We're having trouble posting, so I have to reply to the latest commentator this way:



It is so great to see a comment. Sometimes it feels like I am writing into the 'Twilight Zone.' I know a few of my colleagues read this, but I wasn't sure what was really going on out there in the blogosphere. If this is my BFF Michelle--good try, but I entirely suspect this is just you or one or YOUR friends trying to make me feel better....

***

To my latest Comrade in Arms: Your comments and observations are excellent, and you raise important points--obviously very few teachers in the U.S. are starving (although I know some struggling) - but when you add the stressors, which you enumerated so well--it seems like we should get hazard pay [more in an upcoming post!]

Also, we need to clarify that we don't have summers off--we have an unpaid leave of absence. Many people work during that time to supplement the somewhat lame salary [of course depending on where you live, the salary can be more or less lame].

Keep in mind, many people use the summer to acquire the mandatory professional development credits we must obtain to keep our jobs--since you've only been teaching about 4 years, you haven't woken up in a cold sweat at 1 in the morning about this yet.

You will.
***
If you work in a district that requires that you eventually acquire a Master's degree, your unpaid leave of absence is a great time to obtain it, since many universities now offer summer graduate programs.

But I agree--the summer...is the ONLY reason....I can't go on right now...more later.

***

You raise interesting questions about what are the alternatives, and why half of teachers leave the profession within 5 years. You have been teaching less than 5 years, so you are the quintessential teacher highlighted in 90 percent of the articles lamenting the state of our schools--you are in that danger zone where we--as a society--and our children may lose you as a teacher--and we can't afford to do that.


***
More soon on alternatives to quitting, alternatives to burning out, and alternatives to the entire circus.
***

We are not kidding--we want to start a Teach to the Contract Day, so please vote or suggest when, and refer your friends and colleagues to this site.

You are entirely right--refusing to do certain work is not only seemingly rude and entirely out of character for most teachers, it may be called insubordination and possible grounds for dismissal--more soon on this and other issues.

THANKS FOR COMMENTING!!!