hi. i hate my job. i'm a teacher...should i stick it out 'till the end of the year?

Question

seriously, i'm teaching middle school in an inner city nyc school, and it's out of control. besides being cursed at daily, i have really had it! the kids are out of control, and i also feel ineffective as a teacher...no, ineffective is too sugarcoated, i feel like a failure.
so, should i stay till the end of the year and continue down this path of self-flagellation, or should i get another job. Mind you, this is my 4th year teaching, but first in the south bronx so i know i can teach , but i just think that teaching in teh inner city in nyc is just too tough. i'm too sensitive and nice...so. basically, wrong place, but should i stick it out? it looks bad on a resume if you quit mid year, but then again, it's horrible on my nerves and self esteem to stay...not to mention that the depression from teh job stress is starting to affect my relationship///

Answer 1

Have you discussed this with the school administration or your union rep? I would not do anything hasty, especially if you signed a contract for the school year. You need to know if there is a penalty for leaving before your contract ends. I agree that teaching at an inner city school takes a special kind of person and is very stressful.

Answer 2

It's too bad that the depression from the job stress is affecting your relationship and all that, but on the other hand, you need to think long-term; i.e., the part about how bad quitting mid-year looks on a resume. If you can possibly muster the courage and the guts to stay until the end of the year, then please do. Besides, you'll also be setting an example of what to do when the going gets tough.



I really doubt that you are the failure, you said that you know you can teach, but sometimes you just don't get very much to work with.



Hang in there if you can, then try to find a less stressful place to teach next year.



Good luck!

Answer 3

Yes, please stay out the year. For a teacher, quitting during the year is very bad on a resume. Your district would probably never hire you again. Just finish the year, then ask for a transfer when you are able. It will probably be easiest to return to a school where you've been.



Away from school, I hope you'll work on finding relaxing things to do, and care for yourself.



A good website is linked below.



One trick I used with middle school kids is group discipline (for reward). I'd put marbles (or whatever else you want) in a clear jar when I saw good behavior. When it was full, we had a party. It's even better if one class is having parties first--it gets the other ones going.

Answer 4

I was in exactly the same boat last year. I was teaching in a high school in the South Bronx and although I managed to control some of the most difficult students in the world I received some abusive treatment from the administration (to the point where a grievance was filed) for political reasons.



I sat down with my principal during a prep one day and was like I am unhappy and I am leaving at the end of the year and it was a load off of my chest. My principal was caught off guard and it helped them ease off me and make my life easier. It also started a mass exodus of teachers from my school because of similiar treatment by the principal.



Point being, stick it out, it's a good learning experience and focus on June. Do what you want in the classroom, make it as fun for you as possible. It looks better on your resume and will give you a chance to search, your future employers will respect you more. I have a fantastic job now because I waited it out myself.



It's not easy, but it's worth it in the long run. NYC middle schools are horrible!



PS.. If you teach English, do Holes or Go Ask Alice, my 9th graders always said they were the best books they did in middle school.

Answer 5

If you KNOW that you do not want to teach anymore, start looking for a job and when you find one, then put in your 2 week notice. If you think there may be a good chance of going back into teaching, and you don't want to have to explain anything, then try to stick it out. But you also need to look at it this way: what if you stick it out until the end of the year and THEN look for another job? who's to say that you will find one in 2 months (over the summer)? So if you know that you want to go into another career field, START LOOKING NOW. You might land a job in a month, or you might land one several months from now.

Answer 6

Stick it out but apply for other positions. Did you sign a contract for a year? Have you begun your second semester? Psychologically you will feel better knowing you only have 18 weeks left and you will not return under any circumstances. If you get a position and you know it, you again will feel much better. If, by some chance, someone offers you an immediate position take it and run. If they ask you why you want to leave your position, honestly say you are worried about your safety. Do not cut down the school or administrator. Look at this as a learning experience, you now know you are not suited to inner urban education. School administrators who hire do not like hiring people who have quit mid year on anyone. Its a pain for them and they do not want someone doing that to them. If your other three years were in one place you should be ok. It also sounds good if you can say that yes, you changed jobs and while the job did not work out you stuck out the year because you felt you had an obligation to the people who hired you.

Answer 7

Life can indeed be tough. My mom taught in NYC, and my daughter is (or was until recently) a teacher, but in a nice school in mid-western MA.



Yeah, I bet your life s**ks about now.



Long-term, sticking it out would be good I think, at least career-wise. You're closer to the end of school than it seems.



Maybe you can use the intervening time to make plans for either a new location or a new career? If you have a positive goal to focus on, it might make life more bearable.



Meanwhile, if you're staying at that school for now, you can probably relax a little because you're not trying to make points there. You're not going to fix the school system there all on your own.



Good luck, and thanks to all the crappy parents and crappy school boards in the world - they deserve each other. It's just too bad in the long run for the kids.

Answer 8

I would stick it out for this year...you have an obligation, and I agree that it does look very bad on your resume to quit in the middle of the school year.



Take the summer and look for a new place to live and teach. If you still love the city life, try Indianapolis or Denver, etc. Or try a stint at a small town. I live in a small town and yes, the teaching salaries are smaller than yours (I'm guessing), but the cost of living is also a lot less.



It sounds like you still love teaching...you just haven't found your teaching "home".



Good luck.

Answer 9

Oh dear! Yeah if you ever want to teach again anywhere else make sure you stick it through the year. Enlist the help of as many of your co-workers as possible. My supervisor actually came in and removed a kid I was having too many problems with once. Talk to the teachers who have been at the school workiing with these kids for a long time and see what you can do to make it through the end of the school year. You've only got 4 months left. Make sure to turn in your resignation(effective at the end of the year) now so they have time to find a newbie and start your search for a new job.



If somebody you are having a relationship with can't stick out 4 more months of "hard times" while you are struggling then they're not worth it anyway! The resignation should make you feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Answer 10

First of all, you should talk to the human resources department and see if you can get out of your contract. If you cannot, see if you can take a leave or switch to another position within the system.

If those options fail....you might just going to have to learn to develop a thicker skin. You say you know you 'can teach'.....

but you are just 'too sensitive and nice'. That does sound

like a cop out to me. Kids know when they have the better of someone and sounds to me like you are letting them get the better of you and they feed off that by continually getting under your skin. You might just have to learn some coping skills and show them what you are made of until the end of the year.

If you don't want to go back next year then.....don't.

Remember.....you are making a difference whether it be good or bad. I just hope you can must the strength to finish the year on a positive note. They will get 'joy' in running you off.....but if you stay you will be the difference in someones life.

Answer 11

I guess I'd tell you to stick it out. I know it's hard--but there's not that much time 'till June.

As a former east coaster--I can tell you that there's life outside of the greater NY Metro area.

I'm now teaching in the midwest where I seem to get classes full of kids who want to learn. Why not explore teaching options elsewhere this summer?

Breathe deeply, relax (punch something?) suck it up and finish. You'll feel like you accomplished something.

Answer 12

Poor baby! I'm sorry to hear that...

Do you plan to teach again? If you're not, and planning to change your career then quit now. But if you think you're going to teach next year then you may want to consider staying there for the rest of the acadamic year.



Mental health is very important, make sure you have time to take care of yourself, eat well, get plenty of sleep, and just dedicate some time for yourself. It will help with your relationship.



Don't be depressed, you're doing a great service to children of this country.

Answer 13

Do you have a mentor? If yes, talk this over with them before you make your decision. If no, then find another place to teach pronto; do not stay so long that you learn to hate teaching altogether.



I taught for five years in a middle school, after 31 years in elementary settings, but, unlike you, I loved it and miss it now that I'm retired. Perhaps the difference was that I had both a mentor - someone who helped me learn the ropes - and a (4'11"!) administrator who consistently backed me up when discipline problems arose; I never had to feel that I was all alone, facing a mob and being a failure.



Do not stay where your strengths do not work for anyone; move on to a place where both you and your students can benefit from your caring presence and your teaching.



Best of luck to you!

Answer 14

Wow!



1. Speak to your administrators about the classroom behaviors. If you get no support (as was my case several years ago), you're going to have to carve out your own empire (suspensions-referals-suspensions!).



2. These kids have issues (obviously), and if you establish some behavioral expectations, they'll test them, but eventually they'll comply.



3. Being "nice" is different between your personal life and your professional life. The students need boundaries, and clear expectations. If you are consistent (tough, but not a bully), you'll be able to turn things around a bit.



4. Some kids (like some of the respondents) just have to take out their frustrations on whoever they perceive to be a handy "mark".

ALWAYS remember that you are a professional, and comport yourself as one.



5.Put out some feelers in some suburban/rural districts. You will encounter the same types of problems there, if you don't quickly, and decisively establish yourself as a tough, consistent professional with high expectations, and the resolve (caring) to see the students succeed. You absolutely MUST do this at the BEGINNING of the school year, and work hard to keep this going until June.



6. Take some time for yourself:



*Work out



*Martial Arts (VERY relaxing, and inspires confidence)



*Pray/meditate/seek counseling to calm your nerves.

**You don't have to become a Bible-thumping fanatic, or some kind of ultra Seishin Zen master; just take a few minutes after your workout to "chill".



7. Good luck, and please let me know how things work out for you.

Answer 15

I hear you. You are under contract, so if you bail and try to get hired elsewhere, the new district is going to see that you bailed and you probably won't get hired again. I can only imagine how tough it must be to teach inner city in the Bronx. I'm sure as a teacher with experience you have tried everything. It may be extreme, but you may want to try medication for anxiety. Lexapro helps.

Answer 16

Why don't you ask for a transfer, and don't feel like a failure, I'm sure you probably got to some of the kids.

Answer 17

You need to see a counselor.

To deal with stress, if nothing else.

My sister is in the same situation you are. The kids you are teaching expect you to bail & are just waiting...for you to prove them right. But there are a select few that need you there & you can make the difference.

Put feelers out and draw up a resume. This will help you settle down & may be handy when Spring postings come around.



Good luck & God Bless!

Answer 18

well, obviously if it is bothering you you should talk to a person higher up in the school. and tell your class you are sick of them. whenever a teacher does it sternly it usually works, however i live in the safest city in america so that might be the reason. but take some sick days or something. i wouldn't recommend quiting unless it is lowering your self-esteem so much you might do something self destructive. and if it ruining your relationship take it out on your students.

Answer 19

I find it funny that people with attitudes such as this become teachers in the first place. Let me just say that if one is going to be a teacher especially a middle school teacher (in inner city NY no less) they should expect things like this to happen. Being a "nice teacher" is not going to get you anywhere. You should stick it out you made a commitment to the school and the students. Stick it out unless you are too weak. If that is the case the kids don't need you teaching they need someone who knows what they are doing. When one becomes a teacher certain sacrifices have to be made. I bet you have no idea where these children are coming from. That is what gets me. People who do not understand what it is like to be poor, have alcoholic parents, or are so self absorbed become teachers and then they fuss about how bad the kids are. You know why the kids are bad? Because of the things they have to go home to. They have more on their minds than reading, writing and math. They can't start learning until they learn how to deal with these problems yet teachers want to blame them and call them "bad kids". They are not bad what is bad is that sissy teacher from privileged families (and the professors that trained them who also come from privileged families) don't understand what is going on. I just want to tell anyone out there if you think that you want to become a teacher and you do not have a strong will. If you could not survive in your children's shoes. If you could not see yourself taking their place and understanding where they come from you don't need to be a teacher.

Answer 20

I'm sorry, I have no flowery "whys" and "why nots" to ease your mind, but I do have the answer I think you are REALLY looking for.



Quit now and burn your bridges behind you!



As to your resume, try your best to leave this episode out as best you can.

Answer 21

I am a high school student and i am asking you to please stop if you are hating it because I have teachers who obviously hate teaching and they are difficult and it would be better if they quit and replaced

Answer 22

i think u can stay till the end of the year

Answer 23

You need to chill out, because you have one of the most easiest job going! Plus you get the most time off.



You just can't take the pressure you may in a job on the check out in Asda. (Wal-Mart)