No. Not tonight. I know that yesterday I told my students (AND posted on my classroom website) that I would have everything from this week posted by 5 PM on Friday (that’s today, in about 23 minutes as I type these words), and I know that their parents’ tax dollars pay my generous (as far as my profession goes) salary. But I also know that I skipped my prep period today to help two kids with homework they were having trouble doing, that I skipped lunch today to help a girl with her college application essays, and that I stayed after school for several hours each day this week to advise the newspaper staff, get tested as a possible bone marrow donor in honor of a former student, and grade like a maniac. Oh. And did I mention I got up at 8 AM last Saturday to drive 1/2 hour and watch 5 of my students run in a Cross Country meet in ridiculous heat and humidity? Last (for this week) but certainly not least, I have not gotten a full night of sleep since this school year started — too much grading, prepping, and worrying about the choices my students are making outside of school (a few of my kids have already been arrested for underage drinking, and one of my girls is basically homeless at the moment - 18 and kicked out).
I am not writing this to claim that I am any sort of uberteacher or saint. I know that many teachers have had very similar weeks. I am simply trying to justify to myself that it’s ok to stop doing teacherthings for a few hours.
Filed under: drama queen, education, teaching
