2010

Maybe you shouldn’t be a teacher…

I had just gone over another observation and as we left the portable at a high school near me, without a soul around, it looked at me and said… Maybe you shouldn’t be a teacher…

I always knew I wanted to be a teacher.

I graduated from high school and went straight to a university on Vancouver Island. I worked on an Elementary Education program. What I know now. I was too immature to be away from home. Nothing prepared me to live on my own with thousands of my peers. I needed support.

I am amazed that anyone succeeds without any preparation for such a dramatic change.

Maybe you shouldn’t be a teacher…

I received my Bachelor of Arts from another university and I found a professional development program. The program affirmed that I was doing what I was supposed to. What I know now. I was more mature, not quite enough though and I was not prepared. I was missing several key ingredients: what my rights were, professional relationships, ethics, or even how to mark or set up a grade book. I needed support.

I know why so many teachers quit after a few years.

Maybe you shouldn’t be a teacher…

I still had this twisted vision of a classroom, funny enough. It was filled with desks in rows and cute little faces that stared up at me anticipating what brilliant bit of information I would have for them. Then I would take their little journals and with an old school red pen and stickers in tow and would comment on how lovely their sentiments were.

I left the high school and was on my way to teach primary at my current school, Boston Bar Elementary Secondary School. I was so excited. I bought them all journals. What I know now. I still wasn’t prepared but that’s ok because there are many different people to support me and my students.

I should be a teacher,

Maybe you shouldn’t be an administrator…