A recent article in the Conway Daily Sun was about a teacher at the Bartlett Elementary School who is resigning because she is unhappy with the high turnover of teachers. Let's see. She's unhappy about the turnover, but she's making the situation worse by resigning! She has been at Bartlett for six years.
I’ve often heard it said, “teaching is a calling.” And there are a few professions that truly deserve that description. Nursing comes to mind, along with roles in social services. These fields demand dedication, perseverance, patience, and a great deal of empathy. It’s no coincidence that they have long attracted more women, as qualities like emotional intelligence and nurturing tend to align strongly with many women’s strengths and life priorities.
I spent the latter part of my working life in an administrative capacity at an independent school. Without hesitation, I can say that some of the most committed and selfless people I had the pleasure of working with were teachers. At the same time, some of the most demanding and difficult people to work with were also teachers—followed closely by the parents.
After 17 years, I came to appreciate both sides of that personality split. Teachers often operate with the intensity of people on a mission, much like my own experience in the military. Their unspoken goal was to shape students into learned, responsible, thoughtful, and articulate young adults by the time they left our school and moved on to higher pursuits.
Which brings me to the teacher who has decided to move on and pursue a different path. For all the potential new life experiences and even better pay that may come with a change, I say: good luck and Godspeed. May you find what you are truly looking for. Eventually, she will discover what brings her fulfillment. And what could be better for the caretakers of our children than a happy, well-adjusted teaching professional? There is no need to be snide or upset by her departure. I’m sure she wrestled with the decision. After all, she is a free agent, and the other teachers will carry on just fine. Who knows—her replacement might prove an even better fit in the end.
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I’ve often heard it said, “teaching is a calling.” And there are a few professions that truly deserve that description. Nursing comes to mind, along with roles in social services. These fields demand dedication, perseverance, patience, and a great deal of empathy. It’s no coincidence that they have long attracted more women, as qualities like emotional intelligence and nurturing tend to align strongly with many women’s strengths and life priorities.
I spent the latter part of my working life in an administrative capacity at an independent school. Without hesitation, I can say that some of the most committed and selfless people I had the pleasure of working with were teachers. At the same time, some of the most demanding and difficult people to work with were also teachers—followed closely by the parents.
After 17 years, I came to appreciate both sides of that personality split. Teachers often operate with the intensity of people on a mission, much like my own experience in the military. Their unspoken goal was to shape students into learned, responsible, thoughtful, and articulate young adults by the time they left our school and moved on to higher pursuits.
Which brings me to the teacher who has decided to move on and pursue a different path. For all the potential new life experiences and even better pay that may come with a change, I say: good luck and Godspeed. May you find what you are truly looking for. Eventually, she will discover what brings her fulfillment. And what could be better for the caretakers of our children than a happy, well-adjusted teaching professional? There is no need to be snide or upset by her departure. I’m sure she wrestled with the decision. After all, she is a free agent, and the other teachers will carry on just fine. Who knows—her replacement might prove an even better fit in the end.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.