It's been odd for me, the last few days. The teachers and most of the staff are all excited, the year is ending, most of them starting vacation (2 months worth!) and the ones that are working are mostly doing so by choice, not necessity.
I've been kind of down; I'm glad I've got summer work, I'm glad I'll be coming back to school in August, but I'm not really looking forward to going back to the call center. Now, mind you, it's easily the best phone-job I can imagine, no selling, no pressure, but still, I would so much rather be either working on the infrastructure at the school, like my compatriot, or taking the summer off like the faculty. Were it not an economic necessity, I would not work over the summer break-I think part of it might be that I dislike shifting work-roles. I've had to do that a lot over the last seven years, and even though I know this is a temporary shift, I like my role as tech-guy fixer-of-all-problems so much more than pleasant-voice-on-the-phone-soliciting-information.
*sigh* I need to keep focused on the fact that the bills are going to get paid!
And, if things go as predicted, one way or the other I'll probably get to either work in the school next summer, or take the break off. Gotta keep countin' them blessings.
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I know you're not part of the teaching faculty so this isn't directed at you quantum, but I've always felt school teachers had it pretty sweet. They get paid what I consider adequate wages for only working 8 months a year. Many of them do extra in the summer for which they get paid extra. Most people do damn well to get 2 weeks a YEAR off. I've never seen teaching as especially low paid although it certainly isn't highly paid either but thousands of jobs don't pay any better and sure don't give you 4 months off. As a whole I've felt teaching is a pretty darn desirable profession.
ReplyDeleteWith the economy like it is you're doing well indeed to have that summer job. No reflection on your abilities, just a statement on the market. It's tough out there.
We all have so many blessings in out lives it's easy to lose perepective and focus on the bad things. They seem to occupy our minds more than the good do for some reason. I'm no better at remembering my blessings than most but I try to take time each day for it. There are so few people who have anything close to what we do in the world it's important we never forget it.
While the teachers I work with only get 2 months off in the summer, I still agree with you, Duke, it's a pretty sweet deal. It's also a little curious that so many of them act like it's no big deal...too, many of them have held no other types of jobs in their adult lives.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are also right, given these economic times, I'm lucky lucky lucky to have gotten my old temp-job back for the summer. It takes all the pressure off getting through the break without going further in the hole, pretty much guarantees that I can afford to go back to the school in August. For that, I am truly grateful!
It's unusual that school only has 2 months off. Most take a few weeks as a Christmas break. Then throw in a spring break, plus "Service Days" and a week or so for snow days and it easily adds up to 4 months.
ReplyDeleteMy sister is a speak therapist for the State of Ohio school system and she actually worked less than 8 months last year.
While it's true they only get 2 months off in the summer there are plenty of other vacations and holidays thrown in. It adds up fast.
Yeah, I suppose those days bring it a lot closer to 4 months over the year. Still, I gotta say, I love that fact that my job doesn't keep me in direct interaction with the kids all day every day; I think that would get to me pretty quick. I sorta get to set my level of direct interaction with the kids, which lets me dodge out a bit on the obnoxious ones.
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