What makes teaching unbearable for most people is that the entire system is a psychological mind frell. It’s perpetual & inescapable mental and emotional abuse (sometimes with a little physical thrown in) that wears people down and sometimes breaks them. Constantly being held to unmeetable standards, burdened with micro management and meaningless busy work that keeps you from doing your job well, guilted and blamed from every angle. In many cases disrespected, demeaned and verbally abused by admins, parents and children without absolutely zero recourse…There’s a reason why a lot of people tap out and never go back.
You are so right. During the 22 EXTREMELY difficult years I taught, what I would hear from admin. Regarding student behavior was, you need to improve your classroom management skills. Except for one administrator who was relatively new and came clean. He said, “There are 15% of the students we don’t know what to do with.” But my situation and that of other teachers was made much worse than “just” getting some students who weren’t socialized correctly. After maybe 15 years of teaching in the same school I was told that a counselor who was very close to a group of about 6 teachers, would in the summer go through each student’s discipline file and transfer out of his friend’s classes and put them in other teacher’s classes. AMAZINGLY, this group had the audacity to self graduate at every opportunity and look down their noses at the rest of us for not having as high functioning of classes and student’s as they had. Some of them are in admin. Today and that counselor is a Principal!!! I loved teaching but it hurt my body and socializing a lot. One administrator who wasn’t part of that group told me to just give 80%, because I gave more than 100%. It is a miracle that I didn’t go looney, because we had three teachers who had mental breakdowns.
Everything you've said...yes. I'm quitting after this year and I'll never EVER go back. Middle school was what finally made me realize I am not built for teaching.
Yeah I quit after a couple years this summer as well. Students were so bad I got diagnosed with PTSD. I also quit with no job lined up but I’m doing so much better and happier right now.
I also in distress after teaching. I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown. I got my retail job back from college and I am switching gears to healthcare. Good luck! It took me 10 months to pivot myself
yup, i have been there. my first school was horrendously bad, the kids were out of control, and i didnt like any of my coworkers. luckily, i was able to move to a district where everyone was respectful. but if you have a bad job that you feel you cant get out of, you will burnout quick. thats why so many teachers leave.
Yes! Parents ignore anything you say about their kid and turn it around to make the kid the victim, or it’s our fault. I’m like ….. what in the world is wrong with these parents? No wonder kids don’t take responsibility or care…. Parents are ruining their kids and creating monsters.
And, yes, the parents! You are 100% correct! They excuse their child's bad behavior, are in denial, & Refuse to get their child the help they desperately need!!! I had a parent yell at me, toe to toe, in front of other parents & children, about something I hadn't even done, until I told her that she was welcome to continue yelling, but that I would call the police, because it's illegal to tell at a teacher in front of other parents & students. And then I turned around & call the principal. Yes, I had fantastic kids, but also some that would throw tantrums for 30-40 minutes, screaming, traumatizing the others & causing my blood pressure to go out of control! Toxic, anxiety, work load, student & parent bad behaviors, etc. So true!
They're desperate and scared. If their kids don't do well in school they can't get into college and then they won't succeed in life. So they have to do whatever they can to make sure their kids get the highest marks possible.
Good for you! I'm sure the teacher was glad to have you out of his/her hair. I have kids in both public AND private schools. In some ways, my kid in public school gets a more rounded education.
Everything you are saying is spot on! I left teaching 2 years ago and I wish I had done it sooner. Now that I have a job outside school I realize how little teachers get pay compare to other positions. Little things people take for granted like going to the bathroom when you want to, taking breaks, a normal lunch, not having to be at my job at 7:00 AM or earlier, you don't get to do it as a teacher. I don't even miss Summer breaks because my current job is not that draining. As a teacher you need those times off because the job is so demanding! I work at a library now and I love it!
Thanks for your perspective. I was always curious as to how I would feel doing something outside of teaching . I've been doing this for 14 years and although I share the same sentiments that she stated in the video, I don't know what's on the other side. Kinda scared 😳
I'm a retired elementary teacher of 36 years. I can so relate to everything you said. We were respected in the 1970's, but things went downhill from there! How sad! And now I enjoy my Sundays!!!!
Exactly. Now, it's seen as an insult to tell students to stop talking while the teacher is talking. Taking away the teaching time has taken the place of common courtesy.
I refuse to babysit and parent students. It’s not my job to be a parent or babysitter. That’s what day care is for. My job is to educate and create a safe and welcoming learning environment. I get that we have to create routines and set rules and expectations. But I will not babysit a student.
I retired early after 30 years. I was going to stay at least five more years. But a student assaulted me in class while they were four administrators in the room. They did absolutely nothing. And then met with the parent without me. The next day I called to the office downtown to put in for my retirement. My 25 years were good. The last five years were horrible. The administration were horrible, the children were horrible, and the parents were unreasonable. At this point in my life, I don’t even like children. It is sad that I can’t even stand to be around children. They are such liars, and manipulatives.
Great video!!!!! I resigned after 2 weeks as a 3rd grade Supply Teacher. Not only is the school system so messed up, the expectations are completely unrealistic!!!! Best decision ever for me!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!
27:00 there's an unspoken expectation: "If you were a good teacher, you would be able to control that behavior" So when student behavior requires admin support, it's almost like admitting failure. When the admin is unable or unwilling to help, then they turn the problem back on you: "You are the teacher. You are expected to control your classroom. This will be considered during your next evaluation." I'm always afraid to ask for help, because I've had that used against me later on.
College teaching is heading in the exact same direction and very rapidly. When 10% of my students failed, my department chair mentioned that "students fail because professors aren't motivating enough".
Sounds like Teaching is nonstop. Even when your off for holidays you're still working on lesson plans and getting emails from Admin. Smh. All teachers should have a spot in heaven.
It' easier to quit when you have a husband or supplemental income. I am trapped in a mortgage and single. I need to plan ahead to establish another source of income before I can walk away. I 'm too old to do this job, but too young to retire at 20 years in now.
I'm sorry to hear that. I feel the same, although I'm only 6 years in. One kiddo, one cooking in the oven, a mortgage and I'm feeling all the pressure this year. To the point that I'm frustrated, grouchy, losing sleep...etc...
@@victorrivas2350 Sorry to hear that, too. I ended up going to my primary care doctors and am taking a week off. It is helping me to take a step back and breathe. I am still planning my next career. I am taking classes to get my real estate license. I am so sorry you are having that trouble and have a young family to support. But maybe on your breaks in fall, winter, spring or summer, you can look into making a change. We have a lot of transferable qualities in the workforce. Hang in there!
Yep, easy for her to quit, as she sits in her $30,000 kitchen. Hell, I've been in the grind 27 years and I can't quit or I won't get shit. Must be nice to have a husband at home making six figures.
Teachers get paid for 7 hours a day but work 10-11 hours a day... and they end up working on weekends doing grading, lesson planning, and thinking of new ways to present information that will be entertaining and grab students attention while teaching them something.
Not me! It only took 6 months for me to realize that I can squeeze in some planning time when kids are working independently, during breakfast, etc. if I must stay after contracted hours, I only do that once a week. If I must take work home, I’ll limit myself to no more than 30 mins to an hour.
I work for an after-school program and thought about getting my certification. But when I tell you the kids are not where they are supposed to be academically I honestly think that covid exacerbated it because some of them can't even recognize their names. I have a 4th grader that can't read. It takes them too long to do simple math like 25+25 or 10-8. Don't even get me started on their writing. My kids are 5-10 and they act like teenagers. Like age compression is a real phenomenon. They were telling me about squid game before I even knew what it was. They like among us (which is essentially a glorified murdering game) which is marketed towards kids. I blame the parents and honestly I start resenting people that have children. People love saying that they want a baby but they really need to say do they want to raise a person? They're only a baby for 12 months. Once they start walking, talking, hormones, puberty, attitudes, entitlement, being selfish it can really get crazy. Most people that have children are not putting in the time and effort it takes to raise competent, self sufficient, common sense having humans.
How did education become so complicated? We need to get back to the basic subjects (reading, writing and math-not the common core shite), get kids moving outside and allow teachers to hold kids accountable and punish them. We are expecting kids to do college level curriculum when they are so little and should be able to play. Take computers and tablets out of the class while in elementary school.
Yes to everything you said! As a teacher this is exactly right. I have developed anxiety as a result of my teaching career. This will hopefully be my last year. I am working on getting out. It was crazy before Covid it’s unbearable after Covid.
For YEARS, in part I blamed myself: I’m not organized enough, I need to work smarter not harder, I need to get there earlier, I need to, I need to, I need to. If your job makes you feel like you’re not good enough, it’s either not the job for you or it’s not a good job. I think in education the expectations are great but the supports are few (at all levels) so only very few people can make it work where their personal life is not negatively affected. Ironically for a profession like this, I’ve noticed that it is the teachers who put themselves first no matter what, who are the best at keeping a work life balance. They’re never the best teachers, nor the most caring, but they do their job just good enough( and when they don’t the union protects them for a long time ). But if you want to do a good job, ba-bye personal life! Shouldn’t have to be like this. If there were more supports in place and if the expectations made sense to the resources available and how students and classrooms work, but sadly this is not the case, resulting in a very ineffective system where no one wants to be a teacher anymore. Thanks for making this video, it’s therapeutic to see that it’s not that I’m incompetent in some way, this job is just too much. After 22 years, I’m looking for something new for myself. I’m no spring chicken anymore, but I’m no longer going to let fear or guilt stop me.
Plus the fact that you are constantly told to change a reevaluate yourself in every professional development. Teachers seem to always be told they are not enough because that is the one variable that administration feels they have some control over.
21 years here-16 as a classroom teacher. I am no spring chicken either, but I am looking for a way out too. If something came up tomorrow, I’d feel bad for the kids, but would leave in a heartbeat. Someone would say that I don’t love the kids enough-🙄
No amount of money will ease the stress or compromised health. Simple is way better. I just reentered teaching and I regret it. I'm not sure if I'll make it until the end of 2023, but I'm already looking at other options.
my teacher back in middle school straight up said she only is teaching because of the benefits or else she would probably find another job. the pay is brutal. also teachers are expected to pay for school supplies out of pocket
Everything she said is 100% true. People think we get summers off for free, and are just paid for nothing. No, they take 2 months of pay out of our paycheck throughout the year to pay us back in the summer, so we are actually making LESS than what most people think.
Discipline of children starts at home. Children who can not behave at school are not Disciplined at home. Most of the times it is those children's parents who will give you the biggest problems.
As a teacher who is planning to leave the profession soon, I can say this, schools want you to devote EVERYTHING to working. Your time, your energy, your blood, everything. They say that they appreciate you, they say that you are valuble, they say that you are important, but all of that is a lie. You could die at your desk and they wouldn't care.
This past June I chose to leave teaching after 10 years. Brutal workload and expectations with virtually no support and very little resources. It’s an impossible job and Covid made it 1000x worse with no adjustments to help teachers. Yeah, no. I’m out and happy
I have been teaching for 20 years, all grade levels, regular and exceptional education. I literally can't make it through this year, am resigning in December..... Plan on bartending and will make more money in Nashville!! I am also a personal trainer/home chef and want to work more on my You Tube channel...... The teaching profession is toxic!! We have no substitute teachers, I have 15 students for homeroom crammed into an office space; I have to bring stadium chairs from home for desks. My teaching station is a stadium chair by my desk, so I can't even do any small reading groups...... I have so much anxiety due to out of control students, overcrowded classrooms, non-stop testing, analyzing data, the expectations to learn so many new programs perfectly, and meeting the social and emotional needs of my 15 students in my homeroom ( my students have a myriad of chronic adverse childhood experiences and they bring their anger into my classroom).... I have met my breaking point when our school received death threats to shoot teachers from a parent..... Teachers are going to walk out in record numbers this December or in May, and society will suffer terribly....
I would imagine that if the districts paid their administrators far less (maybe around starting teacher pay), you'd get the kind of people who care about teachers and kids instead of their $200k.
Maternity leave in the US sucks in general. We get an entire year paid maternity leave in my country. USA needs to do better when it comes to maternity leave.
I was a sped teacher. I had a student physical assaulting me on a daily basis. I don’t blame the child because the child had a traumatic brain injury after being involved in a car accident. I blame the lack of support from the supposed experts. I was leading a planning 15 different lessons a day to teach multiple lessons at multiple grade levels with students who had multiple needs and all had an individual education plan in addition to trying to teach self contained subjects I was also trying to teach inclusion classes. The solution to this student attacking me from the school social worker and psychologist was for me to teach this child how to treat me by me writing original social stories. The school social worker was going to meet with this child monthly, so despite me having no experience writing social stories this entire intervention was completely on me. One of my kind coworkers helped me find a book and a six hour training but no help or support came from the supposed experts and the social worker keep one appointment with this child all year. I moved to Gen. Ed. After that it is less demanding but only a little less demanding.
I applaud and respect anybody who can work in SPED. I can’t do it. My level of experience with special Ed students is a big ZERO👌. When I use to sub and there was a SPED kid in a Gen Ed classroom, I’d just let them sit in the back table playing on the tablet or fidget spinners all day. As long as they were quiet, safe, and caused no trouble, that was my only concern.
I'm now in my fourth year of teaching and I'm realizing that I actually dread going to work. You talking about how you'd pull into the parking lot and immediately wanting to leave is spot on for me. Getting blamed for things out of your control, the insane workload with poor compensation, stressing kids out to force them to get certain scores on arbitrary tests, and the ridiculous state mandates just makes everything horrible. I hate going to work because of everything you mentioned and now the pandemic has showed me that Texas could care less if I live or die. My school doesn't even inform me of when my students are quarantined or if a coworker has covid. I know I want to quit, but I'm facing a lot of guilt about leaving mid year or even before that. I feel guilty because I don't want to leave my coworkers with even more stress of having to deal with a long term sub or a brand new teacher taking my spot. I hate going to work so much that I'm thinking of resigning in October. I don't even care if my certification is suspended. The guilt I'm facing also stems from the fact that I do enjoy the actual act of teaching, being around children, and lesson planning. I like getting better at delivering content and recognizing my growth as a teacher each year, but I cannot spread that joy thin enough to cover up how terrible being a public school teacher is.
I'm planning to quit next month but I need to get another job before I leave. I'm so done with this profession. Thank you for sharing you thoughts. It helps that I'm not the only one feeling this way.
I taught for 3 years. I knew I had had enough when I began counting down the days to the beginning of the next school year the first day of summer vacation. I knew that that was ridiculously unhealthy and quit for my own peace of mind.
I feel the same! I'm trying to find a job that pays close to it or more...but ...man, it's hard. Mortgage, a second kiddo in the way...loans to repay....
I could have made the exact same video verbatim! I have been teaching for 26 years and by far this year returning from remote learning has been the worst of my career. The disrespect and ridiculous parent interactions have made it unbearable. So glad you were able to leave for your mental health and the benefit of your family. If I didn’t have 3 years left I would have resigned already. I appreciate you sharing candidly and honestly what many of us are experience but feel we can’t share without even more backlash. Best wishes post-teaching.
The principals of schools need to call a parent meeting at the beginning of the year and lay down expectations for parents and let them know they have responsibilities as well.
There's so many teachers quitting there will be only on line education available soon, permanently. The parents will be faced with their creation daily and need to do something about it. I predict the numbers of children in welfare care will rise when that happens.
Society, in general, really needs to listen to all.of the "Why I quit teaching..." videos I am seeing lately. This is year 20 for me and I totally understand what former teachers are saying. Many blessing on your new endeavors. 💖
Great video. Teaching is full of toxicity and lack of mental space. In year 16 with a masters+ and NBCT I make 100K (HS math, large urban district). It is still not worth it. June 20 I am full of anxiety about August and want out so badly but am the breadwinner. Get out if you can, good on those of you who have already managed to.
I’m in a very similar boat. Did you decide to leave? I’m still hanging in there despite admin picking on me relentlessly the past 2 years. I don’t even know how I do it. The job is already brutal but to also be bullied by supervisors is a whole different level of hell.
Your experiences are probably from America or Canada. I am in Australia and it is the same story. I quit teaching at the end of last year. After 20 years, I am done. I will never return. I have changed my career. I love what I do. Teaching left me totally demoralised, anxious, and depressed. I was diagnosed with major depression and PTSD. My psychiatrist does not recommend return to teaching. It was all these years of demoralisation. I am out of there and healthier than ever. 😀 Leave teaching! I recomend it. It is not worth your life and health.
I retired from being an RN after 32 years at the bedside. I worked the HELL HOLES : Emergency Room, Neurosurgical ICU, Medical ICU , and Trauma ICU. Had enough one day.Put in my papers and retired. Claimed my pension at 55( full pension),and did the same with Social Security at 62. Four former coworkers have died since I retired . Glad I retired …it saved my life.
Girl, yes, you’re spot on. I taught last year for a semester, but this was my first and most likely last year to teach, and I only made it 9 weeks. I wouldn’t have quit and powered through, BUT I was diagnosed with Epilepsy. I was having an increase in seizures due to the stress from work (I was also a cheer coach), and the short term disability I was paying over $40 a month for didn’t cover me any time off to try and find a medication that get my condition under control. Honestly all new perspective on life. I feel like I’m too young to be so stressed and upset all the time because of a job.
Girl you are speaking to my soul right now. Also in my sixth year of teaching, spanish classroom, at a school that is in the initial roll-out of the program. it is so tough. thank you for sharing your story.
so painful to listen to her.Its evident she suffered mentally and emotionally from this "teaching job"..its not good to mistreat people this way.the government can do better than this
The moment I heard "Texas" mentioned, you got my attention! I'm feeling the same in terms of watching my time with my four year old, my energy, and my drive whittle away. I do worry what this is all leading to. That political-social dynamic that governs the school, that eschews the rules and this idea of gray area so that you never feel comfortable in what the rules and actual procedures are. I'm in the process of doing a bootcamp for software testing to hopefully open up more job options for me and my growing family; baby number 2 on the way!
Great video! As a former teacher myself, I can totally relate to these mistakes. It's so important for educators transitioning into new careers to be aware of these pitfalls. Thanks for sharing!
i encourage teaxhers to quit and let the parents in their email chain know why. unfortunately...what should be easy issues to solve are complicated by unteasonable people. so the ssystem will have to crash and burn before we fix it. sad that we have to do it this way.
Watching this several times in the past few weeks. It is hard to leave after 26 years, but these last several years have been brutal. I would like to spend more time with my own family.
Parents need to help more and not complain about the teachers💕 I have 2 kids and both did very well in school because both parents showed up and helped.
Clear as a bell - your reasons for having had enough of teaching. Wherever your ambitions have taken you, they must be very happy to have hired you. At least you know that those six years of your efforts have had their mark on every single former student you had. Good job!
I totally understand all of this. I just left teaching (in TX) after 7 years at the secondary level, and I can attest to all of that! You don’t realize how things really were until life after teaching. I really feel like I have a good work/life balance now, even without breaks and summers off. Thank you for making this video!
@@naturenut4550 You definitely can! Start thinking of other jobs you’d be good at, then look at your skills that you’ve acquired, and start applying like crazy. You’ll get there!
I agree so much with what you said in this video. I have been teaching 10 years and this year is the biggest struggle. I feel like I am always pushing myself to the point of complete exhaustion. Then I see my paycheck and I just wonder why I am doing this. Very little appreciation…low pay…toxic work environment. I would recommend anyone who is interested in going into teaching….run away now.
One thing to consider is the pension you will received for your working years and it lasts a lifetime. My mom is retired and the pension + SS has removed any stress of running out of money and how she is going to make it to the end. Especially now with prices of everything rising fast, she doesn't have to worry
Facts!! I’m student teaching and there’s a big teacher shortage at the school I’m in, teachers are forced to sub for other teachers during their free period
@@katherineandrea_ Even thigh that is 💯% reasonable and true, teachers often have no choice and have to sub for absent teachers if administration tells them to..,
I'm actually glad to see that you were brave enough to seek out more fulfilling work. I've had some days in my 27 years at this that I questioned my choices, but not my motives. The love and energy I have always felt from the kids has carried me through. I absolutely LOVE teaching and hope to be able to do this work until I am shown the door...
That’s because parents aren’t in charge of their own kids anymore. The kids are in charge of the parents….THEY run the households and they expect other adults in public to do the same.
My state requires a teacher to get their Masters degree within 5 yrs. The upside is the county had contract with half a dozen Universities for a free masters. They do have to buy their books. So many teachers shared the books or bought them used from recent graduates in the school. The program takes about 2yr. After their Masters, they had to take continuing education.
6:20 Same: I worked an average of eleven hours a day. I would get to school at 7:30am and prepare for class. At 8:40, the kids would arrive and I'd teach all morning. There were 40 minutes for lunch, which I would spend making copies with a sandwich in one hand, then I'd teach until 3:30. After that I'd immediately get into grades, organizing the classroom, lesson planning, more copies, contacting parents, record students incidents, and work on documentation, evidence, test results, and data and finally leave at 6:00 or so. At least one day a week I'd stay until 7:30 or 8:00 at night and wifey would bring dinner to my classroom. Overall, I would work about 65 hours a week physically in the classroom, not counting two to four hours every Saturday grading Friday's tests and recording grades. I would still get scolded by admin for not getting something done on time. Admin and fellow teachers would respond with, "You have to work smarter, not harder" or, "Make the students do most of that work", or "You have to be more efficient with your time". I kept at it figuring that "next year" things would be better. Next year, I'll have all the lesson plans written down so I don't have to do that. Next year, all the materials will be created so I just have to pull them out. Next year....
Parents especially in rich area want education to be privatized. Education I feel took a downfall after the crash of 2008 because of funding. The Covid pandemic put that into overdrive.
I've been teaching for 32 years, and everything you say is spot on. A lot of teachers are afraid to leave because they don't think they can do anything else. I do some contracting on the side, and have held many IT certs. Each August I tell myself that I have options, so don't complain when it gets rough. Since I try not to complain about things I can't change, I don't say a lot, but I'm most likely going to pull the parachute cord when school ends.
@@misterb1132 I love it. Also if I have to do reports, forms, paperwork for the district I often do it while the kids are working independently. It’s amazing what you can get done in 15 minutes here and there.
I taught 20 years. Now I teach college and love it! You should look into the teaching requirements at your local junior college. Some courses require you have a master’s but others don’t (e.g., ESL and ESOL).
This won't be the last time you stand up for yourself and get out of life what YOU WANT!!!! You will now recognize a toxic, unsafe and unhealthy environment and take the appropriate actions IMMEDIATELY!! I've done this MANY TIMES and WITHOUT the benefit of unemployment because they have all been resignations. You learn to work with the resources you have at your disposal and we all think we're gonna die without a paycheck and health insurance but no, it's not like that AT ALL!!! Sometimes the environment is just so horrible that you just gotta do what you gotta do. No shame, no guilt, no looking back, no second guessing, just decisiveness and confidence that you will be smiled upon by grace and providence. One step at a time and before you know it, a whole new opportunity opens it's doors for you!
I homeschooled my two children because my school district is horrible. I know some of the teachers and did not want to expose my children to the chaos that is the classroom. I did send my youngest for I one year (fifth grade, and I was a major part of her support for the school year ( sending in art project packs with projects for the 28 kids in her class, paying for two in school field trips because the school said they didn’t have money, helping in the classroom, sending in supplies for the class monthly). Most of the other parents did not participate or even show up. This new crop of parents is a nightmare. They weren’t held accountable as kids and now they are selfish, self-centered, horrible people and parents. My daughter decided to return to homeschooling because she said that when her teacher was allowed to teach (because they weren’t preparing for the next state test) it was great. She said her peers did not know what they should because they were only being taught what they needed to pass the tests. She also said they didn’t know how to pass the tests because they didn’t have the before lessons (the foundation) to understand what was being given. Unfortunately, in my school district the scores are low and the kids know nothing. My oldest graduated from high school with her eighth grade homeschool education. She went in for ninth grade was put in tenth grade and learned nothing the entire time she was there. When she went to college, she asked me to refresh her study skills because she hadn’t used them the three years she spent in school. She went back and took her pre-freshman summer and learned the math and science she didn’t learn in school. She did say she had a good time especially since there was little to no work because her peers just wouldn’t do it.The system is broken and those in charge are not intelligent enough nor do they care enough to try to really fix it. It is also the parents fault. They are not doing the things they should to prepare their children to be receptive learners. I am curious to see what will happen when public education folds. There will be so many stupid people.
The world portrayed in the movie Idiocracy is taking shape all around us, and I don't know what the solution is. Right now it consists of finding the right community of people who still have values and prepare for a very different kind of world.
@@SaraH-jn5db She's was in her first year. You do realize a "pension" is a teacher's retirement that you earn as of age 62 and have to have taught 28 years or more. No one, grabs a pension and leaves. People that live on pensions are retired.
Yes, people don’t have a clue about how hard it is and how much you have to do daily, it is too much. Then, parents think teachers are lazy and have an easy job and have too much time off. Add all this plus warring a mask all day and trying to get kids to wear a mask.
HR here... the only part that had me scratching my head was your knowledge of FMLA. Most places I worked at are set up like that exact way. Many people believe "6 weeks paid leave" equates to a separate bank of leave. In most cases, it is dependent on the amount of PTO (sick, vac, personal, etc.) you have accumulated. Trust me, a lot of people go on 6 weeks maternity leave not understanding that they only have enough in their banks to cover probably half. I wish it was something discussed more during the onboarding process, but it's something that's really only discussed in the moments leading up to such events
I would love some feedback. I have just entered the teaching career. I currently work at a Title I Middle School as a SPED inclusion teacher and it has been rough. This is my first year. I'm currently leaving my position as a Special Educator to move to be an EIP and Support teacher for better pay, better benefits and training. I'm worried that the previous issues will follow me over to this new school. How can I be realistic about these expectations? The school I'm at has 1/3 of it's staff leaving/quitting due to the abuse they have suffered from multiple students. The administration does little about it save for a couple days of ISS and then the same children are brought right back into the classroom. Is it just my school, or my district? It's got a pretty poor score (59) from the state. I love what I do, but I am frustrated by the lack of consistency within my current system. If I moved away from education, what other jobs drive the passion that I have for the purpose giving back to others.
I am approaching retirement as a patent attorney (I am 58) and I thought about becoming a teacher's aide like my mother did in her retirement back in the 1990's or maybe working in a preschool. But watching these videos make me realize that things are worse than they were even when my mother was working (she retired in 2012, not THAT long ago). But even her classroom teacher that she was an aide for has said things have just gotten awful. It's sad because I think I could have done a good job and I am pretty good with children but as people have said, the parents are just the worst and the administration does not back up the teachers against these parents. I saw some entitled parents at my daughter's school when she was growing up and now they are much worse, I don't see how anyone could put up with that.
I've been a teacher for over 25 years. I don't know why you young teachers work so hard. I do my best and that's it. I make the lessons, give the lectures and grade the assignments. That's it. After that its over.
I think that learning how to do your best while not going overboard to do it takes a while to learn. This is especially so because many young teachers come out of college with the a Messiah complex: "I'm going to save the world by teaching!" This, along with the the guilt tripping and veiled threats by admin along with the emotional manipulations of parents and children make it difficult to figure out exactly what doing your best at your job is while still respecting your own life and your own boundaries.
@@MexAm120902 They also have to toughen up. I remember being a young teacher and even as grown man, I admit, I cried many days after school. But I needed the job and stuck with it. What choice did I have? It got better.
Sorry to hear all this: I'm not a teacher but as a nurse we have related issues and problems you're having to deal with. There is a mass evacuations in some regions leaving the profession as well. At least you don't have angry DA's trying to get you thrown in prison for 10-15 years for unintentional mistakes. God bless.
I’d love a video of more recent thoughts/reflections since leaving; I’m sure your feelings have developed over time. I think you’re extremely kind and give a very professional and respectful explanation, but I feel beyond that. In my own opinion, it’s not my district’s fault, but I think a larger societal issue. I want to get off the sinking ship.
I wasn't a teacher but an Educational ASL Interpreter in the public schools that contracted our agency. It amazed me how teacher spent much of their own money since the schools "didn't have the funds" (most schools I worked at were Federally funded since on reservations) Teachers are far underpaid! I got out of the Educational system due to politics. It's not about the students anymore. One of my duties was to advocate for those I worked with. I got chided for doing such because our agency lost money over it. So it's what's best for the agency and not the students?! Yeah I quit not too long after that. I feel for students who had IEPS and our government violated those students. So glad I got out when I did. If I hadn't I would have lost my job during this scamdemic.
That job could pay me 300K a year and I still wouldn't do it. Not with what kids are allowed to get away with today.
Same!!!👍
Let us get 300k a year and see how that would work. Motivate the teacher to put up with it and maybe we can talk
True. These kids are not going to be prepared for the future at all.
What makes teaching unbearable for most people is that the entire system is a psychological mind frell. It’s perpetual & inescapable mental and emotional abuse (sometimes with a little physical thrown in) that wears people down and sometimes breaks them. Constantly being held to unmeetable standards, burdened with micro management and meaningless busy work that keeps you from doing your job well, guilted and blamed from every angle. In many cases disrespected, demeaned and verbally abused by admins, parents and children without absolutely zero recourse…There’s a reason why a lot of people tap out and never go back.
You are so right. During the 22 EXTREMELY difficult years I taught, what I would hear from admin. Regarding student behavior was, you need to improve your classroom management skills. Except for one administrator who was relatively new and came clean. He said, “There are 15% of the students we don’t know what to do with.” But my situation and that of other teachers was made much worse than “just” getting some students who weren’t socialized correctly. After maybe 15 years of teaching in the same school I was told that a counselor who was very close to a group of about 6 teachers, would in the summer go through each student’s discipline file and transfer out of his friend’s classes and put them in other teacher’s classes. AMAZINGLY, this group had the audacity to self graduate at every opportunity and look down their noses at the rest of us for not having as high functioning of classes and student’s as they had. Some of them are in admin. Today and that counselor is a Principal!!! I loved teaching but it hurt my body and socializing a lot. One administrator who wasn’t part of that group told me to just give 80%, because I gave more than 100%. It is a miracle that I didn’t go looney, because we had three teachers who had mental breakdowns.
You literally described my life.
I’m handing my letter of resignation tomorrow. I feel terrible for the students, but I cannot physically or mentally handle it anymore.
Sending good vibes your way! I wish I could do the same right now.
Same here
Jooshwhey how did it go?
How has it worked so far?
How did it work out.? How are you feeling now?
The fact social media is littered with "why I quit teaching" videos is super concerning. Teachers are so vital to any functioning society.
I agree. It's disconcerting. Satan trying to take over for a new world order of minions.
Everything you've said...yes. I'm quitting after this year and I'll never EVER go back. Middle school was what finally made me realize I am not built for teaching.
Yeah I quit after a couple years this summer as well. Students were so bad I got diagnosed with PTSD. I also quit with no job lined up but I’m doing so much better and happier right now.
I also in distress after teaching. I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown. I got my retail job back from college and I am switching gears to healthcare. Good luck! It took me 10 months to pivot myself
I’m glad you chose your mental health over teaching! No job is worth that much distress!
yup, i have been there. my first school was horrendously bad, the kids were out of control, and i didnt like any of my coworkers. luckily, i was able to move to a district where everyone was respectful. but if you have a bad job that you feel you cant get out of, you will burnout quick. thats why so many teachers leave.
Yes! Parents ignore anything you say about their kid and turn it around to make the kid the victim, or it’s our fault. I’m like ….. what in the world is wrong with these parents? No wonder kids don’t take responsibility or care…. Parents are ruining their kids and creating monsters.
Everything you said is true & really resonated with me. You're 'lucky' that you were married & had 2 incomes. As a single mom, it was Brutal!!!
And, yes, the parents! You are 100% correct! They excuse their child's bad behavior, are in denial, & Refuse to get their child the help they desperately need!!! I had a parent yell at me, toe to toe, in front of other parents & children, about something I hadn't even done, until I told her that she was welcome to continue yelling, but that I would call the police, because it's illegal to tell at a teacher in front of other parents & students. And then I turned around & call the principal.
Yes, I had fantastic kids, but also some that would throw tantrums for 30-40 minutes, screaming, traumatizing the others & causing my blood pressure to go out of control! Toxic, anxiety, work load, student & parent bad behaviors, etc. So true!
I've always loved my children's teachers. It's the public school curriculum and the system that I do not like. So I homeschool.
They're desperate and scared. If their kids don't do well in school they can't get into college and then they won't succeed in life. So they have to do whatever they can to make sure their kids get the highest marks possible.
Good for you! I'm sure the teacher was glad to have you out of his/her hair. I have kids in both public AND private schools. In some ways, my kid in public school gets a more rounded education.
Everything you are saying is spot on! I left teaching 2 years ago and I wish I had done it sooner. Now that I have a job outside school I realize how little teachers get pay compare to other positions. Little things people take for granted like going to the bathroom when you want to, taking breaks, a normal lunch, not having to be at my job at 7:00 AM or earlier, you don't get to do it as a teacher. I don't even miss Summer breaks because my current job is not that draining. As a teacher you need those times off because the job is so demanding!
I work at a library now and I love it!
Thanks for your perspective. I was always curious as to how I would feel doing something outside of teaching . I've been doing this for 14 years and although I share the same sentiments that she stated in the video, I don't know what's on the other side. Kinda scared 😳
Yes!! So true. I'm there at 6 am.
How did you find a different job?
@@Slowmetamorphis did you have to do any extra schooling to work in a library?
@@katycat11 Actually I don't. But I'm considering doing some courses in the future.
I'm a retired elementary teacher of 36 years. I can so relate to everything you said. We were respected in the 1970's, but things went downhill from there! How sad! And now I enjoy my Sundays!!!!
Parents expect teachers to bring their kids up. It used to be that kids had to keep quiet and pay attention in classrooms.
Exactly. Now, it's seen as an insult to tell students to stop talking while the teacher is talking. Taking away the teaching time has taken the place of common courtesy.
I refuse to babysit and parent students. It’s not my job to be a parent or babysitter. That’s what day care is for.
My job is to educate and create a safe and welcoming learning environment. I get that we have to create routines and set rules and expectations. But I will not babysit a student.
I retired early after 30 years. I was going to stay at least five more years. But a student assaulted me in class while they were four administrators in the room. They did absolutely nothing. And then met with the parent without me. The next day I called to the office downtown to put in for my retirement. My 25 years were good. The last five years were horrible. The administration were horrible, the children were horrible, and the parents were unreasonable. At this point in my life, I don’t even like children. It is sad that I can’t even stand to be around children. They are such liars, and manipulatives.
Why were there 4 administrators already in your room? They were already there before the incident happened.
Well said, good thing you quit, you don't need that stress, you should have quit earlier
Yeah unfortunately you gotta keep your guard up nowadays even around children
Yeah, at the end they say,"You're too 🗝️ old and too expensive..."
Yep! In year 29
Great video!!!!! I resigned after 2 weeks as a 3rd grade Supply Teacher. Not only is the school system so messed up, the expectations are completely unrealistic!!!! Best decision ever for me!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!
I was 14 1/2 years!
Wow... How i wish i can do it soon too for myself. Everyday grind is brutally killing my hopes, enthusiasm, joy... Etc
27:00 there's an unspoken expectation: "If you were a good teacher, you would be able to control that behavior" So when student behavior requires admin support, it's almost like admitting failure. When the admin is unable or unwilling to help, then they turn the problem back on you: "You are the teacher. You are expected to control your classroom. This will be considered during your next evaluation."
I'm always afraid to ask for help, because I've had that used against me later on.
Same!
That's completely understandable.. I hated doing evaluations.. admin always look out for themselves not teachers..
College teaching is heading in the exact same direction and very rapidly. When 10% of my students failed, my department chair mentioned that "students fail because professors aren't motivating enough".
Tell them it's the parents' fault
Same. Unruly kids = poor classroom mgmt. Been "marked down" on evaluation. I've stopped caring. Go ahead and fire me!
After 26 years, I will be leaving this June. Very demanding profession. Has changed so much.
I’m leaving teaching as well. This is my last year and I will be resigning in 4 weeks.
Sounds like Teaching is nonstop. Even when your off for holidays you're still working on lesson plans and getting emails from Admin. Smh. All teachers should have a spot in heaven.
It' easier to quit when you have a husband or supplemental income. I am trapped in a mortgage and single. I need to plan ahead to establish another source of income before I can walk away. I 'm too old to do this job, but too young to retire at 20 years in now.
I'm sorry to hear that. I feel the same, although I'm only 6 years in. One kiddo, one cooking in the oven, a mortgage and I'm feeling all the pressure this year. To the point that I'm frustrated, grouchy, losing sleep...etc...
@@victorrivas2350 Sorry to hear that, too. I ended up going to my primary care doctors and am taking a week off. It is helping me to take a step back and breathe. I am still planning my next career. I am taking classes to get my real estate license. I am so sorry you are having that trouble and have a young family to support. But maybe on your breaks in fall, winter, spring or summer, you can look into making a change. We have a lot of transferable qualities in the workforce. Hang in there!
Same situation here.
Yep, easy for her to quit, as she sits in her $30,000 kitchen. Hell, I've been in the grind 27 years and I can't quit or I won't get shit. Must be nice to have a husband at home making six figures.
My husband suggested I go into teaching. I just left a stressful
job and thought if teaching is so easy then why are teachers leaving left and right.
Because it's not really a job, but a hell on earth! That's how it was described by a former teacher.
Teachers get paid for 7 hours a day but work 10-11 hours a day... and they end up working on weekends doing grading, lesson planning, and thinking of new ways to present information that will be entertaining and grab students attention while teaching them something.
Not me! It only took 6 months for me to realize that I can squeeze in some planning time when kids are working independently, during breakfast, etc. if I must stay after contracted hours, I only do that once a week. If I must take work home, I’ll limit myself to no more than 30 mins to an hour.
I quit teaching last September. Best decision I ever made. No regrets.
I work for an after-school program and thought about getting my certification. But when I tell you the kids are not where they are supposed to be academically I honestly think that covid exacerbated it because some of them can't even recognize their names. I have a 4th grader that can't read. It takes them too long to do simple math like 25+25 or 10-8. Don't even get me started on their writing. My kids are 5-10 and they act like teenagers. Like age compression is a real phenomenon. They were telling me about squid game before I even knew what it was. They like among us (which is essentially a glorified murdering game) which is marketed towards kids. I blame the parents and honestly I start resenting people that have children. People love saying that they want a baby but they really need to say do they want to raise a person? They're only a baby for 12 months. Once they start walking, talking, hormones, puberty, attitudes, entitlement, being selfish it can really get crazy.
Most people that have children are not putting in the time and effort it takes to raise competent, self sufficient, common sense having humans.
They are being raised by iPads and cell phones
This comment is so spot on!!!
True.
Just passed from grade to grade
I know from work.
Gen Z and the younger group can't read or handle math .
How did education become so complicated? We need to get back to the basic subjects (reading, writing and math-not the common core shite), get kids moving outside and allow teachers to hold kids accountable and punish them. We are expecting kids to do college level curriculum when they are so little and should be able to play. Take computers and tablets out of the class while in elementary school.
Yes to everything you said! As a teacher this is exactly right. I have developed anxiety as a result of my teaching career. This will hopefully be my last year. I am working on getting out. It was crazy before Covid it’s unbearable after Covid.
For YEARS, in part I blamed myself: I’m not organized enough, I need to work smarter not harder, I need to get there earlier, I need to, I need to, I need to. If your job makes you feel like you’re not good enough, it’s either not the job for you or it’s not a good job. I think in education the expectations are great but the supports are few (at all levels) so only very few people can make it work where their personal life is not negatively affected. Ironically for a profession like this, I’ve noticed that it is the teachers who put themselves first no matter what, who are the best at keeping a work life balance. They’re never the best teachers, nor the most caring, but they do their job just good enough( and when they don’t the union protects them for a long time ). But if you want to do a good job, ba-bye personal life! Shouldn’t have to be like this. If there were more supports in place and if the expectations made sense to the resources available and how students and classrooms work, but sadly this is not the case, resulting in a very ineffective system where no one wants to be a teacher anymore. Thanks for making this video, it’s therapeutic to see that it’s not that I’m incompetent in some way, this job is just too much. After 22 years, I’m looking for something new for myself. I’m no spring chicken anymore, but I’m no longer going to let fear or guilt stop me.
Plus the fact that you are constantly told to change a reevaluate yourself in every professional development. Teachers seem to always be told they are not enough because that is the one variable that administration feels they have some control over.
You nailed it. The teachers who do the basics and put themselves first just skate through the year and experience no problems.
21 years here-16 as a classroom teacher. I am no spring chicken either, but I am looking for a way out too. If something came up tomorrow, I’d feel bad for the kids, but would leave in a heartbeat. Someone would say that I don’t love the kids enough-🙄
@@LynneC44 Time is of an essence. I would leave & live my life
Do it quit, you will be a new person and so happy
I hate how much of our lives are taken up by work and appreciate your perspective. Your channel deserves way more views and subscribers!!
Yes, it’s crazy how much teaching consumed my life. Awww thank you so much, that means so much!❤️
starting pay for teachers should be $70,000 a year.
Why do speech and counselors make more. We literally do everything
@@elizabethbell8872 full facts
No amount of money will ease the stress or compromised health. Simple is way better. I just reentered teaching and I regret it. I'm not sure if I'll make it until the end of 2023, but I'm already looking at other options.
Even that’s not enough to convince teachers to continue dealing with what they have to deal with daily.
my teacher back in middle school straight up said she only is teaching because of the benefits or else she would probably find another job. the pay is brutal. also teachers are expected to pay for school supplies out of pocket
can't blame her. its brutal and thankless , teaching and nursing are hell on earth
Everything she said is 100% true. People think we get summers off for free, and are just paid for nothing. No, they take 2 months of pay out of our paycheck throughout the year to pay us back in the summer, so we are actually making LESS than what most people think.
Discipline of children starts at home. Children who can not behave at school are not Disciplined at home. Most of the times it is those children's parents who will give you the biggest problems.
Yes! If kids don’t respect their parents, they won’t respect any other form of authority. Period.
As a teacher who is planning to leave the profession soon, I can say this, schools want you to devote EVERYTHING to working. Your time, your energy, your blood, everything. They say that they appreciate you, they say that you are valuble, they say that you are important, but all of that is a lie. You could die at your desk and they wouldn't care.
Sounds like a demonic agenda. I'd get out now. It's become the Matrix (Satan's domain).
This past June I chose to leave teaching after 10 years. Brutal workload and expectations with virtually no support and very little resources. It’s an impossible job and Covid made it 1000x worse with no adjustments to help teachers. Yeah, no. I’m out and happy
What type of career did you pursue after teaching?
W
I hear ya! After 26 years, I am out this June.
How are you doing now?
I have been teaching for 20 years, all grade levels, regular and exceptional education. I literally can't make it through this year, am resigning in December..... Plan on bartending and will make more money in Nashville!! I am also a personal trainer/home chef and want to work more on my You Tube channel...... The teaching profession is toxic!! We have no substitute teachers, I have 15 students for homeroom crammed into an office space; I have to bring stadium chairs from home for desks. My teaching station is a stadium chair by my desk, so I can't even do any small reading groups...... I have so much anxiety due to out of control students, overcrowded classrooms, non-stop testing, analyzing data, the expectations to learn so many new programs perfectly, and meeting the social and emotional needs of my 15 students in my homeroom ( my students have a myriad of chronic adverse childhood experiences and they bring their anger into my classroom).... I have met my breaking point when our school received death threats to shoot teachers from a parent..... Teachers are going to walk out in record numbers this December or in May, and society will suffer terribly....
I would imagine that if the districts paid their administrators far less (maybe around starting teacher pay), you'd get the kind of people who care about teachers and kids instead of their $200k.
Maternity leave in the US sucks in general. We get an entire year paid maternity leave in my country. USA needs to do better when it comes to maternity leave.
Yes, us in Canada too. One extra unpaid year if if wish too as well!
The US needs to do better in everything
I was a sped teacher. I had a student physical assaulting me on a daily basis. I don’t blame the child because the child had a traumatic brain injury after being involved in a car accident. I blame the lack of support from the supposed experts. I was leading a planning 15 different lessons a day to teach multiple lessons at multiple grade levels with students who had multiple needs and all had an individual education plan in addition to trying to teach self contained subjects I was also trying to teach inclusion classes. The solution to this student attacking me from the school social worker and psychologist was for me to teach this child how to treat me by me writing original social stories. The school social worker was going to meet with this child monthly, so despite me having no experience writing social stories this entire intervention was completely on me. One of my kind coworkers helped me find a book and a six hour training but no help or support came from the supposed experts and the social worker keep one appointment with this child all year. I moved to Gen. Ed. After that it is less demanding but only a little less demanding.
@Caelia Caecilia I am sorry you went through it as well.
I applaud and respect anybody who can work in SPED. I can’t do it. My level of experience with special Ed students is a big ZERO👌.
When I use to sub and there was a SPED kid in a Gen Ed classroom, I’d just let them sit in the back table playing on the tablet or fidget spinners all day. As long as they were quiet, safe, and caused no trouble, that was my only concern.
yes girl... kids always telling me it's boring.....very frustrating when you work so hard.
I'm now in my fourth year of teaching and I'm realizing that I actually dread going to work. You talking about how you'd pull into the parking lot and immediately wanting to leave is spot on for me. Getting blamed for things out of your control, the insane workload with poor compensation, stressing kids out to force them to get certain scores on arbitrary tests, and the ridiculous state mandates just makes everything horrible. I hate going to work because of everything you mentioned and now the pandemic has showed me that Texas could care less if I live or die. My school doesn't even inform me of when my students are quarantined or if a coworker has covid.
I know I want to quit, but I'm facing a lot of guilt about leaving mid year or even before that. I feel guilty because I don't want to leave my coworkers with even more stress of having to deal with a long term sub or a brand new teacher taking my spot. I hate going to work so much that I'm thinking of resigning in October. I don't even care if my certification is suspended. The guilt I'm facing also stems from the fact that I do enjoy the actual act of teaching, being around children, and lesson planning. I like getting better at delivering content and recognizing my growth as a teacher each year, but I cannot spread that joy thin enough to cover up how terrible being a public school teacher is.
I feel the same. I’m thinking about quitting in December but idk 🙁
I'm planning to quit next month but I need to get another job before I leave. I'm so done with this profession. Thank you for sharing you thoughts. It helps that I'm not the only one feeling this way.
I plan on submitting my 2 week notice the day we come back from Christmas and New Year break. I AM BURNT OUT!
I taught for 3 years. I knew I had had enough when I began counting down the days to the beginning of the next school year the first day of summer vacation. I knew that that was ridiculously unhealthy and quit for my own peace of mind.
I feel the same! I'm trying to find a job that pays close to it or more...but ...man, it's hard. Mortgage, a second kiddo in the way...loans to repay....
I could have made the exact same video verbatim! I have been teaching for 26 years and by far this year returning from remote learning has been the worst of my career. The disrespect and ridiculous parent interactions have made it unbearable. So glad you were able to leave for your mental health and the benefit of your family. If I didn’t have 3 years left I would have resigned already. I appreciate you sharing candidly and honestly what many of us are experience but feel we can’t share without even more backlash. Best wishes post-teaching.
Exactly!
The principals of schools need to call a parent meeting at the beginning of the year and lay down expectations for parents and let them know they have responsibilities as well.
There's so many teachers quitting there will be only on line education available soon, permanently. The parents will be faced with their creation daily and need to do something about it. I predict the numbers of children in welfare care will rise when that happens.
I'm an educator (special education) and I can relate to many of the statements that you pointed out. Sunday evenings are always filled with dread.
Society, in general, really needs to listen to all.of the "Why I quit teaching..." videos I am seeing lately. This is year 20 for me and I totally understand what former teachers are saying. Many blessing on your new endeavors. 💖
Great video. Teaching is full of toxicity and lack of mental space. In year 16 with a masters+ and NBCT I make 100K (HS math, large urban district). It is still not worth it. June 20 I am full of anxiety about August and want out so badly but am the breadwinner. Get out if you can, good on those of you who have already managed to.
I’m in a very similar boat. Did you decide to leave? I’m still hanging in there despite admin picking on me relentlessly the past 2 years. I don’t even know how I do it. The job is already brutal but to also be bullied by supervisors is a whole different level of hell.
Your experiences are probably from America or Canada. I am in Australia and it is the same story. I quit teaching at the end of last year. After 20 years, I am done. I will never return. I have changed my career. I love what I do. Teaching left me totally demoralised, anxious, and depressed. I was diagnosed with major depression and PTSD. My psychiatrist does not recommend return to teaching. It was all these years of demoralisation. I am out of there and healthier than ever. 😀 Leave teaching! I recomend it. It is not worth your life and health.
I retired from being an RN after 32 years at the bedside. I worked the HELL HOLES : Emergency Room, Neurosurgical ICU, Medical ICU , and Trauma ICU. Had enough one day.Put in my papers and retired.
Claimed my pension at 55( full pension),and did the same with Social Security at 62.
Four former coworkers have died since I retired . Glad I retired …it saved my life.
Girl, yes, you’re spot on. I taught last year for a semester, but this was my first and most likely last year to teach, and I only made it 9 weeks. I wouldn’t have quit and powered through, BUT I was diagnosed with Epilepsy. I was having an increase in seizures due to the stress from work (I was also a cheer coach), and the short term disability I was paying over $40 a month for didn’t cover me any time off to try and find a medication that get my condition under control. Honestly all new perspective on life. I feel like I’m too young to be so stressed and upset all the time because of a job.
Outgrowing your teaching position happens more often than you think. I am glad you checkout and did what was right for you. Best wishes.
Someone who never wanted to be a teacher tried it, didn't like it it... not suprised. (US public schools suck)
Amen been teaching nine years 46 years old. i hate covid too girl! I don't know if I can do this forever. I am exhausted.
Girl you are speaking to my soul right now. Also in my sixth year of teaching, spanish classroom, at a school that is in the initial roll-out of the program. it is so tough. thank you for sharing your story.
so painful to listen to her.Its evident she suffered mentally and emotionally from this "teaching job"..its not good to mistreat people this way.the government can do better than this
The moment I heard "Texas" mentioned, you got my attention! I'm feeling the same in terms of watching my time with my four year old, my energy, and my drive whittle away. I do worry what this is all leading to. That political-social dynamic that governs the school, that eschews the rules and this idea of gray area so that you never feel comfortable in what the rules and actual procedures are. I'm in the process of doing a bootcamp for software testing to hopefully open up more job options for me and my growing family; baby number 2 on the way!
I was a middle school teacher and got disrespected by kids. I returned to pastoral ministry and got treated disrespectfully by adults.
Great video! As a former teacher myself, I can totally relate to these mistakes. It's so important for educators transitioning into new careers to be aware of these pitfalls. Thanks for sharing!
Spot on, such a good description of the shared experience of being a teacher, and I am in the uk
Just the same!
i encourage teaxhers to quit and let the parents in their email chain know why. unfortunately...what should be easy issues to solve are complicated by unteasonable people. so the ssystem will have to crash and burn before we fix it. sad that we have to do it this way.
Watching this several times in the past few weeks. It is hard to leave after 26 years, but these last several years have been brutal. I would like to spend more time with my own family.
Parents need to help more and not complain about the teachers💕 I have 2 kids and both did very well in school because both parents showed up and helped.
Ma'am, people like you are so rare these days
This resonated so much unfortunately.
I agree with all of this! I have taught for nine years, and I am about ready to find a new career.
Did you leave teaching?
Clear as a bell - your reasons for having had enough of teaching. Wherever your ambitions have taken you, they must be very happy to have hired you. At least you know that those six years of your efforts have had their mark on every single former student you had. Good job!
I totally understand all of this. I just left teaching (in TX) after 7 years at the secondary level, and I can attest to all of that! You don’t realize how things really were until life after teaching. I really feel like I have a good work/life balance now, even without breaks and summers off. Thank you for making this video!
What career did you go into after teaching?
@@naturenut4550 IT
@@dillong4513 Good for you! Wish I could figure out a path.
@@naturenut4550 You definitely can! Start thinking of other jobs you’d be good at, then look at your skills that you’ve acquired, and start applying like crazy. You’ll get there!
@@dillong4513 Thank you. I hope to be in something different this summer. Things I’m interested in don’t pay well.
I agree so much with what you said in this video. I have been teaching 10 years and this year is the biggest struggle. I feel like I am always pushing myself to the point of complete exhaustion. Then I see my paycheck and I just wonder why I am doing this. Very little appreciation…low pay…toxic work environment. I would recommend anyone who is interested in going into teaching….run away now.
One thing to consider is the pension you will received for your working years and it lasts a lifetime. My mom is retired and the pension + SS has removed any stress of running out of money and how she is going to make it to the end. Especially now with prices of everything rising fast, she doesn't have to worry
You're intelligent and courageous. Good luck with your new career. Thank you for the video.
Facts!! I’m student teaching and there’s a big teacher shortage at the school I’m
in, teachers are forced to sub for other teachers during their free period
Oh no no. I would never sub during my free period. I needed that time to freaking breath!
Subbing in the free periods is true.... I am a teacher from India and every word that you spoke in this video is true.... I am year 2 now
They cancel my art classes to sub due to teacher shortages.
@@Komorebidreams That's really annoying. We never get to do our pending work in free periods cause we don't get to have free periods.
@@katherineandrea_ Even thigh that is 💯% reasonable and true, teachers often have no choice and have to sub for absent teachers if administration tells them to..,
I'm actually glad to see that you were brave enough to seek out more fulfilling work. I've had some days in my 27 years at this that I questioned my choices, but not my motives. The love and energy I have always felt from the kids has carried me through. I absolutely LOVE teaching and hope to be able to do this work until I am shown the door...
the kids are your BOSS. the Principal's your BOSS. the endless number of STUPID PARENTS are your BOSS. the PC level is insane. The end.
That’s because parents aren’t in charge of their own kids anymore.
The kids are in charge of the parents….THEY run the households and they expect other adults in public to do the same.
What do you do for work now?
I feel like a lot of ex-teachers go into tutoring, but that's still constant lesson planning.
I was a PE coach in the 90s and I had overbearing parents. AS A PE COACH. lol. I can't imagine how it is now. Wow.
Girllllll....
This video is the REALEST!!!!!
My state requires a teacher to get their Masters degree within 5 yrs. The upside is the county had contract with half a dozen Universities for a free masters. They do have to buy their books. So many teachers shared the books or bought them used from recent graduates in the school. The program takes about 2yr. After their Masters, they had to take continuing education.
6:20 Same: I worked an average of eleven hours a day. I would get to school at 7:30am and prepare for class. At 8:40, the kids would arrive and I'd teach all morning. There were 40 minutes for lunch, which I would spend making copies with a sandwich in one hand, then I'd teach until 3:30. After that I'd immediately get into grades, organizing the classroom, lesson planning, more copies, contacting parents, record students incidents, and work on documentation, evidence, test results, and data and finally leave at 6:00 or so. At least one day a week I'd stay until 7:30 or 8:00 at night and wifey would bring dinner to my classroom.
Overall, I would work about 65 hours a week physically in the classroom, not counting two to four hours every Saturday grading Friday's tests and recording grades. I would still get scolded by admin for not getting something done on time.
Admin and fellow teachers would respond with, "You have to work smarter, not harder" or, "Make the students do most of that work", or "You have to be more efficient with your time".
I kept at it figuring that "next year" things would be better. Next year, I'll have all the lesson plans written down so I don't have to do that. Next year, all the materials will be created so I just have to pull them out. Next year....
Next year you get a different prep and repeat
Sped for special ed? It's already been shortened from education. Teaching is the front line if we're using military short forms.
Parents especially in rich area want education to be privatized. Education I feel took a downfall after the crash of 2008 because of funding. The Covid pandemic put that into overdrive.
I've been teaching for 32 years, and everything you say is spot on. A lot of teachers are afraid to leave because they don't think they can do anything else. I do some contracting on the side, and have held many IT certs. Each August I tell myself that I have options, so don't complain when it gets rough. Since I try not to complain about things I can't change, I don't say a lot, but I'm most likely going to pull the parachute cord when school ends.
if you can teach you can do anything
The teacher retirement in Texas is horrible.
Do you have a union?
I won’t work outside contracted hours anymore. No other profession works for free.
I haven't brought stuff home for over 15 years. One of the best decisions a teacher can make.
@@misterb1132 I love it. Also if I have to do reports, forms, paperwork for the district I often do it while the kids are working independently. It’s amazing what you can get done in 15 minutes here and there.
I taught 20 years. Now I teach college and love it! You should look into the teaching requirements at your local junior college. Some courses require you have a master’s but others don’t (e.g., ESL and ESOL).
How do we organize a national teacher labor movement? That's the essential question. Don't quit. Organize, mobilize, make demands.
Let’s go
I think that already exists. It's called the NEA. There is also The American Federation of Teachers.
@@MexAm120902 Those institutions do not represent the workforce in any way. If that were the case we would have better healthcare.
This won't be the last time you stand up for yourself and get out of life what YOU WANT!!!! You will now recognize a toxic, unsafe and unhealthy environment and take the appropriate actions IMMEDIATELY!! I've done this MANY TIMES and WITHOUT the benefit of unemployment because they have all been resignations. You learn to work with the resources you have at your disposal and we all think we're gonna die without a paycheck and health insurance but no, it's not like that AT ALL!!! Sometimes the environment is just so horrible that you just gotta do what you gotta do. No shame, no guilt, no looking back, no second guessing, just decisiveness and confidence that you will be smiled upon by grace and providence. One step at a time and before you know it, a whole new opportunity opens it's doors for you!
I can relate. I'm at that point of leaving the teaching profession. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I homeschooled my two children because my school district is horrible. I know some of the teachers and did not want to expose my children to the chaos that is the classroom. I did send my youngest for I one year (fifth grade, and I was a major part of her support for the school year ( sending in art project packs with projects for the 28 kids in her class, paying for two in school field trips because the school said they didn’t have money, helping in the classroom, sending in supplies for the class monthly). Most of the other parents did not participate or even show up. This new crop of parents is a nightmare. They weren’t held accountable as kids and now they are selfish, self-centered, horrible people and parents. My daughter decided to return to homeschooling because she said that when her teacher was allowed to teach (because they weren’t preparing for the next state test) it was great. She said her peers did not know what they should because they were only being taught what they needed to pass the tests. She also said they didn’t know how to pass the tests because they didn’t have the before lessons (the foundation) to understand what was being given. Unfortunately, in my school district the scores are low and the kids know nothing. My oldest graduated from high school with her eighth grade homeschool education. She went in for ninth grade was put in tenth grade and learned nothing the entire time she was there. When she went to college, she asked me to refresh her study skills because she hadn’t used them the three years she spent in school. She went back and took her pre-freshman summer and learned the math and science she didn’t learn in school. She did say she had a good time especially since there was little to no work because her peers just wouldn’t do it.The system is broken and those in charge are not intelligent enough nor do they care enough to try to really fix it. It is also the parents fault. They are not doing the things they should to prepare their children to be receptive learners. I am curious to see what will happen when public education folds. There will be so many stupid people.
The world portrayed in the movie Idiocracy is taking shape all around us, and I don't know what the solution is. Right now it consists of finding the right community of people who still have values and prepare for a very different kind of world.
Thanks for sharing! I am a first-year teacher and is starting to feel the stress now...very anxious about it and I don't know how I could move on...
I would say do what my friend did, get your pension then immediately get out of there. I gave up on teaching before that point
@@SaraH-jn5db but I've studied pgce and came all the way to how I've become now, I don't know if leaving is the right decision..
@@SaraH-jn5db She's was in her first year. You do realize a "pension" is a teacher's retirement that you earn as of age 62 and have to have taught 28 years or more. No one, grabs a pension and leaves. People that live on pensions are retired.
Not to mention most teachers I knew including myself had to work second jobs in the summer since the pay is so low.
Yes, people don’t have a clue about how hard it is and how much you have to do daily, it is too much. Then, parents think teachers are lazy and have an easy job and have too much time off. Add all this plus warring a mask all day and trying to get kids to wear a mask.
Todays parents are lazy and refuse to take the time to raise their kids correctly. They want everyone else to do it.
HR here...
the only part that had me scratching my head was your knowledge of FMLA. Most places I worked at are set up like that exact way. Many people believe "6 weeks paid leave" equates to a separate bank of leave. In most cases, it is dependent on the amount of PTO (sick, vac, personal, etc.) you have accumulated. Trust me, a lot of people go on 6 weeks maternity leave not understanding that they only have enough in their banks to cover probably half.
I wish it was something discussed more during the onboarding process, but it's something that's really only discussed in the moments leading up to such events
"Why I quit teaching: the brutal truth" also "It does get better". Twelve year teacher here: No it does not. (IMO obviously)
I would love some feedback. I have just entered the teaching career. I currently work at a Title I Middle School as a SPED inclusion teacher and it has been rough. This is my first year. I'm currently leaving my position as a Special Educator to move to be an EIP and Support teacher for better pay, better benefits and training. I'm worried that the previous issues will follow me over to this new school.
How can I be realistic about these expectations? The school I'm at has 1/3 of it's staff leaving/quitting due to the abuse they have suffered from multiple students. The administration does little about it save for a couple days of ISS and then the same children are brought right back into the classroom.
Is it just my school, or my district? It's got a pretty poor score (59) from the state. I love what I do, but I am frustrated by the lack of consistency within my current system.
If I moved away from education, what other jobs drive the passion that I have for the purpose giving back to others.
Great video! Thank you for the courage to let go of a comfort zone to follow your love and passion!
I have 6 more classes than I am out. 14 years of teaching and i cant believe i stayed this long.
I am approaching retirement as a patent attorney (I am 58) and I thought about becoming a teacher's aide like my mother did in her retirement back in the 1990's or maybe working in a preschool. But watching these videos make me realize that things are worse than they were even when my mother was working (she retired in 2012, not THAT long ago). But even her classroom teacher that she was an aide for has said things have just gotten awful. It's sad because I think I could have done a good job and I am pretty good with children but as people have said, the parents are just the worst and the administration does not back up the teachers against these parents. I saw some entitled parents at my daughter's school when she was growing up and now they are much worse, I don't see how anyone could put up with that.
And BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT is the worst!
Why?
I quit Friday!
I've been a teacher for over 25 years. I don't know why you young teachers work so hard. I do my best and that's it. I make the lessons, give the lectures and grade the assignments. That's it. After that its over.
I think that learning how to do your best while not going overboard to do it takes a while to learn. This is especially so because many young teachers come out of college with the a Messiah complex: "I'm going to save the world by teaching!" This, along with the the guilt tripping and veiled threats by admin along with the emotional manipulations of parents and children make it difficult to figure out exactly what doing your best at your job is while still respecting your own life and your own boundaries.
@@MexAm120902 They also have to toughen up. I remember being a young teacher and even as grown man, I admit, I cried many days after school. But I needed the job and stuck with it. What choice did I have? It got better.
@@glennwatson3313 Yes, I agree. No one ever mentions the toughening up part. But it's true. One does have to learn that.
Do you teach elementary school?
Sorry to hear all this: I'm not a teacher but as a nurse we have related issues and problems you're having to deal with. There is a mass evacuations in some regions leaving the profession as well. At least you don't have angry DA's trying to get you thrown in prison for 10-15 years for unintentional mistakes. God bless.
😮😢😮😢😮
I’m a first year teacher watching this video :/
Good god, start networking now.
I'm in my maternity leave and I've got work to do!
I’d love a video of more recent thoughts/reflections since leaving; I’m sure your feelings have developed over time. I think you’re extremely kind and give a very professional and respectful explanation, but I feel beyond that. In my own opinion, it’s not my district’s fault, but I think a larger societal issue. I want to get off the sinking ship.
This video has all what I once thought but was anxious to mention out loud.
I wasn't a teacher but an Educational ASL Interpreter in the public schools that contracted our agency. It amazed me how teacher spent much of their own money since the schools "didn't have the funds" (most schools I worked at were Federally funded since on reservations)
Teachers are far underpaid! I got out of the Educational system due to politics. It's not about the students anymore. One of my duties was to advocate for those I worked with. I got chided for doing such because our agency lost money over it. So it's what's best for the agency and not the students?! Yeah I quit not too long after that.
I feel for students who had IEPS and our government violated those students. So glad I got out when I did. If I hadn't I would have lost my job during this scamdemic.
I'm a first grade teacher and relate to this so much.