My wife signed a one year contract for teaching English at a local private school. I wanted to know what happens if you want to back out of the contract? Are these contracts set in stone, or what happens when a teacher doesn't want to teach anymore??? It is just the beginning of the schoolyear adn everything is going wrong...
2006-10-24 05:02:06 · 9 answers · asked by wiretekaaron 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
I've been teaching for 19 years and have never known a school to do anything to a teacher who asked to be dismissed from a contract. I have come back to the faculty from a Christmas break and found out that a member of our staff quit. What happens when you leave depends on how you are paid. If your wife received any monies in advance, then she will have to repay them. Most teachers work the days and then receive pay. I would definitely advise her to sit down with her administration to discuss the problems that she is having. If she shows them that she is trying to work with the students and faculty in order to have a successful year, then they will support her decision to move on if it doesn't work out. Yes, burn out is a factor for some people when it comes to teaching. If she is in the right environment and her heart is in it, she will love her work and find herself enjoying what she does. Please encourage her to seek out help for the issues that face her. The teaching field needs to keep as many dedicated people as possible. Good luck to you both.
2006-10-24 10:26:23 · answer #1 · answered by DinahLynne 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
During the first year, everything usually does go wrong. The first year of teaching is the hardest. Most teachers quit by the 5th year.
Teacher contracts are contracts. In theory, they can ask for you to reimburse the district for the months that you do not teach. In reality, if you don't finish your year, or " walk out" you will probably never teach again as you will not get a good job reference.
The contract also protects the teacher. they are guaranteed a job for a year.
Usually, a good teacher will " get it " around year three. As a new teacher, you are overwhelmed with the workings of the school . Teaching works best when you have prior knowledge of the subjects. First year teachers are too busy attempting to learn the material, teach students from diverse cultures, manage a classroom and satisfy administration.
Rule # 1 You gotta like kids.
Rule # Be flexible
Don't be scared of the administration. they are investing a lot of money in you and want to see you succeed.
One big mistake i see is the new teachers being afraid to ask for help from their supervisors.
If this is what she truly wants, tell her to stick to it.
2006-10-24 05:16:41 · answer #2 · answered by exel 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure in a public school if you back out of your contract the school district has the right to keep your teaching certificate until the end of your contract.
Private schools are a different matter, but your wife still signed a deal saying she would teach for a year. Try to have your wife stick it out for the year and see if things get better. The first couple of years teaching are pretty rough, but once you get past that initial hard part it actually smooths out a lot.
Good luck. :)
2006-10-24 05:19:13 · answer #3 · answered by SmileyGirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it really depends on the system....some require that if you breach contract, you pay a fine/lose your teaching certificate/ or both. Im not sure about private schools. Some schools are more lenient if they can find a replacement...if she could find someone ready to move into her position, she may stand a better chance of not being challenged. But the system would probably give her a hard time if she left them hanging....
she should really talk to someone she trusts that has been in the system for a while... teaching contracts are usually hard to get out of....
2006-10-24 05:14:17 · answer #4 · answered by careful 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My suggestion would be to take her concerns to her headmaster/mistress and find out how to improve her situation. Don't give up just because things are getting off to a rocky start. Private school teaching is the best teaching position you can have.
2006-10-24 05:11:56 · answer #5 · answered by Scooter Girl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read the contract yourself before going to an attorney...especially the fine print, stipulations, or clauses that may determine what penalties are imposed for not adhering to it. It may be for certain specified reasons not enforceable,IE sickness,pregnancy etc. also you may be able to have the contract renegotiated...to minimize the obligations...seek legal counsel as a last remedy to avoid excessive expenditures..unnecessarily...
2006-10-24 05:15:49 · answer #6 · answered by Bxrock 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's right, and the situation in WI is no different. When those contracts expire, however, they won't be able to renegotiate. The government could rewrite contracts at will. And when it does, no one will have faith in the US legal system.
2016-03-28 06:07:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a lawyer to review the contract.
2006-10-24 05:03:43 · answer #8 · answered by Blunt Honesty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think you need to read what is stated in the contract... and from there you will know what to do... if it's easy to talk with the administrators, then it will be easy for you too..
2006-10-24 05:11:12 · answer #9 · answered by rhyzzz 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋