What You Might Not Know About Teachers
The typical perception of a teacher revolves around the office hours spent in the classroom, during school hours, and the leisurely breaks enjoyed throughout the week. While this image is part of the reality, it rarely encompasses the entire scope of the role. This article delves into the often-overlooked dimensions of teaching, specifically focusing on the intensive preparation, continuous professional development, and myriad responsibilities that teachers undertake outside the classroom.
Intensive Preparation and Professional Development
Several teachers share their experience and insights about the demanding workload that goes beyond the classroom door. For instance, a former public school teacher mentions, ldquo;I rarely ever stop thinking about school or my studentsrdquo; (Statement by the author). This mindset is not uncommon among educators, as the combination of lesson planning, student guidance, and ongoing professional development can be overwhelming at times.
Myriad activities outside of regular working hours are part of a teacherrsquo;s routine. Many teachers arrive at school early and stay late, bringing work home for grading and preparation. According to the article, ldquo;Most teachers that I knew when I was working came early and stayed laterdquo; (Statement by the author). One teacher notes, ldquo;I feel like a lousy teacher even though I get compliments all the timerdquo; (Statement by the author), highlighting the high standards and the stress associated with meeting them consistently.
Additionally, teachers often give their own time to support school events and professional development. The author elaborates, ldquo;They took home papers to correct on the weekends, attended and supported school activities frequently giving of their own time off the clockrdquo; (Statement by the author). This commitment often extends to summer vacations as well, as some teachers use this time to improve their professional skills or to cover for colleagues.
False Perception of an Easy Job
The perception of a teacherrsquo;s job being an easy one is often fueled by comments about the relatively short working hours and numerous holidays. The author challenges this perception by explaining, ldquo;I would ask people making those comments to come by their local schools and observe what is going onrdquo; (Statement by the author). Highlighting that most teachers come early and stay late, and that they dedicate significant time to their profession outside of regular working hours is crucial.
The author provides a detailed account of a typical teacherrsquo;s workload, breaking down the pay into an hourly rate. The breakdown shows that an average teacherrsquo;s salary (approximately $70,000) divided across an academic year of 200 school days, with an average of 5 hours of instruction per day, results in a base rate of $350 per day. This translates to $70 per class hour and $1,750 per week, before additional responsibilities are factored in.
Additional tasks such as unpaid prep and planning, marking, extra-curricular activities, and supervision are included in the authorrsquo;s calculations. The total weekly workload comes to 56.5 hours, resulting in a pre-tax and deduction hourly rate of approximately $30.97. This finding challenges the perception that teachers earn a high hourly rate based on a short working week and frequent holidays.
Conclusion
The reality of teaching is far more complex and demanding than the image projected by popular misconceptions. As the author concludes, ldquo;Not saying our pay is terrible or that we are under-paid although some days it does feel like it but we definitely NOT over-paid.rdquo; The profession requires significant dedication and effort, and a deeper understanding is critical for wider societal appreciation.