Job Satisfaction — I Guess I’ll Take It Where I Can Get It
I guess I’ll take job satisfaction where I can get it.
Let’s start with the most obvious positive: I’m getting my full salary.
That’s something.
Of course, that’s also what makes this a job and not a volunteer gig or a hobby, but after the uncertainty of the last few months, getting up, going to work, and receiving my normal paycheck is not something I’m going to complain about.
And there were some genuinely good things about the first day.
The day started with an all-school assembly welcoming the students back and laying out expectations for the year. I loved it. I begged my former school for years to do something like that, and we never did.
It seems so basic. Start the year together. Show a little enthusiasm. Build some community. Ease everybody into Day One.
And, most importantly, tell everybody the rules.
Here is what you can do. Here is what you cannot do. Here is what will happen if you do the things you cannot do.
Novel concept.
Before the assembly, I had already noticed students putting their phones in their lockers. And then something remarkable happened: I didn’t see a kid with a phone all day.
I’m sure there are some burner phones and dummy phones floating around. Kids aren’t stupid. But the school had already confiscated three hoodies that violated the dress code, so I don’t have much doubt they’ll take phones, too. And if they take your phone, a parent has to come to school to get it back.
Good.
My former school wouldn’t let us confiscate phones. It was a shitshow. We were basically asking teenagers to voluntarily ignore the most addictive device ever invented while it sat six inches from their hands.
You can guess how well that worked.
So, overall, I was impressed with how the school started the year. Clear expectations. Clear consequences. Some school spirit. Adults actually acting like adults and running the building.
Another positive came from one of the classes I’m working with. There are only seven students, but it’s an advanced class and every single one of them was awesome. Engaged, interesting, and fun to talk to. I think I’m going to love working with them.
The other classes weren’t anything I haven’t dealt with before. They’re teenagers. I’ve taught teenagers for eight years. Nothing particularly scary or shocking there.
So what’s the problem?
I’m bored.
And I don’t mean “teaching is boring.” I mean I literally don’t have enough work to do.
I had three free periods in a row today. That’s 165 minutes. Then I had a class. Then another free period. Then one final class.
Five free periods in one day.
Normally, a free period is wonderful. You grade. You plan. You answer emails. You make copies. You stare blankly at the wall for seven minutes wondering why you decided teaching was a good second career. At my old school, I had a guitar in my room to play during free periods, or I’d even go for a run.
But I don’t have my own classes, so I don’t have much to plan. I don’t have assignments to grade. I don’t have tomorrow’s lesson to create. I don’t have my own classroom, so I’m not going to bring a guitar.
There are only so many times you can check your email.
It’s not the school’s fault. I’m here because of the reassignment situation, and they’re figuring out how to use me. But I realized today that I really don’t like not working at work.
I’d rather have a full schedule of my own classes. I’d rather be planning lessons, teaching, grading, complaining that I have too much to do, and wondering why I ever wished for a free period.
Instead, I have time.
Lots and lots of time.
Which got me thinking that what I really need is a side hustle I can do online. If somebody is going to give me five free periods a day and a laptop, there has to be something productive I can build during that time.
An online business? Writing? Something involving education or law? Something completely different?
Hmm.
That’s a problem for another day.
For now, I’ll take the win.
I have a job. I’m receiving my full salary. I have some interaction with students. I have co-workers to talk to. I already found one class I’m genuinely excited about. The school seems organized and willing to enforce its rules.
Would I rather have my own classroom and a full teaching schedule?
Absolutely.
But this is where I am right now.
And compared with all the things I imagined might happen when I got laid off, sitting around occasionally wondering what the hell I’m supposed to do with almost 4 hours of free time isn’t exactly a tragedy.
Could be a lot worse.
So, for now, I’ll take my job satisfaction where I can get it.
And maybe figure out a side hustle.