Because That's A Laugh . . .

Friday, June 3, 2011
I must be on a "not my job" kick, because I suddenly feel the need to share with you all another career confession. This one's pretty silly.

You see, a couple years back, disillusioned by the terrible job market I found after college, I decided I needed to go to school . . . to get my elementary teaching certificate.

Let me explain. The "decision" came about a year and a half after college graduation, when I was in my hometown, living in my childhood bedroom. A few months before that I'd ended my first long-term relationship and had almost immediately started a less than great "rebound" relationship which mainly involved me throwing myself at someone who really wasn't willing or able to be what I wanted him to be. I was ready to get on with my life, to go all confidently in the direction of my dreams like Thoreau recommends, but on the way between here and dreamland, apparently I'd lost my map. When at the proverbial fork in the road, I figured, best to go back to school.

At the time, teaching didn't sound like a bad gig. I like kids and I'm actually pretty good at developing educational materials. For several years during high school, I'd coached little munchkins (K-2) in hockey and soccer. I'm not going to say I was great at it, but I wasn't half bad either.And summers off for writing? Heck yes!

But, needless to say, I didn't go back to school for my teaching certificate. It's shame really, because sometimes I really regret not getting to deal with situations like this on a daily basis. 



Yes, these children are taking turns strangling each other. I mean, how precious is that?! 

We keep having field trip at work and whereas each field trip goes a little better than the last, I'm always amazed by just how much crowd control is involved in public schooling and how little "schooling" gets done. I mean, were we this bad on our school field trips? (Of course we were!) I'm also always pretty astounded by how bad I am at getting the kids to listen and get my point across. Although I assumed I'd be a natural at the whole teaching thing, the truth is that teaching does not use one single skill from my "best skill set."

So no, I don't have a teaching certificate and you know what? I'm okay with that.

16 comments:

  1. GREAT post!! I asked myself questions about 'kids these days' during my years as a school bus driver, appalled at some of their behavior, remembering that if I had acted up like that on my bus as a kid, I would have been dumped by the side of the road, left to walk home! "Still trying to find my sweet-spot"

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  2. hahahahaha- one kid by themself can be charming. hordes of kids? yowza, i'm scared. I briefly thought about teaching too, very glad I changed my mind :)

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  3. this made me smile! My youngest daughter is in her last year at college...she will begin student teaching soon. she just broke up with her boyfriend of 5 years and is a floundering a bit and now, so I really liked this post today!

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  4. Le sigh... it's baby's first headlock. I'm so proud...


    Hahaha. I'll admit, I had similar issues where I thought that maybe I could teach because, at the tiem, I was married to an active duty soldier and that's the only real stable employment for an AD spouse.

    Thank God I came to my senses and remembered that I hate children.

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  5. Love the strangling children photo's. What a major selling point! I'm actually going to school to finish my bachelors and get my teaching credential so maybe one day I can be the incredibly flustered teacher not paying attention while her students try to kill eachother

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  6. haha.... all the things we nearly do.

    Best not to live in regret---- or it could be your class with the strangling epidemic....

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  7. "but on the way between here and dreamland, apparently I'd lost my map." Me too, sister!

    Crowd control is not my forte either yet, unfortunately, with motherhood comes the need to exert control. Or at least try...mostly in vain.

    I do hope that when my children aren't under my watchful (ahem) eye, they aren't strangling classmates instead of listening to the wise lady.

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  9. Haha! This post really put a smile on my face! You see, I am a school teacher. I've taught 1st grade and 2nd grade so far. Next year, I will be taking the very bold move of teaching pre-k! I know, I'm crazy. lol

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  10. I don't know how teachers do it - seriously, I would have a nervous breakdown. And I love my daughter, but kids as a group are still not my idea of a good time.

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  11. I, too, considered teaching after I realized just how hard it would be to find a job with nothing more than an English degree. I'm glad I didn't take that path, even though I sometimes I hate the path I'm currently on.

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  12. Thanks for the Monday morning chuckle! I admit i found the kids here extremely disobedient and obnoxious. Sorry to be so straightforward again, never kids annoyed me as much as here. I am aware though it is hardly the kids fault! Have a wonderful week!

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  13. Well at least you know your strengths, lol. I thought about teaching at one point in my life but decided that as much as I love kids, I couldn't stand their parents. LOL

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  14. AMEN! My daughter just got accepted into an amazing school for next year. (7th grade) and we were there for orientation today. I had to sign up to volunteer for 10 hours a month and when asked if I'd like to volunteer in the office, the library or directly in the classroom- I nearly choked.

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  15. I agree with you, public school is more about "crowd control" than actual "Schooling". Kids are cute though. :)

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  16. These photos made me smile! At camp we always found that the local kids were the craziest! At least the city kids were scared enough of the woods to listen a bit better.

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