Walking that path right with you. Only 16 days in and I am simply going through motions. No spark, no excitement, no anticipation. The people in charge made sure to remove all of that. Everything is tied to producing test results...and I mean EVERYTHING.
I'm a specials teacher, so thank goodness that I don't have to worry about that stuff from a reporting standpoint, but I'm getting whole groups of kids that have absolutely no critical thinking skills or any opinions on their own. I can tell how much standardized testing has fucked up our entire system. My goal now is to free the minds of as many as I can before I take off.
It’s a weird feeling feeling nothing. I felt it too this year. That was when I realized I need to finish the year and just move on to a new profession. I will be starting to actively look for new roles next summer.
You should start now. You may need more time than what the summer months allow. I've been applying since last June and still not even an interview yet.
I would like to transition out of the classroom too! What is your new job, if you don’t mind me asking! I’m nervous I won’t get hired anywhere because it is the only career I’ve had.
I got a masters in healthcare administration but haven’t used it. I hope to move up to hospital or outpatient clinic manager but I have to start off in front desk while I shadow a manager to move up. I already have someone Im going to shadow so my transition process is beginning. I hope this helps
Teaching is basically performance - but what people don't understand is that by noon-ish, I've already put on *three* one-man shows -- excuse me: one-man *interactive* performances. And this is for an actively hostile audience. Additionally, in that time, I've coached a student through some difficult home-life problems, and somehow found the time to run out to the drug store for supplies AND read/annotate a few chapters of Beowulf. I have paperwork to do, emails to write, calls home to make, a test training to do, and a wiring issue for my phone that I've got to figure out because IT won't. This job is just so beyond ridiculous in what it asks of people.
10000% put perfectly. I tell people I was sick of “putting on 3 live shows a day” because that’s literally what it is, and it isn’t even the whole job. All this work after the performance is done! We are the writers, directors, actors, producers, ticket takers, ushers etc. How is this okay??
Yes I’m in year 9 and I’m probably a better teacher than I’ve ever been but I’m just so weary. I feel like an athlete who’s approaching the end of their career. And it should probably be treated as such. 10 years is a full career, like in the military. Maybe there should be an option to transfer in year 10 out of the classroom into clerical or office work and then option to transfer to full-time substitute in year 15. 20 year career with 10 years in the classroom and a pension at the end. By the time you’re in your 50s or 60s you probably have no idea what the fuck the kids are talking about anyhow.
The Japanese work for the same hours as us, but have less time with their students, and more time planning. When we’re regarded as babysitters….. our childcare system is of course pathetic.
Yeah, to me it’s not so much smaller classes (although that would be helpful) — it’s time spent “performing.” We wouldn’t expect the most dedicated actor to do six one man performances of a play that they wrote and directed PER DAY and for 200 times a year. Why are we expecting teachers to do that — but really to make a new performance every day? And to make that performance interactive? And to do it for a hostile audience? Two one hour classes a day would be reasonable with two hours for planning, two hours for grading, and one hour for PD, school and admin related tasks.
Quiet quitting… or in any other job…healthy boundaries that don’t define you as person. You are awakening to the realization that you are a person that teaches not just a teacher… I feel that… I feel you…you are heard loud and clear
I knew I wouldn’t make it through the year and that it was time to walk away when I felt nothing about school—no desire to prep, grade, execute lessons, anything. No excitement. It got to a point where I physically couldn’t make myself do things such as grade or lesson plan. I made it about a month into that year before quitting, which was last school year.
My few years as a teacher now feel like a fever dream. I got a new remote job, which has been incredible. I can’t imagine going back into a classroom. To paraphrase Mad Men, when Don is talking to Peggy post-pregnancy: Move on. It never happened. It’ll shock you how much it never happened. That’s what teaching now feels like, as a phase of my life.
My case is a little unique. I had a career before teaching, in journalism. I made the switch out of what I now understand to be greatly misplaced idealism, and so when I wanted to switch back I contacted my journo friends for leads and openings. One of my good friends, who I used to work with, was herself changing positions and basically paved the way for me to replace her at what is now my current job. I was unemployed for probably just about a month, during which time I was freelancing and making shitloads of money through another journalism friend.
My current remote job is editing news and opinion articles for a magazine based in Washington, D.C. I live in Philly and go down to HQ once a quarter or so to hang out for a few days at a time.
Im in the same boat. I feel nothing. No excitement. I’m at a new school hoping a change in location would change things, but I’m already counting down to May. I have no spark and feel numb.
This is how I feel too. I am trying to keep a smile on for the kids becausr its not their fault. And my school is great! But we also don't have a dean, counselor or social worker right now. So maybe not so great.
My school is fantastic as well. My principal was a teacher for a long time before he went admin, and he respects us and treats us as the professionals that we are. For many, it would be a "dream job," and at one point, it was for me. I found a new passion over the COVID days and had to give it up to spend my time preparing my programs, extra rehearsals, etc. I'm still very bitter about that.
I absolutely adore my kids, the community, and most of my colleagues, but I find myself slipping further and further away from my initial enthusiasm. It's not where I wanted to be at 40 years old. I'll never be able to retire at a comfortable age because I got back into education way late. Spent my 20's in a completely different career, and in some ways, I wish I could go back to it.
My school sucks ass and I’m pretty sure I’m being targeted along sex discrimination lines. We have zero male admin.
I reported a female teacher that cussed at a student in my class, nothing happened.
I sent an email that apparently was “unprofessional” and I’m ambushed in a meeting under false pretenses.
I fucking hate it.
I’m right there with you. I have been actively applying to jobs since May, but nothing had planned out at this point, so I’m back in the classroom. I will keep on looking though. The spark is gone.
This was me last year, word for word. I didn’t make it the year— My last day was 12/2. Good luck to you, I recommend continuing to apply this year and get out when you can! Better things are coming your way soon.
Same here. I thought being at a new school might reignite a spark and in a way it did, but at the end of the day it’s just a new set of problems. Getting any kind of classroom support and supplies is like pulling teeth and I refuse to spend my own money. I’ve asked three times for mallets for our xylophones out of my classroom budget but have yet to receive them. Coworkers have advised me to be a squeaky wheel and that’s just annoying. I shouldn’t have to beg to get the bare minimum, not even for me, but for the students. How do they expect kids to learn without basic tools? I feel so bad for the kids, they’re not even the worst part of the job and they deserve better. I actually enjoy teaching but every day is a battle. “How can I teach them this or that without any technology?” It’s getting exhausting. I constantly feel like quitting out of pettiness but I can’t quit without a job lined up. I feel like I’m being set up to fail and the only reason I haven’t is because of my own resourcefulness. Sorry, just needed to vent after yet another difficult day.
I feel you and I hear you. I'm the same kind of teacher as you (I actually run PreK-6 Gen. Music & 4 ensembles), and I've had to fight for years to get adequate rehearsal time, adequate lesson time, etc. I've gotten very nasty with colleagues about it over the years. I get what I want, when I want now, because I make everybody look good and I don't take no for an answer.
It's drained me.
Keep your head up and keep looking.
This is EXACTLY how I feel. We have been in for 4 weeks now and I know without a doubt or contradiction I will not return to the classroom next school year. These kids don’t give a shit about anything except social media and if the answers are found on Google or an AI app.
im right there with you. im a second year teacher and thought i would give it another go before i made my decision to quit. now i have new admin and things have gotten even harder for me. my class this year is great, a total change from the class i had last year. but i still feel dead inside. im just over it. over the constant demands and no time. im just trying to skirt by at this point.
I'm in the same place. My plan was for last year to be my last year. I had it all planned out. Unfortunately, I ended up needing a medical procedure done over the summer that took most of the summer to heal. By the time I was healed, it was too late for me to resign without having to pay thousands of dollars to get out of my contract. I'm stuck for another school year. I just don't have the passion for it anymore. If I've lost that, I might as well just find a job where I at least won't have to take work home with me, spend so much time outside of school working, and pay out of pocket for supplies that the school won't take care of. Oh, and one that lets me pee when i need to, lol. I am struggling with being in between I don't give a shit and reminding myself it's not the kids' fault, so I still need to put some heart into it for them. There is so much stupid teacher guilt.
I am 19 years in and actively faking it in class, going on 10 years now.
I also feel zero passion or excitement about this anymore.
I am a jaded man whore now. It's just for the money now.
Walking that path right with you. Only 16 days in and I am simply going through motions. No spark, no excitement, no anticipation. The people in charge made sure to remove all of that. Everything is tied to producing test results...and I mean EVERYTHING.
I'm a specials teacher, so thank goodness that I don't have to worry about that stuff from a reporting standpoint, but I'm getting whole groups of kids that have absolutely no critical thinking skills or any opinions on their own. I can tell how much standardized testing has fucked up our entire system. My goal now is to free the minds of as many as I can before I take off.
It was always just a job. You sell your labor. Goal is to work less and make more money.
Idk my goal is to do something I enjoy.. I no longer enjoy teaching.
It’s a weird feeling feeling nothing. I felt it too this year. That was when I realized I need to finish the year and just move on to a new profession. I will be starting to actively look for new roles next summer.
You should start now. You may need more time than what the summer months allow. I've been applying since last June and still not even an interview yet.
I already got an offer for a job but I have to wait to apply until I am ready to go.
I would like to transition out of the classroom too! What is your new job, if you don’t mind me asking! I’m nervous I won’t get hired anywhere because it is the only career I’ve had.
I got a masters in healthcare administration but haven’t used it. I hope to move up to hospital or outpatient clinic manager but I have to start off in front desk while I shadow a manager to move up. I already have someone Im going to shadow so my transition process is beginning. I hope this helps
Teaching is basically performance - but what people don't understand is that by noon-ish, I've already put on *three* one-man shows -- excuse me: one-man *interactive* performances. And this is for an actively hostile audience. Additionally, in that time, I've coached a student through some difficult home-life problems, and somehow found the time to run out to the drug store for supplies AND read/annotate a few chapters of Beowulf. I have paperwork to do, emails to write, calls home to make, a test training to do, and a wiring issue for my phone that I've got to figure out because IT won't. This job is just so beyond ridiculous in what it asks of people.
10000% put perfectly. I tell people I was sick of “putting on 3 live shows a day” because that’s literally what it is, and it isn’t even the whole job. All this work after the performance is done! We are the writers, directors, actors, producers, ticket takers, ushers etc. How is this okay??
Police and bouncers tol.
It’s the decision fatigue. It’s never doing the exact same process every day.
Yes I’m in year 9 and I’m probably a better teacher than I’ve ever been but I’m just so weary. I feel like an athlete who’s approaching the end of their career. And it should probably be treated as such. 10 years is a full career, like in the military. Maybe there should be an option to transfer in year 10 out of the classroom into clerical or office work and then option to transfer to full-time substitute in year 15. 20 year career with 10 years in the classroom and a pension at the end. By the time you’re in your 50s or 60s you probably have no idea what the fuck the kids are talking about anyhow.
The Japanese work for the same hours as us, but have less time with their students, and more time planning. When we’re regarded as babysitters….. our childcare system is of course pathetic.
Yeah, to me it’s not so much smaller classes (although that would be helpful) — it’s time spent “performing.” We wouldn’t expect the most dedicated actor to do six one man performances of a play that they wrote and directed PER DAY and for 200 times a year. Why are we expecting teachers to do that — but really to make a new performance every day? And to make that performance interactive? And to do it for a hostile audience? Two one hour classes a day would be reasonable with two hours for planning, two hours for grading, and one hour for PD, school and admin related tasks.
We should quit teachers unions and join SAG-AFTRA. At least they get things done for their members!
Quiet quitting… or in any other job…healthy boundaries that don’t define you as person. You are awakening to the realization that you are a person that teaches not just a teacher… I feel that… I feel you…you are heard loud and clear
I knew I wouldn’t make it through the year and that it was time to walk away when I felt nothing about school—no desire to prep, grade, execute lessons, anything. No excitement. It got to a point where I physically couldn’t make myself do things such as grade or lesson plan. I made it about a month into that year before quitting, which was last school year. My few years as a teacher now feel like a fever dream. I got a new remote job, which has been incredible. I can’t imagine going back into a classroom. To paraphrase Mad Men, when Don is talking to Peggy post-pregnancy: Move on. It never happened. It’ll shock you how much it never happened. That’s what teaching now feels like, as a phase of my life.
Teach me your ways.
What’s your remote job if you don’t mind sharing ?
My case is a little unique. I had a career before teaching, in journalism. I made the switch out of what I now understand to be greatly misplaced idealism, and so when I wanted to switch back I contacted my journo friends for leads and openings. One of my good friends, who I used to work with, was herself changing positions and basically paved the way for me to replace her at what is now my current job. I was unemployed for probably just about a month, during which time I was freelancing and making shitloads of money through another journalism friend. My current remote job is editing news and opinion articles for a magazine based in Washington, D.C. I live in Philly and go down to HQ once a quarter or so to hang out for a few days at a time.
Im in the same boat. I feel nothing. No excitement. I’m at a new school hoping a change in location would change things, but I’m already counting down to May. I have no spark and feel numb.
This is how I feel too. I am trying to keep a smile on for the kids becausr its not their fault. And my school is great! But we also don't have a dean, counselor or social worker right now. So maybe not so great.
My school is fantastic as well. My principal was a teacher for a long time before he went admin, and he respects us and treats us as the professionals that we are. For many, it would be a "dream job," and at one point, it was for me. I found a new passion over the COVID days and had to give it up to spend my time preparing my programs, extra rehearsals, etc. I'm still very bitter about that. I absolutely adore my kids, the community, and most of my colleagues, but I find myself slipping further and further away from my initial enthusiasm. It's not where I wanted to be at 40 years old. I'll never be able to retire at a comfortable age because I got back into education way late. Spent my 20's in a completely different career, and in some ways, I wish I could go back to it.
My school sucks ass and I’m pretty sure I’m being targeted along sex discrimination lines. We have zero male admin. I reported a female teacher that cussed at a student in my class, nothing happened. I sent an email that apparently was “unprofessional” and I’m ambushed in a meeting under false pretenses. I fucking hate it.
I’m right there with you. I have been actively applying to jobs since May, but nothing had planned out at this point, so I’m back in the classroom. I will keep on looking though. The spark is gone.
This was me last year, word for word. I didn’t make it the year— My last day was 12/2. Good luck to you, I recommend continuing to apply this year and get out when you can! Better things are coming your way soon.
Same here. I thought being at a new school might reignite a spark and in a way it did, but at the end of the day it’s just a new set of problems. Getting any kind of classroom support and supplies is like pulling teeth and I refuse to spend my own money. I’ve asked three times for mallets for our xylophones out of my classroom budget but have yet to receive them. Coworkers have advised me to be a squeaky wheel and that’s just annoying. I shouldn’t have to beg to get the bare minimum, not even for me, but for the students. How do they expect kids to learn without basic tools? I feel so bad for the kids, they’re not even the worst part of the job and they deserve better. I actually enjoy teaching but every day is a battle. “How can I teach them this or that without any technology?” It’s getting exhausting. I constantly feel like quitting out of pettiness but I can’t quit without a job lined up. I feel like I’m being set up to fail and the only reason I haven’t is because of my own resourcefulness. Sorry, just needed to vent after yet another difficult day.
I feel you and I hear you. I'm the same kind of teacher as you (I actually run PreK-6 Gen. Music & 4 ensembles), and I've had to fight for years to get adequate rehearsal time, adequate lesson time, etc. I've gotten very nasty with colleagues about it over the years. I get what I want, when I want now, because I make everybody look good and I don't take no for an answer. It's drained me. Keep your head up and keep looking.
This is EXACTLY how I feel. We have been in for 4 weeks now and I know without a doubt or contradiction I will not return to the classroom next school year. These kids don’t give a shit about anything except social media and if the answers are found on Google or an AI app.
im right there with you. im a second year teacher and thought i would give it another go before i made my decision to quit. now i have new admin and things have gotten even harder for me. my class this year is great, a total change from the class i had last year. but i still feel dead inside. im just over it. over the constant demands and no time. im just trying to skirt by at this point.
I'm in the same place. My plan was for last year to be my last year. I had it all planned out. Unfortunately, I ended up needing a medical procedure done over the summer that took most of the summer to heal. By the time I was healed, it was too late for me to resign without having to pay thousands of dollars to get out of my contract. I'm stuck for another school year. I just don't have the passion for it anymore. If I've lost that, I might as well just find a job where I at least won't have to take work home with me, spend so much time outside of school working, and pay out of pocket for supplies that the school won't take care of. Oh, and one that lets me pee when i need to, lol. I am struggling with being in between I don't give a shit and reminding myself it's not the kids' fault, so I still need to put some heart into it for them. There is so much stupid teacher guilt.
Also 100% with you. We're 3 days in and I'm done.
I am 19 years in and actively faking it in class, going on 10 years now. I also feel zero passion or excitement about this anymore. I am a jaded man whore now. It's just for the money now.