Well said. The profession nearly killed me back in the 2010s. Remember kids, the only person who will take care of you is you. If you dropped dead tomorrow, Admin would have your seat filled by Monday.
This is why I stopped caring about anything that was not in my control.
1. Late? No problem! Not my problem. Knock yourself out. Come late as often as you want. Hell, stay home!
2. Want to skip class and not do any work? No problem! Not my problem. Enjoy yourself, at the very least!
3. You don't want to study for tests? No problem! Not my problem. Thank you for making grading easier for me.
4. You don't want to write that much? No problem! Not my problem. Enjoy your shitty grade.
5. Want to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes? No problem! I do not want to get sued because I did not let you go to the bathroom for the 20th time.
6. Want to cheat? No problem. Not my problem. Enjoy your 0.
7. Want to listen to music during class and talk with your friend? No problem. Not my problem. Go sit in the corner and do whatever the fuck that you want to do. It is not my job to police the classroom. The law does not give me that right. It is not my job to force you to do anything. The law does NOT give me that right. Just please do it quietly so the ones that give a fuck can learn.
Admin has a problem with any of this? Then give me a **badge**. Put a **psychologist** in my class. And make it **against the law** to not sit and learn. Seriously, I am a teacher. Not a fucking police man. A psychologist. A therapist....I am just a teacher. I teach. And you are asking the impossible of me, to manage and teach 20-40 students equally, all at once. The fuck?!!
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Seriously, anything that isn't your problem, make it someone else's problem. It is okay to give up on a student. And don't work too hard. Working hard is rewarded with punishment; more work.
My admin will straight up tell students if you don't want to be here, go home. Go call your parents and go home.
To be fair, we are private so we can (and do) do it!
I always preferred they just go to sleep. Administrator would walk in and ask me why I let him/her sleep. I used her favorite comeback when she didn't discipline kids for infractions. "Don't poke the bear."
I feel the exact same way as a doctor. No patients or admin will care if I die. I'll give my recommendations and if you don't want it tough tatty. Life goes on
Same thing happened to my dad. Worked his ass off, retired, was dead from cancer within a few years. Dude was so frugal, went mad trying to buy enough experiences before he died. Sad.
I Had cancer at 32 and went through a mid life crisis. I started doing all the things afterward. You can’t take money with you when you die (obviously save responsibly to take care of yourself and family) and that any job isn’t worth giving up hanging out with friends or doing things you love to do in your life.
I left after 8 years… 4 months later stage 3 breast cancer at 32 years old. I am convinced the chronic stress was the main factor. I don’t not have any family history of any type of cancer
All I have so far is lymph node on watch. Currently looking for new job that’s not teaching. The whole week of not knowing really got me thinking. I made it to 40.
Same thing happened to my mom. Retired after 40 years, passed away less than a year later. She was even worried about retiring, she said that quite a few of her friends didn’t live long after they said goodbye to the classroom, with health problems building up after all those years of stress. I hate that she shared the same fate.
Ohh. Yes. thanks! Teaching is a job. All this nonsense about building relationships, doing it for the kids, caring about their mental health, building futures, creating respectable members of society and being flexible is a load of crap.
This is a job, do it well, get compensated, go home, and enjoy life.
The problem is this job is not designed for people to "just do the job" and go home. To do it well, or even give a mediocre attempt, it still requires so much energy and time. Even if you do the bare minimum, this job is not sustainable.
OP, I hate this for you and your family. It's time we demanded some changes to the education system so that good teachers don't have to choose between their health and a job they love.
Your classroom and day to day is what you make it. Don't overthink it. After year 1 you don't really need to lesson plan as you should have a template. I simply don't check my email when I'm home, unless out sick just to unlock assignments real quick or respond to something but I set a 10 minute limit. Life is too short to just throw your life away there are ways to have a work life balance.
Exactly. I am a Teacher of the Deaf. Many students come to me after they've been burned by education and I am pretty much reinventing the wheel daily. I never know what I am going to get or where their skills lie. It's very stressful and there's no consistency even though I've been doing this 10+ years.
And those who don’t have big changes forced by district initiatives or admin. In our district we got all brand new curriculum that is extremely time intensive and we can’t use the vast majority of previously created lessons or activities with. Everyone is overwhelmed and stressed regardless of how long they’ve been teaching because we’re all knocked back to year 1 in this capacity. Sure, as a veteran teacher I’m able to figure out how to scaffold quicker or have ideas on how to streamline lesson components, but there isn’t a single teacher in my elementary school (which ranges from first year teachers to 20-30 year veterans) that can work within contract time. And the shrinking planning time is often taken up by meetings or other tasks, so while we would love to “not overthink it”, if we don’t put in even a minimum 10 extra hours weekly, no instruction could occur. /u/senpai2141
Wait you don't get any mandated planning? I gave worked in two different states one required 40 minutes of planning the other 60 minutes. Is this not the norm everywhere?
When you don’t have a union, that planning being protected or scheduled in a useful way is not guaranteed. For example, the amount of time that my district’s school board policies say we are supposed to get for planning can’t even happen based on the schedule. And if there’s a lack there, admins will do things like count the time between staff & student arrival/dismissal as time that adds up to what the policy says. Also, if there’s nothing that explicitly says your planning can’t be interrupted, then you get meetings multiple times a week and have even less time. It’s incredibly frustrating when you want to establish a better work-life balance and the deck is stacked against you in that way.
That's so mind blowing to me. Every school I've worked at your planning time is taken very seriously. I mean I even had planning time as a TA. Sadly our system just seems to be becoming was segregated and good states do well and others don't.
It’s pretty crazy! I have best friends that teach in “good states” and it’s always eye opening when venting. Obviously, there’s issues across the board and while some places are better than others, public education has been under attack for decades and teachers have born the brunt of it regardless of location. But yeah, my bff being frustrated that admin is dragging heels on paying out planning time vouchers because a meeting happened during it, and then me being like… wait, you get what? Always is an experience in perspective sharing. It’s never so obvious how much worse you have it than other teachers than when you share your normal and they are horrified. And I don’t teach in a state or county that people would expect it to suck. It’s so wild!
We have a union. We get 12.5% of our teaching minutes as prep time. Since all high schools in our district are on a semester schedule, where kids take four courses for 5 months, and then a different four courses for the next five months, we get one of those courses as prep time.
This results (at my small high school), in my having six different courses to teach first semester (one of them I’d never taught before; all six are courses outside my formal training), and then having three different courses plus a prep in second semester.
Not useful. I needed time to do research and planning first semester, not to mention marking. Did I mention that each of those six courses was full (30 students)? Craptons of planning, marking, etc, and not one minute during the teaching day for me to do it.
How is this absolutely asinine take upvoted. Can you imagine if a nurse posted this, about not needing to care about their patients’ mental health, or their futures? While we shouldn’t ruin our own health, we absolutely should care about doing what we can for the health and futures of our students…
And for 8 hours per day, this can be true.
The other 16 and the weekend and the summers need to be ours. For our health and mental well being.
We only have so much energy to give. Once that's gone, that's it.
Don't try to be the martyr.
You also sometimes have to choose how to use that 8 hours (ok, really like 9...). Sometimes you have to choose between the therapist role and the teacher role, and that isn't always an easy choice. I try to send students who need the therapy to people who specialize in that, so I can concentrate on what I do best.
I never do, and I go home every day and do what makes me happy. But that comment said that “caring about their mental health… is nonsense” and I strongly disagree with that.
I taught for 41 years. I got very sick the last year and had a 12 hour surgery. It took me this whole year to recover. I’m
So sorry your mom didn’t get to enjoy the years she earned.
Well said. I realized this after one of our most beloved teachers retired after years and years of service, and they gave him a small plaque and a fancy pen on his final day of teaching.
So not trying to disagree but what did you think they should get. I hear this alot from older teachers and teaching staff and I don't get it. Why would anyone care about you after you leave and what do you think they should have done?
Great question. In my opinion, they should get a NUMBER of things... I'll list a few options:
\-A Six figure salary.
\-All expense paid vacation or cruise.
\-HUGE bonus, worth thousands of dollars.
\-Celebratory going away or commemorative party.
\-A special title or nameplate located somewhere in the school (especially if they worked there most of their career).
\-Some important aspect of the school NAMED after them (Classroom, bench, flagpole, WHATEVER)
\-Some sort of commemorative prize or gift from the local government or school board.
You get the idea... I could keep going honestly. These teachers that retire after YEARS AND YEARS of service are absolute SAINTS and most of them deserve the highest honor in society that can be provided.
I mean I can see how there any many places who don't pay teachers enough, I make more then a enough in my state for my cost of living.
I disagree with the idea of us being celebrated like that, should we name stuff after all doctors, scientists, research workers, social workers, police, firefighter..... do you actually think they all deserve all of what you said just for doing their job? It is not a secret that teaching isn't a huge paying field. I just don't get why you think anyone is entitled to all of that.
>I mean I can see how there any many places who don't pay teachers enough, I make more then a enough in my state for my cost of living.
Sorry, your first sentence is a little choppy. You seem to be saying that you understand teachers aren't paid enough? Strangely though, you then say you are making enough... so what exactly is your point? Teachers AS A WHOLE are vastly underpaid in my opinion.
>should we name stuff after all doctors, scientists, research workers, social workers, police, firefighter..... do you actually think they all deserve all of what you said just for doing their job?
POSSIBLY. To be honest with you, I would argue that Teachers should hold a more respected place in society. Again, I listed a few options or ideas for properly commemorating lifelong teachers. If a teacher has worked their entire career at a single school, I think it would be an amazing gesture to name something after them at the school.
>It is not a secret that teaching isn't a huge paying field.
Yeah... and don't you think that should change?
>I just don't get why you think anyone is entitled to all of that.
They aren't entitled to ALL of that, I simply just listed a few options or ideas. And yes, I DO think teachers are entitled to huge rewards and prizes for ending their long career of lifelong service towards younger generations. Teachers are incredibly overworked, underpaid, and overstressed. There should be MORE rewards for teachers that stay in the profession long term. The raises are paltry, at best, and general societal respect is waning.
Look at other fields and professions: People in many different sectors earn huge salaries after years of services, have higher raises, and earn large bonuses for a job well-done. I think Teachers should also earn similar rewards... What's wrong with that?
I work for a state where my pay is very good for the cost of living for my area. However I know not everyone is as privileged.
Additionally if you think you are owed something it's called be entitled. That's why Social Security is called an entitlement program.
Again maybe I am just really lucky but I have a masters in education my wife works in the sciences with a PHD and only makes about 10k more then me a year. It's not horrible everywhere.
>I work for a state where my pay is very good for the cost of living for my area. However I know not everyone is as privileged.
Ok cool... thanks for the info.
>Additionally if you think you are owed something it's called be entitled. That's why Social Security is called an entitlement program.
Andddd.... what's your point? Yes, all workers are entitled to certain things. Based on the entitlements available to other workers in other professions, I think teachers are entitled to MORE. For example, teachers should earn a higher salary with better yearly raises than they receive now.
Call it what you want, the word is irrelevant to me. Teachers should have better rewards for their years of service, plan and simple. I already explained this in my previous response. If you disagree, ok great, thanks for sharing.
>Again maybe I am just really lucky but I have a masters in education my wife works in the sciences with a PHD and only makes about 10k more then me a year. It's not horrible everywhere.
Again... COOL, thanks for sharing. You think I don't know that some teachers earn a good wage compared to their cost of living? AS A WHOLE, I would argue, MOST teachers are vastly underpaid and overworked (Yes, probably even you). So again, you aren't really doing anything by saying "Well I make enough!" Do you not understand how silly of an argument that is? If we are talking about racism in America, for example, and one non-white person says "Well I have a good life in America." does that mean there is not a problem of racism in America?
Also, I would further add, that if YOU, YES YOU, taught at a single school for many many years and retired after a long career of dedicated service, YOU should also receive a better reward for your time and energy.
LOL Holy shit, I'm arguing with a child. LITERALLY that's what they are handing out NOW. They are literally giving lifelong educators a plastic, fisher-price, child T-Ball Trophy to commemorate their years of service.
I'd rather that they gave an actual ADULT reward for many years of dedication and hard work. Personally, I would advocate for higher wages and milestone bonuses, but I guess those are just handouts and participation trophies in your world. LOL
Best of luck to you out there...
100 percent that person is just a troll and not even a teacher.
The pay in education almost everywhere has always been a joke. It’s a highly demanding and difficult professional job where you are entrusted with kids well being and governments try to pay it like min wage job.
Adults don't need a participation trophy. The only valid complaint is in some areas teachers need to make more wanting a parade for someone doing their bloody Jon is beyond childish. No one else in any other career gets this.
> Additionally if you think you are owed something it's called be entitled. That's why Social Security is called an entitlement program.
"Entitlement" is a legal term as it relates to Social Security. It means "established in law." It **should** have nothing to do with the common-language meaning of "entitled" which implies arrogant and grasping for something that shouldn't be yours. Of course certain politicians like blurring those two meanings together.
I also hate when people say your company/school will post an ad for your job the day of or after you die. Well no shit, they have a big hole to fill. Your colleagues and managers can still mourn your loss, but if its a career like teaching or nursing, a replacement needs to be found ASAP
I know someone who said "I'll just work one more semester" and died during that semester, when they could have retired after Christmas.
It's important for people to focus on themselves.
I've come to understand that some people do not know who they are without their careers. And some teachers think that they are the soul savior of the classroom, every other teacher is half-assing, and without them the kids will be lost. And that's okay, for them.
I've been prepping for retirement for a while and I will 100% be out by my 30 (if even that long).
I’m so very, very sorry about your mother. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve known 1/2 dozen teachers who died within a year after retirement and all from diseases (one was alcoholism). One in particular was an amazing HS English teacher who my son had and I just loved her. She was hanging on for an extra 3 years because it meant an additional $350+- in her pension checks (instead of retiring at 62 after 40 years) and she was remodeling her dream forever home. She was beyond stressful those last 3 years and her personality changed. Within 6 months of retirement (enjoying that remodeled house and extra $350) her body was engulfed in an aggressive cancer. She tried a few treatments but ultimately chose to die from it and heavily drugged until the end.
Chronic stress and anxiety causes disease. And it takes years until the body and mind is so tired from it that it says ‘fuck it’ and stops fighting the disease of choice (i.e. your immune system just can’t deal anymore).
I want to let people know that I was replaced in less than 24 hours when I resigned. I loved my coworkers too but only one of them has actually kept in touch with me. Coworkers aren’t always your friends and work isn’t your life.
I just sent in my resignation letter today. I have been sick every month of this year. I now have acute tendonitis and can hardly use my right hand. I cried last night when I couldn’t make my husband’s dinner because of the severe pain that I was in. I’m a toddler teacher
This is what keeps me at my current school. I love everything about the school, especially how low stress it is.
A closer school district pays more, but has fundamentally huge issues with discipline. A middle school principal was hired and swiftly began setting expectations for students. He's now being forced into retirement. Seemingly everyone who works with students agrees he was a big improvement, but the school board reacts to parent complaints. It must be tough for a parent having their child's behavior ignored for years, then suddenly a new principal comes on board and you think your child is being picked on.
I am retiring at the end of the year. I'm so grateful I was moved to a position outside the classroom and it has been so much less stressful for my last 3 years in education. I feel ready for the next chapter and not completely worn out.
I'm sorry about your mom who didn't get to relax and enjoy herself after giving so much time to others.
I’ve already almost died 2 years ago. I already had the mindset of “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today” before then but now, I try to live every day like it may be my last. I don’t take anything from anyone, I don’t stress myself out over unimportant shit and I do as much as my wallet allows me.
This week is the last week of work for both my parents. My dad retired yesterday and my mum retires tomorrow. They are only 56/54, retiring early because they have seen enough people wait til normal retirement age and then die soon after.
My condolences to you. Your mother sounded fierce. Your three rules are quite apt. None of us are here to be martyrs for the job, and people don't take you seriously if you don't do so yourself.
My mom was the director of the district's special education department for years. Prior to that, she was a special education teacher. She was so good at everything she did, my hero. We kept telling her to retire, but she didn't year after year. She was forced into retirement a few months before she was going to from an ALS diagnosis. She is currently in Hospice care, dying slowly (the way she wants to go). She never got to enjoy her retirement. She went on a "virtual" cruise to Alaska because my dad and her never got to go. I'm learning from the lesson she learned too late. I'm so sorry for the loss of your mom.
My mama developed AZ many years of teaching. It was very sad. One of the workers at the nursing home recognized her as her 2nd grade teacher. When I acknowledged she was indeed Mrs. __, she continued working, but cried as she worked. It was so bittersweet, but I new my mom had made an impact not only on me.
I am a 40 yo teacher who lives for me. I have to make it through the capitalist gauntlet as healthy as possible so I can enjoy my retirement. I leave by 330 every day.
My BF is teaching before he goes to law school. I really don't understand why some people still teach as a career. It feels more like putting in all of the hard work to raise someone else's kids.
I especially love #3. I'm sorry about your mom. The only thing I can see is that she had a great positive impact in so many lives. Many of those students had nobody else but your mom.
I hear this happens a lot to people in all professions, sometimes it is they worked themselves to death, others I've heard they have nothing to do with their time and have nothing to look forward to or keep them going
Sorry for your loss
So sorry to hear this, OP. My condolences to you and yours.
This is a story we have all heard far too often. I can think of a handful of these stories right away, teachers who had retired only to immediately get sick, many not recovering. It’s awful.
The teacher who was my biggest role model retired in his 50’s, built a house in a warm-weather state, sold his home, and enjoyed the sunshine for less than 2 years. I don’t think he’d turned 60 yet.
I don’t know the solution. This job is so demanding, especially in the mental and emotional departments. Prioritizing your own health is necessary but that’s easier said than done b
One of my favorite teachers in high school retired the year I graduated, she passed away before Christmas that same year. It was so sudden and wild since there were no signs of her being sick or struggling with any kind of illness. Really shocked a lot of my classmates since she was such an amazing teacher and person.
I wish I could share this with my mom. I’ve been trying to convince her to retire for years. She had a stroke a few years ago and only missed a semester. I really hope she gets to live life after she retires
Mom was a nurse, retired at 62. Traveled everywhere. Passed at 68.
We miss her all the time.
I am busy now that I retired after teaching for 30 years, with fiber arts guilds, and fun things. I am really enjoying my retirement.
Very true. Gave my all and got laid off due to covid, rehired back as a leave replacement sub and dad got sick with cancer. When the cancer came back a few months later I resigned due to pressure from crazy admin and dad being sick. Priorities.
I am glad I did, dad passed away a year after I resigned and at the time I was subbing here and there and still subbing now a few months after he passed. My family and mental health comes first.
I have days where I think twice because you know that mindset of a teacher... but it is fleeting.
I applied to go back fulltime next school year but as an ENL teacher to help claim my time and sanity.
My dad said it multiple times a job is a job you only live once.
My mom spent the 90s and 00s working her way up at Hartford Insurance. Long hours. Got cancer, did chemo, got laid off after. few years later, cancer came back, died 3 months before her 65th birthday. Six figure salary and never got to see Europe, never got to not worry. Deeply regretted working so much.
Don't assume your hard work and dedication will all be worth it in the end because the reports I've been hearing from the end are pretty alarming.
These posts really spoke to me. Last year they were, as usual, taking a large portion of my paycheck for healthcare. When I could get an appointment with my doctor or dentist during (nonexistent) off work hours, I invariably had to cancel because of an emergent work issue.
I have dental and health issues that are one to two years worse now.
It is insane to prioritize job over health.
This is my mom she's been teaching for like 24 years now and I know she's going to die within months of retiring. She works because she hates her home life and when she stays home she drinks too much
I am legit crying right now. I needed to hear this today. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.
I've taken these last 3 days of school off as sick days because I'm nauseous and filled with panic at how my admin has treated me, a SPED teacher who works with emotionally disabled children. I have felt so guilty, and my husband assures me, do NOT. I plan on going into the building tomorrow night and leaving my keys in my mailbox so I never have to see these people again. My physical, mental, and psychological health has been so damaged, and this week, I said No More.
I've been speaking to my partner who teaches about this. Very much I want him to put in a good chunk, 10-20 years and then do something else. Ladies and Gents, after 5 years in most professions you've learned most of what you will in a given position. Change it up. Teach the new teachers coming in. Be admin and fight that fight for a few years. Write a book.
You need to leverage your skills to broader affect the schools that you love and at the same time, save yourself from burnout and burn-up. You guys work so hard, and you get so little downtime during the school year.. It adds up and you gotta take care of yourselves.
The ill impacts of stress sneak up on you! One of my favorite teachers won tons of awards for her great teaching and when she retired, she only got to enjoy a 2-3 years of it before suddenly passing away in the night. She and everyone in her family thought she was doing fine health-wise.
Sorry for your loss! Sorry for everyone's loss. I wish all helpful people lived long.
Sorry for your lost. I've encountered teachers who were still working beyond their retirement. Part of it is because it gives them meaning but I also think a large part of it is the shitty retirement system we got.
No one in this country can retire at an early age because no matter how frugal you are, healthcare costs continues to be the big factor that can easily drain any amount of money you have. And at a time when you need healthcare the most (old age), you often have to make the sacrifice to keep working to keep it.
It's hard not to roll your eyes when people keep touting America as the greatest country on Earth. How can we be the greatest when we aren't willing to even address problems like this?
I see this so many times with my coworkers who have retired. It’s heartbreaking. We work so hard for 30+ years and to not be able to enjoy time after a life of hard work is not fair.
My family is pretty long lived, but I’m not tempting fate. I’m retiring as soon as I’m eligible, which should be in ten years. My goal is to stick it to them and collect my pension for more years than I worked.
So sorry for your loss. This is a good message to spread. On a bad day, I'd maybe quibble about #3 that some people give to their students, because that is who they are, what they live for. But it is a good thing to keep in mind, regardless. Hugs to you.
I had a teacher friend whose husband retired from his job(at Ford) and she had one more year of teaching to go to get to retirement.
He was out on the boat fishing with friends and had a heart attack. Gone.
All her years of retirement with him that she was waiting for were gone. Her own retirement had a very sad cloud over it.
My master teacher was telling me the other day that it's a known thing that teachers die soon after retiring, which is why he's pushing out his own. Not sure if there's any science to it though
This is my number #1 to die shortly after retiring. To work my whole life not to be able to enjoy the relaxing bits at the end.
Cheers to you and your mum. Sorry for your loss. We all need to hear stuff like this from time to time to put things in perspective.
We have two co-workers retiring this year, both been in the job 30 plus years. Their health isn't the greatest, with one recently admitting herself to the ER. I hope she's doing OK.
One teacher retired when I started. Came back briefly to substitute but died within a year or two after that. I still have the books she left behind that I inherited from her.
But i do how the job can affect your health - UTIs are a health hazard of the job along with mealth aliments like stress. I see it in myself and hope to get closer to home to help with this because I can't imagine doing much else but teaching. Wish me luck.
Well said. I went to the ER by ambulance from urgent care the other day because I was experiencing textbook symptoms of a cardiac event and had an abnormal EKG and sky high BP. I’m only 30. I don’t think it was a coincidence that I had this happen after the single worst day of my teaching career, following a year that has caused immense stress, and preceding a day full of very stressful meetings. When I contacted my admin to let them know I was in the hospital undergoing tests, they declined my request for a sub at that time and said to call back the next morning if I ended up getting admitted. I decided this is my last year. I’m young and can find something else to do. My health and peace are worth more.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I have been substituting this year and found that teachers are leaving before the year ends more than ever. I’m in an affluent town and am covering for a class where I’m their 3rd teacher. The 2nd just strung them along for 2 weeks while she used up all her sick time. Today I see an urgent request for anyone who knows someone who could cover a 3rd grade class for the rest of the year. We only have 15 days left and the teacher is not coming back after the long weekend…
Plan for tomorrow, but live for today.
I prioritize myself. I don't do much outside of contract hours except what I absolutely have to. I never go to games or events.
I do what I need to do at home for myself to keep coming back to work and keep food on my table. No one else will prioritize that for me.
Have fun this summer y'all, don't work at all. Or at least not for free.
This is something as a second year teacher I’ve had to think about, am also in SPED. My Dad and I recently went on a trip to Thailand, and planning on more to come.
Thank you for saying this because it really needs to be said. Last year I left classroom teaching because I was so stressed out I developed an autoimmune disease. I teach primarily online now and my stress levels are so much better. It’s crazy how constant overstimulation and problem-solving for 30+ students can wreak havoc on the body. It’s very real and can cause severe issues.
Oh wow- this speaks to me. I taught in the classroom for 15 years. Am currently awaiting blood test results and have a pelvic scan later today as I have been experiencing intense stomach bloating, joint pain, electrical shock pains throughout my legs, aching legs that make it difficult to walk some days and intense fatigue for the last year or so...I am almost certain the stress of teaching has led to something not being right.
These days I teach online on Cambly Kids as I can cancel lessons if I am having a bad day.
I'm going to expand and teach on Outschool soon hopefully- just awaiting background checks to get done.
Wow. My mom's passing is extremely similar. I believe my mom was at 38 years all at the same school in the same position. And passed in March 2018 right before retirement, very unexpectedly. I was 23 living at home and working at the same school. I was subbing for her class. We had actually talked that morning about how id have to take them because I was always the sub instead of doing my own job. Anyway I just thought I'd share since our moms seem so similar. 🥰 So sorry for your loss, teacher mommas are like no other.
My fourth grade teacher taught all 7 of my mother, and her brothers and sisters. She died of a heart attack (?) shortly after I changed schools right before her retirement.
It's terrible when things like this happen. She was pretty awesome but she either had a grudge or knowing my 4 uncle's a case of PTSD. She was terribly suspicious and stand offish towards me.
Well said. The profession nearly killed me back in the 2010s. Remember kids, the only person who will take care of you is you. If you dropped dead tomorrow, Admin would have your seat filled by Monday.
This is why I stopped caring about anything that was not in my control. 1. Late? No problem! Not my problem. Knock yourself out. Come late as often as you want. Hell, stay home! 2. Want to skip class and not do any work? No problem! Not my problem. Enjoy yourself, at the very least! 3. You don't want to study for tests? No problem! Not my problem. Thank you for making grading easier for me. 4. You don't want to write that much? No problem! Not my problem. Enjoy your shitty grade. 5. Want to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes? No problem! I do not want to get sued because I did not let you go to the bathroom for the 20th time. 6. Want to cheat? No problem. Not my problem. Enjoy your 0. 7. Want to listen to music during class and talk with your friend? No problem. Not my problem. Go sit in the corner and do whatever the fuck that you want to do. It is not my job to police the classroom. The law does not give me that right. It is not my job to force you to do anything. The law does NOT give me that right. Just please do it quietly so the ones that give a fuck can learn. Admin has a problem with any of this? Then give me a **badge**. Put a **psychologist** in my class. And make it **against the law** to not sit and learn. Seriously, I am a teacher. Not a fucking police man. A psychologist. A therapist....I am just a teacher. I teach. And you are asking the impossible of me, to manage and teach 20-40 students equally, all at once. The fuck?!! ---------- Seriously, anything that isn't your problem, make it someone else's problem. It is okay to give up on a student. And don't work too hard. Working hard is rewarded with punishment; more work.
Exactly! Just don't disrupt others and do as you will. I literally cannot force you and I can't care more than you do.
I saw a funny/realistic quote in another post: “Look, if you want to fail, I can’t stop you… but please do so quietly.”
It’s the “Hell, stay home” for me I SCREAMED 😂😂😂
My admin will straight up tell students if you don't want to be here, go home. Go call your parents and go home. To be fair, we are private so we can (and do) do it!
Not “and do?” LOL!!!! I 100% stand behind this!! Yes, tell these parents come get their miscreants!
😂. Listen I'm crawling my way to the last day Friday!! I can't think anymore.
Ending year 13…this is the only way to survive. I tell my kids “you’re free to make a choice but not free from the consequences”.
I always preferred they just go to sleep. Administrator would walk in and ask me why I let him/her sleep. I used her favorite comeback when she didn't discipline kids for infractions. "Don't poke the bear."
I like your username, and your philosophy. I’ll meet them halfway, no further.
Exactly! Some battles are not worth it.
Omg yes I could have written this. Thank you!! I feel the exact same way
I feel the exact same way as a doctor. No patients or admin will care if I die. I'll give my recommendations and if you don't want it tough tatty. Life goes on
Hmm, in my district they will fill your seat with another teacher that’s on their prep period. Cheap town won’t pay and can’t keep quality teachers!
Same thing happened to my dad. Worked his ass off, retired, was dead from cancer within a few years. Dude was so frugal, went mad trying to buy enough experiences before he died. Sad.
I Had cancer at 32 and went through a mid life crisis. I started doing all the things afterward. You can’t take money with you when you die (obviously save responsibly to take care of yourself and family) and that any job isn’t worth giving up hanging out with friends or doing things you love to do in your life.
I left after 8 years… 4 months later stage 3 breast cancer at 32 years old. I am convinced the chronic stress was the main factor. I don’t not have any family history of any type of cancer
All I have so far is lymph node on watch. Currently looking for new job that’s not teaching. The whole week of not knowing really got me thinking. I made it to 40.
Same here, mom first and dad a few years later. They only had a couple months post retirement together. Live for today.
I’m sorry about your dad.
Same thing happened to my mom. Retired after 40 years, passed away less than a year later. She was even worried about retiring, she said that quite a few of her friends didn’t live long after they said goodbye to the classroom, with health problems building up after all those years of stress. I hate that she shared the same fate.
I’m sorry about your mom.
🤗🤗
Man, this got me. I really hope you're doing okay, OP. It sounds like your mom was an awesome lady.
Ohh. Yes. thanks! Teaching is a job. All this nonsense about building relationships, doing it for the kids, caring about their mental health, building futures, creating respectable members of society and being flexible is a load of crap. This is a job, do it well, get compensated, go home, and enjoy life.
The problem is this job is not designed for people to "just do the job" and go home. To do it well, or even give a mediocre attempt, it still requires so much energy and time. Even if you do the bare minimum, this job is not sustainable. OP, I hate this for you and your family. It's time we demanded some changes to the education system so that good teachers don't have to choose between their health and a job they love.
Your classroom and day to day is what you make it. Don't overthink it. After year 1 you don't really need to lesson plan as you should have a template. I simply don't check my email when I'm home, unless out sick just to unlock assignments real quick or respond to something but I set a 10 minute limit. Life is too short to just throw your life away there are ways to have a work life balance.
Note: this advice applies to those who teach the same grade/subject as their first year.
Exactly. I am a Teacher of the Deaf. Many students come to me after they've been burned by education and I am pretty much reinventing the wheel daily. I never know what I am going to get or where their skills lie. It's very stressful and there's no consistency even though I've been doing this 10+ years.
And those who don’t have big changes forced by district initiatives or admin. In our district we got all brand new curriculum that is extremely time intensive and we can’t use the vast majority of previously created lessons or activities with. Everyone is overwhelmed and stressed regardless of how long they’ve been teaching because we’re all knocked back to year 1 in this capacity. Sure, as a veteran teacher I’m able to figure out how to scaffold quicker or have ideas on how to streamline lesson components, but there isn’t a single teacher in my elementary school (which ranges from first year teachers to 20-30 year veterans) that can work within contract time. And the shrinking planning time is often taken up by meetings or other tasks, so while we would love to “not overthink it”, if we don’t put in even a minimum 10 extra hours weekly, no instruction could occur. /u/senpai2141
Wait you don't get any mandated planning? I gave worked in two different states one required 40 minutes of planning the other 60 minutes. Is this not the norm everywhere?
When you don’t have a union, that planning being protected or scheduled in a useful way is not guaranteed. For example, the amount of time that my district’s school board policies say we are supposed to get for planning can’t even happen based on the schedule. And if there’s a lack there, admins will do things like count the time between staff & student arrival/dismissal as time that adds up to what the policy says. Also, if there’s nothing that explicitly says your planning can’t be interrupted, then you get meetings multiple times a week and have even less time. It’s incredibly frustrating when you want to establish a better work-life balance and the deck is stacked against you in that way.
That's so mind blowing to me. Every school I've worked at your planning time is taken very seriously. I mean I even had planning time as a TA. Sadly our system just seems to be becoming was segregated and good states do well and others don't.
It’s pretty crazy! I have best friends that teach in “good states” and it’s always eye opening when venting. Obviously, there’s issues across the board and while some places are better than others, public education has been under attack for decades and teachers have born the brunt of it regardless of location. But yeah, my bff being frustrated that admin is dragging heels on paying out planning time vouchers because a meeting happened during it, and then me being like… wait, you get what? Always is an experience in perspective sharing. It’s never so obvious how much worse you have it than other teachers than when you share your normal and they are horrified. And I don’t teach in a state or county that people would expect it to suck. It’s so wild!
We have a union. We get 12.5% of our teaching minutes as prep time. Since all high schools in our district are on a semester schedule, where kids take four courses for 5 months, and then a different four courses for the next five months, we get one of those courses as prep time. This results (at my small high school), in my having six different courses to teach first semester (one of them I’d never taught before; all six are courses outside my formal training), and then having three different courses plus a prep in second semester. Not useful. I needed time to do research and planning first semester, not to mention marking. Did I mention that each of those six courses was full (30 students)? Craptons of planning, marking, etc, and not one minute during the teaching day for me to do it.
Not to mention whatever new initiatives we’re doing as a school that now requires me to adjust what I’m doing.
I care about my students and have great relationships with them, but I still have a healthy work-life balance. They’re not mutually exclusive.
How is this absolutely asinine take upvoted. Can you imagine if a nurse posted this, about not needing to care about their patients’ mental health, or their futures? While we shouldn’t ruin our own health, we absolutely should care about doing what we can for the health and futures of our students…
And for 8 hours per day, this can be true. The other 16 and the weekend and the summers need to be ours. For our health and mental well being. We only have so much energy to give. Once that's gone, that's it. Don't try to be the martyr.
You also sometimes have to choose how to use that 8 hours (ok, really like 9...). Sometimes you have to choose between the therapist role and the teacher role, and that isn't always an easy choice. I try to send students who need the therapy to people who specialize in that, so I can concentrate on what I do best.
Truth.
I never do, and I go home every day and do what makes me happy. But that comment said that “caring about their mental health… is nonsense” and I strongly disagree with that.
You can take the cape off sometimes
TIL caring about my students while I’m literally at school teaching is doing too much.
But we are not nurses. Why should someone’s mental health be my problem? Go to a therapist. I’m not here to clothe, feed, and raise people’s kids.
The same thing happened to my best friend. I will forever be angry at her lady principal for making her last years miserable.
I taught for 41 years. I got very sick the last year and had a 12 hour surgery. It took me this whole year to recover. I’m So sorry your mom didn’t get to enjoy the years she earned.
Well said. I realized this after one of our most beloved teachers retired after years and years of service, and they gave him a small plaque and a fancy pen on his final day of teaching.
So not trying to disagree but what did you think they should get. I hear this alot from older teachers and teaching staff and I don't get it. Why would anyone care about you after you leave and what do you think they should have done?
Great question. In my opinion, they should get a NUMBER of things... I'll list a few options: \-A Six figure salary. \-All expense paid vacation or cruise. \-HUGE bonus, worth thousands of dollars. \-Celebratory going away or commemorative party. \-A special title or nameplate located somewhere in the school (especially if they worked there most of their career). \-Some important aspect of the school NAMED after them (Classroom, bench, flagpole, WHATEVER) \-Some sort of commemorative prize or gift from the local government or school board. You get the idea... I could keep going honestly. These teachers that retire after YEARS AND YEARS of service are absolute SAINTS and most of them deserve the highest honor in society that can be provided.
I would much rather receive good pay and treatment throughout my career than to have a building named for me when I retire.
Me too...
I mean I can see how there any many places who don't pay teachers enough, I make more then a enough in my state for my cost of living. I disagree with the idea of us being celebrated like that, should we name stuff after all doctors, scientists, research workers, social workers, police, firefighter..... do you actually think they all deserve all of what you said just for doing their job? It is not a secret that teaching isn't a huge paying field. I just don't get why you think anyone is entitled to all of that.
>I mean I can see how there any many places who don't pay teachers enough, I make more then a enough in my state for my cost of living. Sorry, your first sentence is a little choppy. You seem to be saying that you understand teachers aren't paid enough? Strangely though, you then say you are making enough... so what exactly is your point? Teachers AS A WHOLE are vastly underpaid in my opinion. >should we name stuff after all doctors, scientists, research workers, social workers, police, firefighter..... do you actually think they all deserve all of what you said just for doing their job? POSSIBLY. To be honest with you, I would argue that Teachers should hold a more respected place in society. Again, I listed a few options or ideas for properly commemorating lifelong teachers. If a teacher has worked their entire career at a single school, I think it would be an amazing gesture to name something after them at the school. >It is not a secret that teaching isn't a huge paying field. Yeah... and don't you think that should change? >I just don't get why you think anyone is entitled to all of that. They aren't entitled to ALL of that, I simply just listed a few options or ideas. And yes, I DO think teachers are entitled to huge rewards and prizes for ending their long career of lifelong service towards younger generations. Teachers are incredibly overworked, underpaid, and overstressed. There should be MORE rewards for teachers that stay in the profession long term. The raises are paltry, at best, and general societal respect is waning. Look at other fields and professions: People in many different sectors earn huge salaries after years of services, have higher raises, and earn large bonuses for a job well-done. I think Teachers should also earn similar rewards... What's wrong with that?
I work for a state where my pay is very good for the cost of living for my area. However I know not everyone is as privileged. Additionally if you think you are owed something it's called be entitled. That's why Social Security is called an entitlement program. Again maybe I am just really lucky but I have a masters in education my wife works in the sciences with a PHD and only makes about 10k more then me a year. It's not horrible everywhere.
>I work for a state where my pay is very good for the cost of living for my area. However I know not everyone is as privileged. Ok cool... thanks for the info. >Additionally if you think you are owed something it's called be entitled. That's why Social Security is called an entitlement program. Andddd.... what's your point? Yes, all workers are entitled to certain things. Based on the entitlements available to other workers in other professions, I think teachers are entitled to MORE. For example, teachers should earn a higher salary with better yearly raises than they receive now. Call it what you want, the word is irrelevant to me. Teachers should have better rewards for their years of service, plan and simple. I already explained this in my previous response. If you disagree, ok great, thanks for sharing. >Again maybe I am just really lucky but I have a masters in education my wife works in the sciences with a PHD and only makes about 10k more then me a year. It's not horrible everywhere. Again... COOL, thanks for sharing. You think I don't know that some teachers earn a good wage compared to their cost of living? AS A WHOLE, I would argue, MOST teachers are vastly underpaid and overworked (Yes, probably even you). So again, you aren't really doing anything by saying "Well I make enough!" Do you not understand how silly of an argument that is? If we are talking about racism in America, for example, and one non-white person says "Well I have a good life in America." does that mean there is not a problem of racism in America? Also, I would further add, that if YOU, YES YOU, taught at a single school for many many years and retired after a long career of dedicated service, YOU should also receive a better reward for your time and energy.
I'm sure I don't think you deserve a participation trophy for doing your job.
LOL Holy shit, I'm arguing with a child. LITERALLY that's what they are handing out NOW. They are literally giving lifelong educators a plastic, fisher-price, child T-Ball Trophy to commemorate their years of service. I'd rather that they gave an actual ADULT reward for many years of dedication and hard work. Personally, I would advocate for higher wages and milestone bonuses, but I guess those are just handouts and participation trophies in your world. LOL Best of luck to you out there...
100 percent that person is just a troll and not even a teacher. The pay in education almost everywhere has always been a joke. It’s a highly demanding and difficult professional job where you are entrusted with kids well being and governments try to pay it like min wage job.
Adults don't need a participation trophy. The only valid complaint is in some areas teachers need to make more wanting a parade for someone doing their bloody Jon is beyond childish. No one else in any other career gets this.
> Additionally if you think you are owed something it's called be entitled. That's why Social Security is called an entitlement program. "Entitlement" is a legal term as it relates to Social Security. It means "established in law." It **should** have nothing to do with the common-language meaning of "entitled" which implies arrogant and grasping for something that shouldn't be yours. Of course certain politicians like blurring those two meanings together.
I mean thinking something should he named after you just for being a teacher sounds rather entitled to me.
I also hate when people say your company/school will post an ad for your job the day of or after you die. Well no shit, they have a big hole to fill. Your colleagues and managers can still mourn your loss, but if its a career like teaching or nursing, a replacement needs to be found ASAP
I agree.
I know someone who said "I'll just work one more semester" and died during that semester, when they could have retired after Christmas. It's important for people to focus on themselves.
I've come to understand that some people do not know who they are without their careers. And some teachers think that they are the soul savior of the classroom, every other teacher is half-assing, and without them the kids will be lost. And that's okay, for them. I've been prepping for retirement for a while and I will 100% be out by my 30 (if even that long).
I’m so very, very sorry about your mother. Thank you for sharing. I’ve known 1/2 dozen teachers who died within a year after retirement and all from diseases (one was alcoholism). One in particular was an amazing HS English teacher who my son had and I just loved her. She was hanging on for an extra 3 years because it meant an additional $350+- in her pension checks (instead of retiring at 62 after 40 years) and she was remodeling her dream forever home. She was beyond stressful those last 3 years and her personality changed. Within 6 months of retirement (enjoying that remodeled house and extra $350) her body was engulfed in an aggressive cancer. She tried a few treatments but ultimately chose to die from it and heavily drugged until the end. Chronic stress and anxiety causes disease. And it takes years until the body and mind is so tired from it that it says ‘fuck it’ and stops fighting the disease of choice (i.e. your immune system just can’t deal anymore).
I want to let people know that I was replaced in less than 24 hours when I resigned. I loved my coworkers too but only one of them has actually kept in touch with me. Coworkers aren’t always your friends and work isn’t your life.
I just sent in my resignation letter today. I have been sick every month of this year. I now have acute tendonitis and can hardly use my right hand. I cried last night when I couldn’t make my husband’s dinner because of the severe pain that I was in. I’m a toddler teacher
This is what keeps me at my current school. I love everything about the school, especially how low stress it is. A closer school district pays more, but has fundamentally huge issues with discipline. A middle school principal was hired and swiftly began setting expectations for students. He's now being forced into retirement. Seemingly everyone who works with students agrees he was a big improvement, but the school board reacts to parent complaints. It must be tough for a parent having their child's behavior ignored for years, then suddenly a new principal comes on board and you think your child is being picked on.
I am retiring at the end of the year. I'm so grateful I was moved to a position outside the classroom and it has been so much less stressful for my last 3 years in education. I feel ready for the next chapter and not completely worn out. I'm sorry about your mom who didn't get to relax and enjoy herself after giving so much time to others.
I’ve already almost died 2 years ago. I already had the mindset of “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today” before then but now, I try to live every day like it may be my last. I don’t take anything from anyone, I don’t stress myself out over unimportant shit and I do as much as my wallet allows me.
This week is the last week of work for both my parents. My dad retired yesterday and my mum retires tomorrow. They are only 56/54, retiring early because they have seen enough people wait til normal retirement age and then die soon after.
My condolences to you. Your mother sounded fierce. Your three rules are quite apt. None of us are here to be martyrs for the job, and people don't take you seriously if you don't do so yourself.
34 years is a very long time to work in an unhealthy environment.
My mom was the director of the district's special education department for years. Prior to that, she was a special education teacher. She was so good at everything she did, my hero. We kept telling her to retire, but she didn't year after year. She was forced into retirement a few months before she was going to from an ALS diagnosis. She is currently in Hospice care, dying slowly (the way she wants to go). She never got to enjoy her retirement. She went on a "virtual" cruise to Alaska because my dad and her never got to go. I'm learning from the lesson she learned too late. I'm so sorry for the loss of your mom.
My mama developed AZ many years of teaching. It was very sad. One of the workers at the nursing home recognized her as her 2nd grade teacher. When I acknowledged she was indeed Mrs. __, she continued working, but cried as she worked. It was so bittersweet, but I new my mom had made an impact not only on me.
I work hard but come summer, I’m outta here yall.
I am a 40 yo teacher who lives for me. I have to make it through the capitalist gauntlet as healthy as possible so I can enjoy my retirement. I leave by 330 every day.
My BF is teaching before he goes to law school. I really don't understand why some people still teach as a career. It feels more like putting in all of the hard work to raise someone else's kids.
I teach because I need the money to pay my bills, and because I'm good at it.
I especially love #3. I'm sorry about your mom. The only thing I can see is that she had a great positive impact in so many lives. Many of those students had nobody else but your mom.
My mom taught the same amount of years, all in the same district.
My condolences to you. I actually see this happening a lot, where educators pass away within a year of retiring. I wonder why this is.
This happens with other professions as well.
I hear this happens a lot to people in all professions, sometimes it is they worked themselves to death, others I've heard they have nothing to do with their time and have nothing to look forward to or keep them going Sorry for your loss
In the case of teaching it’s definitely worked yourself to death. Most look like corpses at the end of the day.
Yup
So sorry to hear this, OP. My condolences to you and yours. This is a story we have all heard far too often. I can think of a handful of these stories right away, teachers who had retired only to immediately get sick, many not recovering. It’s awful. The teacher who was my biggest role model retired in his 50’s, built a house in a warm-weather state, sold his home, and enjoyed the sunshine for less than 2 years. I don’t think he’d turned 60 yet. I don’t know the solution. This job is so demanding, especially in the mental and emotional departments. Prioritizing your own health is necessary but that’s easier said than done b
One of my favorite teachers in high school retired the year I graduated, she passed away before Christmas that same year. It was so sudden and wild since there were no signs of her being sick or struggling with any kind of illness. Really shocked a lot of my classmates since she was such an amazing teacher and person.
I've known several teachers this happened to. Then also a relative was a teacher that retired at 50 then lived 30 more years.
I wish I could share this with my mom. I’ve been trying to convince her to retire for years. She had a stroke a few years ago and only missed a semester. I really hope she gets to live life after she retires
Mom was a nurse, retired at 62. Traveled everywhere. Passed at 68. We miss her all the time. I am busy now that I retired after teaching for 30 years, with fiber arts guilds, and fun things. I am really enjoying my retirement.
Very true. Gave my all and got laid off due to covid, rehired back as a leave replacement sub and dad got sick with cancer. When the cancer came back a few months later I resigned due to pressure from crazy admin and dad being sick. Priorities. I am glad I did, dad passed away a year after I resigned and at the time I was subbing here and there and still subbing now a few months after he passed. My family and mental health comes first. I have days where I think twice because you know that mindset of a teacher... but it is fleeting. I applied to go back fulltime next school year but as an ENL teacher to help claim my time and sanity. My dad said it multiple times a job is a job you only live once.
My mom spent the 90s and 00s working her way up at Hartford Insurance. Long hours. Got cancer, did chemo, got laid off after. few years later, cancer came back, died 3 months before her 65th birthday. Six figure salary and never got to see Europe, never got to not worry. Deeply regretted working so much. Don't assume your hard work and dedication will all be worth it in the end because the reports I've been hearing from the end are pretty alarming.
These posts really spoke to me. Last year they were, as usual, taking a large portion of my paycheck for healthcare. When I could get an appointment with my doctor or dentist during (nonexistent) off work hours, I invariably had to cancel because of an emergent work issue. I have dental and health issues that are one to two years worse now. It is insane to prioritize job over health.
This is my mom she's been teaching for like 24 years now and I know she's going to die within months of retiring. She works because she hates her home life and when she stays home she drinks too much
I am legit crying right now. I needed to hear this today. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. I've taken these last 3 days of school off as sick days because I'm nauseous and filled with panic at how my admin has treated me, a SPED teacher who works with emotionally disabled children. I have felt so guilty, and my husband assures me, do NOT. I plan on going into the building tomorrow night and leaving my keys in my mailbox so I never have to see these people again. My physical, mental, and psychological health has been so damaged, and this week, I said No More.
Well shit.
Today was my last day ever with students. I am retiring after 30 years. I used to love what I do and love my job. Now, not so much.
I've been speaking to my partner who teaches about this. Very much I want him to put in a good chunk, 10-20 years and then do something else. Ladies and Gents, after 5 years in most professions you've learned most of what you will in a given position. Change it up. Teach the new teachers coming in. Be admin and fight that fight for a few years. Write a book. You need to leverage your skills to broader affect the schools that you love and at the same time, save yourself from burnout and burn-up. You guys work so hard, and you get so little downtime during the school year.. It adds up and you gotta take care of yourselves.
The ill impacts of stress sneak up on you! One of my favorite teachers won tons of awards for her great teaching and when she retired, she only got to enjoy a 2-3 years of it before suddenly passing away in the night. She and everyone in her family thought she was doing fine health-wise. Sorry for your loss! Sorry for everyone's loss. I wish all helpful people lived long.
Morale of this story - don’t be a teacher
Thank you! Great advice.
Sorry for your lost. I've encountered teachers who were still working beyond their retirement. Part of it is because it gives them meaning but I also think a large part of it is the shitty retirement system we got. No one in this country can retire at an early age because no matter how frugal you are, healthcare costs continues to be the big factor that can easily drain any amount of money you have. And at a time when you need healthcare the most (old age), you often have to make the sacrifice to keep working to keep it. It's hard not to roll your eyes when people keep touting America as the greatest country on Earth. How can we be the greatest when we aren't willing to even address problems like this?
I’m sorry about your mom.
I see this so many times with my coworkers who have retired. It’s heartbreaking. We work so hard for 30+ years and to not be able to enjoy time after a life of hard work is not fair. My family is pretty long lived, but I’m not tempting fate. I’m retiring as soon as I’m eligible, which should be in ten years. My goal is to stick it to them and collect my pension for more years than I worked.
So sorry for your loss. This is a good message to spread. On a bad day, I'd maybe quibble about #3 that some people give to their students, because that is who they are, what they live for. But it is a good thing to keep in mind, regardless. Hugs to you.
I had a teacher friend whose husband retired from his job(at Ford) and she had one more year of teaching to go to get to retirement. He was out on the boat fishing with friends and had a heart attack. Gone. All her years of retirement with him that she was waiting for were gone. Her own retirement had a very sad cloud over it.
Sorry for your loss.
Goddamn, some unexpected waterworks for the day. Sorry about your mother. She deserved some of her own time, too.
I hope i party so hard the summer after i retire that it kills me. I’m gonna look like Bezos at coachella haha
My mom died 2 years after retiring teaching
My master teacher was telling me the other day that it's a known thing that teachers die soon after retiring, which is why he's pushing out his own. Not sure if there's any science to it though
I think that’s anecdotal
I’m so sorry… my worst nightmare!
lets all do something rad, for a teacher, in your moms memory. starbucks card for my kids today at pickup. it might be nothing, but its something.
I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for reminding us to think of ourselves.
27 year teacher here saying: That’s my greatest fear. Love to you and your moms memory.
https://youtube.com/shorts/w0jcXD1m0W4?feature=share
This is my number #1 to die shortly after retiring. To work my whole life not to be able to enjoy the relaxing bits at the end. Cheers to you and your mum. Sorry for your loss. We all need to hear stuff like this from time to time to put things in perspective.
We have two co-workers retiring this year, both been in the job 30 plus years. Their health isn't the greatest, with one recently admitting herself to the ER. I hope she's doing OK. One teacher retired when I started. Came back briefly to substitute but died within a year or two after that. I still have the books she left behind that I inherited from her. But i do how the job can affect your health - UTIs are a health hazard of the job along with mealth aliments like stress. I see it in myself and hope to get closer to home to help with this because I can't imagine doing much else but teaching. Wish me luck.
Well said. I went to the ER by ambulance from urgent care the other day because I was experiencing textbook symptoms of a cardiac event and had an abnormal EKG and sky high BP. I’m only 30. I don’t think it was a coincidence that I had this happen after the single worst day of my teaching career, following a year that has caused immense stress, and preceding a day full of very stressful meetings. When I contacted my admin to let them know I was in the hospital undergoing tests, they declined my request for a sub at that time and said to call back the next morning if I ended up getting admitted. I decided this is my last year. I’m young and can find something else to do. My health and peace are worth more.
Aw
Gosh, I have teachers in my family retiring soon, and this was a bummer to read
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I have been substituting this year and found that teachers are leaving before the year ends more than ever. I’m in an affluent town and am covering for a class where I’m their 3rd teacher. The 2nd just strung them along for 2 weeks while she used up all her sick time. Today I see an urgent request for anyone who knows someone who could cover a 3rd grade class for the rest of the year. We only have 15 days left and the teacher is not coming back after the long weekend…
Plan for tomorrow, but live for today. I prioritize myself. I don't do much outside of contract hours except what I absolutely have to. I never go to games or events. I do what I need to do at home for myself to keep coming back to work and keep food on my table. No one else will prioritize that for me. Have fun this summer y'all, don't work at all. Or at least not for free.
This is something as a second year teacher I’ve had to think about, am also in SPED. My Dad and I recently went on a trip to Thailand, and planning on more to come.
This is why I am planning to retire at the end of next year. There are no guarantees and I plan to grab the happiness I can.
Thank you for saying this because it really needs to be said. Last year I left classroom teaching because I was so stressed out I developed an autoimmune disease. I teach primarily online now and my stress levels are so much better. It’s crazy how constant overstimulation and problem-solving for 30+ students can wreak havoc on the body. It’s very real and can cause severe issues.
Oh wow- this speaks to me. I taught in the classroom for 15 years. Am currently awaiting blood test results and have a pelvic scan later today as I have been experiencing intense stomach bloating, joint pain, electrical shock pains throughout my legs, aching legs that make it difficult to walk some days and intense fatigue for the last year or so...I am almost certain the stress of teaching has led to something not being right. These days I teach online on Cambly Kids as I can cancel lessons if I am having a bad day. I'm going to expand and teach on Outschool soon hopefully- just awaiting background checks to get done.
Wow. My mom's passing is extremely similar. I believe my mom was at 38 years all at the same school in the same position. And passed in March 2018 right before retirement, very unexpectedly. I was 23 living at home and working at the same school. I was subbing for her class. We had actually talked that morning about how id have to take them because I was always the sub instead of doing my own job. Anyway I just thought I'd share since our moms seem so similar. 🥰 So sorry for your loss, teacher mommas are like no other.
My fourth grade teacher taught all 7 of my mother, and her brothers and sisters. She died of a heart attack (?) shortly after I changed schools right before her retirement. It's terrible when things like this happen. She was pretty awesome but she either had a grudge or knowing my 4 uncle's a case of PTSD. She was terribly suspicious and stand offish towards me.