Holidays!

It's not that I don't like my job, but it really is good to get away from students for two weeks. This week has been an uphill battle; the students are tired, grumpy, yet also hyperactive, which makes me just tired. I don’t even have enough energy to be grumpy. Between breaking up fights, holding detentions, chasing kids who let off stink bombs, confiscating phones, ipods, acorns, rubber bands and spit-ball shooters, and explaining to young people why they shouldn’t swear at other people; you find the actual teaching part sometimes comes secondary.
I feel this break is well earned. Teachers get a lot of hassles for having as much time off as they do, and I’m definitely not saying that it is too little – yes, we do get a very good deal when it comes to paid leave. However I firmly believe that we earn it. The average secondary school teacher works an average of 50 hours a week. That is throughout a year, so holidays are included in that. We also get paid very little for having spent four years at university. And it is NOT an easy job. There are very few occupations where one has to deal with so little respect from people. Has to shout to get attention, constantly tell people off, have people tell you that everything sucks and/or is gay. Everyone knows that teenagers are a pain at the best of times, try sticking 30 of them into a small room and keep them quiet sometime, it’s not an easy feat.

Yet in a strange way I love it. I find humour is the best strategy, if you can laugh with them and at yourself you will have a hell of a lot more fun.
At the end of the day, when a student comes up and thanks you for a lesson or tells you that your class is ‘cool’ it is all worth it.