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Teachers Need Time Off, Too

© Rebecca Kojetin

This article may sound like I have gotten on a soapbox, so I appologize before I begin.

I get irritated each year as the school year ends when I hear people talk about how teachers shouldn't complain about their job because they get 3 months off every year. What many of these citizens don't realize is what it takes to work as a teacher. Teachers need that time off to regroup.

First of all, as a teacher, I am actively discussing, and informing my students much of the time. If I give them time to work, I either cycle around the area or plant myself in one place so that they can come up individually and ask questions. Sometimes the questions are the ones that they don't feel comfortable to ask during discussion because they are afraid someone might make fun of them. Thus, there is no time to correct papers during the times I teach. Sure, I get a 48 minute preparation period and a second 24 minute preparation period where I can grade grammar papers, projects, and lengthy essays; as well as, read the selections of literature I will be teaching that week. If I am lucky, I read or reread the literature the day I assign it to the students to read. Next, within that time, I also need to visit the counselors and principals about students who are having difficulties and complete the paper work as well, complete paper work for the special department for students who are mainstreamed, make sure I get the eligibility forms completed, and fill out absent student's missing assignments sheet.

Is it any wonder a teacher is ready to drop at the end of the day?

But wait, what about all those papers that didn't get corrected during the day? What does one do with those? Most dedicated teachers will bring them home and work to complete them in the evening or over a weekend.

With all this packed into a day or even a week, is it any wonder why teachers can use a good summer break to recooperate?

I work a second job at a local retail store, putting in 20 to 30 hours a week. Why you ask? To make ends meet. I recently was told one evening by one of my managers to have a good evening. I told her that I got to go home and do midterm grades, and then I invited her to trade places with me.