Polony, Reader's Comment, A little respect: attracting top teachers is not rocke

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Polony, Reader's Comment, A little respect: attracting top teachers is not rocket science, Jane Caro, The Drum, Opinion, ABC, 4 October 2012: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4293550.html Historical link preserved from the original page.

I have seen fellow teachers driven to depression.

I love teaching.

I hate being a teacher.

I hate that I was forced to pick up a second job so I could support myself over unpaid school holidays because I could not get a permanent job.

I hate that another casual teacher revealed to me she'd being doing casual at the same school for five years, and couldn't even get an interview for a job opening.

After all, some had been doing it for ten years.

I hate that parents send their children to school with the attitude that, "My dad said I should tell you to f**k off, because teachers don't know s**t".

Yes, an eleven year old really said that, with pride.

I hate that I chose to pursue something that I felt was worthwhile, something that could make a difference, only to be beaten down so quickly and brutally.

I'm sure people will be quick to tell me to suck it up, that it is no worse than many other professions, and I do not claim it is the most difficult job in the world.

But it is so, so hard.

I have seen fellow teachers driven to depression, been medicated.

I even knew one that started self harming.

She would bite her fingers, in the classroom, till they bled.

I know teachers on their first year out who live on around three hours sleep a night.

I knew a deputy principal who survived on four: the other staff were impressed he got so much.

I still teach.

But every day I love it less, and keep looking for a way out.