| Now, let's get things clear and on the open right | | | | problems, or just like to pull your chain, you will |
| from the start. Teaching is an extremely noble | | | | always have a few students that make you sigh |
| and challenging career. In fact, in its purest form, | | | | with a combination of exhaustion and relief at the |
| teaching in possibly the most rewarding and | | | | end of the day. |
| socially relevant vocation any human being can | | | | Teaching is also one of the few careers in which |
| undertake, other than being a mother. So, if you | | | | you are guaranteed homework. Lesson planning, |
| are a teacher who thrives on the daily challenges | | | | researching resources, creating assessments, |
| of pedagogy and simply cannot stand the thought | | | | grading papers, contacting parents, these are just |
| of being anything other than a classroom teacher, | | | | a few of the things teachers must do, which do |
| then STOP reading this article right now, it will | | | | not fit into the traditional 8:00am-3:00pm schedule. |
| more than likely upset and offend you. While it is | | | | For the truly dedicated teacher, summer months |
| not my intention to ruffle any feathers, it must | | | | (which so many think are a teacher's hiatus) are |
| be admitted that a teacher's salary is an | | | | actually spent researching, prepping, and planning. |
| oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. The average | | | | As if that weren't enough, I am about to tell you |
| salary of a teacher is a joke, to say the least. | | | | one of the most uncomfortable aspects of being |
| Not only that, but the present state of affairs | | | | a teacher. A teacher cannot take a bathroom |
| can, in some locations and under certain | | | | break simply because he needs one. See, |
| circumstances, make teaching dangerous and | | | | teachers are basically imprisoned in their |
| overly stressful. So, should you just quit teaching? | | | | classrooms until their free time. After all, children |
| I'll share with you why I did. | | | | cannot be left alone, can they? So, something as |
| The Good, the Bad, and the . . . Well, you get the | | | | basic as going to the restroom is controlled, not |
| picture! | | | | by bodily needs, but by a set schedule. |
| I LOVE teaching! This statement might surprise | | | | My WHY |
| you after all I've said so far, but it's the truth. I | | | | Why did I REALLY decide to quit teaching? Well, |
| really love teaching. In fact I cannot see myself | | | | my WHYs have names and last names, arms, |
| as anything other than a teacher. Everything I do, | | | | legs, eyes, and they call me "mom." My two |
| I approach from a teacher's perspective. Even | | | | daughters were the real reason I decided to quit. |
| raising my girls, I do with a teacher's heart and | | | | You see, it was bad enough having to pay |
| mind. I really enjoy the type of interaction and | | | | someone else to care for my kids while I was |
| closeness that being a teacher allows you to have | | | | getting paid to care for other people's kids (it |
| with your students, regardless of their age. It is | | | | seemed almost ridiculous). But, that wasn't the |
| also a very exhilarating feeling when you run into | | | | REAL reason. |
| former students after a few years have passed | | | | My husband and I were both working multiple jobs |
| and they share with you how they still think of | | | | just to make ends meet. We were living |
| you with love and admiration and how you | | | | paycheck to paycheck, many times having to |
| positively impacted their lives. | | | | choose which bills to pay and which to keep on |
| Perhaps the most exciting part of teaching is | | | | hold until the next pay period. We hardly had time |
| knowing that you are in a position to help | | | | or energy to really enjoy each other or our girls. |
| someone who would otherwise go unprotected, | | | | But, that wasn't the REAL reason. The REAL |
| unloved, and even abused. Seeing a teenager's | | | | reason was having to figure out what to answer |
| face light up when they hear for the first time | | | | my oldest daughter (who was three years-old at |
| that someone believes in them and that they | | | | the time) when she asked me why I was always |
| CAN do whatever they decide to do . . . Well, it | | | | sad. See, I was using up all of my energy and |
| really is an indescribably feeling. | | | | self-control in the classroom. Every last bit of joy |
| When all of that is considered, there really IS no | | | | I had was slowly drained out of me as the day |
| profession like teaching. In fact, these rewards | | | | progressed. I had to dig for every single resource |
| are so strong that they have kept generation | | | | I had to keep on smiling and being in control while |
| after generation of new teachers emerging and | | | | in the presence of my students. As a result, my |
| joining the ranks. Most truly believing that they will | | | | own girls were left with nothing but the scraps. It |
| change the world. And, in their own way, they do. | | | | just wasn't fair to THEM. THAT is the REAL |
| So far teaching sounds perfect, right? Well, here | | | | reason I decided to quit teaching. |
| comes the ugly. A teacher's salary is only one | | | | The Solution |
| aspect that makes being a classroom teacher less | | | | So, I did my due diligence. Spent over a year |
| than desirable. See, starting salaries for teachers | | | | researching and looking for alternatives. I tried |
| vary by region, and in the United States can be | | | | cake decorating, tutoring, party planning, and |
| as high as $45,000 a year. Now, this is by no | | | | many other alternatives to reinvent myself. But |
| means peanuts. However, anyone who pays a | | | | my "why" was still not satisfied. Finally, I found out |
| mortgage, owns a car, and has to buy groceries | | | | that work at home moms (and teachers) do |
| and pay utilities can tell you that average teacher | | | | exist. I put on my entrepreneurial hat, and found |
| salaries are not enough to live comfortably, let | | | | that teachers make great business owners. I |
| alone putting kids through college or building a | | | | buckled down, became the student for a while, |
| proper retirement fund. | | | | and started on a wonderful journey to give my |
| Money isn't everything, though. It is really stressful | | | | daughters their mom back! Now, I have a home |
| and draining to have 30 sets of eyes constantly | | | | business which allows me the freedom to set my |
| starring at you, expecting you to have all the | | | | own schedule and receive true compensation for |
| answers. While the truth is that most students | | | | my efforts. I have full control of my time, and |
| are very well behaved, and that the teacher is | | | | my life. That is why I quit teaching. Not because |
| the one who has to set the proper learning | | | | of a teacher's salary, but because of a teacher's |
| environment, there are always a few special | | | | broken heart. Should you quit too? Now, that |
| students who require every ounce of restraint on | | | | depends on your WHY. |
| your part. Whether they have real emotional | | | | |