Teachers...

So I had the comment given to me the other day that no one should ever feel sorry for teachers and their cushy jobs etc etc etc. Hmm... Ya, the holidays are nice but we also don't get paid for them which most people don't realize. Instead, we just have our 10 month salary, spread over 12 months so that we can continue to feed our families over the summer since I for one, probably wouldn't budget to pay myself over the summer. So ya, that's nice of them to do it for me. But I got thinking... I really love my job and teaching all the really neat students. Every child is so unique and despite all the frustrations they bring, they all look up at you with these amazing eyes and you can't help but love each and every one of them.
But I got thinking about the comment and wondered about different jobs out there and just simply realized that there really is nothing as unique as teaching. So I get the summer off... so what... most of us need to it cope with the demands of a new group of students starting in the Fall.
How many other jobs do you deal with students on a daily basis who are totally deprived for attention, students who act out and show every sign of sexual abuse but you can't do one thing about it until they completely admit it, and can't do anything because Social Services is already involved. How many other jobs, do you have a child come to you, so excited because they finally have an air mattress to sleep on, rather than the floor. A child misses every Friday of school because that's her day to stay home and look after a younger sibling so that they don't have to pay for childcare... A child who is FAS and bashes his head against his desk so hard when he gets frustrated that you're amazed there aren't bruises. A child who lost his older brother 5-6 years ago but can't let go... a child who got sent to live with dad for the sole reason that mom had a baby with another man and now he's in the way... a child who'se family has no car... children who come to school with no socks, dirty clothes, clothes that are way too small so the other kids laugh when their butt crack is showing all the time. Single parent families, children who can't live with mom and dad, so they live with gpa and gma. Children who suffer from ADD and parents feel that Omega 3 is going to be the answer... ADHD, but parents are ashamed to put their child on meds when all it does it benefit the child. There are students who is all senses of the word, hate each other... but back it stems to the parents who hate each other. Students who excel but the majority of students who are below grade level.
And then you put 22 of these unique children together and what an atmosphere it creates! Would you say that 22 children dealing with one or more of the above issues, creates an environment essential for learning? I'm a teacher who feels like 10% of the day is teaching curriculum and 90% is spent teaching life skills.
So... All in all, no, teaching isn't just a job, it's not glamourous, but it's the little I can do to provide some sunshine into these little tender lives, who often have to deal with the cruelties of the world too soon.
Summer is a time to regroup, refocus, and reflect. How can I be even a better teacher, a better mentor to the next group of students...
I can't lose sleep over my lovelies... i have my own children to raise and love and give them what's best in life. Worrying about the kids at school would hinder that, and often I feel guilty for not doing more. sigh...
Anyways... It's helped to appreciate Mia and Wyatt all the more and I hope they'll always know how much they are loved.