On 10/18/09, teachn1 wrote:

My biggest
> concern, though, is the reason for this feeling I've been
> having. First of all, I don't have a good feeling with the
> principal of the school. He has been quite nice and cares a
> lot about the school, but at the end of the day when I
> signed the contract, he also seemed to be trying to
> reassure himself that he had made the right choice (he kept
> saying, "This is a good thing.").

Well, like you said, you don't know how to teach this subject
and grade level, so it's understandable that he is trying to
reassure himself. I mean, if you think about it, he's just
hired an unqualified person to do the job. However, he's hired
you for a reason. Most "religious" schools don't pay very well
at all. This is why they have to hire you, a never certified
teacher with no K-12 experience. You view the money as good
and are willing to take the job, so they hired you, but you
must be aware that if they had someone educated as a teacher
with a certificate willing to work there, they would've hired
them. So, you can't be too upset that they are hesitant, just
as you are hesitant about taking the job.

Secondly, I am not
> religious. I do not have a problem working in a religious
> school, in the sense that I will not hinder anyone's
> religious education and I encourage people to explore their
> spiritually. However, I did experience some discomfort when
> the prayer was said over the loud speaker; perhaps,
> however, this discomfort would dissipate over time.

I dunno on this one. I am not religious either and that fact
and the poor pay are reasons I don't work in private (usually
religious) education. Be advised that most people who are
religious enough to send their kids to a Christian school don't
want their kids "exploring their spirituality" except in the
manner properly approved way. You MAY also find that bigotry
against other religions and lifestyles (homosexuals, single
parents, people who have premarital sex, women who aren't
"obedient" to their husbands, or people who watch TV or listen
to devil music) is the status quo. Then again, maybe not. It
just all depends on the particular environment and that will be
your call on what you are comfortable with. Me, I personally
have very good friends who are gay, and can't respect someone's
point of view that they shouldn't marry or even that their
lifestyle is a "sin." I believe that point of view is as wrong
as the Nazis' point of view on the Jews and can't sit back not
call people out on it. I was also a co-sponsor of a
Gay-Straight club at the first high school I worked at, so I
wouldn't fit in at a religious school.

>some may be indications that I am not the right
> person for this job. If it is the latter, I believe I
> should break the contract as soon as possible and hope that
> the school would not hold me to the charges for breaking a
> contract. However, before making a decision, I hope to
> hear some feedback from current teachers.

The whole "charges" thing will depend on how the contract is
written. I have no experience with private school contracts.
If they have written that you will be charged $X if you break
the contract, then they will probably charge you. To actually
go to court and try to gain a judgement, however, is quite an
ordeal for them and you.

However, the wrinkle in breaking a contract is that if you ASK
them to release you (and they were on the fence about hiring
you anyway) then you can't be charged any money because they
agreed to let you go. If you TELL them that you're breaking
the contract unilaterally, then they can enforce it against
you. If you go to them and, professionally of course, tell
them that you would like release, but if they say no you'll go
teach for them and take their money, but probably suck at it,
then that will give them pause.

Still, I think you should give it a try. I mean, you're not
starting until November, so you'll only have to do a little
more than half the school year with Thanksgiving, Winter, and
Spring breaks sprinkled in. If you hate it, it's not forever,
it's 7 months or so, and not being a certified teacher, it's
not as if they're going to expect the world from you. Since
you already took the job, and they're likely desperate, I'd
suggest taking a swing at it. You may find that it's a great
job you're suited for and open a new career path for you. Or,
worse comes to worst, you have a job you hate for half a year
and you don't come back. Not the end of the world

Good Luck

Share This Post | Report This Post

Next Post >>

Posts on this thread, including this one