Teacher Survey

So Jason Oller posted a series of questions for teachers.

It was linked to in last week's Carnival, and I meant to do it as a Friday survey, but hey! I was on Spring Break, and I did a whole lot of nothin'.

It was pretty awesome!

So, anyway, after scrambling to get things back in gear for today, I sat down to finish answering the questions...

1. What made you decide to become a teacher? A number of factors. I enjoyed English and related electives in high school, and both of my parents were teachers, so I knew that money would be an issue, but it'd be livable. After I finished college I was less certain - I didn't change majors at all, but I was more aware of my own weaknesses. After that I slowly built up to certification, then teaching distance courses and substituting, and then I got a job. It was slow but pretty smooth, all told.

2. Why did you choose to teach what you teach? Because stories rule.

3. Was teaching your first career choice, or did you think of others? Career choice, yes. I've had other jobs, but they were just jobs. Teaching is something I care about and want to do well. Other possibilities are dance and Disney villains.

4. What is it you like most about being a teacher? There is some twisted part of me that enjoys the challenge of getting people to CHOOSE to do things they don't really want to do.

Oh! And PROM! I get to go to prom EVERY YEAR.

5. What do you dislike about being a teacher? (Excluding the beurocracy [sic]) Our substitute situation. There is a serious dearth of qualified subs in the area, mostly because the pay is crap. And we have to call our own, which - if you're sick enough to NEED a sub - is pretty miserable.

6. Do you edublog or are you a reader of edublogs? Stop by Epic Adventures Are Often Uncomfortable and have a gander at my lil' niche of the edusphere!

7. If it were up to you, what is one thing you would change in education policy? Make principals responsible for the performance of the school.

8. What do you think about Michelle Rhee? Not much.

9. Is there anything else you would like to say? Nope. Good luck with the blogging!