Like I do, what can you do? (this is a long rant...click pass it if you're not in the mood)

I teach middle school. This year I got "lucky" and got into a school with kids who are easier to manage -- although still a handful. The admin piles so much extra work on us, it's hard to teach the lesson plan. It's pretty much guaranteed that our so-called planning periods are NOT for us teachers. I was hitting my stride the first couple of weeks, and then admin came along and dumped more responsibility on me (and others). It set me behind. I'm paid to work btw 8:30 and 4:05, but I usually clock in at 8 and leave closer to 5. I refuse to go in earlier or stay any later like my poor colleague who sometimes doesn't leave until 7pm, but I still end up with several hours of work to do after I get home. I volunteered for a committee, and then got volunteered for others by the principal. There are these non-teaching administrators who constantly come to us with more paperwork and urgent deadlines. It's like I have a 1/2 dozen bosses.

I'm exhausted. I have five classes of middle schoolers with 55 minutes for each class. It's never a full 55 minutes with all the interruptions: phones ringing, someone dropping in with just one 'quick' question, locker and restroom breaks for kids, and dealing with the kids who take up way too much time to settle down.

I went back into teaching several years ago because the economy was getting so strange. I use to be an artist (still am...guess that's not something you just lose...but sure can't afford to do it these days). I use to sell real estate. I use to flip renovated property. That market got ugly, so I dusted off my teaching certificate and went back in. But man, I don't like what I do. I wouldn't mind teaching adults, but there are no jobs. I had a lead on a part-time gig teaching computer use, but they waited until two weeks after school started to contact me - saying I was the "ideal" candidate. You think?

I don't know how to free myself with this economy being so jacked up. Some days I'm so miserable that I imagine sitting on the curb with a 'will work for food' sign more inviting.

Ok...rant over tonight. Thanks for viewing. *sigh*

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Hi Dee,

It's a grind being in a job you don't enjoy, but maybe you can use this to motivate or inspire you with your online activities. I am new here so I don't know anything about you or your situation, but I am assuming that you undertake some form of online action for profit

If you could increase your earnings enough to take the pressure off, that is one less problem to worry about. Perhaps you could even earn enough online that you would be able to take a lesser paid day job, but one which you really enjoy. I don't know, a lot would depend on your circumstances. Maybe you are into something which you could scale up really well.

That said, when it comes to earning online, I am probably the last person that you should be listening to!

When I get bored b my work, I just play piano for a while and clam down.

I mean, you have to do your work, no matter what happens, so just try to find a way out!