When I say good bye to people I often say to them, "Have fun," and I really mean it. We only have one shot at this life so we might as well enjoy the ride.
A little while ago I taught a particular sixth form student who would come into lessons on a Friday afternoon and declare, "I don't want to go to work tonight." He did this week after week until eventually I said to him that he didn't have to go to work. He replied that he did have to go to work or he would get sacked. So then I told him that he really did not have to go to work, it was his choice to go and he went because he did not like the alternative. He had a choice to make. I can't remember him complaining about his Friday evening shift ever again.
I think it is important that if someone is not enjoying something that they stop and reevaluate. Sometimes the thing that they are not enjoying is unavoidable - washing up, for example - but often it is avoidable. Sometimes with a small tweak it can be eliminated, although sometimes a lot more than a small tweak is needed and it might require a lot of upheaval to effect the change and it might require a lot of soul searching to decide if the upheaval is worthwhile. But my point stands, why continue to do something that is no fun, or perhaps positively draining?
Obviously, this can apply to all aspects of life, but it certainly applies to our life as teachers. Teachers are great at filling their days with tasks that are not strictly related to teaching and learning. For example, the football team that you've been running for the last four years even though your subject specialism is History. Perhaps you feel that your coaching is getting a little stale and you could do with a break, but who will take over? Actually, this is not your problem. You may well be, unwittingly being taken advantage of - Fred always does that team. If you give sufficient notice that you will no longer be looking after the team then their is no problem. But what about the children? What if no-one else steps up? Don't guilt trip yourself. The chances are someone else will step up, perhaps there is a new teacher who enjoys a bit of football coaching, or perhaps an established member of staff will take over. But more importantly, what about YOU? It's your life and it's your choice. There is no point in living your life just to please others. The choice that you made several years ago that was right at the time may not be the right one now.
We all have choices. They may not all be pleasant or easy, but we have them nonetheless. It is important that we use good judgement in making then and we weigh up the different options sensibly before we exercise our choice, but it is our choice to make. And we certainly have a choice to have fun!
A little while ago I taught a particular sixth form student who would come into lessons on a Friday afternoon and declare, "I don't want to go to work tonight." He did this week after week until eventually I said to him that he didn't have to go to work. He replied that he did have to go to work or he would get sacked. So then I told him that he really did not have to go to work, it was his choice to go and he went because he did not like the alternative. He had a choice to make. I can't remember him complaining about his Friday evening shift ever again.
I think it is important that if someone is not enjoying something that they stop and reevaluate. Sometimes the thing that they are not enjoying is unavoidable - washing up, for example - but often it is avoidable. Sometimes with a small tweak it can be eliminated, although sometimes a lot more than a small tweak is needed and it might require a lot of upheaval to effect the change and it might require a lot of soul searching to decide if the upheaval is worthwhile. But my point stands, why continue to do something that is no fun, or perhaps positively draining?
Obviously, this can apply to all aspects of life, but it certainly applies to our life as teachers. Teachers are great at filling their days with tasks that are not strictly related to teaching and learning. For example, the football team that you've been running for the last four years even though your subject specialism is History. Perhaps you feel that your coaching is getting a little stale and you could do with a break, but who will take over? Actually, this is not your problem. You may well be, unwittingly being taken advantage of - Fred always does that team. If you give sufficient notice that you will no longer be looking after the team then their is no problem. But what about the children? What if no-one else steps up? Don't guilt trip yourself. The chances are someone else will step up, perhaps there is a new teacher who enjoys a bit of football coaching, or perhaps an established member of staff will take over. But more importantly, what about YOU? It's your life and it's your choice. There is no point in living your life just to please others. The choice that you made several years ago that was right at the time may not be the right one now.
We all have choices. They may not all be pleasant or easy, but we have them nonetheless. It is important that we use good judgement in making then and we weigh up the different options sensibly before we exercise our choice, but it is our choice to make. And we certainly have a choice to have fun!
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