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Teaching? Rent? Help me make a career decision.

post #1 of 8
12/31/03 at 2:13pm
Thread Starter 
I feel like a fraud.

I'm supposed to be involved with part-time college teaching for how it makes me feel. I'm supposed to do it for the kids. I'm supposed to do it because someday, it's what I want to do for a living. I'm supposed to do it part time and get paid little because it's a great opportunity. I'm supposed to not think of the money, even though I'm a full time student with only one other shitty part time job (which pays me MORE, if you break it down by the hour, by the way). I'm supposed to think that teaching is never going to pay well, and that nobody does it for the money. You do it for yourself. Because you love to teach.

But it's almost New Years Eve and I don't have enough money to cover rent for January because I have yet to receive a paycheck for all of December. And right now, all I can think about teaching---the only thing going through my head is...

FUCK this. It's not worth it.

Now, I'm supposed to sign and hand in my contract for this coming semester by Friday. I'm not sure if I want to do it. The students don't care. My boss doesn't care. The administration doesn't care. Hell, the guys who were supposed to send out the paychecks by the 23rd don't even care!

Why should I care? What's keeping me going on this?

Fucking frustrating, is what it is.
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post #2 of 8
12/31/03 at 2:25pm
Leave. Your intentions in the beginning (and I assume still now) were good but if it is bringing you down you can't expect to keep going on like this. Do what is best for yourself at this time. Your first choice was unselfish but now it has become unfeasible. You have my respect for going out and trying like you have but it does sound like you've had enough. That isn't good for ya. Let go...
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post #3 of 8
12/31/03 at 2:30pm
Had to make a somehwat similar decision myself two years ago. In the end, you have to choose what is right in order to keep yourself out of financial trouble.

Take a new "day" job for the money, but look into something like private tutoring or mentoring on the side to keep helping students.
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post #4 of 8
12/31/03 at 2:40pm
Warning: Cheesy Shit Follows.

I once read a quote from some random teacher who was nominated for a teacher of the year award or something, and while I can't remember the quote exactly, it stayed with me just because it seemed so brutally honest. It was something like:

"364 days out of the year, teaching is the worst job you can have. It's stressful, you don't get paid what you're worth, the kids either resent you or flat-out hate you, and the sheer level of apathy and ignorance on display, both from your collegues and your students, is sometimes a little astounding. It's a profession that can break even the strongest person, leaving you bitter, bored, and simply going through the motions. 364 days a year, that's what teaching is.

"But then there's day #365, where you meet an exceptional student, one filled with life and energy and bursting with talent, the promise of an entire future laid out before them. You realize that this student needs you. Her entire future is depending on whatever you can teach her today. But that seems like a lot of work. So instead you take that student home and fuck her. You fuck her hard. You ride her like a sloppy bobsled, crack her skull with a tack hammer, and bury her in a shallow grave deep in the woods. Then you wait for the next special student to come along. They always do. Eventually."

Okay, so I forgot the end of the speech. It was something about how on that one special day you can actually influence and improve some kid's life and make them a better person, and when that happens, it's the greatest feeling in the world. That it makes the other 364 days worth bearing, etc., etc. So I suppose that if you're expecting instant gratification from teaching, you'll probably be disappointed. It seems like a job that involves a lot of patience, dedication, and shovels. I mean optimism.

Good luck, whatever you choose.
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post #5 of 8
12/31/03 at 4:35pm
I have been teaching as a permanent sub at my wife's school for the last year. I was raised by teachers, even myuncle who is a doctor teaches medecine. And, I know of no teacher right now who is enjoying teaching.

It is a profession for people with the patience of saints. Personally, I cannot wait to get a job and get out. I can't stand the kids, the parents, or the administrators.

But, what you have to decide is what you love. Maybe you need to take some time off and see if you truly miss it and want to go back. Ultimately, you need to be happy and support yourself.
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post #6 of 8
12/31/03 at 6:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally posted by Slater

"But then there's day #365, where you meet an exceptional student, one filled with life and energy and bursting with talent, the promise of an entire future laid out before them. You realize that this student needs you. Her entire future is depending on whatever you can teach her today. But that seems like a lot of work. So instead you take that student home and fuck her. You fuck her hard. You ride her like a sloppy bobsled, crack her skull with a tack hammer, and bury her in a shallow grave deep in the woods. Then you wait for the next special student to come along. They always do. Eventually."
And that's why...I voted for SLATER!

That made me laugh hard. Thanks, man.

Thanks to all you guys.
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post #7 of 8
12/31/03 at 6:15pm
Mancow is the anti-christ, if there is such a thing.

Almost exact quote:

"Teachers always bitch about how they don't get paid anything. Fuck them. The public school system just churns out idiots, and it doesn't do a damn thing. You wouldn't hear me complain if I had a whole summer off."

Hate. Hate. Hate.
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post #8 of 8
12/31/03 at 6:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally posted by Sean Bateman
Mancow is the anti-christ, if there is such a thing.

Almost exact quote:

"Teachers always bitch about how they don't get paid anything. Fuck them. The public school system just churns out idiots, and it doesn't do a damn thing. You wouldn't hear me complain if I had a whole summer off."

Hate. Hate. Hate.
And I would be offended, if I worked in a public school. But I don't. It's a private institution; a college.
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