Is it wrong to quit mid-school year?

Question

At the end of last school year, I felt completely burned out, but I figured that a Summer off would reinvigorate me. Well, I was wrong. I'm having daily headaches, and I've come to resent the vast amounts of personal time I have to devote to teaching so many ungreatful, undisciplined students.

I have had many rewarding moments over the course of my year (and a quarter) of teaching in an urban district, but it's hard to justify those rare moments when I am hollering every 30 seconds to get the attention of my 9th graders. I'm not an extrovert, so dealing with 90 different personalities totally drains me and leaves me with little to offer my husband and 2 year-old.

I'm about 90% decided to begin a job search, but I feel so guilty about the prospect of "abandoning" my students, many of whom have lost teachers mid-year before. How do I balance my physical and mental health needs with the needs of my students and principal? Am I being selfish to leave now?

This is my second year teaching, and though last year taught me a lot of what to avoid, I still don't feel like I'm being very effective. I haven't been able to successfully separate my job from my personal life. I'm usually at school until about 6pm every evening, and I still end up bringing piles of work home in the evenings and on weekends.

I feel like if I had begun teaching when I was single, it would be easier at this point in my personal life. However, trying to become a better teacher while dealing with the terrible twos is no fun. I've been blessed to be a relatively well-eqipped school with supportive administrators, so I feel that if I can't thrive in this environment, that maybe I'm not cut out for teaching.

Answer 1

No, it is not wrong to quit mid school year. Your post could have been mine. I am not a rookie teacher, but I moved from another state because of my husband's job. I started my eighth year of teaching with high hopes that I would like teaching here. I could only find a job teaching 8th grade, not 5th like I had taught in the past. I had reservations about middle school, but felt that I needed to give it a try...not knowing just how different it would be. Since being hired I have been miserable. There is no social studies curricululm for the district, a very loose language arts curriculum and science curriculum , and strong math. I am drowning in dealing with behavior issues due to the fact that the school is in a low income area. Trying to contact parents is nearly impossible and there are no real consequences for the students. Recently I sent referals to the office and I was asked "What do you want me to do about it? What do feel is an appropriate consequence?" In other districts I've worked in, there was never the question from the administration about what they should do for discipline. I have been frustrated on a daily basis and have wanted to quit since the 2nd week of school. I have never felt this way about teaching until this year. I have lost 15 pounds with out trying since September, I can't tell you the last time I had a full night of sleep where I haven't been thinking or worrying, and my husband and 2 year old are suffering because of the workload I bring home and my exhaustion at the end of the day. I try planning at school but almost on a daily basis my planning time is consumed with paperwork for a behavior issue, meeting a parent who has stopped by unexpectedly, or dealing with other paperwork that gets handed to me that day. There are other things that I feel are unreasonable and it's just pushed to me to the breaking point.

A couple weeks ago I decided that my emotional well being and family need to be put first and the guilt to always do the "right thing" even if it isn't right for me had to be pushed aside. I got another job offer from a place I had interviewed with over the summer. It is in the private sector and offers so much more work/life balance. It's closer to home and a 5 minute commute. It's less money, but that doesn't matter. My family and my health do.

I resigned yesterday and was called into talk to the superintendent. There are no real guidelines laying out a time period for leaving. They are asking me to stay much longer than I wish, especially knowing that I stated my reasons first and foremost for leaving as personal due to emotional stress. I realize it is a huge inconvenience and it takes time to hire someone. I want a smooth transition for my teammates (who by the way were so happy for me and wanted what was best for me) and the students. In a perfect world that would happen. But, you have to remember that no one else is looking out for you.
I have to give them a specific date that I'm leaving on Monday. I know it won't be acceptable in their eyes, but I think that 3-4 weeks notice is professional and more than most people would give in the business world.

I hope that helps. Believe me, I am still struggling with the pressure of not knowing how I will be treated by the administration from this point on. There are many other teachers that feel the same way that I do and who also wish they had the courage to do what I did. I'm not someone who normally is a rule breaker. I ususally find a way to tough things out. I can not tell you how this job has changed me is such a negative way. The anger and frustration I brought home from working a day in a chaotic, open classroom (yes, think 1970's schools) is just not who I am. I went from being a positive person to feeling so beaten down and defeated. If that is how you are feeling, I don't want that for you either.

Life is to short to be unhappy.

Answer 2

No I don't think you should feel bad about leaving mid-year. You can always go back and visit your students and in the long run they won't even remember that they didn't have you all year. Its better you leave now rather than stay and just make the situation worse. I am really worried that I will be in the same boat as you because like you, I'm not an extrovert and I'm planning to teach. I'm going to be very careful about what job I take because for example if I could get a job teaching physics to seniors in high school, discipline won't really be a problem. Anyway, congratulations on getting as far as you did and never feel bad about putting your family before your career! I'm sure your students know that you care about them. They will understand.

Answer 3

First, stop beating yourself up. You have taken on a challenge. You are a teacher and a wife and a parent. You need to think about what is best for you and your family. Some things you need to consider:

1. Are you a second year teacher? A beginning teacher is especially draining.
2. Is changing jobs now going to relieve your stress or just shift it to a different level, a different place a different time?
3. Have you made connections with your coworkers?
4. Has your administration supported you?

If you are allowing your teaching to go home with you, then you are allowing your students to run you. Who is in charge? Leave it at school. It is hard to do, but it is the best thing for your mental health. Obviously you care about your students or you wouldn't worry about abandoning them. Could you live with yourself leaving them now or can you stick it out?

My principal once told me that if it was making me sick, then I should try another profession. I too thought about it, but I'm glad I have stuck it out. I am beginning to see the fruits of my labor and stress out in the community. Learn to separate your home life from your school life. It is easier said than done. Are you being selfish, sure! But you need to do what is right for you.

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Answer 4

No, it's not wrong at all. It's simple economics and job satisfaction. If the school district (and the general public) really valued what you did, they would work hard to keep you happy in your job. They don't. And the notion that someone is tied down by an academic calendar is just ludicrous. The rest of the world doesn't hire for jobs that go from August to June. On the other hand, if you jump ship in mid-year, be aware that you'll be burning some bridges. On top of that, you don't necessarily want prospective employers contacting your department head of principal, since they'll then know that you're looking. In general, if you really think you want out, don't worry about it. But in any event, proceed with caution!

Answer 5

This is an interesting dilema. Keep the following points in mind
1) the first 3 years are supposedly the hardest.
2) Have you considered moving from an urban to a suburban school district? Maybe this would be a better fit.
3) Have you considered going part-time?
4) Have you accepted that you don't always have to be ahead of the game?

The key word here is flexibility. Be flexible with yourself. I am going to do this myself. I am not going to lock myself down into anything until I have carefully researched all of my options when I go out into the field. I would rather go back into the business world than take a teaching job that isn't a fit for me. Just food for thought. Open up to all options.

Answer 6

I am sorry to hear that, but I can relate even after 27 years teaching!
Check with your district: many districts will revoke your certification and you will not be able to teach in the state.
Can you request a transfer? Perhaps 5th or 6th grade would be better?
Many people in the same boat get a note from their doctors describing the health problems caused from stress so they can get a medical leave of absence. We have two teachers on FML now, both 8th grade teachers.
Someone said to me the other day " You have the RIGHT to be a parent!" That means your family and your health come first..

Answer 7

Perhaps Teach At A College Level..

Answer 8

NO, I understand. I used to love my job, but with the new demands of NCLB and the new "type" of students we are getting...I feel burned out .
I went ot the dr and got some medication. IT is helping, but I don't feel as "excited" as I used to feel. Perhaps it is the pay, the parents, or the poor choices by the administration.

Answer 9

Tomorrow go in and give your class a test.

1) Why do you go to school?

The answer to that question....

Brain food.
Your gray matter can not develope if it is not giiven information.
The kind of information is not relevant.
The fact is, going to school stimulates the brain, and it learns to store all kinds of information from the hated History and nonsence of English to the complexities of Health and Biology.
Admit to your students that you know and realize that everything you're trying to teach them is not fun, or even interesting.
The whole concept of going to school is to remember information, and to be able to extract that information at some later date. In essence to train your brain to function at its highest possible efficiency.
Tell them that going to school is like playing the x-box. You are the competition, and by getting the highest scores they are the winners. To fail, means you win, but in their loosing, there is no reset button in life.
Every day they waste hating to go to school, puts them closer to losing the game of real life.

Answer 10

No, you're not. You have a husband and a child that need you more. You should not abandon them for your career. Your health matters and so does your family. If you're too tired to deal with family then you're not in the right career.

Good luck on your job search and nice work on doing what you have done. I don't have the balls to do it nor the patience.