So, what do you do?

Just for the record, it's 11:56pm. I should be in bed if I have any vague chance of making it to work by 7:30 in the morning, but this was on the brain.

I read in the Rockdale Citizen Poll this week a comment that talked about teaching. Apparently there has been some back-and-forth about teachers, how much they get paid, what they actually do, etc...the last line of this particular comment was something to the effect of, "stop complaining about getting paid $50,000 a year to work 190 days and get a real job." Wow. Not a lot gets me hot under the collar, so I should probably congratulate this person for doing just that. Just a recap of what it is exactly that teachers do...actually, I can't speak for all of them, so I'll keep it narrowed to what goes on in room 107 (and outside) at RCHS...

1. Teach. I have to prepare five different subjects' worth of Spanish to teach to all four grade levels. In these lesson plans, I must be careful to make sure that my lesson plans (a) look professional, (b) include all of the educational jargon that the professionals believe I should use, (c) entertain my students to keep them from sleeping and slobbering in my desks, and (d) plan in such a way as to reach all of my students--from the "bowheads" (as Mrs. Carroll calls them) to the kids who can barely manage to come to school, much less think about learning.

2. Play with red tape. All the legal and official stuff we (well, I) have to do is mind-boggling. Lesson plans turned in every two weeks. IEP's reviewed on a regular basis to be sure I'm accomodating all of my students. Duty. Meetings. Plans. Consortiums. Teams. Fundraising. Receipts. Discipline referrals. Copies sent to county office.

3. Counsel. Anything from problems between teammates, advice on boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, abuse, cutting, teacher grievances, study habits, work, school, careers...you name it, and I've talked to somebody about it. I've seen in the last several weeks a teacher at SHS who has taken heat for giving counsel beyond what was considered appropriate and wonder if I will ever be called on the carpet for advising a student to press charges against a boyfriend, to check into rehab, to break up with a girlfriend, to talk to a social worker and get out of their home, or to ditch their friend because they're a bad influence. I've taken kids home in my own vehicle, prayed with some, and invited others to church. I am sure that one day, somewhere, I'm going to get sued for it. I still do it. Otherwise I'd have kids getting rotten advice from friends, continuing the cycle of abuse and self-mutilation, never knowing the true reason that I became a teacher or anything about the God that I serve, or walking home after dark by themselves after staying to get help in Spanish.

4. Entertain. I am given a block of 90-100 minutes each day with a group of high schoolers (high schoolers, mind you, have the attention span of an earthworm...but wait, so do I...it works out pretty great.) If I stuck solely to the subject matter at hand, I would lose most of my students before the bell ringer was done. In lieu of that, we pull out easter eggs and put work inside (shhh..they don't know they're working if it's wrapped up in a pink plastic egg). We read novels. We go outside and play "have you ever" in Spanish. We play with stickers. We talk about where I come from and how "famous" I am because I always end up in the newspaper there. We take field trips around the school to post signs that the majority of the student body probably can't read. We have FLAB from time to time. We take time for "Omg Ms Phillips I have to tell you what happened this weekend" stories from time to time as well, just to break up the monotony.

5. Love. I see some of my students more than their parents do. I know more about some of my students than their parents do. Am I bragging? No. Sometimes it's too much and I'd rather be left out. That said, I am privileged that a kid would think enough of me to open up about his or her personal life and give me the chance to love on them the way that some of them never get anywhere else. I am thankful when a student asks, "So, Ms. Phillips, you coming to my ____ (game, tournament, competition, play, concert, etc.) tonight?" because I know that, deep down inside, they aren't afraid to admit in their own way that they still need somebody rooting for them. I have bought a birthday cake for a student because I knew she wouldn't get one otherwise. I have sat all night in a hospital room with another student because she asked me not to go. I have sat through more games and performances than I ever had to as a student. I have made an idiot out of myself as a step team member and a fashion show runway girl. I have bought lunch for kids who didn't have money to do it, and I have shared my peanut butter with anybody who wanted it...all because the Lord has loved me so much and I want them to know a little bit of what that's like. At the end of the day I am more concerned that my kiddos know that somebody cares about them than I ever have been that they learn Spanish. I love teaching Spanish, but my content area is not what brings me to work everyday.

I am not alone in the things I talk about; most teachers come from the same place and would do the same things for their kids; I see evidence of that every day.

I probably will make $50,000 a year eventually. This will come after another college degree and another 5 years of experience or so, if I'm still in the classroom. My monthly paychecks aren't my favorite part of my job. Instead, I love it when a student comes in with a smile and big eyes to brag about winning their game. When kids leave me notes on my door, my board, or a sticky note on the wall that says "Hey--I stopped by...Your favorite student" or asks me to mentor them. When kids write me letters about how much they enjoy my class (not for the Spanish aspect of it, but the other stuff). When I get a sheepish grin out of the girl that finally "got" what we were learning. When I can pat somebody on the bask that's done a good job, say "I sure am proud of you!" and get a smile in return. When I get a voicemail or text message to ask how I'm doing. Even when I get a text message during 1st period (yes, it's against the rules) on the days that I'm out sick to say "I miss you!". When I get a hug. When I get the same question every day during 5th period, "How was your lunch?" When kids sign their school picture and give me a copy for my wall. When kids see me in the hall and call me out, even if we're at opposite ends of the hall. When they see me make a fool out of myself and appoint themselves as my personal pep squad. When they say "You're the best teacher I've ever had!" (I'm sure I'm not, but I feel good anyway!) When they choose me to receive a rose at the Superintendent's Award Ceremony. When they ask me to call their mom because they made an A on their quiz. When they ask for a sticker on their report card. When they bring me a piece of art they did in Mrs. Rojas' class and give it to me. Those are the paychecks that keep me coming back. Every time I meet somebody new, the question always comes up about what I do for a living. When I tell them I teach high school, I usually get a look of pity accompanied by, "Aww..." Don't feel sorry for me. I did not get drafted into this career; my heart led me this way and I can't imagine doing anything else. I have phenomenal kids and I am blessed to have the chance to interact with them even on a small scale.

One of the things I wrote to the Citizen Poll was the fact that teachers could take the knowledge they have and go plenty of places with it and make twice what they make in the classroom as biologists, interpreters, doctors, law enforcement officials, and editors. Instead, many take second and third jobs to make ends meet so they can continue to do what they love doing. It bothers me that some parents send their children into my classroom and expect me to educate them without (a) ever understanding what I do, (b) expecting them to obey or respect me, (c) offering any support at home to back up what I say in class, and (d) appreciating the fact that I'm educating your child so you can go out and "get a real job."

Now. It's 12:17 and I am going to bed. Thoughts?