re: Teachers of the OT: Dealing with Burnout

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When I started, I made $18.8k/yr. and

Hot damn. Was that at a private school?

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Public. 1995, Tangipahoa Parish.

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Wait we spend more money per pupil than most states and still they can't read.

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The majority of language development/preparation happens AT HOME well before a child enters school. Unfortunately, what a child is exposed to (or not) in his first years is rather predictive of future language abilities.

This is why having educated parents who read to their children and speak with elevated language around their kids is so important, especially in the early years. They're little sponges that absorb the rhyme and rhythm of a language, and even though they may not understand exactly what is being said, they bank it for the future.

Agreed when I have a 5th grade student who is reading at a 1st grade level. They've been passed multiple times due to age but they have no clue what is going on. So they get frustrated and act out. This then becomes a distraction for those that want to learn and those that are struggle lose interests because this individual was promoted anyway.

Not really much of a solution for any of that as long as it continues to be "racist" to separate classes based on intellect or compatibility.

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I'm not taking a 20k a year decline in pay

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I wouldn't want a 20k pay cut either. We can hardly afford groceries now. Because of inflation, everything is going up except the wages.

There is a lot of douchebags posting on here, by reading these comments. This attitude is why the working conditions are so terrible in the south. People who post condescending/insensitive comments usually have people taking care of them, or security that others don't have, whether through nepotism, cronyism, or affirmative action. This was originally called "white privilege," but now it has come to include blacks also, because of affirmative action. Yet, they will all swear to others that they earned everything on their own through hard work, which is total bullshite. If you don't have family or a friend on the inside to help you, then you made your own bed and it's your problem, they will always say. These people are useless don't deserve the security or privilege that they have.

I got out after 18 years, needed 2 more to some retirement, but I was done!! Best move I ever made, I don't regret doing it, but it was time for a change. I need to go back at some point and get 2 more years doing something just to get a little of the retirement, but don't see it anytime soon.

You have my sympathy. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be as a public school teacher.

Is it possible to move to a different part of the state? Working within a new system under different administration can give new life to a career.

As silly as it may seem, a change of scenery can make a difference.

Like I said previously this is my 26th year, and my 5th different district. One inevitable truth I've discovered is that kids are kids no matter where you go. Kids of all races can be little shits and will test the limits to see how much they can get away with. Classroom management is the most important skill a teacher can have - explain and model your rules, policies, and expectations very clear the first week of school and don't waver. Use consequence ladders, document all the different things you've done and steps you've taken, contact the parents. However, all of that means nothing if you don't have an administrator who supports you and is willing to administer discipline. Nowadays they are few and far between, but they are out there. Having a no-nonsense principal makes all the difference.

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I love teaching

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I assume most of the teachers in this thread are probably women. But for the few men, you could always consider becoming a plant baw. You won’t get the summers off, but you will make more money.