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Why I Almost Walked Out of My School and Quit Teaching
I didn't because my work is still undone
Last week, I was ready to quit teaching. The week was already difficult, but Wednesday was horrible. I manage in-school suspension in my school. Now, I bet you are scratching your head, wondering why I would do this to myself. Why would I work in a classroom populated by, at most, 15 difficult children? It's okay, but it requires lots of behavior management.
On Wednesday, I had some of the school's challenging seventh graders. These students do not need to be together. Their personalities are too prominent to be in one room. The stress was intolerable. I was constantly redirecting kids all day. It wears on you to tell someone to stay in their seat and to be quiet.
By the end of the day, I was done. I was emotionally empty. Empathy was gone, and sympathy was bleeding on the sidewalk. I had nothing left. I was ready to walk out the door and kiss my career goodbye.
The 8th hour is my planning period or my class period off. I was eager to get a few minutes away from my "lovely charges." Another teacher relieved me so I could go.
When the new teacher removes his bag from his shoulder, several children swarm him. They were waiting to get a crack at him because he might be more forgiving than me.
A young man with whom I had a heated encounter several weeks ago decided to ask the new teacher several questions. I can't recall the questions, but he was disrespectful.
I told him to go and sit down, but this was only after the teacher told him to return to his seat several times.
Instead of respectfully returning to his seat, he said a few choice words back to me.
He told me to get out of his conversation.
I looked at him and said I can be in your conversation, and you need to sit down.
He wasn't happy about that. His next statement was, “Shut up talking to him.” That's a common refrain amongst our middle schoolers.
I stated I could talk as much as I chose. And he can't stop me.
This kid is barely 13 and talking to me, a grown man, like he is my father.
