grass is always greener

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Home : 2003 : January : 9

grass is always greener
By Maria

Hopefully a word of encouragement - I taught for two years and quit because I had enough of the bureaucracy, paperwork, lack of appreciation, etc of teaching.

Once out in the regular business world I realize now that:

1.
Teachers are way more autonomous than they think. Sure, there are district guidelines and rules you have to follow, but you make a lot of decisions by yourself, without having to ask a supervisor if it is okay. I really, really miss that.
2. Teachers are not the only people who work more than what they are "supposed to." We always heard that teachers have it so easy, work 8 - 3,

and get to go home, but know it isn't true because of grading papers, planning, etc. I am now working plenty of hours past the 9-5, which I really though was only something teachers had to do. Wrong!!

3. In teaching you don't have to deal as much with office politics and sexual harrassment issues. There is a level of respect that teachers have for each other that I haven't seen in the "business world."

4. Vacation - you get lots of breaks. Period.

I come to these message boards, the Vent ones in particular, to remind myself why I got out of teaching, because I miss it. I miss the kids and the surprises of school days. I miss the unpredictability, not knowing what to expect next.