I finished my school year today and immediately took a nap. Teachers hear a lot of crap about how much time off they have, how nice it must be to get paid for twelve months of work but only work nine (or ten) months for it. For the next several weeks, however, as I revel in my 'freedom' and take my naps, I'll recuperate from all I do during the ten months I am at school.
8,000 pages of student writing is approximately what I've read, edited, and graded this year. I was shocked when I figured that out. That doesn't include tests or quizzes or any other assignments, simply essays. What's worse is that I couldn't assign as many essays this year as I usually do because I had double the students I normally have. With all that grading, no wonder my hand started cramping last month and a lump developed in my arm!
While my payoff isn't monetary, I know my students had ample opportunities to practice their writing, to improve, and to produce quality pieces of writing. I know those who took advantage of the opportunities will be better writers next year and will have a foundation they can continue to improve upon. Experience and former students also tell me that most who attend college will be stronger and more successful writers than their peers. Knowing this makes the hand cramps, the lump, and the tired eyes worth it.
Summer allows me the chance to rest my weary arm, hand, and eyes; to read new novels I can incorporate into my teaching; to take classes and/or attend conferences where I can also improve my effectiveness as a teacher. Summer allows me a break from 8000 pages of student writing, tests, quizzes, and prepping for important national tests. Summer allows me a break from 150 people-or more-needing me, questioning me, interacting with me on a daily basis. I spend a great deal of time during my summer in quiet, relishing the time to hear myself think. Summer isn't heavily scheduled, guided by bells. Summer allows me--and many of my colleagues--the time to take care of pertinent appointments we often cannot schedule during the school year. Summer allows me to slow down and take care of myself, to rejuvenate, before I'm back in the swing of things.
Yes, it is nice to have time off, even for a few short weeks. Our work culture could do with some time off; maybe employees would have better attitudes, fewer sick days, and be less likely to job hop if they too could have six weeks off to rest and relax. There are plenty of cultures around the world that expect workers to take off more than two weeks a year; maybe if our society demanded more time off, teachers wouldn't be the only group who can come back to work refreshed and ready.
Now, excuse me. It's time for me to get back to summer.
