May I Have Your Attention, Please?

I was going to wait until Spring to be all official about "announcing" anything, but the Spirit has moved me to do it now...

I'm totally kidding!  I live in a small town, so most people that I know personally (and probably many that I don't), already know that I'm not returning to my job as a classroom teacher next school year.

Why?

Well, I could say it's because I'm tired of teaching....but I'm not.  I love teaching.

I could say it's because of the the insane amount of paperwork and "documentation," and the increasingly unrealistic expectations made of my profession....but I suppose a lot of jobs are like that.

I could say it's because I can't handle all of the politics and drama....but I do.  I handle it daily; and have done so for several years now.

Maybe it's because of all the *ahem* "enthusiastic" parents out there?  I mean, I HAVE been cursed, threatened, harrassed, bullied, and slandered.  Nope.  I'm good at my job, so I say "bring it."

Or could it be that I'm tired of being a punching bag for administration?  Nah - I've been through enough crap to have earned a black belt in the art of defending oneself against psychological warfare...so you'll have to practice your mental "mind-ninja" tactics on someone else.

Ok...so WHY?

BECAUSE... I decided that dealing with all of the beforementioned things is just not worth leaving my two girls at the babysitter every day. 

I just can't help but to feel like I'm giving up the blessing that is time with MY children in order to face a daily battle as an army of one in the good fight that is making a difference for my students.  It's discouraging to spend your days sacrificing the bulk of your time away from your own children, trying to "make a difference," just to be told on a regular basis that all of the caring, compassion, and help that you give other people's kids every day is not enough and never will be. 

I have just plain grown weary of being told to acheive miracles...then having every rug pulled out from under me, every ladder rung I must climb sawed through, and having to do it all with a blindfold on.

This was NOT a decision made lightly, or quickly, but what it ultimately came down to was this:
I have two passions - teaching and making a difference.  Next year I'll be doing both of them....at home.

♥M