Should I quit my Teaching Job???

Question

I have a great job teaching Physical education in the suburbs of Chicago. The job, pay, and benefits are great, but things at work are really getting me down. I love to teach, but there are lots of factors that are telling me to move on. I have had many clashes with students, staff, and parents, and my principal can tell I am not happy working here. I am leaning toward quitting, but I know that if I do quit, the staff members who hate me will win and get what they want. Granted, I have made a few mistakes along the way as a teacher, but some of those staff members have had it in for me from day one. I really dont have any real job prospects at the moment, and I dont know what to do.

Answer 1

I think the main problem is that you're teaching "in the suburbs of Chicago".
If you're not opposed to moving, trying moving to a small town in the south; maybe Arkansas, Missouri, or Tennessee.
Teaching in a small school (1,500 students or less for K-12) would probably be something you'd really enjoy. My school had about 700 students, K-12, and nearly every teacher got along with every student.
With smaller schools, students and teachers bond and build closer relationships. As long as you're not an ******, you'd probably have a great relationship with both the students and teachers.
Try it out, you'll love it.

Oh, and the cost of living in the south is MUCH lower than that in Chicago. You'd likely make $28,000 - $35,000/year working in a small southern town, but with that money, you could easily afford to buy a nice house, vehicle, and still pay all of your bills.

I paid $50,000 for the house I'm living in. It's a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom brick house, approximately 1,300 square feet on 1 acre. I've checked around, and seen similar houses in California selling for $200,000. So, the pay may not be as much as in Chicago, but the cost of living will be MUCH MUCH lower.

Answer 2

I had to leave the public schools too. I just couldn't handle the attitude of the students after having spent a career in the Army. I was more accustomed to 'yes sir' than 'bugger off'. You can go back to school and get another master's - subject content master's. Many people say that when the economy is down, it's the best time to go back to school. You can explore teaching adults. That's the route I took and I've enjoyed it very much. The challenges are different but the essential work is the same. Very often, the rewards are much greater. At least, I felt the rewards better with adults. I've done corporate, non-profit, and community education as well as post-secondary. Post-secondary is the least fun but it's easier to find work. Non-profit pays **** but gives you a lot of autonomy. Training and androgogy is a very different world than public pedagogy. If you're leaving teaching because of student attitudes and because the 'magic' of positive results is gone for you - give adult remedial education a try. Most of those students are respectful and want to learn something they missed earlier. And, they bring you treats like pie! ☺ If you just don't like teaching anymore - it really doesn't matter what path you follow next. You may truly need to head back to school though to change careers.

Answer 3

You should go ahead and finish the year, anyway. Surely not all the students hate you, and kids need stability. As for the staff, it's not really a matter of who wins, because if they have made you miserable, they've already won. It wouldn't hurt to go ahead and start shopping around for the next school year, though. Even a bad job is better than no job, so don't leave until you have something else lined up... Good luck! Hope everything works out for you!! ♥

Answer 4

It really depends on a few factors. First of all, if you are within your first few years of teaching, it is perfectly normal to feel unhappy in the job. A very high percentage of teachers leave the profession within the first five years. If you can make it through those first few years, which are very, very tough, you may be able to get back in touch with your original love of teaching. (I was pretty bitter after my second year, but now I'm in my 7th and loving it...most of the time!)

Secondly, you need to consider the realtionships with your co-workers. If it is mild friction, I'd just try to live with it, as you will never get along with all of your colleagues no matter where you are. If some of them are "out to get you" due to mistakes you've made in the past, perhaps they will start to like/respect you if they see you have quit making those mistakes. If there isn't downright hostility toward you, consider going and speaking with the colleagues and trying to clear the air. (Be careful with this, though, if they're vindictive, this probably would just make the situation worse.)

You also should try to line up another job before you quit one, especially in today's economy.

Answer 5

If you plan to leave education entirely for a while or permanently, let the year end and not renew your contract. This way you can move on and whenever still be able to find another teaching position without any ill feeling or out-right lies as references following you. Simply wait until you get the form asking if you intend to renew for next year (all "non-tenured" teachers get these forms asking if you want the district to renew your annual contract) and (having quietly and with resolve discussed your decision with the principal) turn it in unsigned.
If you desire to remain in education, it is VERY crucial that you do not leave under negative circumstances or atmosphere (i.e. bad terms with the principal). When you talk to the principal and / or the personnel department, don't come off indecisive or wishy- washy, state that you would like to transfer within the district (but don't cite dissatisfaction as a reason). (Before you do that, you might drop by some of the other schools within your district and state that you'd really like to transfer there. Likewise, do the same in neighboring school districts. You might visit and talk, not to the principal or personnel department first, but to the department head. Explain a desire to relocate only. Don't go into problems at your old school. If you want to go to a school within the same district, say something like you want to teach a slightly older or younger age group. Again, don't give any negative reasons for wanting the change.)
School districts are all pie-in-the-sky (and vicious!). You are expected to play their image game that they can do no wrong. Never express dissatisfaction (it is perceived as a criticism of the system). Keep such to yourself because those types of people are in absolute denial that they can make mistakes or ever be at fault. Too, they are in quiet desperation that the press could get hold of anything that might be perceived as negative.
In fact, the "acehol" factor is a prime consideration for hiring and keeping on administrators. Teachers to blame are there as meat for the grinder, or grist for the mill, whenever an administrator is "called on the carpet" about anything. Thus, in the American public education system, you must consumately play the happy little camper who does not see that the king has no clothes---and NEVER point out that he doesn't. True concerns as an educational professional no longer mean anything in the United States, especially since the federal government has horned in on what is clearly a state responsibility. Instead, you have to be the little, politically-correct mollycoddler who ignores student behavior (as if little Johnny has a right to act up and "express his uniqueness"---that uniqueness being his desire not to learn and a desire to see that no one else does either). At the same time you have to "play ball" and go along with whatever administrative types decide. (Forget about your rights as a professional. You sold those off when you got hired and started getting a paycheck.!)
You simply need to make a clean, non-controvertial break from liars, backstabbers, and moron administrators at your current school. Don't try to come across as a malcontent. Simply give the cheerful "Oh, gee, good golly, I'm following prospects elsewhere that I may enjoy tremendously" routine. That way, no one can fault you for moving on. Contact me via e-mail, I can give you lots of good advise for making a clean break. Best of luck.

Answer 6

I don't get it - you start out and say the job is great and then you turn around and say people can tell you're not happy. If you had clashes with staff and students here it may be the same thing at the next job. I'd stay where you are until you can figure out why you are clashing with people and try to fix it. As they say - the devil you know is better than the devil you don't.

Answer 7

It would be good to think about asking for a transfer or looking for a job elsewhere. If you are unsatisfied with the job environment, you may not only be hurting yourself but the students as well. I knew I had to leave my teaching job when I realized I was taking too many days off and I was extremely stressed out. I would break out in hives and sometimes get easily upset with my students. I had to apologize to my students and told them I was looking for another job elsewhere. I knew if I stayed it would not be to the benefit of the students, who should always be top priority in a teacher's mind. As far as the other staff members...who cares! blow them off and move on. You will appreciate your sanity in the end.

Answer 8

If you learn from a mistake, it bacomes a lesson! So learn from the mistakes you say you've made, and apply at other schools in your area, taking these newly-learned lessons with you. A fresh start at a new school may be just what you need right now. Working at a job that is weighing you down with stress is not healthy for you as a teacher or as a person. As for the staff members who "hate you"...don't worry about them. You can't please everyone, so you have to please yourself

Answer 9

Are you kidding? Teachers are in such high demand You can go anywhere. Ignore those you don't get along with and get cracking and find another job. There's a great one out there that is just perfect for you. You just have to take the first step. Go get em tiger!!

Answer 10

My mom's friend went through the same thing as a music ed. teacher. She did her best to stick with it but recently, she has moved to another school district in a different state. As far as I know, she is happier now.

I think you can continue teaching but maybe it's time move to another school district. Hopefully you will find some happiness:) Good luck!