Now this is a post from someone who certainly is coming off as
VERY arrogant. You sound an awful lot like those arrogant,
ignorant, people who like the phrase "those who can, do, those who
can't, teach."

"> Most schoolteachers have only worked in schools and schools
> are strange places. Teachers love to tell kids they are
> preparing them for the real world but most teachers have
> never worked in that real world."

Teachers haven't worked in the real world? You're kidding, right.

Teaching is certainly part of the real world. Every profession is
a little different and does things their own way. Would you say a
nurse or doctor doesn't work in the real world because their
fields are different from others? Does an engineer work in the
real world or since so much of her profession is unique to
engineering is she not in the real world? Is a soldier part of
the real world even though it would be hard to find another
profession that worked like his? Accounting is certainly a very
different work culture and requires a very different person from
scientific research, or computer programming, or sales, or even
being a business manager. The world of a business owner is
different from most other professions.

All workplaces have certain cultures that are different from other
agencies or companies, let alone different professions. All have
their own internal workplace politics you have to maneuver to be
successful. All professions require a certain knowledge base to
do the job. Professional jobs tend to require continuing
education. So, how is teaching different?

Outside of work, teachers have to maintain a monthly budget, we
buy houses or rent apartments, we buy cars and maintain bank
accounts and investments. So again, how are we not part of this
mythical "real world" you speak of?

"> You have and likely with success and as a result, you're
> probably far more worldly than many teachers."

So teachers aren't successful or worldly, and they are jealous of
those who are? Hmm, we aren't educated? We don't have successes
in our jobs just like people in other professions? We don't
travel the world? We don't understand others? Interesting.

"> If your near colleague is well entrenched and well networked
> and high on the pecking order, the rest of the faculty will
> usually go along and echo his opinion"

Again, you'll find workplace politics in any profession. If you
think teaching is worse than any other workplace you probably have
not seen as much of the "real world" as you are implying.

Now, before you dismiss this as the rant of some teacher who has
never been in the "real world" outside the classroom, here is a
little of my background. I have been working since my junior year
of high school and I didn't become a teacher until I was 36.
Between high school and my return to college at 25 I was a soldier
and a salesperson. While in college and for a bit after college I
held several part-time and full-time positions in banking. I've
been in management and in my final pre-teaching position I worked
with psychiatric patients in a psychiatric hospital. In several
of these jobs I met with considerable success, but they weren't
the right jobs for me. I've seen more of the work world than many
people have. I've seen that all professions have their own unique
traits, teaching is no exception, and teaching is every bit as
professional and part of the "real world" as the others.

On 10/24/09, female career changer wrote:

>>
> ...Most schoolteachers have only worked in schools and schools
> are strange places. Teachers love to tell kids they are
> preparing them for the real world but most teachers have
> never worked in that real world.

> You have and likely with success and as a result, you're
> probably far more worldly than many teachers. And you bring
> real world knowledge... that will be threatening.

> There is a pecking order in schools... most teachers spend
> their career as teachers - there's no ladder to climb and it
> makes them more than a little batty. Thus, the pecking order
> and the extreme sensitivity and the very easy to raise the
> hair on their backs stuff. And - the classroom is a little
> kingdom unto itself ony adding to the lack of real world and
> lack of sophistication you may see in schools.

> If your near colleague is well entrenched and well networked
> and high on the pecking order, the rest of the faculty will
> usually go along and echo his opinion. Indignation abounds in
> schools - it's a first response reaction to almost everything.
>
> Are you sure you want to work in this place? By now you're
> rethinking the dream job idea...
>
> I too came from outside of schools to work in one and I found
> to get along, one had to wear gray and be as retiring as
> possible. You're a man and I'm not so it was easier for me to
> bumble and stumble a bit and look helpless - and classroom
> management is no easy think to quickly master so I had some
> real learning to do.
>
> Never speak of what you did before. Try to be humble, humble,
> humble. As a woman, apologies come fairly easily to me even
> if I didn't do anything. Thank your principal - play the
> game - if you want to stay and work in peace. Thank you, Mr.
> Principal, it's certainly never my intention to be so.
> Pompous? Thank you so much - I will mend my ways because they
> don't reflect what's in my heart - I LOVE this school and am
> very grateful for the oppotunity to be here."
>
> Even if you have to bite the bullet to say it. Smile warmly
> at the school secretary - she is VERY powerful.
> Good luck.
>

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