Somebody Save Me!

So- Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I'd ever write a blog, but a blogging friend convinced me to give it a try. Apparently she thinks the stories I tell at the end of a teaching day would make great "blog fodder", whatever that means.

I believe my profession to be one of, if not, the most important professions there are. Without education the world would be a disaster. However, teaching has become more of an art than an actual job over the past decade or so. There are so many hoops to jump through just to become a teacher, and now it seems that there are so many ways we are scrutinized for not doing our jobs correctly. I would love for someone who criticizes teachers to spend one freaking day in my current situation: sixth grade at an inner city school.

Currently I work as a substitute teacher and have been doing so for the past seven years. A few years ago I decided to get my masters degree in education to become a full time teacher. Finding a job has been difficult and subbing seems to be a steady job to help pay the bills but it is just becoming too damn stressful. The job I have had the last 6 days has been a living hell. In my seven years as a sub, this is without a doubt the toughest job I have ever experienced. I have been sworn at repeatedly, threatened, verbally assaulted, had personal valuables stolen, and in return I get very little support from the school's faculty.

I knew from the start this would be rough when I arrived on my first day and there were no lesson plans for me to use and they never gave me an opportunity to make my own. My only saving grace that day was an intervention specialist who had just enough stuff to get me by until day two when I had time to devise plans for the week.

The plans I wrote would be great- if I really got to use them. Instead, I spend most of my time keeping kids from fighting, throwing things, swearing loudly, getting out of their seats, and leaving the classroom without permission. I can honestly say that I have lost interest in subbing for much longer but I continue to do so through words of encouragement from friends and family, and hopes that one day in my near future I can land that full-time job.

I'll end this entry by saying that I am thankful to be working in general, and that I will hopefully have a good career in the near future. I am also thankful I only have three days left until spring break and that this current sub job will end. I pray the next one will be better, but after this I know it can't be much worse.