Wow.  Looking back at my notes, I see that this time last month, I was about sixty days ahead of my writing goal.  Now I’m about two weeks behind.  This has been a trying time in may day job and it’s not only taking time from my writing, but it’s dragging me down mentally and emotionally so much that when I do have time, I can’t quite get into it.  Those of you who have never worked as a teacher do not and cannot know the amount of daily pressure that teachers are under.  It sounds like I’m whining– and I guess I am a bit.  The events of the past week just illustrate one layer of the stress that goes along with the job.

Teachers are expected to be educators, counselors, clergy, parents, social workers, and friends.  They are expected to care for their students as if they were their own children, to provide for the students what their parents can’t provide, and to lay down their lives if necessary to protect them.  Most teachers know this and are ready to do so.  On the other hand, teachers are criticized and blamed for every problem that their students have, whether it is low test scores or bullying.  My cardiologist, wondering why my blood pressure was so high asked me “is your job stressful?”  I said, “You have no idea.  You’re only a heart surgeon.”

Anyway, three more school days and I’ll be out for two Winter Vacation weeks.  Hopefully I’ll be able to write something then.