Child Labor Laws Are Kinder
I really do love teaching and fully embrace all of its peaks and valleys. However, at times I wonder if child labor laws offers children better working conditions than what teachers face day in, day out. Seriously consider the following set of working circumstances.
My luch is scheduled 11:00 AM in the morning (which also happened to be my average breakfast time during summer months). This is especially tough when I coach after-school sports until 4:30. Forget that! I'm sneaking dried fruit and nuts during class every chance I get to prevent my blood sugar levels from taking a plunge. I'm a big advocate for returning snack break to the school schedule. That isn't going to happen in this NCLB age of heightened teaching accountability.
I only get 30 minutes to eat. Correct that. A half-hour boils down to the time between when the last child leaves the hallway for lunch period, and before first student arrives at your door after lunch. Talking 15 / 20 minutes to quaff down a meal; maybe less if you have to line up for the microwave. I envy those professionals that have one-hour lunches and eat at fancy places in the city.
Worse. The cafeteria is one door away from the teachers lounge. You have to deal with chatty middle school aged kids all day, just to retreat within screaming distance of the cafeteria. I'm almost sure that cows in a slaugherhouse sound less shrill than adolescents scarfing down fries shouting to their table of friends across the room. So much for downtime- I can't even get away from the kids when I am off duty.
You have to rush bathroom breaks into specific time slots: before school, after school, lunchtime, or during a prep. You can't just walk off when nature urges- you need to call the front office for coverage. Imagine calling the front office to ask permission to use the bathroom in hush, hush without your students noticing. How do you explain it to them that the guidance counsellor will be heading the class for a few minutes?
I've also have known teachers to take the proactive route and use the bathroom even when not necessary. A common phrase is, "I better go now, otherwise I won't have a chance for another few hours." That cuts out drinking water to keep hydrated. Better to dehydrate somewhat so you don't visit the lavatory like it had a revolving door.
Teachers are expected to be at top-performance energy levels throughout the day, on any given day. There is no crawling into your cubicle to nurse a hangover, or sneaking off to the copy room to get away from the job. Rather an administrator can pop in and expect top performance at any moment without given notice. You never know. . .
Don't get me wrong, I love teaching all-in-all. But right now, I am tired as hell: a deep down tired that drags on my restfulness, tires my muscles, and begs my brian not to think. Should have taken a nap, or went to bed early- like 9 PM- but I didn't. But then again I guess teachers have it easy because we leave school at 2:30 PM and have summers off.
My luch is scheduled 11:00 AM in the morning (which also happened to be my average breakfast time during summer months). This is especially tough when I coach after-school sports until 4:30. Forget that! I'm sneaking dried fruit and nuts during class every chance I get to prevent my blood sugar levels from taking a plunge. I'm a big advocate for returning snack break to the school schedule. That isn't going to happen in this NCLB age of heightened teaching accountability.
I only get 30 minutes to eat. Correct that. A half-hour boils down to the time between when the last child leaves the hallway for lunch period, and before first student arrives at your door after lunch. Talking 15 / 20 minutes to quaff down a meal; maybe less if you have to line up for the microwave. I envy those professionals that have one-hour lunches and eat at fancy places in the city.
Worse. The cafeteria is one door away from the teachers lounge. You have to deal with chatty middle school aged kids all day, just to retreat within screaming distance of the cafeteria. I'm almost sure that cows in a slaugherhouse sound less shrill than adolescents scarfing down fries shouting to their table of friends across the room. So much for downtime- I can't even get away from the kids when I am off duty.
You have to rush bathroom breaks into specific time slots: before school, after school, lunchtime, or during a prep. You can't just walk off when nature urges- you need to call the front office for coverage. Imagine calling the front office to ask permission to use the bathroom in hush, hush without your students noticing. How do you explain it to them that the guidance counsellor will be heading the class for a few minutes?
I've also have known teachers to take the proactive route and use the bathroom even when not necessary. A common phrase is, "I better go now, otherwise I won't have a chance for another few hours." That cuts out drinking water to keep hydrated. Better to dehydrate somewhat so you don't visit the lavatory like it had a revolving door.
Teachers are expected to be at top-performance energy levels throughout the day, on any given day. There is no crawling into your cubicle to nurse a hangover, or sneaking off to the copy room to get away from the job. Rather an administrator can pop in and expect top performance at any moment without given notice. You never know. . .
Don't get me wrong, I love teaching all-in-all. But right now, I am tired as hell: a deep down tired that drags on my restfulness, tires my muscles, and begs my brian not to think. Should have taken a nap, or went to bed early- like 9 PM- but I didn't. But then again I guess teachers have it easy because we leave school at 2:30 PM and have summers off.
1 Comments:
hehe..I get 45 minutes for lunch!
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