Why is my job so stressful?

It's almost July! I mean, it will be July on Tuesday!! #whereismysummergoing

Now, I knew this was going to happen...

As soon as school got out, we went to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge for a week of fun and relaxation with my sister's family.

This is where we stayed.
 I MISS YOU CABIN!!!!!
The next week, Beth began tutoring for reading and had a week of swimming lessons.

Her progress learning how to swim is amazing!
And the next week, we had a great time at our church's VBS.

I helped out with teaching the 4th/5th grade kidos. Do I look like a special agent of God?!
It was a great week!
And although I regret none of the aforementioned activities, I'm left wondering, "Why is summer going by so fast?!"

It's a stupid question given I just listed multiple things that would make my summer speed by, but really, the question isn't a question. It's a statement - a statement of dread.

At the end of the summer, I go back to a job I love!  However, it is a stressful job and hence the dread.

I got to thinking today, "Why is this job so stressful?"

Well, there are the obvious answers to that question; I'm a high school English teacher, so you can probably name a few dozen.  But lately when I ask myself that question - Why is this job so stressful? - I feel as if God is yelling back at me that the problem isn't the job; it's me.

I plan on using this last month of freedom to examine how I approach my job and how God wants me to approach it.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

I had a good friend and colleague say something to me in the last days of school this year that has really hit home a reality for me: I have not been working at my job as for the Lord. At least, I haven't been to the extent that I could be and should be.

So no wonder there are too many days I leave there stressed and unhappy!

If I'm working for the Lord, there is no stress in that!

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-burdened, and I will give you rest!

In Him there is rest, and there is peace.

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.

God is in control!  How could I ever be unhappy knowing that!?

Today's forget-me-not: Refocus all your energies on working for and trusting in Him. You can't go wrong!


school choice

I have read comments like this one countless times: "I stand behind school choice. If for no other reason than to light a fire under people's butts to change public education! Make it better! Put it back into the hands of the professionals, the teachers, and out of corporations and politicians" (friend on Facebook).

As a public education teacher for twelve years now, I can say there's a lot wrong with statements like these, and I feel a strong need to write about it.  As a result, here is today's post! Lucky you! ;-)

You can thank my debate background for this - and any other controversial posts that follow.

First, the disclaimers...

1. I pray no one thinks I'm personally attacking my friend who said this. Because that is NOT my motivation for writing this! Anyone who really knows me should know that, but I felt like it needed to be said.  What I'm going to attempt is to address the errors I see in the thinking represented by the above statement because that school of thought (pun intended ;) is becoming more prevalent in our society today.

2. I'm not going to be saying that every child should be educated in the public school system.  Please don't hear that anywhere in this post.  Special needs children - for example - who live in a district that cannot accommodate them should find an alternative.  Really, if you believe that your child would not be able to thrive for whatever reason in a public school setting, you should listen to that mommy gut (almost never wrong) and do what you believe is best for  your child. In fact, it's your obligation as a parent! I did that for my oldest when we delayed her entry into public education by having her in a private kindergarten setting, and she has done well in first grade this past year.

3. Along the same lines of that second disclaimer, I do believe homeschooling, private schools, and charter schools can provide awesome opportunities for students.

And now for today's post...

I, too, stand behind school choice - if you haven't already gathered that by reading through my disclaimers. There are many routes a parent can choose to see that his or her child ultimately becomes an educated, productive member of our society. This is a GREAT thing!  School choice is alive and well in our nation.

Let me say it again: I, too, stand behind school choice.  However, I cannot stand behind state funds being used to further any educational choice but the public school system.  Please, let me explain via a scenario:

My parents could never have chosen to home school me. They both had to work hard jobs with long hours to barely make ends meet.  In our reality, homeschooling could never have been a viable option.  Along those same lines, because of lack of funds (even if someone had given us a voucher to offset costs), private schooling could never have been a viable option.  And as for a charter school taking me in, well, you first would have to assume that my parents cared that much about my education to submit my name into one of those lotteries - my mom never graduated high school and my father suggested I just get married and have babies.  Besides, knowing my luck, in a charter school lottery, I wouldn't have been chosen.

So IF those choices had been the only choices available for my education, I would have ended up uneducated and struggling each day of my life to make ends meet just like my parents.

Thank God for public education! 

You see,  a very limited amount of children are - or can be - provided with an education via homeschooling, private schools, and/or charter schools.  For a vast majority, the only real, feasible choice for education is a public education. It certainly was the only option for me, and that is the reality for so many...

Yet, you (that is "school choice" proponents) want to take funds away from public education? You think this would be productive? God forbid it! On the contrary, every citizen should be happy to see their tax dollars go to such a noble and worthy cause!

Granted, public education has its flaws, but I would argue that so do the other educational choices many want to see their tax dollars go toward.  Yet, with the public school system we can guarantee that not just the wealthy or the well-off have access to something everyone should have access to - an education.  Yes, pubic education has its flaws, but the solution is not that we abandon ship and leave it to sink or, hopefully, sail with no assistance!

You want to "light a fire" under public education by stripping it of funding and fueling vouchers or for-profit charter schools? I warn you; it will burn down the very thing that holds the fabric of our nation together - an educated populace!

Support school choice, but do not support the diverting of funds away from public education - I beg you!  In supporting the defunding of public education you are trying to take away from me one of my choices for schooling my children!!  This is the height of hypocrisy!!!

You want to make things better? Vote! And vote for teachers who run for office!!

You want to make things better? Ask an educator how that might be done and not someone with little or no classroom experience.

Do those things, and you will put public education back INTO THE HANDS of us - the professionals, the teachers.  Instead, when you speak of defunding public education, you speak of cutting OFF OUR HANDS!

Yes!  Put it back into OUR hands!  Education should not be some great capitalist experiment where biased parties, such as Wal-Mart, and those who have never taught a day in their lives, such as Bill Gates, get to mold the education of our students. It's too valuable for that!

In closing, I, too, stand behind school choice, so, please,  I won't advocate to take away your choice if you don't advocate to take away mine.

Today's forget-me-not: Let's work together to foster the success of all school choices! It's in our best interests!!