I'm always amused by the motivation and inspiration a new teacher brings to the staff. They aren't tainted. They are still living in the fairy tale world of college theory which 32-40 kids are guaranteed to throw out the window within the first 15 minutes on Day 1. They have lifelong goals of reaching and inspiring the students that "no one else can reach", and "no kids will fail their class." While I (even though I don't want to admit it) remember that feeling so well, it doesn't take long to realize it's all just a big hoax! Teachers picture the perfect classroom: posters on the walls with words of wisdom and inspiration, superior student work on a bulletin board, happy kids with perfectly clean lockers and desks, who never forget their supplies and always come to class with their homework, and a perfect lesson plan that will inspire and engage the students for the whole time. Then 8am on Tuesday (Monday is Labor day and we always start school the day after in MI) happens....and reality hits.
The school has had a glitch in the scheduling program and students don't have a schedule, so they will be held in your class until it can be worked out. You have a day 1 lesson plan but it's designed to be repeated every 45-60 minutes. What are you going to do with all these kids for an undetermined amount of time?? It's the first day, so they didn't bring a pencil, paper, or their brain. "Why do we need to write, it's the first day!??!" School started 10 minutes ago and the first kid raises their hand (whose name you're sure you will never remember how to spell or pronounce) and you are excited!!! The first question! What does he/she ask? "Can I go to the bathroom?" REALLY??!! It's been 10 minutes since school started. Panic sets in. What to do? If you say yes, you may start a trend. If you say no, the kid's sure to tell your administrator, his parents, anyone who will listen, that you are abusing him/her by not letting him/her use the bathroom. Out of panicked desperation, you say "ok", and find out that this makes your classroom door a sieve, and every 3 words another kid wants to go to the bathroom. You wonder, "How many kids really need to pee this early in the day?" and discover...you probably should've had a plan for that. While you're worrying about following the "hall pass" protocol of the school and all the bathroom requests, kids start destroying the tables and chairs and taking each other's things. This results in 16 year old children tattling on their friends, and an investigation into who etched that "J" into the table (If you're lucky...I know someone who got a phallic symbol!) and a decision about what to do with the gum chewer that stick their leftovers under your brand new tables.
Just writing this scenario made me tired, but I actually lived it. No wonder we lose so many teachers within the first 3 years. I don't know the exact numbers (they vary depending on where you get them) but it's something like 1/3 in the first 3 years and 1/2 by year 5!!
No one tells you in college that teaching is at the bottom of the list of roles you will have in the classroom. Here's what I am: A parent, a mentor, a social worker, a counselor, a detective, an investigator, a disciplinarian, and, oh yeah, I teach social studies. The reality is until a kid is mentally and emotionally attached to you and your classroom, you are NOT going to be teaching. You will plan and align all of your lessons to standards and benchmarks, or GLCE's or HSCE's or whatever your state has because your boss expects you to, but really you will just be tired, angry, and ready to quit in just 3 short years because kids wear you out.
Pull it together people! There is HOPE. Just go into it knowing that teaching comes after all the other stuff! Plan, plan, plan, and plan some more. Not for your classes. But for solutions to the real problems in your urban classroom. For the kids who don't have lunch. For the kids who have only ever been disappointed by adults. For the kids who need a friend because they don't have one. For the kids who come to school to make your life hell. (They really don't but it sure feels like they do.) For the kids who have no self-concept and are most likely to pick you for a power struggle because they need to get "some control" over their life. For the kids who have to be the adults at home. Have a plan for all of that...and what for what to do with the ones you (or I) haven't thought about. And after all of that, make some lesson plans for your content.
I hope to bring some wisdom to the people out there struggling to make it in their classroom. You can do it. Kids need you. If you've read all of this, then you are in it for the long haul and we can't afford to lose you. Thank you for being a teacher. Thank you for caring about kids. Thank you for making a difference. Thank you for providing the simple education that got all our politicians and leaders to their powerful positions. Thank you for being you.
Trench Teacher...out.
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