Teacher Shortage III: To Teach or Not To Teach

After I heard about the teacher shortage I emailed some of my friends from the old school and exchanged cheers. Year after year our group would get smaller as we watched our friends dismissed or forced into early retirement. For us the new shortage is what my friend Ellen defined as “SCHADENFREUDE”. I laughed and added, jokingly (or half-jokingly), that they will end up calling us back to work…

Few days later, I had my first encounter with the shortage. I was called to substitute at a middle school on a Friday, and before the day ended I was asked to come back on Monday to cover an “unfilled position”. “Unfilled?” I asked. Yes, more students than anticipated. They are looking to hire a full time teacher (only after “norm day”). Am I am interested?  And despite of everything, I was almost ready to say ‘yes’, with the ever hope that this time it will be different.

Then came the reality check. With Monday’s assignment came the realization that “no way!” It cannot work with middle school students, who have the attitude and nerve of juvenile criminals. I had to call security almost every period, and was close to slapping several young faces. Of course situation was worse than usual; these kids have not had a permanent teacher since the start of the school year, and were already aware of how unlikely consequences are, but no, I don’t want to do it! So when asked later to come the following day I said “Thanks! But no thanks!”

As I left that school, I realized I missed a call from another school. I was so worn-out from the day’s experience that I didn’t want to hear about another job. I waited till later to find out who had called. When I realized it was one of my favorite schools I asked if they needed me for the following day. The only answer I could get was that it was not about working tomorrow but about my certifications, and I was asked to call the next day. It almost sounded like a possible permanent position offer... “seriously?” I asked myself, “after all these years of rejection?”

That night I could not fall asleep. Tossing in my bed, I strained to remember all the things that I tried to do to improve teaching, to make sure that students had learn the material, to create tests that reflect their knowledge; all my failed attempts to make them accountable for their work, responsible for their duties. My struggle to do so without nerves breakdown. I tried to remember if I had a new plan of how to do it better next time. The more I thought about it the more hopeless it seemed…

It turned out to be nothing. All they wanted was to know if I am still substituting and if they should keep me on their list. And I am glad! I know I won’t be able to reject such a good school, yet I know it would have been the same old dreadful frustration…