[Brandiwine77]

As some of you may know, I teach elem. school, but I am taking this year off to decide if I want to teach anymore. Well, I've been ok with my decision & have pretty much come to the conclusion that I want to go back to school for something else. (Can I just be a permanent student? Cause I'm good at that! lol) I've been great with my decision...until today. Today I went with my surrogate 'Mom' (my pastor's wife) who is a counselor at an elem. school. We went to the mall with a bunch of underpriveleged kids and they were able to get coats, shoes, toys, pics with Santa, and had money to buy presents at $ Tree for their families. I loved it!!! Spending that little bit of time with those kids made me really miss teaching! But I HATE the bull**** politics that completely surrounds teaching. I don't know what to do!

[tasjaanalee]

Sad to say, but no matter what field you get into there's going to be politics ... especially the way the economy is right now. I've personally seen it in the veterinary field, and in Theater, with my husband in pharmaceuticals, and my parents in the police and teaching.

If teaching is really where your heart lies, you just have to try to find a situation where the amount of politics is bearable, and just focus on the positives of the job. If it's not where you want to be, by all means go back to school and find something that you love enough for it to outweigh the bad (maybe you could find something that combines your teaching with something else?... a youth counselor? or social worker?... just ideas)!

[txjovigal]

Very well said tasjaanalee!

[richmond_girl]

Sad to say, but no matter what field you get into there's going to be politics ... especially the way the economy is right now. I've personally seen it in the veterinary field, and in Theater, with my husband in pharmaceuticals, and my parents in the police and teaching.

If teaching is really where your heart lies, you just have to try to find a situation where the amount of politics is bearable, and just focus on the positives of the job. If it's not where you want to be, by all means go back to school and find something that you love enough for it to outweigh the bad (maybe you could find something that combines your teaching with something else?... a youth counselor? or social worker?... just ideas)![/b]

I work in Corporate America (financial services/investment banking). Believe me when I say, I know my fair share of politics. But you just have to decide if you're willing to put up with it. I love what I do enough that it's a small price to pay.

[n611565x]

ditto, ditto, ditto.....The politics are EVERYWHERE, DH is going through a bunch of it right now to the point he may have to either quit cause it's causing a hostile work enviroment or they will eventually let him go.....it crazy and stupid.
The easiest advise I have is just mind your own business....but that never happens, you almost always get sucked into other peoples drama.
Just do what makes you happy. But i like the suggestions tasj gave too.... Hope you can come to a desicion you comfortable with

[*babylove*]

well, Brandi those kids would sure miss out on a great teacher. I think the best thing to do is put aside all the other bs and listen to your heart. If being with those kids are what make your world light up then you are only hurting yourself. The best things to do is follow your heart. I have been in your shoes too. I love hair, but he the gossip and rudeness of my coworkers. I never knew someone could down right be so mean.

[Brandiwine77]

Thanks ladies for all of your support & info I'm still not sure what I am going to due, but the government may have decided for me. We are going to be under proration, so a lot of teachers are going to be pink slipped at the end of the year and not re-hired because there just isn't enough money. Its so bad now that the state doesn't have enough money to make payroll & each school system is having to come up with 25% of payroll each month, & thats a couple million each month!

I enjoy teaching for the most part, but is just seems like I have gotten the short end of the deal since I started. My first class was so rough, that the teacher who had it before me quit mid-year because they drove her crazy! My next class was middle school & I had some extreme behavior issues involving gangs, etc. I was even slammed against a concrete wall & kicked by 2 girls! My last class wasn't as bad, per se, but I had 26 5th graders in a tiny portable & the ratio of boys to girls was almost 3:1. And I ended up with some looney kids with even loonier parents who thought I should hold their 5th graders hand & call them/email them everyday because even though they were gifted, couldn't do their homework. Or the certifiably crazy kid who had been in a mental institution and alternative school who got away with lying, stealing, cussing me out, threatening me & the other kids, because he was spec. ed.! You pour out your heart & soul & work your butt off, only to get gripped all for stupid stuff! Just writing all of that made me almost cry & started giving me a panicky feeling, which is sad. I spent $50K on an education & I'm not using it. But only God knows what is right for me, & I'll trust him to lead me to the right path, cause I'm clueless!!!

[richmond_girl]

Wow, Brandi. You are making such a difference to those kids' lives, whether you realize it or not. I'm amazed by people who can do what you obviously do so well.

[Brandiwine77]

Thanks Juli Yeah, teachers may get summer vacation, but the job definitely isn't easy.