This is one of those days for R which I do not miss since retiring.
He left this a.m. for school at 6:45. He'll return home some time between 8:30 - 8:45 p.m. (It's only a 10-minute drive to school.)
By then he will have taught a full day of classes with 25 minutes for lunch. He most likely will have had students with him after school for make-up work and help until 4:00 p.m.
From 4:00 to after 8:00 he will have talked to approximately 50 parents about their children in his classes. This will have been without a break and likely there will have been parents still waiting to see him at 8:00 p.m. which is supposed to be the ending time.
Probably the parents will have begun with the question "How's {child's name} doing in your class?" Usually the parents have grade reports in their hands, telling what their child's current grade is.
Most of the time the parents are pleasant and agreeable. But, inevitably, in some years, there will be a parent, or two, or three who are angry with the school, with all teachers, or with you in particular. They have some grievance or other which they want to air. Many times the parents are in the throes of a divorce and are wondering it that has anything to do with the change of behavior for the worse in their child.
Throughout the school year parents have the opportunity to see on-line every grade for every piece of work counted towards that child's grade. Those on-line reports are updated on a weekly, sometimes daily basis, with commentary. They are updated and commented on by the teacher after hours, of course, since there is not enough time during the school day for such stuff.
Also, by this time in the semester if their son or daughter is doing poorly (below a "C") the parents will have been formally notified by mail and e-mail. Again by the teacher.
These four-hour evening parent conference sessions happen once in October, once in November, once in March, and finally in April.
Then after R gets home he can have some supper. At least it will be waiting for him. When we were both teaching we usually went to Applebee's for supper and we would get home after 10 p.m. Then there would be class prep for the next day.
And it's up the next morning at 5:30 a.m. and off by 6:45 to teach 150 teenagers again another day.
2 comments:
I've said it takes a special person to even want to be a teacher. At least one of you can keep the home fires burning and have somewhat "calming" atmosphere in the evenings.
We spent 4 hrs. in doctor's office today....I stared at old magazines waiting, waiting, waiting. Technicians, doctors, others running in and out, everyone busily shuffling people and paper. Last 15 mins. spent in consultation with doctor to hear "nothing has changed in past year." Good! And "goodbye" 'til next March.
Glad to hear your report is good. Is that for both of you? It's terrible to have to spend four hours sitting and waiting!
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