Myths about Summer and the Teacher

When I entered the education field, it was common for me to hear three words when someone commented on my career choice:  June, July and August.  "You lucky teachers" I'd hear.  "Three reasons to teach!" was my favorite one.  I am now a 12-month employee, and while my summer do look a bit different, more than ever I have respect for the endless job that is teaching.

For my non-teaching friends, here are some Myths about Summer and the Teacher

1.  We're off June, July and August
Here I sit, June 25th, almost the end.  I am in my second week of all-day classes with teachers and administrators.  My friend in New England are posting on social media that their children finish classes today.  June is finished: we are not.  Teacher meetings start days before students come back.  Those beautiful classrooms aren't delivered to a school.  August is about preparing and gearing up.

2. We're "off"
Dedicated teachers never turn off that powerful hamster wheel that creates great lesson plans.  We're reading books for fun, and thinking about whether or not that word is one we want to use on a word wall.  We're walking down the beach, scanning for students and their families.  We're grocery shopping and thinking about how to use the cost of tomatoes in our money unit.  We're blogging, tweeting, and lesson planning.  We take classes, read books, go on practice field trips, inventory supplies and don't even ask what happens when we see a yard sale.  The teacher area of our brain is always activated, no matter how hard we try to calm it down.

3. We work normal hours during the year and it evens out.
It never evens out when you are a dedicated teacher.  Your brain is never finished.  7:30-3:30?  We wish.  See #2: all that happens during the school year, too.

4.  We think your job is easier
Great teachers won't complain to their students or parents. They will voice reasonable concerns to peers and administrators.  They probably vent or complain to their own friends and family.
When we complain about how hard our job is (and feeling like you are responsible for creating and molding the next generation is a heavy weight), we are not discounting the role you play in society.
When we complain, even over summer months, please don't take it as discounting your profession.  We hope we're teaching the person you'll someday train to take over when you retire.


Abigail Greer is the princpal at The Academy of Saint Matthias the Apostle.
She can be reached at agreer@stmatthias.org