- Christmas Holidays
- Easter Holidays
- Summer Holidays
- Half-Term Holidays
Seriously, I (usually) love my job.
When asked 'what do you teach?' I generally respond: 'Children.'
My subject is Drama. And I wouldn't change it for the world!
So: 10 Things I Love About My Job:
- The Kids. Their enthusiasm; their lack of fear and their willingness to try out old ideas as if they were new and exciting (they are new to them!) Their willingness to trust and to have faith in me - to 'step into the staircase when they can only see the first step' (thanks Jen!) - this makes me step up my game on a regular basis. The fact that they are willing to put in so much time - before and after school. The fact that they are willing to come on many a theatrical journey with me, to buy into the joy I have for the theatre and performance work, and that they want so much to be a part of what we do.
- The fact that when things are going well, we have so much fun. Sometimes I will laugh until I can't stand up, until coffee comes down my nose (Hi Lauren) and at such silly things...wouldn't change it for the world, even if I do sometimes have to remember that responsible adults (aka normal people) don't approve of my having a sense of humour akin to a 15 year old techie! The fact that when things are going badly, we are so very much 'team drama' and all of us - staff and students alike - can and will work together to support each other, even if we don't know the full story....
- Watching a shy and timid kid start to find themselves and their confidence as a result of being part of the drama world. Conversely, watching a student who is on the brink of being chucked out for behavioural issues find somewhere to belong, or something worth turning it around for within Drama and theatre. (Hello Mr Sayer!)
- Being a part of the development of so many amazing young people - in some cases watching them getting wiser (ahem) or more *splutter* civilised, and in other cases seeing them loosen up and let their inner child out - it's an amazing priveledge to see understanding / acceptance / realisation dawning, to witness so many rites of passage, and although sometimes it all feels completely and horribly like running up an endless hill, it's always such an astonishing feeling when there is a break through... literally, it's about making tomorrow. (I sound like an advert...)
- Never being bored (apart from in meetings and paperwork hell - collatoral damage!) - I don't know if it's the same in every subject area, but there is always something new, unexplained and inexplicable to deal with - and always a new way to make children be trees!
- I love love love my subject - and I believe passionately in its importance as a part of the curriculum and beyond. Getting to spend most of every day doing what I love, and seeing how powerful and important it is in the lives of the kids I teach/facilitate is awesome. And I get paid for it!
- Getting to push boundaries and challenge convention - with fresh, enquiring minds to take up any slack I leave. In the words of Major Ross in 'Our Country's Good' 'theatre leads to threatening theory' - oh yeah!!
- The ex-students: Now I know this is practically unique to Drama, at least at my school. We get a steady stream of ex-students coming back to let us know what they're doing, help out with tech stuff, pass on new skills, perform for us, teach workshop sessions (thanks Jamie Wilkes and Belt-Up) apply for jobs with us, and share the start of their own teaching careers (always makes me particularly proud!) and families. It makes me feel a part of something special when kids come back to share both their sorrows and their triumphs, and to know that they still place value on us - it's good to know it means something. It's also nice to know that they know we'll still be willing to listen! Also, there is the fact that some of them are out there, doing it - the whole acting thing. (Jamie, Louise Kempton, Katie Blake ... all professional actors) One day, I'll have the chance to say 'ah yes, I knew him/her when...' (and I probably have photos to prove it!)
- The staff I work with. They are amazing. Lucy & Andy are lovely lovely people. I'm so lucky to work with people I love so much.
- The fact that parkrun happens at and to some extent because of School.
- Oh yes. And the holidays.
That's 11 things. And to think I have a maths 'A' Level!
Sounds good. As you say though, I think the subject you teach has a lot to do with it. I wonder what your average maths teacher thinks about this.
ReplyDeleteDani