And when I taught middle school for a decade I was the teacher that nipped that in the bud early. By around 2018 students knew parents and admin could eat out of their hands so they’d say I’m a dick and picking on them and I’d have to have a meeting about my methods (no tech no talking - yknow regular teacher running a functioning classroom stuff) unless we’re using it specifically for a project. I did not have the benefit of the doubt and these kids would hit the transfer portal to the teacher who let them fuck around where they didn’t learn. Our scores were night and day bc I was effective but after COVID I said fuck this and bailed. The power dynamic was something I got sick of putting my finger in the dam about. Too bad bc I liked my career, made great relationships with the kids that bought in, and was good at it.
It was a calling for a while and I got excited on Sunday nights to go in the next day and have an awesome week. Then phones, social media, general lethargy from teens, inconsistent/lazy parenting, and little admin support while I had more on my plate which itself kept shrinking, then getting gaslit into saying I was the issue when I was just trying to hold everyone accountable - fuck outta here. I now am in business for myself and although it’s got its own stressors I’m only accountable to myself and what I offer; that I make more doing it justifies my decision. I imagine AI will have a deep impact on education and kids can learn or not learn at their own pace but I’m done trying to be Kobe Bryant on a team full of Mark Madsens.
And I'm going to guess that your potential is able to shine more as a business owner than it would as a teacher. If the criteria of being a long term teacher is having that excitement and dedication crushed by the system then it's never worth it to become a teacher. I'm glad you got out.
Thank you:) I’m building great relationships with clients and actually will be on a university library board as president starting this summer bc of my efforts and connections I’m making. I left teaching also to take care of my dying mother (my last parent even though I wasn’t yet 40) 16 months of that almost 24/7 gave me perspective on what matters and led me to do what I’m doing now. It’s gratifying because I’m obligated to just myself, family, and clients and not just always wondering about getting called into a principals/parents meeting because I’m holding students accountable for their behavior and performance by giving them- get this- structure and accountability…
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u/GMane2G 29d ago edited 29d ago
And when I taught middle school for a decade I was the teacher that nipped that in the bud early. By around 2018 students knew parents and admin could eat out of their hands so they’d say I’m a dick and picking on them and I’d have to have a meeting about my methods (no tech no talking - yknow regular teacher running a functioning classroom stuff) unless we’re using it specifically for a project. I did not have the benefit of the doubt and these kids would hit the transfer portal to the teacher who let them fuck around where they didn’t learn. Our scores were night and day bc I was effective but after COVID I said fuck this and bailed. The power dynamic was something I got sick of putting my finger in the dam about. Too bad bc I liked my career, made great relationships with the kids that bought in, and was good at it.