| Teachers in parochial schools face a tough task. They | | | | enjoy your job, will it? Can you really serve the Lord |
| often get paid thousands less than their public | | | | at your school, if you spend your day being envious |
| counterparts, work more hours, are expected to be | | | | and coveting another's job? |
| available 24 hours a day, be perfect, and turn little | | | | - Always strive to learn more. Some parochial schools |
| children into equally perfect, sinless saints. So, how do | | | | are lax about their teachers' continuing education or |
| you measure up? | | | | don't have the funds to support it. Other schools try |
| If you're laughing, you have either felt the pain of | | | | to encourage outside learning, but the teachers are |
| the above demands, or you think it isn't true. I am a | | | | so worn out, they don't do it. Make time. Take time |
| parochial school teacher who laughs, knowing just | | | | to continue to develop as a teacher. Going to |
| how true it is. I have some suggestions for new | | | | workshops and taking classes help keep you in the |
| parochial teachers and for those who have been | | | | educational "loop" and re-energize your teaching. |
| through years of not measuring up. | | | | - Re-evaluate your teaching methods regularly. Don't |
| - Pray and stay in the Word. There is nothing more | | | | get in a rut. Look through student evaluations, watch |
| important to your teaching career and your personal | | | | students' responsiveness in class, and ask parents for |
| faith than to stay connected to God. When angry | | | | feedback. Can you objectively judge yourself? If you |
| parents call, you have a source of peace. When | | | | do it regularly, you will find that your teaching gets |
| report cards are due and you still have a stack of | | | | better every year. |
| workbooks to correct, you have a source of energy. | | | | - Share your faith. This is one of the biggest benefits |
| When you finish directing your first musical, you have | | | | of teaching in a parochial school. Not only can you |
| a source that rejoices with you. Stay connected. God | | | | share faith, you should! The more you witness to |
| will keep you grounded in the good and bad times. | | | | your class, the more they will see God in you. |
| - Don't compare yourself to the "other" teachers. | | | | Remember that you model God to them as well. So, |
| You may develop the grass-is-always-greener | | | | model forgiveness and patience, even when it's |
| complex. Be aware that all teachers have battles to | | | | difficult. God loves us, though we can be his most |
| fight. Even though your neighbor may get paid | | | | difficult children. |
| thousands more than you, she probably envies | | | | - Stay positive. There will always be challenges. On |
| something about your job. You may have an | | | | some days it will seem as though the challenges are |
| unrealistic view about the other teachers' jobs. Even | | | | too much for one person. They can be! That's why |
| if you know that they get paid more, get more prep | | | | God is there. He is there to support us in every way. |
| periods, and have a classroom aide, it won't help you | | | | Every day. |