Well, I have finally finished grading finals, turned in my paperwork, and cleaned my room enough for now. Year 6 (YEAR 6!) at Bellingham High is complete! Thank goodness. This one had a tough ending, but thankfully we'll get a fresh start in the fall.
I've been thinking a lot about the rhythm of the school year lately. I think people long for the seasons of the teaching profession. Granted, for our education and demands, we take a paycut to enjoy the new beginning each September. I don't know how we would survive without it. Maybe we would be a healthier society if more jobs were designed with seasons, to mix things up and keep us fresh.
Most teachers work a second job or attend conferences in the summer. I have driven busses for the cruise ships in Alaska, cleaned houses, and attended various conferences and planned professional development for teachers. This summer will be filled with the latter. I have meetings tomorrow, Thursday and Friday. Then off to a conference Sunday and Monday. Another conference for a week in July and I start back up in the middle of August. I'm not complaining. Though my plan for this summer doesn't bring in any extra money, it will be a refreshing change of pace (I hope) for the sprint of the school year.
What do you think? Should all jobs have a season to do something different? Not necessarily a "vacation", but a chance to mix it up and refresh. Or do you like the consistency of your job?
2 comments:
I 100% think that mix ups and time for refreshing is necessary!! I go by that schedule for the summer at the studio. I only teach one day a week and it's summer classes so it's just drop ins and whoever wants to come. It's refreshing to not have pressures of recitals, etc on you. It's a change pace, faces, plans, and days! I enjoy it and think that all jobs should have "seasons" not all necessarily during summer because then nothing would be open, but they could rotate people for different seasons. How about that!?!
I think you are right, Heidi! We could arrange it kind of like schools that go year round. In order to be using the building all year, they have 1.25 more staff and students than they need. Everyone has one of the seasons to have off, but the school runs at full capacity all year. We could solve unemployment issues!
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