Just like that . . .

So, after less than 2 years in the classroom I am utterly burnt out on teaching. I hate that I feel this way. I wish I could be the idealistic and optimistic girl who started this 2 years ago, but I'm not. I'm tired. I hate waking up every day at 5 to get to a school where I have no resources and no help. Where the kids are so apathetic that out of 6 classes I get 4 completed homework assignments. Where I get paid so little that I am 3 months behind on my car payment and can't make rent, all the while working 50 to 60 hour weeks. I am tired of feeling like I am steadily bashing my head against a brick wall for nothing. I hate to abandon these kids, I know they desperately need positive influences in their lives, but I can't seem to rise above the anger, resentment, and apathy that they express on a daily basis. I am finding it increasingly impossible to put forth effort when no effort is returned, and so I am done.

I put in an application yesterday for the education and training department of a big corporation here in town. My father has worked for this company for 10 years, J has worked there for 3. Both of the guys seem to really like working there. J knows the people in charge of hiring (connections can make or break you) and it looks like I have a really good chance of getting this job. I am so excited. I will still be using my education expertise, just in a new and really fun way. I'll be making at least $10,000 more a year.

If the government is wondering why our education system is failing, they need look no further than right here. I am an extremely bright woman, I graduated at the top of my class in Education. I went into teaching for all the right reasons and I truly thought I could make a difference. I quickly learned that with the resources available to me it is practically impossible. I am leaving the teaching profession because there is no support for education. I am leaving the teaching profession because I work insane hours and then stay up at night worrying how I'm going to pay my rent next. If the U.S. wants a workforce that is competitive in the global marketplace, they've got to improve education, and you can't improve education without qualified teachers and resources. Next month they'll be losing one more qualified educator.