On 11/01/09, Lost wrote:

>> I have been in a different grade and/or subject each year I
>> have taught. So, it feels like I have had the never-ending
>> string of first years.

Lowie says: You're exactly right! I think this may be the
greatest cause of your dissatisfaction. You've never been able
to hit your stride! If possible, stick with the profession
until you've had at least two years of the same subject/grade
and see the difference that will make.

>> Lost wrote:
>> I am also 9 weeks pregnant, so maybe it's hormones
>> talking. This makes it even harder to think about quitting
>> because I think it will be nice to have the same schedule
>> as our child.

Lowie says: Congratulations! It sounds as though your little
one is due to arrive in early June, so you'll probably already
be out on medical leave in early May (as I recall, it's
customary for the OB/GYN to authorize disability one month
prior to the due date for a healthy pregnancy without
complications). Which means your school year will be shorter!
Perhaps that will make it easier to hang on for the duration
of this third "first" year, and when it's eventually time to
return from leave you will have had sufficient opportunity to
reflect on whether teaching is your life's work or not.

I once held a teaching position that was so wrong for me that I
would literally cry in the bathroom between classes. I would
not recommend "hanging in there" in a situation as detrimental
as that! I chose to resign and felt very guilty for doing so,
but it was the right thing to do. I took some time to reflect
on what contributions I hoped to make in this world, and I
decided I wouldn't give up on teaching just because one job
wasn't right for me. Today I find great satisfaction in my
work and I've built a solid reputation among students, parents,
faculty, and administrators. In my first or second year at my
current school, I remember my vice principal (an educator for
40 years) telling me I had the makings of a master teacher, and
I knew I'd made the right choice. I'm glad I didn't let one
wrong job stop me.

Good luck!

Share This Post | Report This Post

Next Post >>

Posts on this thread, including this one