need to unload: second best thing to therapy

would you like some cheese with that whine?

Monday, March 26, 2007

full on quarter life existential crisis

the longer and deeper i get into the process of interviewing for jobs, the less sure i am about what the hell i'm doing. 

case in point: i interviewed at two comprehensive districts this past weekend.  i'd pretty much been banking on the fact that i'm unhappy at my job because it asks too much and i have to put in too much time caring about the kids and carrying a huge load on my team.  i thought, maybe if i just worked at a comprehensive, and clocked in and out, then maybe i can manage the school thing.

well, on saturday, i was candidate #229.  and it was horrible.  horrible and impersonal.  they asked me 3 questions in the first round interview to determine 
whether or not they wanted to ask me for a second round interview.  they asked me 
seven questions to determine whether or not they wanted to hire me.  they didn't ask me to do a demo lesson, which was alarming to say the least.  what if i just interviewed well but was a totally shitty teacher?  unclear.

and now ... if i get an offer on thursday, i have four days to decide whether or not i want to work in this district.  four days is NOT enough time to visit schools and get a feel for departments.  i haven't even heard back from all the schools i applied to.  i just have to be IN or OUT.  i need to be plugged into the matrix or i'm not.  and how can i do that, in good conscience, as an educator?

which brings me back to the drawing board.  i've been spoiled by the good things that small schools has to offer.  personalization, thoughtfulness, care in choosing a good fit for the right team.  however, i've also been wrecked by the hardships of small schools.  the insane demand and work hours, the constant concerns about kids crapping on themselves.  do i still want to teach?  i think so.  but where?  there isn't a halfway house between comprehensive plug-and-chug and work-your-life-away small schools.  

what should i do?

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