I teach at a local school, subjects I know and have worked with over 30+ years of professional life. I teach with wonderful people, it is the best job I have ever had.
What is the downside? Here are a few. "Time to update your performance review". "But wait didn't I just do that?" . "No, that was the ann…
I teach at a local school, subjects I know and have worked with over 30+ years of professional life. I teach with wonderful people, it is the best job I have ever had.
What is the downside? Here are a few. "Time to update your performance review". "But wait didn't I just do that?" . "No, that was the annual review, you need to update it every six months, with last years' final report and next year's evaluation plan needed now". Note: I plodded along for a number of years, then decided to spice them up. Add a little Immanual Kant, MLK Jr, etc quotes. Even added a few interesting experiences I have had. And yet no one has ever commented on them, it falls into the bureaucratic abyss. Thank goodness.
"Time to update your work load document and the semester schedule." Need this every semester, three times a year, in the proper ever changing bureacratic format.
Don't forget to update the syllabus to the latest bureaucratic requirements. The changes in syllabi are usually word and definition changes that are required by certifications. Which are constantly being updated responding to the current academic whims.
Additionally there are the requirements to address how you are going to improve your students lives by initiating in your courses the latest trends fads and whims which change every three to five years. And are soon forgotten but for the frustration they left behind.
You will note that none of these required exercises addresses my being a better teacher in my subjects, just responding to a bureaucrats needs.
So why do I stick around? Great subjects, great students. Talk about diversity. Every letter in the alphabet. No one is in your face, they are all grateful because they know what America is all about. Most first or second generation. And I teach with great, caring teachers. We have great morale.
So what is going on? Somewhere in every educational system there are great leaders. These great leaders have hired great teachers and have gotten out of their way and let them teach, albeit with only a modicum of chickensh.t.(an old military expression) required by the remote higher ups.
It always boils down to leadership.
I teach at a local school, subjects I know and have worked with over 30+ years of professional life. I teach with wonderful people, it is the best job I have ever had.
What is the downside? Here are a few. "Time to update your performance review". "But wait didn't I just do that?" . "No, that was the annual review, you need to update it every six months, with last years' final report and next year's evaluation plan needed now". Note: I plodded along for a number of years, then decided to spice them up. Add a little Immanual Kant, MLK Jr, etc quotes. Even added a few interesting experiences I have had. And yet no one has ever commented on them, it falls into the bureaucratic abyss. Thank goodness.
"Time to update your work load document and the semester schedule." Need this every semester, three times a year, in the proper ever changing bureacratic format.
Don't forget to update the syllabus to the latest bureaucratic requirements. The changes in syllabi are usually word and definition changes that are required by certifications. Which are constantly being updated responding to the current academic whims.
Additionally there are the requirements to address how you are going to improve your students lives by initiating in your courses the latest trends fads and whims which change every three to five years. And are soon forgotten but for the frustration they left behind.
You will note that none of these required exercises addresses my being a better teacher in my subjects, just responding to a bureaucrats needs.
So why do I stick around? Great subjects, great students. Talk about diversity. Every letter in the alphabet. No one is in your face, they are all grateful because they know what America is all about. Most first or second generation. And I teach with great, caring teachers. We have great morale.
So what is going on? Somewhere in every educational system there are great leaders. These great leaders have hired great teachers and have gotten out of their way and let them teach, albeit with only a modicum of chickensh.t.(an old military expression) required by the remote higher ups.