CHUD.com Community › Forums › THE CHEWERS › The Chewers Catch-All › Time for a change
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Time for a change

post #1 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:18pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I took the leap and put in some applications for some teaching jobs here in Orlando.

Now, before Devin comes in gleefully pointing, let me say that this is not because I've suddenly agreed with him about my "shitty, demeaning job." I still really enjoy what I do -- when upper management actually gives me the chance and the tools to do it. Long story short, lots of penny-pinching, petty micro-management bullshit that takes away the enjoyment I get from the staff and guests I work with. And with the pending buy-out by GE/NBC, there's a definite feeling in the air that something is coming down the pike, and I guess I'm just trying to make sure my ass is covered in case the ax falls my way.

Plus the fact that my car is on its last legs, needing more in repairs than what it's worth, with me owing more than what it's worth, and it seems like something a little more stable might not be a bad idea -- the school system isn't going to be bought out by any corporate giants any time soon.

So with a perfectly good bachelor's degree in English moldering away as nothing more than a receipt that I went to college, I got myself into the application process for the Orange County Public School system. Doesn't mean I've actually been pegged for anything yet, but I'm in the system, and with all the school building going on down here, they need teachers pretty badly.

And I think it's finally become something I want to do. I've always said that teaching is something that you should do because you really want to, not because it's a better-paying job -- the future of a bunch of kids shouldn't depend on a guy looking to cash a check. Lately I've felt like I need to leave some kind of mark, to make some kind of difference. I guess being 34, unmarried, with no children can do that to you.

So anyway, here goes nothing. Wish me luck.
Reply
post #2 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:25pm
Good luck, Richard.
Reply
post #3 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:29pm
And I think it's finally become something I want to do. I've always said that teaching is something that you should do because you really want to, not because it's a better-paying job -- the future of a bunch of kids shouldn't depend on a guy looking to cash a check. Lately I've felt like I need to leave some kind of mark, to make some kind of difference.

Herein lies the magic words. Best of luck to you, Richard.
Reply
post #4 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:29pm
Best of luck, Richard, not that I think you'll need it.

I have great faith in you.
Reply
post #5 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:30pm
I do wish you luck. Loads of it Richard.

Easily an example for me to look at and help myself get me the HELL out of Dodge (WaMu)!

Thanks for sharing.
Reply
post #6 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:32pm
Quote:
Richard 'Poxy' Dickson:
So with a perfectly good bachelor's degree in English moldering away as nothing more than a receipt that I went to college.
Sounds like my math degree.

Good luck...If it didn't mean an 80% cut in pay, I'd probably do the same thing.
Reply
post #7 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:34pm
Wow, thats a big step. Going from working at a place built for kids to have fun ot the complete opposite. Having briefly taught I admire your gumption. I will not enter the halls of any high school to teach unless God writes it in the sky in hundred foot tall flaming green letters.
Reply
post #8 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:36pm
Best of luck to you Poxy.

And think of all the cool theme park stories you could share with the kids if you get a teaching post...

And I hope you take a picture of yourself behind your desk and post it here. Hmmm, ok, maybe not...

Reply
post #9 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Adm. Eucalyptus (BeerDie-ologist):
Wow, thats a big step. Going from working at a place built for kids to have fun ot the complete opposite. Having briefly taught I admire your gumption. I will not enter the halls of any high school to teach unless God writes it in the sky in hundred foot tall flaming green letters.
See, I'd almost prefer junior high or high school. I don't want to teach spelling and grammar, I want to get into ideas and make these kids think. I'd want to be the kind of teacher where any interpretation of a poem or book would be correct, as long as I could tell you read it and took something from it. I'd want to fire their minds, not have them all agree with my interpretations.

These are discussions you simply can't have over a Barney thermos.
Reply
post #10 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:39pm
Quote:
Adm. Eucalyptus (BeerDie-ologist):
I will not enter the halls of any high school to teach unless God writes it in the sky in hundred foot tall flaming green letters.
Any particular reason? I would think High School was the easiest to teach.
Reply
post #11 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:40pm
Good luck to you.

My wife made the jump to being a grade school teacher a year ago. It meant a huge drop in pay, but she hadn't been happy working in the rat race at all. It has been a great decision.
Reply
post #12 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:40pm
Quote:
Richard 'Poxy' Dickson:
See, I'd almost prefer junior high or high school. I don't want to teach spelling and grammar, I want to get into ideas and make these kids think. I'd want to be the kind of teacher where any interpretation of a poem or book would be correct, as long as I could tell you read it and took something from it. I'd want to fire their minds, not have them all agree with my interpretations.

These are discussions you simply can't have over a Barney thermos.
You might think about teaching college then.
Reply
post #13 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:42pm
Quote:
Richard 'Poxy' Dickson:
These are discussions you simply can't have over a Barney thermos.
That depends on what's in the Barney thermos, my friend.
Reply
post #14 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:42pm
Quote:
Kid Ego - Level 17 Decker:
Quote:
Adm. Eucalyptus (BeerDie-ologist):
I will not enter the halls of any high school to teach unless God writes it in the sky in hundred foot tall flaming green letters.
Any particular reason? I would think High School was the easiest to teach.
If I taught (which may be what I do if I go the MFA route)I'd want to teach college for the very reasons Poxy gives.
Reply
post #15 of 29
9/25/03 at 7:50pm
Good luck, Pox. My brother made this same decision 7-8 years ago and made it happen.
Reply
post #16 of 29
9/25/03 at 8:00pm
Thread Starter 
College is something I've thought about, but that's not gonna happen without some experience -- and more schooling that's a little out of reach right now.
Reply
post #17 of 29
9/25/03 at 11:24pm
Best of luck man, good luck dealing with the little brats. A cousin of mine is acting as a teacher's aid for 3rd or 4th graders, and she's going insane. Another girl I know teaches high school in a ghetto area, which is a lot of fun- nothing like getting hit on by 10th graders.

But seriously, that's a big step. Hope everything works out for ya.
Reply
post #18 of 29
9/26/03 at 1:39am
Quote:
Richard 'Poxy' Dickson:
So with a perfectly good bachelor's degree in English moldering away as nothing more than a receipt that I went to college...
Sounds like my communications degree, as well. Kinda toying with the idea of grad school, but for now, I'm just content to fling my resume and clips out there, in the hope that something sticks.

Best of luck, Poxy. Here's hoping the first episode of Dickson's Class is real soon.

Reply
post #19 of 29
9/26/03 at 3:43am
Teaching is something I've always toyed with for a career safety net, as publishing is such a volatile bitch of an industry (five jobs in three years, that's no fun). I've done some volunteer work in schools, did a day of special High School lessons on creating comic books (with the wonderful artist D'Israeli), and some guest lectures on magazines at a college.

If I did go back to it ever, college is the route I'd choose. At least you know those kids have chosen to be there. High School kids, especially at the older end of the scale, are there by obligation and while some are eager info-sponges, others are disruptive little shites who require more patience than I possess to silence without using some kind of weaponry.

But, anyway, go Poxy. Like you say, it's a career that'll always be in demand, so whatever happens ten, fifteen, even twenty years down the line, it's something you can fall back on should the job market get tough.
Reply
post #20 of 29
9/26/03 at 3:56am
[quote]Kid Ego - Level 17 Decker
Quote:
Any particular reason? I would think High School was the easiest to teach.
eh....puberty? A lot of Angry, confused kids sprouting pubic hair and zits that are still for the most part forced to go to school by their parents (that they probably hate) and are at their fullest potential to be a-holes?

....Or was that just my highschool?

If i ever decide to be a teacher(which i doubt will ever happen, but you never know) i'd want to teach the early middle school/pre middle school kids or college .

Reply
post #21 of 29
9/26/03 at 6:05am
Good work, sir. Good work. Got them crossed for you...
Reply
post #22 of 29
9/26/03 at 8:12am
But Richard, how will this change affect our thread closing business?

Seriously, it's a bugger of a job but also a chance to make a huge difference in lots of somebodys' lives. Good on ya.

Kid Ego wrote: Sounds like my math degree.

What the WTF ?!?!?! I have my bachelors of science in Mathematics...jobs are not only plentiful but fucking bizzare too! WHat did you specialize in with your degree? If you want math work, e-mail me!
Reply
post #23 of 29
9/26/03 at 9:00am
mheh, math is profitable indeed.

Good luck with this new turn Poxy. If I were to go this route, and have considered it when I return to canada, I'd most likely go with grade 5 or 6. Still somewhat innocent of an age group to approach, yet hungry and smart enough to want to know more...without the bitterness or hate.

or so I remember.
Reply
post #24 of 29
9/26/03 at 9:17am
I'm going into my fourth year of teaching. A more rewarding profession you can't find. But as fun as it is to dissect the works of Atwood or Frost, it's not all about stories and poetry; grammar and technical writing are essential for the students as well, and it can be done so it's entertaining for the entire class. I've had grade 11 students come into my class with no idea about subject-verb agreement, and it's something they've gotta learn before they move on.

Good luck with it.
Reply
post #25 of 29
9/26/03 at 9:43am
Quote:
Subotai:
But as fun as it is to dissect the works of Atwood or Frost, it's not all about stories and poetry; grammar and technical writing are essential for the students as well, and it can be done so it's entertaining for the entire class.
Good luck with it.
YES. Please don't go into teaching if it's ONLY to "be a creative teacher" and "to spark interest in young minds." That's important, of course, but far, far too many kids are graduating from high school and going on to college with very low skills. They can't read or write about content in their non-literature college courses, get placed into non-credit-bearing remedial reading/writing courses, and eventually drop out.

Think hard about this before going into teaching. New state and federal laws are - rightly - holding schools more accountable for whether students can pass state tests, which kids can't do if they can only think deep thoughts, but not read anything beyond fiction or write coherently (and, yes, grammar counts) about a wide variety of topics.

However, if you go into teaching with a realistic perspective on what "good teaching" means in the age of accountability, you'll probably love it. And I have a strong sense you'll probably be very good at it.
Reply
post #26 of 29
9/26/03 at 1:04pm
Nice. Teaching could be rewarding.

Post-secondary students are thick. Get 'em highschool while they still got them 'open minds'.

On the other hand, colleges are renowned for their 'blowjobs for grades' programmes.
Reply
post #27 of 29
9/27/03 at 4:11am
Best of luck Richard. Its always a nice thing to see people trying to change things up a bit and try to make a difference. Hope things work out for you.
Reply
post #28 of 29
9/27/03 at 5:32pm
Good luck Richard! I actually thought about learning history at the university and become a teacher but decided to be a greedy bastard and become a lawyer.
Reply
post #29 of 29
9/29/03 at 1:18pm
Damn, this is great news. Good luck Richard.

The two degrees I'm shooting for (political science & history) are good for only two things:

1. Teaching political science and/or history.
2. Law school

If for whatever reason law school doesn't work out, be sure to save me a spot in the teacher's lounge. I've always had an itch to teach high school history, only because 99% of history teachers have their students call them "coach", and I hate how there's so much history that isn't taught, since the curriculum only covers pre-1940's America.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: The Chewers Catch-All
CHUD.com Community › Forums › THE CHEWERS › The Chewers Catch-All › Time for a change