My Teaching Heart

Right now I'm feeling beat up as a teacher.  I am getting criticized by the news for not raising test scores, I'm getting put down by society because they think I work from 8:00-3:00 and summers off, I'm getting ragged on by parents because their child isn't getting their way 100% of the time, and I'm pretty sure my students think I'm the Wicked Witch of the West.

I'm putting this out here on my blog to let the few people who read it get some insight on teachers, me in particular.  I can't communicate this to all the people who are putting teachers or me down, but it will feel good to just get it out there.

To the news, I know it appears that my students' test scores are not up to par.  What you don't see is we spend all year preparing for a test that we know little about.  Not to mention, we take it in March or April right when spring fever sets in.  Have I mentioned it looks like my kids are unsuccessful at meeting the goals because the goals are continually raised.  However, my students are raising their scores, even if you're not going to report it that way.  And, my dear news folk, the test doesn't take into account if my students had dinner the night before or if they were up all night taking care of younger siblings while their parents were out.  It doesn't take into account that they had ball practice for 3 hours the evening before.

To society, let's get a few things straight.  I get to school at 7:30 and I stay until 4:00.  I also spend a couple of hours each evening and a couple more on the weekend grading.  I even go in on Sundays sometimes to work on special projects or finish up work I was unable to do during my planning time because I had to help a student.  I don't get the whole summer off.  I spend my summers working on bettering my class curriculum.  My salary works out to be around $15/hour when you figure the hours I put in.  Did I mention I have my Bachelor's in Elementary Education, my Master's in Curriculum and Instruction, and my Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership Policy Analysis.  I work really hard, and it would be nice to have more people recognize that.

To the parents, I consider part of my job to help parent your child.  I'm with them for 8 hours a day and I take that part of my job incredibly seriously.  I have high expectations for all of my students.  I know that being respectful and knowing what hard work looks and feels like will make them so much more successful in life.  So, I keep on them about being respectful and ask them to work hard.  It's not always rainbows and butterflies, either.  Just like it's sometimes hard on you to do what you know in your heart is right for your kids when you know they won't like it, it's hard for me to keep on my students to work hard and be respectful.  Everything I do is with the students' best interests at heart. 

To my students,  I want middle school to be easy for you.  That means hard work now.  I want you to walk into 6th grade and think, "Hey, being successful here is just like being successful in Mrs. Wies' class."  I care for each and every one of you so very much.  Because I care, I have to hold you to some high expectations.  You may not like it now, but hopefully you will understand my reasons when you get older.