I am a relatively new teacher in Oklahoma. In my experience, the teachers I’ve worked with are a fairly mixed bag. There are absolutely amazing teachers working in Oklahoma that are knowledgeable and passionate about their content areas. I have also noticed a fair amount of teachers that are wildly under qualified or seem to only be in a classroom for the opportunity to take advantage of the system (frequently missing work, not actually teaching their students content, etc.) Oftentimes, though schools don’t have many options because they simply need bodies to supervise the students. It is very heartbreaking.

“My first year teaching I was pulled aside and told by my principal, “you actually have a degree in this, you’ll have to step in to help your team” - because the other science teachers were a Physical Education teacher and the schools secretary.”

I can relate to this. I’ll be entering my 4th full-year teaching. In my short time working in education, I have become the most senior and qualified teacher for my subject and grade level. I do the bulk of the curriculum planning for my subject.

The politics injected into public education via State Superintendent Ryan Walters is absolutely disgusting.

Thanks for sharing!

Do you have a playlist you can share?

I’m solidly neutral good, but have occasional deviations into lawful good and chaotic good territory.

I recently rediscovered this song while watching Gregg Araki’s film Totally Fucked Up. That movie has a banging soundtrack.

The Japanese cover is amazing as well.

I teach at a middle school. I occasionally refer to my class as “chat” to make my students cringe. They hate it and tell me I’m too old.

I listened to this podcast. Thiel is absolutely insane. It’s scary that these billionaires have so much money and power yet totally lose their grip on reality.

Try teaching middle school. You’ll understand. That being said, teachers mostly do this as a joke.

I switched careers and became a middle school teacher at 40. I am now 42 and finishing my Masters of secondary education. It’s never too late.