Has MOE teaching gotten worse over the years?
I’m wondering where the finish line is. I’m wondering how much more I have to give before it’s enough. I’m wondering if I’m even built for this.
I’m a relatively new teacher (about 6 years in service). I love teaching and being with the kids. But the longer I’m in service, the lesser my work is about teaching. I spend more time proving I’m a good employee by running nonsense programmes and events than I do actually teaching. In fact sometimes I get off loaded from teaching so I can do these events.
It’s so bad that I have to bring my marking home. But I need my rest too. So I take my guilt-laden rest. Then my work piles up. I spend the entire term chasing after deadlines. And after being “a good employee” I get a meager performance bonus and no promotion. What am I chasing after exactly?
Don’t even get me started on leadership positions that they dangle in front of you if you have “potential”. After 3 years of the carrot dangle without any actual steps to groom me, I’m starting to think if it’s a ploy to make me work above my pay scale without any benefits in return.
When I talk to my colleagues, they tell me it’s getting worse. So where exactly is the end point? Should I stay if I truly don’t foresee it getting better?