Is Teaching a Young Person's Game?

After 27 years of teaching, I chose to leave. That many years in a position that asks more than you can give takes it’s toll on an individual both mentally and physically.

I say “I chose to leave” but honestly I had no other choice. I couldn’t come back to school not even one more day without breaking down. I was experiencing the loss of a child and I felt that my employer could care less. I felt that all the time, energy and devotion I had bestowed upon this school was unappreciated. I was just someone who could be replaced by a newer less expensive model

Wait, let me take a step back and explain, I felt a shift in the working dynamic on campous. I began to notice the lack of patience with the more seasoned teacher. I noticed a division of the teachers. I noticed that admin was asking newer, younger teachers to take over lead positions or

extra-curricular activities. Senority didn’t have the same respect as it used to, it only meant you were closer to retirement. I noticed that the young teachers moved faster than I did. My health was deteriorating and I was becoming tied to my desk more and more. Between my hips, my knees, and other health issues, I found that I needed to make accommodations so I could reach all my students. My students always learned a great deal in my classroom and my scores were always comparable. My growth numbers were very good.

Yet, I was beginning to feel less and less relevant.

I didn’t have the discipline issues other teachers had. My classroom management was easy for me. I could do it with my eyes closed. It was who I am. I was respectful and expected the same in return.

One day, my principal came into my classroom and told me that I had missed too much school. I

was hospitalized for a week and my daughter was hospitalized for a week before she died. She said if my test scores were declining she would have no choice but to fire me. She made it very clear that I was not to miss anymore school.

I could not have felt more helpless and unappreciated as I did in that moment. I had given countless hours of my time to this district over the past 20 years without compensation. I had taken time away from my family. I had trained many teachers who went on to bigger and better things.

I worked side by side many of the people who work above me and this is the appreciation I get.

Ok. So maybe it was jut me. At least that’s what I thought. But school districts are the most toxic member of an abusive relationship with a teacher. They monopolize your time. Isolate you from family and friends. They try to gaslight you into believing school can’t survive without you. You must give your school all that you have, mentally, physically and financially. Then when you become vulnerable they replace you with a younger model.

The younger new teacher is “hungry”. They want to create change. They have that fire in their belly. They have an endless amount of energy and time. They are relatable to the students. Best of all

Well, what they don’t have is experience. They don’t have the answers to problems that may arise. They don’t know how to handle the pressure. And most importantly they don’t know how to teach.

More and more I’m seeing curriculum that is scripted. The more experienced you are the less you need a script, I can’t teach from a book. I never have and I never will. I teach people not robots.

Experienced teachers are your mentors. They embrace the first time teacher. They are the ones helping those teachers any way they can. Their experience enable them to answer questions and offer suggestions that you don’t always see in a text book. Which ,inevitably, would help with retention of teachers.

The more experienced teacher is worth the extra money. Use them to guide and mentor your new teachers. Use them to establish a process to help those teachers that need more instruction. Use them to close the gaps that have been created in some students. Allow them to shine.