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OP, with all kindness intended, you need to treat this young woman like the adult that she is. If she feels there is an issue, she needs to speak to her principal, not have you tattle in an anonymous report like she's a kindergartener.
As a teacher, I rarely went into the staff room except to grab my mail. I had no time. I ate lunch at my desk, where I wrote my lesson plans and graded. Teaching is a hard, stressful profession that does not pay well. Those who stick it out do so because they truly love teaching, love their students and are willing to put up with the negatives. Venting to colleagues is a way to relieve stress and share in the sense that you are not alone in feeling frustrated at times, just like in every other profession out there. This is the exact opposite of "nonconstructive negativity" as you called it.
OP, with all kindness intended, you need to treat this young woman like the adult that she is. If she feels there is an issue, she needs to speak to her principal, not have you tattle in an anonymous report like she's a kindergartener.
As a teacher, I rarely went into the staff room except to grab my mail. I had no time. I ate lunch at my desk, where I wrote my lesson plans and graded. Teaching is a hard, stressful profession that does not pay well. Those who stick it out do so because they truly love teaching, love their students and are willing to put up with the negatives. Venting to colleagues is a way to relieve stress and share in the sense that you are not alone in feeling frustrated at times, just like in every other profession out there. This is the exact opposite of "nonconstructive negativity" as you called it.
That really didn't come across as particularly kind or empathetic, but thanks for your input just the same. I am a retired person in my mid-sixties, a mother of four adults. To me she is a kid. I want to say helpful things to her, try to give her guidance if she seems to want it. I want to help.
No, I most likely won't call anyone. But you have to admit, it's a shame if teachers are discouraging her...directly to her, not in the break room. To her, or any other student. Aren't we running out of teachers lately? It's not a secret.
Yes, one needs to blow off steam in the break room. She blows off steam to ME.
The majority of people who complete student teaching leave the profession in a few years. That is in normal times. Her concerns are completely valid, many bright young people can't actually hack it in teaching. Many others can't maintain the lifestyle they were raised with and leave seeking higher pay.
Of course many of us DO actually enjoy teaching, DO consider the lifestyle to be livable, and CAN handle the many negatives that come with the career.
She is going to have to figure out what camp she is in on her own. I don't really think it's your place to get involved regardless of what you think kids need or what you think you know about education.
Well, that wasn't very kind or helpful, either. But thanks for posting.
Well, that wasn't very kind or helpful, either. But thanks for posting.
I'm sorry if the tone came across as harsh but I wanted first and foremost to be direct and to be honest. It seems like you are a kind person who genuinely wants to help but I also think you are a bit misguided.
The majority of people who complete student teaching leave the profession in a few years. That is in normal times. Her concerns are completely valid, many bright young people can't actually hack it in teaching. Many others can't maintain the lifestyle they were raised with and leave seeking higher pay.
Any statistics to back up that statement? I don't think the majority of people who actually start their first teaching job leave the teaching profession. What has taken place in PA is many who go to college in PA, leave the state to get their first teaching job, and then return to PA to continue teaching. This has been true for at least 50 years. Most seem to go to either Maryland, Florida, and Virginia for their first job.
I'm sorry if the tone came across as harsh but I wanted first and foremost to be direct and to be honest. It seems like you are a kind person who genuinely wants to help but I also think you are a bit misguided.
I agree, and I'm afraid that I'm going to be less kind: She's an adult professional. Or isn't she? It's okay to be a sounding board. But a professional will deal with the issues at a professional level. That's something that's learned over time.
Up to half our teachers in Australia quit the profession in the first five years. I imagine it is a world wide issue. The starting salary here is actually higher than in many other professions but it levels out and drops behind later.
But then our cousin in Italy left her profession as a lawyer to retrain as a primary teacher.
As a retired teacher I am very thankful that I am not teaching now. Our kids here have had about twenty weeks total remote learning and it has been challenging on some many levels. Not that surprising that teachers may well be burnt out and whinge.
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But thanks for posting.
