OK I know most of you don't have a MASSIVE 6 week summer holiday, sorry about that, but as a teacher with 15 years on the front line, 6 weeks is not enough to recover from the accumulation of psychic abuse that you have to soak up from being in the front line between young people and 'the man'.
When I was in my first year of teaching, I remember being at a festival and declaring four days into my first long summer holidy that 'fuck me, I feel normal again'. 15 years in (i.e. this month just gone, August 2017) it took me 3 weeks of my 6 week 'holiday' to regain a vague sense of the self I have left.
At time of writing this, I've been back at work for 2 days, and I feel the wrong sort of stressed and anxiety kicking in, as well as the sense of being worthless, all feelings brought on by being back at work.
Here's 10 reasons why I think I feel this way, and 10 reasons why I just have to quit teaching at the end of this year....*
- I’m sick of being expected to care about students when the system clearly doesn’t give a shit about me
- I’m sick of being held responsible for the results of students who just don’t give a shit.
- I’m sick of the fact that getting good results isn’t enough anymore
- I’m sick of the way marketing has become more important than subject-content, and sick of feeling alienated from my workplace as a result
- I’m sick of the therapeutic turn in 16-19 education
- I’m sick of the way we promote individualized solutions to systemic problems
- I’m sick of how the aspirational turn in 16-19 education subtly advantages middle class kids and how most people are too stupid to realize this
- I’m sick of teaching 20 teenagers in a room at the same time. It’s not the nineteenth century for Christ’s sake.
- I’m sick of edutaintment.
- I’m sick of the following words and phrases: colleague, team, cross-college working-party, emotional intelligence, resilience, aspire....
If you're a teacher too, please add to no.10 above!
*You might ask 'why not quit NOW' - yes, mistake on my part, a year too far, but it's just a sense of duty to students and colleagues to see the year through, otherwise, you pass on SERIOUS overwork!
As a work disclaimer I'd just like to point out that I work in a decent college, it's the SYSTEM not the specific place I work that's the problem - the college does what it has to do to survive in a marketized education system, and the result is my decline!
Thoughts on solutions - systems and individual are MOST welcome!
Great points... teaching should be about teaching, not being a glorified baby sitter in the indoctrination system
Quite, sometimes I just think to myself - '20 teenagers in a room, WTF?'
Way to let it out brother. Yes the educational system is fucked beyond belief or normal understanding. Wanting to stay for your reasons is honorable as well and also holding true to your own emotions. Have you done any research on other countries educational systems? Have you read.. https://www.amazon.com/Dumbing-Down-Curriculum-Compulsory-Anniversary/dp/0865714487 ? I think some sort of private teacher or tutor or something that really interest you would be up your alley.
Hi - As I understand it Finland is basically utopia for teachers! No I've never come across Gatto before, oddly, I'll add it to the list, cheers!
Cool. Yes I was just reading on Finlands educational sytem. They actually promote what works over there and teachers are highly respected.
I have very reserved notions about our schooling system in parts of the world. Its very controlled but in a manner which you have stated all to clearly above in this post. Good for you and I hope you really find a way to channel your willingness and wantingness to others who need it :)
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Sweet. this is your second nomination so keep up the great work
I empathize with you. I've not dealt with a college on the level you have, but because the school my daughter attended was more interested in the clothes she wore and not her education, I removed her to home school her. She was in 7th grade at the time.
During her disenrollment, I was asked what curriculum I was going to follow, I responded by asking for a copy of theirs. Their response was, "Oh, we don't have one. We teach to the TAKS" (TAAS, or whatever the state-mandated test was called then). So, you see, I believe you are right - the education system is, well, compromised at the very least.
I would like to introduce you to VIVA. It is a multi-tiered digital economy being built, and one of the programs within it is called POETS: Proof of Educational Transcript System. Within this program, students can hand-pick courses and instructors at the college level. This program is also in the process of being built. You can become a part of this and help shape the design.
The VIVAconomy, the blockchain upon which POETS will be built, is thriving - even though not fully launched. However, with VIVA.cash and Galaxy Vault about to open, the VIVAconomy will explode. Many programs, like POETS, Votabit and Medicaxxes will also thrive and change lives. Fell free to visit the web site at https://vivaco.in. The blog page also has more in-depth information about many of the projects within VIVA: https://blog.vivaco.in/.
I thought you may be interested in it. If you are, please email me at [email protected]. I'll be happy to answer any question you may have.
Thanks very much for the thoughtful reply,
You're certainly not the only one the system isn't working for!
I am very interested in alternatives to education, moving to online tuition in some form will be my next step, and I have to get it right (ie right platform) as it is a hell of a lot of work just uploading resources (even if they are all created).
Here is the main website for VIVA (https://vivaco.in). Scroll down and you will see a short description of POETS, the educational platform. You can also find more about VIVA on the blog page: https://blog.vivaco.in.
I'm directly related to several projects within the VIVAconomy, but POETS is not one of them. I may be able to get you in touch with the right person, once I know she has actually started the project. Currently, she's working on some of the main components of VIVA itself.
I believe the project will begin development within this next year. In the meantime, feel free to explore VIVA.
As well as the Director of Accounting for VIVA, I'm also directly involved with the development of a new social media platform. Much like Steemit, this platform is built upon a transparent (hyperledger) blockchain, but the payout is based upon merit and participation, rather than on the size of one's wallet.
If you have any questions, or would like to be a part of the VIVAconomy, please feel free to email me at [email protected].
Teaching and education are very important, especially those days, and unfortunately, the system does not care at all about what is done. Good luck for your next steps!
Hey thanks! The more affirmation I get the easier moving on is!
I quit for similar reasons over a decade ago - and even then the interference was intolerable. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. You'll probably be amazed at the opportunities that are about to arrive once you've turned your back on that stuck energy and resentment....and stopped contributing to the collective dumbing down.
Great, thanks for the encouragement!
Wow you really sounds sick of it all! If you are going to complete this year make sure you have a plan on how you can keep your chin up and your life balanced, hopefully you have some kind of outlet. Maybe take a few extra days off here and there to make sure you don't snap! No one wants the kids to suffer by being taught by someone who's head is out of the game. It's not fair to them and it could effect their future education as a result of your attitude/sense of being for 2017/18. I don't envy your position, hopefully with the end in sight you will have a good hear that is not too un enjoyable. Best of luck!
Thanks - you've hit a certain nerve, but I'm thinking that now I've made the decision, I can actually get back to just being more 'human' again, rather than a 'professional'. That's how I was back in the day, early 2000s, time to get back to it and go out on a high!
Professor Stephen Ball (Institute of Education) is actually very interested in how teachers 'just teach' in the midst of a crazy system - that's me this year, just teaching, fuck the admin.
Good comment though, thanks for the input!
Well best of luck! Sounds like you are doing the right thing and you will be able power through this year and then move on with life next year. Just do your thing this year if you have no "admin consequences", maybe you can make a real impact on the kids lives not worrying about what the system wants you to do!
You got this!!
Young people and "the man". Priceless