Monday, April 14, 2008

Bell ringer

If you're a teacher and have got a minute, do me a favor and answer the following poll questions. If you're not a teacher, feel free to give feedback on your typical workday in the comments.



I'm just curious if most teachers (at least the ones that read this site) work more or less than I do ...



Non-teachers often tell me that I have incredible hours: the school day begins at 8, ends at 2:55. "You've got so much free time," they say. But when I add in the hours I'm at school before and after the bell, plus the work on the weekends, I'm pretty sure I work more than they do.

5 comments:

Jason said...

Ha! And teachers get the entire summer off, so of course teachers have such an easy job with so much free time. It's always funny to hear from those who don't teach about the cushy schedule that we, teachers, have. If they only knew or understood. Do they think that the teaching materials, lessons, and grading all gets done by itself?

Anonymous said...

In the corporate world, I generally work less in an average week (excluding the time it takes for me to fly to my clients) than I did as a teacher but sometimes I do work insane hours - 80 or more a week (luckily, I get paid OT in addition to my salary in those situations.) Weeks like that are the exceptions and in general we are encouraged to not do OT because it's just not healthy and a bad example for subordinates.

I'm also at a job where they allow flexibility so if I want to get my 40 in by Thursday, maybe on Friday I can be on call with a crackberry instead of in the office. I much prefer having that flexibility and having a job I don't think about ALL THE TIME on the weekends or in the evenings than having "summer off."

Bill said...

I tend to get there at about 7:35 (ten minutes before the bell) which is later than most, but I have a first period prep and hate hurrying to loiter for 45 minutes. I normally leave at 2:30 (half an hour after the days end) but then work an hour or so at home. I do think the hours are much better than my old corporate job, but the stress is higher and it takes more energy.

Anonymous said...

As an attorney, I worked 7 days a week, 12 hours + M-Fri, 8 to 12 Sat., and many Sunday nights.

Anonymous said...

Man, you guys have it good! High school here in Taiwan is from eight to five--and we have the least school time islandwide!
Makes me sort of want to study abroad lol.