesson in a way that individually instructs each student, with accommodations for students with IEPs, extra content for students excelling, taking time to make sure that every student understands the material, while also checking for signs of abuse and neglect, keeping students from interfering with their classmates’ instruction, individually encouraging each and every student to achieve their full potential, prevent bullying (watch for signs of bullying), help each student plan for their future, address parent concerns (putting it mildly-very mildly), preparing each and every student for standardize testing, developing lessons that are relevant and current to each student, encouraging both group and individual work, teaching respect and responsibility (something that students SHOULD be learning at home….but that’s happening less and less), plan for extra curricular activities, make sure each student gets the individual attention they need.

I’ll stop there.  

I don’t know why this country does not value its teachers. I’d like to see how far this country could get with out them (well, no I wouldn’t, that would be frightening), yet we’re treated like the bottom of the barrel.  I’m glad you’re a doctor- and I appreciate the time and effort you put into that, it’s important, but tell me, how did you become a doctor? Did you study on your own? Teach yourself everything? Did you make it through 12 years of education, 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of your MD/PHD program, and 6+ years of job training on your own with not a single person instructing you? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Let’s face it- no one can get into their career with out teachers. No one. So no, it’s not “those who can’t: teach”  Just a little insight on the expectations of teachers:

I majored in instrumental music education. Now, many people would say it’s because I’m not good enough at my instrument to be a performer. Wrong. I have to be at the same performance level as every other musician in the school of music, but I ALSO have to be proficient at every other instrument. Every single one. How can you teach beginning band if you can’t teach the trumpet? We also have to take the same amount of music theory as other music majors (save for theory majors) and study conducting, vocal music, and piano. 

So tell me how we’re not able again?

I know I’m preaching to the choir, but seriously- how did we come to this???

I have a horrible suspicion that the secretary forgot to put my app in the box. I’m going to call first thing in the morning.

They didn’t return my call today. *sigh* I just don’t understand what what’s going on.

I don’t even know what I’ll do if the school doesn’t even want to give me an interview…

Just once I’d like something to go right….

a REALLY bad feeling about this…..

It’s literally making me sick to my stomach…

a friend of mine got called for an interview at the school I student taught at. They haven’t called me yet. I’m getting nervous. Really nervous. I hate this game.

But is it a good idea to resign like that? How much information would I have to give them? Not to mention I don’t want the other school to get the wrong impression if they find out I left another job right before school starts to work for them.

So much inner conflict…

The jr high offered me a position and I have till 3pm today to decide. Woof.

The other school I want to work at won’t even start calling for interviews till next week.  I know I have a pretty good shot there, but…

Part of me wants to just take the position, but part of me wants to take a leap of faith. 

I don’t know what to do.

I’ll probably start with short music theory lessons and stuff like that.  

Although I think I might wait till I move (if that’s in my near future) just so there are less distractions when I’m actually making the videos.

But be on the look out- They’ll probably start around mid- late August.

In the mean time, send me stuff you’d like to see —-> They don’t have to be limited to music! Send me anything, and I’ll see what I can do!

Going back tomorrow for number 4!

Woof. This is starting to get exhausting.

The school I want to teach at I found out that the office has been on vacation and won’t be back till next week.

Here’s hoping.

Going back tomorrow to play piano for them and for a 2nd interview. 

The only downside is I’m afraid they’ll offer (if they choose me) before A-O calls. And then I have to make the proverbial life or death decision…

The good news, I’m getting calls.

the bad news, I didn’t apply for either of these jobs, they’re not permanent positions, and the one lady sounded kinda angry on the phone.

I hope A-O calls tomorrow!!!  (It’s a long shot, I’m sure they aren’t going to start calling for a couple weeks.)