Thank you, Hollywood. I took your advice and e-mailed the
principal (as he had suggested I do should I have questions). I
haven't heard back from him, yet, but hopefully I will today.

On 10/19/09, Hollywood wrote:
> Perhaps you should share some of your concerns with the
> principal. Address your feelings about the religious content
> and see how that aligns with the philosophy of the school.
> More importantly, thought, discuss your feelings about not
> being prepared to teach and see what solutions you could work
> out. You should get to know your colleagues and see if they
> would be willing to mentor you and help you get up to speed.
> If you're not set to start for a while, see if there are ways
> you could get to know the kids and break the ice before your
> first day as their full-time teacher. Take a look at the
> school's curriculum and resources to get a feel for what you
> can plan. Approach this with fun and enthusiasm, not dread.
> And just know that it will be rough at first; it is that way
> for anyone new to teaching children. You are going to feel
> tired and frustrated. But there will also be good things,
> especially when the kids make you laugh. Hold on to those
> moments to help you through the rough spots. But don't back
> out until you try it.
>
>
> On 10/18/09, teachn1 wrote:
>> Hi, everyone!
>>
>> I have a difficult situation and hope that you might be
>> able to help. A junior high teacher at a religious private
>> school must go on leave (for personal resons) for the
>> remainder of the year, and this school offered me her
>> position. I have college teaching experience but have
>> never taught the grade or the subjects I will be teaching
>> and I do not have a teaching certificate. However, I like
>> teaching, and the money is good, so I signed a contract
>> last week despite some hesitations regarding my ability to
>> the job well. After signing the contract, I was given a
>> tour of the school and found myself growing increasingly
>> uncomfortable with my role there, and I have spent much of
>> the time since signing the contract questioning my
>> decision.
>>
>> I am supposed to begin teaching in a few weeks but am
>> considering backing out of my contract. I certainly do not
>> want to do such a thing, as I am usually very professional,
>> but I cannot get over this feeling that something isn't
>> right (not with the school, but with my teaching for the
>> school). Perhaps this is just fear that I have gotten
>> myself in over my head. I accepted the position because,
>> on paper (and perhaps also in reality), the position and
>> the income seem to be a good and rare opportunity, and I am
>> in need of a job.
>>
>> I would like to get some feedback from some of you, as
>> those closest to me can only look at what I saw prior to
>> signing the contract: a good opportunity, a school
>> schedule, and good money. However, as many of you know,
>> this cannot be everything when accepting a teaching
>> position. I am concerned because, while I have some
>> experience (mostly as a student, not a teacher) with the
>> subjects I'll be teaching, they are not my areas of
>> expertise, and, honestly, I don't know how to teach (and
>> discipline) this grade level and these subjects. 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."). 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.
>>
>> Like I said above, some of these concerns may simply be
>> fears, but 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.
>>
>> Thank you for your help.

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