I've just got back from a dawn surf this morning - well, pre dawn, that delightful three quarts of an hour before the sun comes up. The place I often surf sees the moon set over the land and the sun rise from the water, and if you're lucky and everything is timed just right, both. This morning's sunrise was extra-extraordinary. It's not the picture below - but you get about a hundredth of the idea. I wish I'd taken out the GoPro as I've been meaning to. This morning the moon was so high and bright it was casting a path of white on the water that we were literally surfing along. The clouds were gigantic, alien spaceships, dripping with globules of pink and grey as the rain cut through on the horizon in giant sheets. A single star blinked behind the veil. The three of us out were just dying with the beauty of it.
Even on a busy long weekend, if you get out early enough, you can get a few waves almost to yourself. Tourists don't seem to get out of bed til after sunrise, and locals presume it'll be too busy to bother. It's a secret time.
When I get home, Jamie's already up - it's only 7.30 am and he's at the table with a pile of physis papers and a sad look in his eyes. That's pretty much been nearly every morning of the holidays - two hours of marking before the day begins. It's the only way he can get through all the IB and VCE physics and maths marking he has to do. I honestly don't miss that side of teaching. I swore I'd never mark another essay again, though I'll have to. It wasn't even so much marking essays, just begin forced to after school, before school, midnight sessions, dawn sessions, holiday sessions.
You might say, well, that's what you are paid for, but the work load for teachers is so enormous that weekends and holidays should be a time of resting and recharging.
When I worked at a private, fee paying school, I used to work marking on the weekends, but we also had to do Saturday sport. Mine was tennis. Jesus I hated tennis. I didn't have to coach, thankgod, only supervise - mark the roll, or get them on the buses for away games. The away games were the worst. Some days I'd have to leave at 4.45 am to get to school to get on a bus for 5.30 am to get to the other side of Melbourne, and wouldn't get back til 2pm. I remember bringing piles of marking on the bus with me.
I don't think people have much sympathy for a teacher's workload. They believe it's what we signed up for, but we didn't really - we signed up to teach and inspire kids. It's a great gig in that regard. But all the other stuff that goes along with it is back breaking, and it seems to be getting worse. Teachers are dropping out of the profession and there's a huge teacher shortage, and not only that, no one wants to sign up for teaching. Their bandaid? Rather than make a teacher's load a little easier, they're just offering free education for new teachers this year.
It really does take a lot not to burn out these days. Older teachers are cynical and jaded, and new teachers are working themselves half dead before either taking a leadership position to teach less (and, from a cynical old teacher's perspective, do less) or just going and finding another career.
All over the state this weekend teachers are trying to enjoy the last of their holidays whilst spending some of their weekend planning, doing last minute marking, or thinking about work in some way, except for PE teachers (sorry, couldn't resist).
I'm working a contract this term I'm looking forward to, in a way. It's only part time, so I sure as hell won't be working weekends. I wouldn't have taken it on if that was part of the deal. But tomorrow, being Sunday, and me not having planned a thing yet - yeah, I'll probably be working. Who am I kidding?
But then, it's not the only job I've had where I worked weekends. But fifteen to twenty years of hospitality is an entirely different story.
With Love,
Are you on HIVE yet? Earn for writing! Referral link for FREE account here
Not to mention the stories I've heard from teacher-friends about the background politics that can happen between staff.
It's that fine line, between, feeling productive, while also taking the time to find those perfect moments to breathe, and appreaciate such a sun rise.
Also, there is a badge of honour to mark those papers, check those rolls, supervise those excursions, and knowing that you are a small cog in helping young minds to progress in life.
I always remember my Kindergarden teacher, Mrs Kelly.
I always remember my prep (& grade 1 teacher), Mrs Thomas (who made me feel OK when I peed my pants).
& the disappointment in the eyes, of Ms Fabri, when I didn't do my book report.
& the encouragement from Ms Bourke, Mr Davies, Ms Cunningham, Mr Kerin, and so on, and on, and on.
Now, my year 7 maths teacher, is my son's Junior Campus Principal.
Her, Quick Math Quizes, always comes to mind, slightly less awkward than, Mr Ulvira's, smack on the backside if you got your multiplication tables wrong!
Wow, you've certainly opened up many memory doors.
Cudos to Jamie! Your efforts are admirable.
I definitely think teachers can leave a lasting impression!!! And yes omg the background politics are awful!
I can imagine that it is indeed a "back breaking" profession. Teaching by itself is hard enough - markings is a total other job. A lot of respect to your husband. I hope he can still have a wonderful weekend
Oh,well, he's quitting at the end of year so that gives him hope!
Discord Server.This post has been manually curated by @bhattg from Indiaunited community. Join us on our
Do you know that you can earn a passive income by delegating to @indiaunited. We share more than 100 % of the curation rewards with the delegators in the form of IUC tokens. HP delegators and IUC token holders also get upto 20% additional vote weight.
Here are some handy links for delegations: 100HP, 250HP, 500HP, 1000HP.
100% of the rewards from this comment goes to the curator for their manual curation efforts. Please encourage the curator @bhattg by upvoting this comment and support the community by voting the posts made by @indiaunited.
All the best for your contract my friend 🌻.. enjoy riding the waves of life!
Nice post for the weekend, nice sharing.
I can feel your feelings friend. because I am also a teacher in my country @riverflows
it's not always easy but it can be rewarding too
!LADY
View or trade
LOHtokens.@pepetoken, you successfully shared 0.1000 LOH with @riverflows and you earned 0.1000 LOH as tips. (1/1 calls)
Use !LADY command to share LOH! More details available in this post.
I can totally relate, I'm a teacher and right now, I'm at school waiting for my class to start, I can't wait to go home and enjoy the rest of my day, I already had 2 classes in the morning and 1 more left to go. And they don't pay us any extra money for this in my country, it's just something that we have to assume.
😕 Hope your class goes fast and you enjoy rest of the day.
Thanks 😊👍
This.
I don't miss the job.
Also, I do like tennis.
It helps to play next to a natural ( river ) swimming pool though and go for a swim afterwards.
Perfect life!
As a teacher myself, your posts resonates a lot but what can we do but to squeeze in some time of rest for ourselves.
Teachers are king makers and until the king is enthroned, we got work to do.....cheers
Yeah you just gotta do what you gotta do to survive... you learn some tricks
Exactly, thanks
I feel you, just like you, I am a teacher, weekends aee not meant for rest days to me. ❤️
Just chilling being retired 😅 in the US if you're a teacher the other hassle is discipline. Teacher's have to deal with kids acting up and have few options anymore.
What beautiful photographs, it shows that it was a beautiful walk.
My respects to all the teachers, they are references that we have in life to move forward. 🙏
Congratulations your publication has been chosen among the best of the day.
KEEP CREATING GOOD CONTENT.
!LADY
View or trade
LOHtokens.@pepetoken, you successfully shared 0.1000 LOH with @riverflows and you earned 0.1000 LOH as tips. (1/1 calls)
Use !LADY command to share LOH! More details available in this post.
I know that you were thinking "Shit, I could be surfing now instead"
I marked exams for a while at a University and it was absolutely mind-numbingly boring AF. I don't envy you or Jamie, I totally get it.
Hope you are well River.
I can feel you dear poster because I'm also a teacher. But what the universe forget is that teachers make all other professions possible.