Quitting a teaching job?

Question

I work over 60 hours a week and I am tired of it. I do not like my job and do not plan on teaching again. I would like to quit with 3-4 weeks notice.

Everywhere I look online, teachers keep saying to others who want to quit to "stick it out until the end of the year." I think that life is short and I don't want to wait until June. I am tired of being stressed all the time.

Other jobs, you can quit with notice without reprocussions. Why does it feel so hard to quit teaching? I feel like a bad person because I am on a contract and the kids may be affected. I feel that most wouldn't care (I teach high school). Why does teaching have to be so different when it comes to quitting?

Answer 1

You are not a bad person. It's ok to quit because it's your life. You get to choose it, if you don't like it then quit because if you stick to it, you will not be happy. Your life is suppose to be comfortable to you not others but you. But first hang on, find job that you prefer, then interview and make sure you got that job so you won't lose time. If you can't wait, as soon as you quit, try to find any temporary job so you can find a real job that you prefer.

Answer 2

Quitting Teaching

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

Since you have been teaching these kids for at least a month now you have built up a rapport with them. Whether you know it or not, you may be making a difference in one student's life. plus, most good teachers have probably already gotten jobs for this year. If you really feel you have to leave at least wait 'til the semester so that you district can hire a Dec. grad. Maybe it feels hard because you really don't want to stop teaching, you are just stressed. All jobs carry stress. What other job can you have that gives you the opportunity to make such a difference? That and summers off!! I am in my 17th year and although things are much different now I am still excited for each new day. Good luck!

Answer 5

Cammie, what do you plan to do after you quit?

I realize teaching can be stressful, but many of us work many more hours than you with only 1 or 2 weeks off a year, and there is stress in every job.

If you quit now, every future potential employer is going to hammer you on why you quit mid-term. As a hiring manager, I have to honestly say I would pound you on this one. And it never reflects well to leave a former employer in the lurch.

Finally, before you quit, multiply your hours by weeks worked. Then figure in your health care/insurance and pension if applicable. Then look at www.salary.com and see what the job you want earns annually. Divide that by 2080 to figure hourly pay based on a 40 hour week. Realize most salary jobs are closer to 60 hours, than 40. Now realize that you will only get 2 weeks vacation and figure the bulk of us pay at least 20% of the healthcare premiums (from $10 to $200+ month) and we have large co-pays and deductibles. Not to mention the ever shrinking profit margin and many companies are removing insurance all together. Now compare what you make hourly teaching to what the rest of us make. Does your job still look so bad?

Not to mention that 99% of office jobs are non-union and that the economy is tanking.

You need to really do your homework before you throw away your education and the security you have now.

I am not strictly saying, "don't do this", but I want you to go into your decision based on reality, not "what ifs" and with the grass is always greener syndrome that we all face.

Good luck

Answer 6

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 7

As a former teacher who made the jump myself after 13 years of teaching, I can honestly say I know where you are coming from. Basically you need to do what is right for you. Give your notice, serve it out and move on. People are saying you should stick it out, but in all honesty, what value of teaching are you providing to your students. If you stick it out, when in your mind you have already quit, you cannot possibly give your students the best of your teaching abilities. Give notice, and let someone who is fresher and more enthusiastic get in there and continue the good work that you have been doing with your students.

In all honesty, in the long run, you won't be rewarded in any way for sticking it out, and you will just continue to burn out. There does come a time when you have to put yourself first. (Which is very hard to do as a teacher, as your whole career is based on doing what is best for your students!)

I wish you luck whatever you decide to do!

Answer 8

It definitely would appear to be harder. There's a clear transition period for teaching (the summer), and whether its just a taboo or if there are harsh contract laws, most teachers don't break it. There is no denying that you feel like you're not supposed to be there, and that isn't fair to you. However, its not just your life that you'd be affecting if you quit. Your students have probably grown attached to your style of teaching. Leaving midsemester would set them back badly for the rest of the semester, if not longer. If you can live with that, then you probably shouldn't even be in the profession.

Answer 9

My high school son said he wouldn't care if a teacher quit. He said he'd be concerned about who would be the replacement.
Just give proper notice and move on with your life. Life is short.

Answer 10

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