Would you quit teaching?

I know I don’t contribute much to this page, but I do love reading everyone's comments. Which is why, when I recently had a conversation with a friend that made me quite annoyed, I thought this would be an interesting topic for 'Teacher Writers'. So, yes, this is just a bit of a rant, but I would also like to know your opinions. If you could afford to, would you stop teaching to write full time?

The way this question arose was because my boyfriend is up for a job that will double his salary. He very loosely suggested that if he got the job, I quit working to focus on my writing. I told my boyfriend that I wouldn’t be comfortable with not working for several reasons – one is that I quite like teaching. Granted, I predominately teach adults, and I predominately teach ‘writing’ and literature subjects; maybe I’d feel differently if I were teaching maths to pre-teens.

I told a writer friend of mine (a journalist who is moving into fiction) about this situation, who told me that I was nuts for not dropping the teaching. Her statement was, “You’re a writer or you’re a teacher. Pick your vocation.”

I tried to explain to her that I get a lot from my teaching: that not only do I usually enjoy it, but I gain a lot from teaching. I tried to explain that the more I interact with students, the more I learn about writing, and that the last ten years of teaching have certainly helped my writing. I believe writing and teaching go together, even if I don’t always like the ethos of the institutions in which I may be teaching. (But, well that’s another story.)

Her response is that people only teach because they can’t afford to write full time, or they only teach as a method of promoting their work. She argued that I would get as much from focusing on writing full time, as I would from teaching.

In the end, we agreed to disagree, especially as she’s never been a teacher. And, for reasons other than the inspiration that comes from teaching, I am very unlikely to give up my day job. But, I wanted to know your opinions. Would you stop teaching if you could? And why?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sandra Hunter on May 26, 2010 at 6:29am

I teach as an adjunct at a local college. I recently had the opportunity to apply for a full-time position that would have meant a huge salary increase, etc. I didn't apply because:

1. Teaching more than a part-time load would mean that I couldn't give my students the kind of attention that I'm able to as an adjunct.
2. I wouldn't have time to write.

For me, there's an important and essential symbiotic relationship balance between teaching and writing. I'm not able to be sequestered indefinitely purely to write. I need social interaction since that's where I pick up dialogue and behavioral rhythms for my characters. My students provide invaluable insights and perspectives, and the exploration of literature and language keeps me fresh in my approach to writing.

Permalink Reply by Marjorie Robertson on May 26, 2010 at 6:44am

You're asking a question that perhaps all of us have asked ourselves. If we had the chance, would we give ourselves full-time to our writing?

Teaching has advantages. It gives us contact with the world (something that for writers can slip away), opportunities to discuss abstract ideas with others, and a feeling of purpose in helping others. It can also in some cases give us a varying schedule. My writing life suffered much when I worked at a 9-5 job behind a desk doing something uncreative. It sapped my spirit.

But I think that the issue is not just about teaching and writing, but any job-job and writing. The outside world gives many of us fuel for writing. And it's a personal thing. If teaching revives and inspires you, then it's the right thing. When it becomes a drag on you, it's time for a break or a change. (Yet, we still have to think about salary and health care benefits and retirement!) Actually, I think that working on a fishing boat or bagging groceries would be just as conducive to writing (or more so) as teaching, but they are probably not the best choices for me.

If you could do anything, if money were not an issue, what would you do?

I've been teaching at the college level for ten years and tutoring for 20. It has begun to wear on me, teaching in this way. I don't want to teach in this way forever. I'd like to do other things at some point. If money were no object, I would travel and interview people and write and still teach, but less frequently and through an organization, a charitable one, perhaps. I would find other ways to work with people. And I would teach less. But I wouldn't stop having a purpose beyond writing because everything else I do feeds the writing.

So, as usual, there are no rules here. Whatever works for you or me is the right thing. Putting something into practice and seeing how it works trumps people's opinions of my life any day!

Permalink Reply by Suma Narayan on May 26, 2010 at 9:50pm

Dear Rachel,
I usually do not join discussions, but this was too good to be allowed to pass.
i have been teaching teenaged students for the past twenty years: and there have been so many instances in those years, when I have actually gone down on my knees and thanked God that I am a teacher,that I have lost count!
Let me list the reasons why teaching is a wonderful profession/vocation.
You get to meet a new set of faces every year.Which job offers that luxury - of variety?
Does any other job provide you a 'clientele' that will remember you with affection and respect years and years after they have left school?
Doesn't the teaching fraternity/sorority and the kids you meet every year provide you with a rich source of writing matter, year after year?
Where else do you have the liberty of innovation and the joy of creativity?Even now,twenty years down the line, I still feel my eyes prickling over when I have devised a new method of teaching and I see the awed realisation in my kids' eyes, when something I needed to teach has connected with their minds and hearts and souls.
Where else do you feel so blessed?
I teach English in a college in Mumbai, India
Ultimately, of course, your priorities are your own. But dont be swayed by the reasons of other people. Ask yourself,will I wake up happier tomorrow if I dont see my kids again, or sadder?Answer the question honestly and then everything will fall into place.
I hope I have helped.
Stay happy.
Love
Suma Narayan

Permalink Reply by Sagarika Pandey on May 28, 2010 at 8:51am

Way to go Suma Ma'am I totally agree with you!
Since I am in fact a 'teenager' and have also been blessed to have been taught by some wonderful,great teachers.I would never want any of them to quit,really.
Not only do I appreciate what they do and realize what they mean to me and my life,I look up to them in numerous ways,I too would like to continue writing as I do now,sure it would be different,but I would want to write,in any case, along with or without I take up something else as my profession.

Permalink Reply by Sagarika Pandey on July 15, 2010 at 7:58am

I am so very happy and delighted to read that!
Thank you so much Cynthia :D
Anyways,what do you teach?

Permalink Reply by christa allan on May 28, 2010 at 6:49pm

Here's the thing...after over 20 years of being a high school teacher of English, it's not the teaching that's the issue of why I'm ready to quit teaching. [Okay, I should be hit over the head with Strunk & White for writing that sentence!]. It's the pressure of jumping through hoops of standardized testing, the frustration of whining and obnoxious parents, and the insanity of state legislators who want to evaluate me based on my students' test scores.

After teaching all day, I find summoning the emotional energy to write fiction difficult and mostly impossible...at least for me. But, I can't retire yet because my job provides our health insurance and my husband was laid off in December.

Permalink Reply by Louise Nayer on May 28, 2010 at 7:12pm

I've been teaching for over thirty years--through Arts council grants(20 hrs. a week at senior centers)--workshops in my home and for many years four classes a semester at a community college. I still teach four classes a semester. While teaching feeds me--full-time with packed classes(over 100 students a semester) has taken its toll on my body and mind. I love the fiction writing class--and I'm dedicated to all my students, but it's all about balance and the numbers--How many papers do you have to grade a semester? If it's overwhelming then it's hard. But it's about choices as well--How you want to live?--How much stability is important to you?--Everyone is different. For me, it's been out of balance. I want to write more and teach less. But I also wanted the money to have a more stable life for my family. My husband works for a non-profit.
On the other hand, I get paid well--will have a pension--and long, now to just write. If you can afford it, I'd suggest part time to create a balance. I do get to retire, though--and as long as I keep up stretching and chiropractic care, I hope to be able to continue to write and perhaps teach one or two classes in my home. A delicious balance.

Permalink Reply by nanci richards on July 14, 2010 at 9:17am

If you asked me today, I would say yes !!! I think I need a change , I have been at the same school for 10 years. I feel stagnant. But the problem with being in the same place is you get comfortable, your room ( god knows if I leave, there would be more packing than my house ! )your parking space ( i live in nyc ) and commute ( 15 mins from my house )and I know everyone.
Change is scary, but I also remember it being exciting, I wonder if its time again. ?

Permalink Reply by Jenny Post on July 14, 2010 at 9:29pm

Hi everyone - I'm new to She Writes!

I have been teaching high school English for five years and although I love it, I would give it up in a heartbeat. As Christa indicated, there is so much non-teaching garbage that goes with teaching. I feel like about 20% of my time and energy is actually spent teaching, and the rest is spent on paperwork, phone calls, politics, etc. I hope I don't come off as bitter because I'm really not, I just know that teaching in a high school will not be my calling forever. Perhaps I would feel differently if I taught college or part time, but I don't know. If I could stay home, write, cook, and take a long bike ride every day, I'd do it in a second.

Permalink Reply by Britni Danielle on July 20, 2010 at 8:07pm

I totally agree w/ you Jenny. I teach middle school English, and although it has been a very interesting experience, there is just waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much stuff that goes on outside of the classroom that makes teaching HARD.

Not only do I teach in an urban area, I've been teaching "intervention" classes since I began (I'm entering year 5). It's tiring. It's emotionally draining. I am pulled in so many directions I barely blog during the school year, let alone write fiction/essays. I'm beat when I get home. So if I could quit tomorrow to focus on my writing I would.

Permalink Reply by Tiffany Patrice Ramseur on July 17, 2010 at 12:14pm

My opinions is that teaching is an art. Most teachers teach because they have a passion for it. If this is you, I say stay with it and incorporate your writing into your career. As a teacher, we see a lot of things that can be great topics for writing many different types of books, articles, stories etc. If you truly love it and have a passion for it, keep it!!

Permalink Reply by Sindy E on July 21, 2010 at 5:10am

As a twenty-five year veteran, obviously I have made the choice to teach AND write. I tell people regularly: you'd have to pay a cover charge at a comedy club for this kind of entertainment. I get great material from my students, coleagues, and situations. In fact, my current project, a YA novel, resulted from one of my students having a hissy fit and yelling "Bite Me!" as she left for the office.

However, the thing that wears you down in teaching has nothing to do with students and everything to do with testing, legislators who've never been in front of a class, and unreasonable adults ("I can't do a thing with my kid so I won't be supporting you or enforcing any rules at home, but you should be able to teach them!")

I am starting to look forward to this last five years (I'm retiring at 30). Writing regularly, drinking coffee on the patio, and maybe teaching a college level writing class occasionally are starting to look like good alternatives to fighting the snowdrifts at 6 A.M.