Do We Deserve a Retreat?

I came across this article about a teachers' retreat being built in South Carolina. What was most interesting was the following quote from that state's schools superintendent:

"We are getting close to having a demoralized and compromised
teaching force," Rex said. "If we want our state to thrive, we must pay closer
attention to classroom teachers."

I don't think people realize how emotionally exhausting teaching is. I was teaching a night class about computer applications and one of the participants was a gentleman in his late 20s who was in the midst of his teaching practicum in the history department at a middle-size, upper middle class high school. He said "I've done construction work from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and still was not as tired as I am at 3:00 after teaching."

Teaching is like performing . . . for 6 hours . . . to a very demanding audience. And the critics--uh, I mean parents--are very vocal whether they're talking about your "performance" to other townspeople at the local soccer games or commenting about you through local online forums. Mind you, they haven't seen your "performance," just heard about it through their child. (Conjures up memories of the old "Telephone" game?)

If you want to know what kind of work (and money) teachers' put into their "performances," talk to someone close to a teacher: their spouse, children, roommates, significant others. They can talk about the Sunday afternoons creating curriculum while (or instead of) watching the game, correcting papers on a drive to visit Grandma, and purchasing classroom supplies while at Walmart. (My students never have a pencil, but when I ask for collateral when I loan them one, they offer up their personal car keys, top-of-the-line cell phone, and video iPods!)

Our society--and I'm not blaming anyone, just commenting on it--is one of instant gratification. God knows even the microwave doesn't cook fast enough for me! But students expect the same instant gratification in school: it should be quick and easy and if it isn't--if it requires complete sentences or showing your work or following directions completely step-by-step--they don't want to do it! (Which somehow becomes the teacher's fault.)

Okay, I'm ranting. Just some food for thought.