Jump before the Ship Sinks
Teaching is not an easy job. Often, teachers should choose a second career. It is a good idea to step away from the classroom and have some different experiences. Educators should look for signs thatburnoutis near. It is not good for the students or teachers if a teacher no longer enjoys the experience. There are some fairly common indicators that it is time to make a career change, at least for a time.
- Lack of preparation
If the same lesson plans and activities that you used last year are good enough and no improvements or new ideas are included it shows alack of preparation. Times change and education needs to change with the time. If you are at the point where you don’t really have to prepare to teach a class, it is time to do a double take.
- Always tired
If it seems like it’s tough to get up and face another day at school, every day, there is a problem. If you have been checked out medically and things are good then you may want to look at your job. Have you lost your enthusiasm and it just seems like a nine to five that has no significance? Do you feel empowered and inspired to teach? If the answer is now no, find something different.
- Feelings of worthlessness
Teachers sometimes begin to see so many troubled students and issues that they no longer feel that what they are doing has value. Eventually that same train of thought is one that can reflect on a teacher and they lose respect for their career and themselves.
- Impatience
Everyone is impatient some of the time. This not about the impatience with a specific event, but more of a restless feeling that things need to go in a different direction. Educators won’t only feel this in the classroom, but this restlessness will creep into other areas of their lives.
Changing a careerin no way means that you are giving up on yourself or your students. In fact, you may find that after a few years in another field you are more prepared and have more to offer as a teacher. Sometimes you just find you are suited for something different now. Career changes can often be the best decision you can make.
With that being said, society plays a part in how teachers, schools and students are viewed. Is society appreciative and supportive of teachers? Does the average parent know what really happens in a classroom? Perhaps with more support from society and flexible teaching options two careers can go hand in hand.
