My return to teaching came with an agreement with myself. I agreed that I'd do some work at home, but I had to keep it in control. In the past I didn't want to and rarely did work after 4 pm. I still don't lose my mind, but I do put in after hours/weekend/vacation work. It just helps me do better each day so that time is well invested.
I get kind of sad when I hear people on either side of the political argument going in on teachers. Now I do believe that a LONG, passionate discussion could be had about the system. I know what I do and I don't take it personal. I just wish people would allow themselves to understand even a small bit of what we deal with on a daily basis. So many jobs allow you to clock out and not think about your work until you return. Teaching isn't like that at all. Many quality teachers put in late hours at school and still do work when they get home.
Somehow people feel that saying something like,"Oh, I couldn't do your job. You must be superhuman." Allows them to in the next breath tear down that same person. But those same people would be in tall weeds if they had to do what we do on a daily basis. Never mind what teachers do off the clock, just what we do from 7:45 to 2:45 would sink many a pundit.
*Jason steps down from his soapbox and goes back to grading papers.
