Recommendation I'm a failed-normie public school teacher on the verge of roping. Should I do TEFL?

[Mr.FailedChad]

Well, I just quit my job. I made it through one more year, but now it's time to get the Hell out. Some highlights from this year:

1. Violence was off the charts: Fights were not uncommon at my school, but this year they became an every day occurrence. Suddenly, I had students asking me if they could sit in my class for a while during lunch so that their friends could get them since now they refused to walk the halls alone. I had other kids who admitted to me that they were bringing knives to school for protection.
   
   What's wild, is that the girls really outshined the boys in terms of damage. Straight-up forming girl gangs and jumping one another. I'd never seen anything like it. More than one girl was knocked unconscious and one girl's limp body was dragged down the stairs before security could recover her. Who knows? Maybe this is a step towards equality? Good going, ladies.
   
   
2. All of the administration quit: Out of my school's, six administrators the one with the most experience at the site only has only three years. For the uninitiated, this is unheard of. Most high school principals spend at least five years before moving onto another site. The two old-guard administrators quit mid-year and were replaced by complete newbies. As you can imagine, they did not know what they were in for.
   
   
3. Staff stopped pretending everything is okay: This was a great school 15 years ago. Top performing. Competitive with even the private schools in town. Now, shithole. And nobody is even hiding it. Truthfully, it was already pretty downhill when I showed up just six years ago, but now it's done and the staff is making sure that everyone knows. Seriously, even the people who were pretending everything was just hunky dory in August, are now complaining. The amount of people I've had congratulate me for leaving is insane. I feel like an escaped slave.

And that about does it. I don't know where I'm going next, but I do feel like I owed this board an update since my original post blew up the way it did. At this point, we have about two more weeks left in the school year so I'm just trying to enjoy it as much as I can. After that, I plan to take a few months to recharge and relax since I have the money saved up. I might even head down to Mexico for a while since there's no use in jumping straight into another job.

I'm still looking at jobs overseas, but I'm also looking in other states. What's for sure, is that I'm going to be a lot pickier about wherever I go. I have a deep distrust of the public school system, and with the kinds of laws California is passing, if I stay in this state it will very likely be at a charter. God knows the charter business is booming. I wonder why?

 

[Copium]

Well, I just quit my job. I made it through one more year, but now it's time to get the Hell out. Some highlights from this year:

1. Violence was off the charts: Fights were not uncommon at my school, but this year they became an every day occurrence. Suddenly, I had students asking me if they could sit in my class for a while during lunch so that their friends could get them since now they refused to walk the halls alone. I had other kids who admitted to me that they were bringing knives to school for protection.
   
   What's wild, is that the girls really outshined the boys in terms of damage. Straight-up forming girl gangs and jumping one another. I'd never seen anything like it. More than one girl was knocked unconscious and one girl's limp body was dragged down the stairs before security could recover her. Who knows? Maybe this is a step towards equality? Good going, ladies.
   
   
2. All of the administration quit: Out of my school's, six administrators the one with the most experience at the site only has only three years. For the uninitiated, this is unheard of. Most high school principals spend at least five years before moving onto another site. The two old-guard administrators quit mid-year and were replaced by complete newbies. As you can imagine, they did not know what they were in for.
   
   
3. Staff stopped pretending everything is okay: This was a great school 15 years ago. Top performing. Competitive with even the private schools in town. Now, shithole. And nobody is even hiding it. Truthfully, it was already pretty downhill when I showed up just six years ago, but now it's done and the staff is making sure that everyone knows. Seriously, even the people who were pretending everything was just hunky dory in August, are now complaining. The amount of people I've had congratulate me for leaving is insane. I feel like an escaped slave.

And that about does it. I don't know where I'm going next, but I do feel like I owed this board an update since my original post blew up the way it did. At this point, we have about two more weeks left in the school year so I'm just trying to enjoy it as much as I can. After that, I plan to take a few months to recharge and relax since I have the money saved up. I might even head down to Mexico for a while since there's no use in jumping straight into another job.

I'm still looking at jobs overseas, but I'm also looking in other states. What's for sure, is that I'm going to be a lot pickier about wherever I go. I have a deep distrust of the public school system, and with the kinds of laws California is passing, if I stay in this state it will very likely be at a charter. God knows the charter business is booming. I wonder why?

This is what happens when you teach at a shit Title 1 school lol what did you expect to happen. Half the kids parents probably dont care if they fail, run away,or OD

 

[AlexBrown84]

you can easily teach at international schools in asia. they usually require teachers to have experience in their home countries

pick whichever country you want and go

 

[Orientalist]

What's new? I think I need to start rereading Great Teacher Onizuka; I've been flirting with the idea of teaching. I have no experience with it whatsoever but for quite a while I always thought something to the effect of (real) teaching/tutorship would be one of the few types of jobs out there that I would actually find fulfilling, but I don't know what it's like until I try. Teaching in the US ran its course on you, let alone a room of 50 Vietnamese kindergarteners or whatever.

You started teaching when you were 25? I'm pretty curious what you were doing before that.

I assume you've done a lot of research at this point (/r/Internationalteachers, /r/TEFL, etc.), but a university position is probably what you want, as long as you get ones without office hours/make you stay around (which you do at international schools) and don't have you live on campus housing (should be obvious for many reasons why that's a terrible idea). ~20 teaching hours a week max, and a higher barrier to entry (which you have the credentials/YOE for) especially if you want to be saving money or live in a more competitive location. That's how it works in China at least.

 

[AlexBrown84]

What's new? I think I need to start rereading Great Teacher Onizuka; I've been flirting with the idea of teaching. I have no experience with it whatsoever but for quite a while I always thought something to the effect of (real) teaching/tutorship would be one of the few types of jobs out there that I would actually find fulfilling, but I don't know what it's like until I try. Teaching in the US ran its course on you, let alone a room of 50 Vietnamese kindergarteners or whatever.

You started teaching when you were 25? I'm pretty curious what you were doing before that.

I assume you've done a lot of research at this point (/r/Internationalteachers, /r/TEFL, etc.), but a university position is probably what you want, as long as you get ones without office hours/make you stay around (which you do at international schools) and don't have you live on campus housing (should be obvious for many reasons why that's a terrible idea). ~20 teaching hours a week max, and a higher barrier to entry (which you have the credentials/YOE for) especially if you want to be saving money or live in a more competitive location. That's how it works in China at least.

i’m also dabbling with the idea of teaching tbh

not for the money really (although it’s nice especially in china) but for visa and status purposes

when talking with it about girls, it seems to be a halo to be a teacher. very different compared to america lol

thanks confucius

 

[Orientalist]

i’m also dabbling with the idea of teaching tbh

not for the money really (although it’s nice especially in china) but for visa and status purposes

when talking with it about girls, it seems to be a halo to be a teacher. very different compared to america lol

thanks confucius

As it should be; kinda life fuel. I recall demoralizers on /trv/ back when I went there once in a blue moon saying that being a TEFL teacher is a statusmin in SEA. Dunno if that's true at all but at least in China you can't not be mostly legit, + based culture that values education

 

[biggunsar]

Welcome to my blog post. Consider this my introduction to the board.

Five years ago I started teaching in a Title 1 school in Southern California. I'll spare you all the details since I'm sure most of you are familiar with just how dismal the American public education system is, but it's worth noting that over that time I went from being a fit, bright-eyed, optimistic, open-minded young teacher to a fat, alcoholic, depressed (and much more prejudiced) person. Worst of all, I've developed hypertension so I can't even drink anymore (God knows it was one of my favorite copes).

I want out and TEFL seems like a good way to do it. A lot of people would tell me to do international school but, truth be told, I really don't want to have that responsibility. I just want to work in a fly-by-night English center, go to the gym, meet a nice girl, and relax).

I'm going to put my stats below:
30 years old
White
Green/Hazel eyes
5'11 (6' in shoes)
245 pounds (I was 50 pounds lighter and muscular when I started teaching.)
5 years public school teaching experience
(Worthless) M.A. in Education

Where should I go? Thailand is the top of my list because, obvious reasons. Not to mention, I've been looking around on Ajarn and they have a really strong TEFL industry and some pretty not-too-stressful looking bilingual schools there.

My other option is to go move to some nice (i.e. mostly White and Asian) town somewhere in like Oregon or something but that wouldn't cure my loneliness. Frankly, I just want to kiss the West goodbye. The West is done and California has long been the canary in the coalmine.

what the hell are you talking about "public school" that's easy street dude. Much better than highschool. 1. no temptation to fuck all those juicy teens. I know i wouldn't be able to resist. I would be fired and in jail within 2 years.

Second, how fucking hard is it to deal with public school kids. THey still call you MR. And your almost a parental figure.

Your job is unionized. WTF. you got it made broham.

And for simpathy bitches, you look like the perfect catch "what do you do" i shape the minds of young people. She's going to think your daddy material for the GO. i think your retarded or larping

i would use this to my advantage like.a mother fucker. Seriously.

PLUS the harmless factor. "what do you do" grade school teacher. IMMEDIATELY if she has any plans of settling down, your a fucking safe bet.

you got it made broham and you dont' even see the silver lining on your fucking rainy cloud

but then again, i only live for pussy. Everything is about pussy.

 

[biggunsar]

i’m also dabbling with the idea of teaching tbh

not for the money really (although it’s nice especially in china) but for visa and status purposes

when talking with it about girls, it seems to be a halo to be a teacher. very different compared to america lol

thanks confucius

if i was going to teach in a foriegn land, first i would find out the laws "is it legal to fuck your teen students...and how young LOL"

like japan was 13 and up. Good enough for me. Im your teacher, i give good grades to good girls Winky winky winky

let that pussy roll in. Might have to get. sub for viagra or some shit. But damn, would be heaven. But no virgins, its my cardinal rule.

 

[masonfrancis]

I did not rope. I can guarantee you that much.

What are u up to

 

[Mr.FailedChad]

I did not rope. I can guarantee you that much.

What are u up to

Gettin' paid and gettin' laid.

 

[Mr.FailedChad]

Seriously though, I lost 80 pounds and I'm in the best shape of my adult life so that's been pretty great.

 

[Xavist]

Gettin' paid and gettin' laid.

Are you somewhere in Asia now?

 

[Acion]

what the hell are you talking about "public school" that's easy street dude.

Teaching is a lot of work. They spend most of their time outside of work making lessons and grading tests. They get 2-4 hours of sleep during their work week.

Second, how fucking hard is it to deal with public school kids. THey still call you MR.

Kids are little pieces of shit. Some are future murderers. They throw desks at the teachers and shit.

And your almost a parental figure.

Teachers are better parents than parents.

Your job is unionized. WTF. you got it made broham.

the union doesn't do shit

 

[masonfrancis]

Teaching is a lot of work. They spend most of their time outside of work making lessons and grading tests. They get 2-4 hours of sleep during their work week.

Kids are little pieces of shit. Some are future murderers. They throw desks at the teachers and shit.

Teachers are better parents than parents.


the union doesn't do shit

Dude stop lying

 

[fatchadlitecel]

Teaching is a lot of work. They spend most of their time outside of work making lessons and grading tests. They get 2-4 hours of sleep during their work week.

Kids are little pieces of shit. Some are future murderers. They throw desks at the teachers and shit.

Teachers are better parents than parents.


the union doesn't do shit

I have a family member that's a foreign language teacher she doesn't think it's that big of a deal. I see her going on vacation frequently.

 

[Emoticon]

Florida teacher severely beaten by 270-pound student over Nintendo Switch refuses to help defense lighten sentence

Brendan Depa, then 17, violently flung Matanzas High School paraprofessional Joan Naydich to the ground in a common area before kicking and punching her in the back and head more than a dozen times…

nypost.com

Assistant Principal 'Blinded' in One Eye After Being Attacked by Student with a Wooden Hanger

Candra Rogers, an assistant principal at a Texas school, has been "blinded" in one eye after a student threw a wooden hanger at her, it's been reported

people.com

Lol, feel sorry for those guys


Congrats OP on the weight loss and travel!

 

[Marco Pumpo]

Florida teacher severely beaten by 270-pound student over Nintendo Switch refuses to help defense lighten sentence

Brendan Depa, then 17, violently flung Matanzas High School paraprofessional Joan Naydich to the ground in a common area before kicking and punching her in the back and head more than a dozen times…

nypost.com

Assistant Principal 'Blinded' in One Eye After Being Attacked by Student with a Wooden Hanger

Candra Rogers, an assistant principal at a Texas school, has been "blinded" in one eye after a student threw a wooden hanger at her, it's been reported

people.com

Lol, feel sorry for those guys

jeez...

don't have kids.

they're evil.

 

[ImmaculateContraception]

jeez...

don't have kids.

they're evil.

it could've been anyone's son.

there's really no way to tell.


scary shit.

 

[Mr.FailedChad]

Are you somewhere in Asia now?

No, I'm still in Southern California, but I spend all of my breaks in Mexico. In any case, I left my old school for a new one. This one is, admittedly, rougher than the one I came from, but the administration here doesn't take as much shit. Seriously, my second week I saw the principal tackle a kid. Shit was awesome. I didn't know we were still allowed to do that!

What matters most is that this school has always been rough. Everyone knows it: teachers, admins, students, parents. We know it and we live it. The school I came from was great about 15 years ago. It was one of the top public schools in California. But, like much of the state, it got poorer, less equal, and less English-speaking. Suddenly, the situation on the ground changed, but the administration was still pretending it was like the old days. The results were catastrophic.

I'm reluctant to post here sometimes, given my base is stateside. However, I find my leaving the United States impeded by three facts: 1) I genuinely like teaching, even if the environment in Southern California public schools can be a complete shitshow, 2) The pension here is great. There are few pension plans quite as good as the one offered by the State of California to its public school teachers, and 3) Going to Mexico as a gringo, "güerito" (I still look young), speaking Spanish the way that I do is such a halo. It's intoxicating.

That's not to say that I'm not interested in Asia. I am. I have been for a very long time. However, I felt I still had, and still have things to do here. For the moment, I'm doing all right, but we'll see where I end up in a year or two.