tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post5993687616723306020..comments2023-04-24T23:09:57.655-04:00Comments on All Things Education: It's the substance & the stress (not the salary), stupid.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-37992623593013009392012-02-06T18:28:58.487-05:002012-02-06T18:28:58.487-05:00Thanks for this post, Rachel!
As I look for teac...Thanks for this post, Rachel! <br /><br />As I look for teaching positions and research various districts in DC, I am surprised and dismayed to find that the spiritual and intellectual challenges that drew me to teaching in the first place are being squeezed out in favor of accountability. One district even requires teachers to give a standardized test every 6 weeks on a bundle of the CCSS. I could handle a common assessment a few times a semester to keep members of my department on the same page regarding rigor, but these assessments aren't even created by teachers. They are imported from an assessment consulting firm--whatever that means. I don't get it. Ed reformers want to recruit highly qualified teachers but then don't trust these teachers to teach! What gives?<br /><br />I wholeheartedly agree that those who enter our profession are not motivated by salary alone. Are teachers not the most intrinsically motivated people on the planet? It is the work that gets us out of bed in the morning, not the paycheck. It is the kids and the content and the magic that happens when our students discover for themselves the things we have been studying our whole lives. I would never trade the heart and soul of teaching for more money; I would simply find a new job.<br /><br />Looks like I have my work cut out for me as I continue in the job search.@KellyDillon1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-43975160430709868572011-12-13T13:17:48.264-05:002011-12-13T13:17:48.264-05:00Thanks so much, Eillen. I'm glad you made your...Thanks so much, Eillen. I'm glad you made your way here, too. And I share your fears.Rachel Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06844728669493681943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-55001562166124170772011-12-13T12:56:19.464-05:002011-12-13T12:56:19.464-05:00I'm so glad I found my way to this blog! It...I'm so glad I found my way to this blog! It's always nice finding like-minded teachers. I also left the classroom after 8 years to be a stay-at-home mom for awhile. This is the first year that I am not teaching and I honestly miss it so much. <br /><br />I really want to get back into the classroom next year, but I'm afraid that I won't be able to find a school that allows me to work to my full potential. It seems like every summer I would use my time to develop great units of study and try to fine tune my craft, only to be blindsided by last minute changes and newly mandated curricula and schedules. Somehow I need to find a subversive principal that will allow me to be creative and inspirational.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08394926110270004846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-31555034570283332622011-11-28T22:42:11.455-05:002011-11-28T22:42:11.455-05:00I came to public school teaching late, as it happe...I came to public school teaching late, as it happens after 10+ years working with computers. Now in my 17th year and approaching my 66th birthday, I give serious thought to leaving the classroom after this year. we don't have children of our own, so I have been able to put in the 50-60 hour weeks of teaching, planning, mentoring, and all the (largely unpaid) writing I do on education, etc. <br /><br />This year I have no bad kids. I wonder if that is the sign that this should be how I go out? Also, I see education and teaching very much at risk, and have to wonder if I do not have a responsibility to focus my time and energy to try to prevent what could be a disaster. <br /><br />I talk with other teachers in my building (I am lead union rep) and in other buildings and the frustration of being the whipping boys for politicians, for those who seek to profit from the public purse, contribute to many also considering leaving. Increasingly senior teachers who have stayed when they could have retired are leaving as soon as they are offered a buyout. I know such buyouts make some FINANCIAL sense for the school system, and they often do for the teachers as well - which is why I may myself take one. But a building can quickly lose much of its expertise, community memory, etc. We lost 7 senior teachers last year to buyouts. The school is noticeably different as a result.<br /><br />I think the problems will not change until the voices of teachers are much more a part of the discussion on policy, not merely through what we write electronically, but also sitting at the table when the decisions are being structured.teacherkenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225551101423123044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-38920822450850872242011-11-28T22:25:10.848-05:002011-11-28T22:25:10.848-05:00I love *Hooray for Diffendoofer Day* It's one ...I love *Hooray for Diffendoofer Day* It's one of my favorite books.Rachel Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06844728669493681943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-84998453416574743142011-11-28T22:24:17.377-05:002011-11-28T22:24:17.377-05:00Thanks for the quote, Rachel--and for writing a po...Thanks for the quote, Rachel--and for writing a powerful piece on what teachers really want.<br /><br />I don't think there's a better model for what motivates candidates to pursue teaching than Daniel Pink's: autonomy, mastery and purpose. Think of what we know about teachers in Finland, who have all three (plus higher social status). <br /><br />Now think of how ed-policy is re-shaping teaching. Scripted curricula. Elevation of unprepared teachers and their personal "grit" over fully prepared and certified teachers. Suggesting that teachers' true purpose can be altered by offering them more money. There go autonomy, mastery and purpose, down for the count.<br /><br />Great piece. Will share, widely.Nancy Flanaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00047575960944913289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-66016244902689169792011-11-28T22:22:42.336-05:002011-11-28T22:22:42.336-05:00Oh. -- oh. We could start our own school. We could...Oh. -- oh. We could start our own school. We could call it The Diffendoofer School. It'd be awesome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-30342264741865150662011-11-25T09:30:17.565-05:002011-11-25T09:30:17.565-05:00@ Anon 11:33 Thank you so much for taking the tim...@ Anon 11:33 Thank you so much for taking the time to compose such a thoughtful & inspiring comment (& for your service!) I hope you stay in the classroom for a long time to come.Rachel Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06844728669493681943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-72994646987138589132011-11-23T23:33:40.540-05:002011-11-23T23:33:40.540-05:00Thank you Rachel for your blog entry. Seven years ...Thank you Rachel for your blog entry. Seven years ago I made the decision to leave my career as a software engineer and become a teacher. After about 20-some years, I had lost motivation for programming. I just couldn't force myself to do the work that I was being paid to do. Plus, I was laid off three times. But the last straw was the software company hiring a new vice-president and giving her a one million dollar interest-free loan, while at the same time laying off engineers. <br /><br />I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, so I did a lot of "inventory" work. A friend finally suggested I write down all the things I love doing in life. I did that. Tubing down rivers, working with children, testing software, photography, etc. I then analyzed those 20 things and decided that the one that I could make a living with was working with children. I wasn't sure if that was directly working with them, or indirectly. Should I work for one of the many fine non-profits that do wonderful work FOR children, or should I work with children. I decided also that I wanted to make more of a difference in life than I had been as an engineer. The only difference I was making there was giving the higher-ups more money. <br /><br />I then found a program at the Univ. of MD where I could get my Masters in Education in a year, provided that was the only thing I did. I took 42 college credits that year, and student-taught at a large HS in this area. Needless to say, it was a very busy year! <br /><br />I am now certified in three areas: math, computer science, and technology education (took the PRAXIS test to get that one). The funny thing is, I am now teaching what I had lost motivation to do: programming. I teach a HS class for Writing Mobile Apps! Plus I teach three Honors classes in math. It's a great school (ranked #1 in MD). <br /><br />Did I make the right decision? It's exhausting. It's frustrating at times. It's extremely challenging. But there's nothing that could match the relationships I have formed with the kids. I work with about 135 kids a day now, rather than sit in front of a computer screen all day long. I have responsibility for finding ways to teach all these kids. <br /><br />In the end, it comes down to, I have become a contributing member of my community. I couldn't ask for anything more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-74326969561800787962011-11-23T17:52:22.474-05:002011-11-23T17:52:22.474-05:00@Janet - I would looove to teach abroad. My plan d...@Janet - I would looove to teach abroad. My plan during grad school was to do just that and then I met my now husband and instead of going to Turkey, I went to Central Virginia, got married, had kids, bought a house. . . But perhaps when the kids are older. Thanks for reading & commenting. I look forward to checking out your blog.<br /><br />@Gretta - Thank you for reading & commenting. It seems like in education there is part-time or less intense work that is less meaningful or there is full time work that is more appealing but also much more time. I will let you know what happens, though I fear I may not have time to blog or write anymore after that.Rachel Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06844728669493681943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-15316973199534231222011-11-23T16:34:40.890-05:002011-11-23T16:34:40.890-05:00Here here!!!!!!
Thank you for writing this!
I too ...Here here!!!!!!<br />Thank you for writing this!<br />I too am a former history teacher and miss the classroom so badly. I am currently in a "mindless" job that allows me to be the parent I couldn't be while teaching. The most important thing I did in the classroom was build relationships with my students and create a safe environment for them to take risks and express themselves. That is what I miss. What I don't miss is data meetings during my planning time, being guilted into working 60 hour weeks and falling asleep every night at 7:30 with papers left to grade.<br />I wish you luck in finding a job where you don't have to compromise your principals or the balance of your sweet family. If you find this kind of job as a teacher (in the U.S.A) please let me know!!!Grettahttp://dharmaandgretta.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-65022208169596334002011-11-23T15:28:38.118-05:002011-11-23T15:28:38.118-05:00You might consider teaching overseas. We're no...You might consider teaching overseas. We're not tied to standardized test scores, class sizes are usually reasonable, and the housing comes as part of the deal (so you can keep your current house). Parents tend to treat teachers with more respect (especially in Asia where it is a cultural expectation), and you'll probably have specialists to teach art, PE, and a foreign language. So, you'll get bathroom breaks too. <br /><br />I love teaching overseas because I spend my time planning, instructing, assessing, reflecting, and communicating with parent. Really.Janet | expateducator.comhttp://expateducator.comnoreply@blogger.com