Job Discussion Forums

[The_Hanged_Man]

Howdy Snorkle!

Right now I am in deep south Texas in the Rio Grande Valley, and am working in the Mercedes ISD. Actually, I found my position as a member of the Teach for America program, which saved me a lot of leg work, but you could easily do it on your own. Most of the school districts in this region are pretty desperate for teachers and it is not difficult at all to find a position.

Of course there is a reason for this desperation, and that is the fact that the region is one of the poorest in the US. My school is 5 miles from the border to Mexico, and many of my students are recent migrants. Over 95% of the children at my school come from families who are below the poverty line. As a result there is something of a welfare mentality and a sense of entitlement (wanting to something for nothing). Discipline, while not horrible, is a constant challenge and the daily battle to maintain control is exhausting over time.

Make no mistake I have a lot of wonderful students and the job is rewarding, but after two years I am more than ready to head back overseas again. I taught economics at a university in the Peace Corps and esl at a language in Japan prior to this, and let me assure you that teaching in a public school in the US is WAY more challenging. The classroom management, paperwork, standardized test madness, and accountability all add up to make the job very tough.

In August I will start a new position at an international school in Kuwait, where I am hoping to have the best of both worlds. The work will still be challenging I'm sure, but it will be balanced out by the expat lifestyle I love.