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