First of all, this is a shout out to all of my teacher friends. Teachers are a special breed and I applaud them. Loudly.
I've decided that being a teacher is worse than Corporate America for several reasons:
- Not only do you have to teach, guide and mentor students, you have to do the same to their parents.
- There are more politics in schools than the average workplace.
- Germs. Vomit. And that sawdust-like stuff the janitor puts on the vomit.
- Unlike a regular job, you can't leave the premises for lunch. (Remember, lunch is a big deal in corporate America! See http://kate-offtheclock.blogspot.com/2010/06/great-lunch-dilemma.html for a refresher.)
- Balancing students, parents, fellow teachers and administrators is quite a juggling act. Plus, a teacher must be very tactful and patient, so that automatically rules out that profession for me.
Plus, it seems like teachers are always involved in very public salary disputes. Unlike Corporate America, where you don't get much of a say when it comes to salary. You get a pay cut. And that's the end of it. It doesn't become front page news like teachers' salaries seem to.
And then there is the issue of discipling kids and parents who don't like their kids being disciplined. (Isn't that an oxymoron?) I spent 3 hours in the Pre-K classroom last year and I was ready to smack some of those bratty kids into the next millennium.
I'm not saying I'd take a job in Corporate America over a job at a school. Those who really know me know that a P.E. teacher is pretty much my dream job! Yes, I'm serious. But, what I am starting to realize during this job searching journey is that there really isn't a perfect job. Although, blogging about it comes pretty close. Now, if I could just find a way to make this job pay...
2 comments:
Another disadvantage of being a teacher - say you have one too many cocktails somewhere and get behind the wheel. Johnny Law sees you swerve, pulls you over, you blow a .08, and you're off to jail.
We corporate types might get busted by the random busybody who reads the police blotter in the paper and we might have to come clean to our boss that we need to take PT for a court date.
Teachers have their name and mug shot printed in the paper and they lose their job the next morning.
Great blog today, Kate! You really would be a great Gym Teacher - I would like to do that too! Here in Oregon they are thinking of cutting the physical education program! Can you imagine your life without Gym Class? That is where I learned to love to win, sweat and especially beat the boys!
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