Should I quit teaching?

Question

There are things I like about teaching like passing on knowledge, continually learning, that feeling of accomplishment I get when a kid is actually inspired to learn or gets it, summers off, sick days and insurance. But here is what I hate... the kids that make life a living hell in the classroom who act up and don't want to learn, the administration that is packs on a work load like you wouldn't believe, the lousy pay I earn and the overtime I am forced to put in and never receive compensation for 10-15 hour days plus weekends( yes people teachers take their work home and spend hours planning), The money out of my own pocket that I spend to to have supplies for my classroom, being so unappreciated! Did I mention I have been cussed out by students or yelled at several times, did I mention I have had students steal a camera from me and steal forms off my desk cause they think I will be too lazy not to get another and write them up for poor behavior,

Did I mention how the administration expects me to manage a room full of bad kids and turn my classroom into leave it to beaver with every child on task and learning and if not it's totally my fault not to mention half these kids don't even mind their parents, Did I mention I am a first year teacher? Ok so I figure my options are to quit teaching all together, leave high school and switch to elementary ( i did love elementary although my current ghetto school is slowing killing my love for teaching), or i could try to teach college if i can get in one, or i could look for a new career, any advice?

I did my student teaching at some pretty decent schools. But my current school is a blackboard jungle and rumor has it was on the brink of being shut down. I can certainly see why, They say the first year of teaching isn't pleasant, but I think I drew an extra short straw.

Answer 1

Fred, I am an Educator of 19+ years. I have seen some of everything! Although I teach at the elementary level it still feel that it is difficult sometimes to keep your head above the water. But, what I would suggest for you is to really think about why you selected teaching as your profession. It is not an easy job to do! You have to be dedicated to do this job. You certainly are not paid for all of the work involved as you work well past 8hrs. in a day to get things accomplished. I have not always been supported by my administrators and I have also believe or not had difficult students.(non-supportive parents as well) I have had students throw things at me,cuss at me, etc. but I have persevered. I have learned that it is not about me-it is about shaping the lives of those students that want to be there. You see I too work with low income needed students. Where I work school is the only stability many of the students have. So I have learned to cherish the "small moments". I take one day at a time. Teaching is an Art. Everyone can learn but not all can TEACH! Do you have the Art Fred? If your heart is not in it than I suggest you soul search and find a new profession. Talk to veteran teachers who have not become stagnant in this field they should be able to help guide you through this first year. They should be able to give ideas. Also, make sure that you have a plan to handle discipline problems. First and foremost you must have strong classroom management skills. It is always easier to ease up on your class as the year goes by than it is to buckle down on them. Once you have lost control it is harder to gain it. You have to be consistent with whatever discipline system you have set up. If you still feel that teaching is not for you then move on. If you choose to continue teaching then maybe you might try making a lateral move maybe this will give you better view on teaching. You have not been in the game long enough to throw in the towel. You hold the future in your hands. The ball is in your court. Students can pick up on your emotions. If you have low expectations of them why should they perform in any other way than what is expected. Raise the bar!!! Be positive!!! Be pro-active, not re-active. I hope this helps!

Answer 2

You reveal alot with your comments (ghetto school, blackboard jungle, brink of being shut down, liking summers off when you havent had one yet...you'll see you dont really get one.) I am hoping that is just frustration talking....but the attitude you bring to class affects how you are treated.

In every class teachers have a handful of students that need to be dealt with in some form. You also have a handful that want to please. A large portion of every class can be swayed by the attitude of the rest or your attitude. First year teachers usually have a hard time because they underestimate the difficulty of classroom control and the work load. If I had a teacher who came into class angry daily, I might not have directly caused problems but would probably at that age be amused by the show.

Here is the deal. Those kids have other teachers who are successfully dealing with them and teaching them. You are not their only teacher. Find out what some veterans are doing correctly and learn from them!

Extreme behavior: what was your response to being yelled at? refer them? nothing happens in a referral. They MAY get some small punishment...but what you have done is removed yourself from the fixing of the behavior. Here is my attitude: I have been yelled at before (I usually give the cussing, yelling fit an olympic 1-10 in my mind as to presentation and form..but thats another story) I'll be yelled at again, but I WILL deal with this when they least expect it. In the short term I diffuse the situation - ask them to step outside, throw them offguard somehow, something to calm them. I then plan my response. I usually get their parents in there. You will be surprised at the response once their parents are in the room. The difference is that I was the one who fixed the problem.

If the student can yell at you, get sent out of your class and have some small clean up punishment and thats it - he'll do it again.

You have been working for what 3 months? teaching is not for everyone - so only you can decide....but know that many many new teachers are dealing with this also. Classroom control is not only about what the students must do - you are a big part of that equation.

On Monday ask an administrator if you can take a substitute day to simply view veteran teachers in their classrooms. Go to the classrooms of the teachers successfully dealing with your kids. See the procedures and activities in place. enforcing rules and punishing is not the only way to a smooth classroom.

Answer 3

I went throught a horrendous first year as well. My advice would be to look for a job in another school/district. I put in one job application and got the job. I was apprehensive about making the decision to move, but I have absolutely NO REGRETS! I love teaching and I love the school I work at now. Yes, your first year is tough, for some more so than others. It will make you a better teacher in the end. Do not let your first year get you discouraged, stick with it and find another job. Teaching does not have to be like that. Once you find another job, spend the summer thinking about what you want to do differently than you did your first year to make your second go much better. My suggestion would even be to find some professional development on classroom management and discipline. I know that most teachers hate having to do professional development, but this can really help!

Good luck!

Answer 4

I feel for you. As a NQT you SHOULDbe getting support, no matter what the state of the school,that is support wihin the dept. and from senior management. It does not appear that there is a structured discipline throughout the school and you get no support here either.
Over all you drew a bad school that has given no support,and Ive been there(phisically attacked and pupils were not even diciplined),Dont give up and look around at jobs in other schools,they have to be better. Also develop youre own strategies for behaviour management-either look on the internet or a short but effective book is "Getting the buggers to behave". I hope this helps, I have been there for5yrs and now Ihave a great class!

Answer 5

Fred D, I'm sorry that your first year isn't going so well. That's maybe an understatement. Well, you mentioned your love of teaching elementary school kids. How about trying that for a while?

Before you quit teaching, give it a lot of thought. Every job has its ups and downs. You've probably spent much time, money, and effort into your teaching career. So ask yourself this: Do you still have the passion to teach?

If you still love to teach, then maybe a change of environment will help. A different school district or grade level or maybe teaching abroad. Don't give up on teaching if that is what you love to do. Over time and with more experience, it will get better.

However if you don't love to teach, then it is time to find something that you are passionate about.

Good luck to you. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Quit now before it's too late. I have been teaching Mathematics to 11-18 year old kids for 10 years and each year has been hard. The only reason I am continuing is because I have invested a lot of time and money into teaching and just like you, I was told by many people that it will get better. If I quit now, I will have to start afresh; whichever profession I choose. The only consolation is that; you will develop a thick skin resilience to the abuse subjected to you by students, parents and your line managers. In my own observation, the behavior in classrooms is getting worse, NOT better. So my advice to you is to quit now and look for a proper job than subject yourself to misery.

Answer 7

You have my full sympathy, teaching these days is all about crowd control. Few children have any respect for their teachers, even when they are motivated to work.
Having said this, my children attended schools where they succeeded despite the discipline and behaviour problems around them, so their teachers did do a good job getting the information through. Seems to me that parents and society forget that children are only at school for 25 hours a week and that training them to behave is not the sole responsibility of teachers and schools. Teaching really is a test of character and truly a vocation, you clearly want to do the job well and seem motivated - get some help from senior colleagues and when you get to the end of your tether, tie a knot and hang on! Keep going at least until the end of the academic year and then review your progress, I did and I got out...
Good luck.

Answer 8

Yes, get out as soon as possible. Nobody cares that you are killing yourself in a futile attempt to educate the willing few in a sea of deadwood. Your efforts are unappreciated and unrewarded and this is not going to change. Go to a private school if you can, although competition is tough (and I don’t have to tell you why). Failing that, elementary is an option, although the situation is not that much better to tell you the truth. Again, private if you possibly can. Otherwise, teach college, which is a stroll in the park comparatively, since your students are generally self-motivated, reasonably behaved and over the worst of their adolescence. Have you thought about ESL teaching or tutoring? In the end, all I can offer you is my sympathy and (if you insist on staying where you are) this question: is this really what you want to spend your life doing?

Answer 9

I know what you mean and understand what it is like for you. I taught at a really rough school in my seond year of teaching and it nearly killed me.Then I went to teach abroad in International schools to get away from all that ****, but unfortunately it backfired and now I can't get a job back in the U.K because I can't get a complete police check - we get treated like dirt whatever we do.
There is no respect for our professionalism and dedication any more - I spent loads of my own money on my classes to boot. I was robbed and abused and threatened with false charges of assault and theft by my pupils. The good kids drown in this kind of environment. So do good teachers - we are only human, which is something that seems to have been forgotten!
If you want to talk/rant angrily/vent your spleen, then just drop me a line [e-mail]

Answer 10

Aren't you throwing in the towel a little early, like even before you've started to sweat?

Teaching is just that: to teach. If you quit, move to another school, you are 'teaching' them that when the going gets tough, run.

Stand up for yourself, stick to your guns, and earn the respect you deserve. It certainly won't happen overnight, but you'll need to change your attitude as well...

~otherwise, you aren't doing anyone any good, especially the kids.