One thing is for sure this year. I have far less time to write. This is because my day job (teacher) takes up so much more time than it ever has before. There is far more paperwork involved than any of my previous 17 years. I have been working through my lunch each day, but I still need to spend time at home planning, grading, writing Student Intervention Plans, and calling parents. It’s enough to make me glad that retirement is only a few years away.
A fellow teacher found this little gem. Whoever the artist is, they pegged it right on the nose.
I’ve changed the banner of City of Amathar Blog. For the past two a half years it has said “The Official Blog of School Teacher / Novelist Wesley Allison.” I have changed it to “The Official Blog of Author Wesley Allison.” This is not because I’ve given up being a teacher. I haven’t. Nor is it because I’m not still proud to be a teacher. I am. But I’ve decided I can’t blog about being a teacher. I just don’t have it in me. I can’t shout into the wind anymore. Teachers have gone from being underappreciated to being the scapegoats and whipping boys of politicians, pundits, and commentators who don’t have a clue. I’ll continue to do my best, for more, with less. But after I get home from work, I’m not going to carry it with me anymore. From now on, when I get home I’m no longer Mr. Allison. I’m just Wesley Allison.
Alright, maybe it’s not so bad after all. I can get back on my blog. I’m still waiting for a raise though, or maybe a few less students in my tiny classroom…. Maybe one of these guys can help.
Boy. I am feeling the burnout right now.
Burnout
A teacher’s loss of idealism and enthusiasm for work (Matheny, Gfroerer, and Harris 2000).
“An extreme type of role-specific alienation with a focus on feelings of meaninglessness, especially as this applies to one’s ability to successfully reach students” (Wood, McCarthy 2000).
“Syndrome resulting from teachers’ inability to protect themselves against threats to their self esteem and well being” (Haberman)
Causes for Teacher Burnout
Burnout is the result of a long period of stress. Stress comes from the perception of a teacher that the resources available to deal with the stress are not adequate. In other words, the stressors (demands from the job) outweigh the resources available to deal with the demands. Example: “Teachers must face a classroom full of students every day, negotiate potentially stressful interactions with parents, administrators, counselors, and other teachers, contend with relatively low pay and shrinking school budgets, and ensure students meet increasingly strict standards of accountability.” (Wood, McCarthy 2000).
If I had my druthers last Friday, I would have quit. Since I don’t have that option, I spent the weekend mulling over how I could turn it around, and I’m working on that today. By the time you read this (since I’m writing a couple of weeks in advance) I should have things going the way I want them, or I’ll have exploded an aneurysm.
City of Amathar 