Is teaching an easy job?

I work at a school. I teach primary school children. Now rate that on a scale of :- 1-5 where

1 - cakewalk
2 - easy
3 - challenging
4 - very challenging
5 - frustrating

Without judging your common-sense, least of all sniggering at the social consensus of teaching being an easy job, I would like to share a few experiences with you.

Day 1. The day begins with an early morning bath before the kid wakes up...get him ready and packing for school...a rushed breakfast/or none... wait at the bus-stop...attendance in the bus...keeping inquisitive hands out of trouble areas and an alert eye on each liitle child...Then to class...Good Morning Ma'am! A room full of bright, smiling youngsters greet you.
Class begins. Instructions ladled out...reach only some ears...call out to the errant few...blank stares...renewed explanations...a bitter fight between two....mediate...get the focus of the class back to work...early birds are done...the inattentive ones reminded yet again....confronted with irrelevant questions...a long list of complaints are waiting to be heard....the bell rings...time for the class to go out for some activity class in an orderly line...they rush out...books scattered..lights and fans on...are called back again and made to leave in a disciplined manner...a meeting with a parent...lunch time with the kids choosing and picking their vegetables and then wasting it....meeting with the Dean...class again...an unending cycle till its time to go home.

At home work awaits. Homework needs to be done, son needs to be probed and pestered for information.... prepare tea, attend a call of an anxious parent(or more), lay the dinner, work on the computer/on teacher's diary ...prepare for the next day before going to bed.It's 1:30 already. Set the alarm for 5:00 a.m.

That's just Day 1. Without mention of assembly, and so many other activities that go on throughout the day.

I would say that there are days when one wonders how everything got done...school is where your heart is and must be(cellphone on silent)...at home people feel, thank god she's back early from her nice fun day with some kids...enough of escaping housework.

Yet this is the choice I have made and this mixed-up life seems to be my destiny for years to be. My only solace, the heart of an innocent child in my loving care. No regrets. Just a wish, that people around me understand my need to work as a teacher and give it the importance that is due to it.

Comments

  1. RaviTuesday, 12 October, 2010

    Nice to hear that you are working with the little ones. Nothing can bring more fun and happiness than the tiny tots. These are the ones who give unconditional love to us. I am sure you will lay a good foundation to these little ones

    ReplyDelete

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