I Used to be a Teacher

I used to be a teacher.
I'm not ashamed to admit it. 
It was once a proud and noble profession
Until it became vogue to criticize it.

"I wish I had my summers off too!"
Yeah. So do I.
It never occurred to me
That spending weeks planning,
Writing curriculum, 
Creating review materials,
Formulating testing measures, 
And making it all interactive in this digital world
Would be considered fun and relaxing.

"I wish I got a big check at the end of each school year!"
What can I say?
You don't want to hear that in order to receive that big check
I loaned the school (interest free) money from each paycheck
So as to build up an amount that would pay my bills during the summer.
Yes. I really don't get paid during the summer.
"It must be nice to have every vacation off."
Yes. It is. 
Well...except for that second job I worked 
In order to make sure the last of my bills were paid.

"You only work from 8:00 to 3:00."
Funny how my car is parked
In front of the school
From 7:30 to 5:30 each day.

"You have retirement benefits!"
I do. I paid into that fund for many years.
A lot of people have money set aside for retirement.
Why is it so bad that I do?

I got used to 
The questions,
The complaints,
The criticisms.

I didn't get used to 
The bullying,
The personal attacks,
The lies...

Why should I remain in a job
Where I had to talk myself into the building
Each and every day?
Why would I suffer
Anymore?
Any longer?
What choices did I have?

"Tenure is wrong! Teachers don't deserve a permanent job."
I didn't think I had a permanent job.
I thought I had the right to due process.
You know...like the protection the U.S. Constitution guarantees everyone.

And then...
Broken promises...
A once noble profession was betrayed.
This went beyond my not wanting to endure any more... Any longer...

So...
I used to be a teacher.

Here I am watching the number of teachers dwindle.
Some, like me, retired before they had planned.
Some simply resigned.
Some ended their lives 
so suddenly and completely
That those left behind 
could only weep for their loss
Amid the confusion
of what use to be
A noble profession.

Written by 
Ann MacAbee