Two teachers who wrote opinion pieces for The Oregonian a
few weeks ago created quite a bit of stir with their words. “Teachers need summers off to recharge theirbatteries” by Tony Vala-Haynes, an English teacher at Yamhill Carlton
Intermediate School, extolled the virtues of a carefree, relaxing summer after a year of rigorous, demanding
teaching. In response, Donna Nesbitt, a
former Tigard-Tualatin teacher, penned “Teachers do not loaf around all summer.” She explains that teachers continue to work
throughout the summer: catching up, professionally
developing, planning, preparing new activities, and getting their rooms ready
for a new group of students. Both
teachers’ articles generated both praise and ire. Mr. Vala-Haynes’ piece drew 244 comments,
while Ms. Nesbitt’s resulted in 170.
It’s always interesting when an article or letter or op-ed
piece about teacher workload appears. It
usually draws responses from both extremes—those who think teachers are saints
who deserve golden apples and those who think teachers are lazy leeches who
have it easier than ordinary workers.
Ms. Nesbitt wrote her piece partly in response, I think, to Mr.
Vala-Haynes viewpoint, but also partly in response to the vitriol the comments
on his article drew. She clearly felt
the need to call him out on his seemingly “lazy leech” perspective and to
defend teachers both from that perspective and from the comments.
I found something to agree with in both teachers’ pieces,
but I would like to offer a middle-ground perspective. I do look forward to the slower pace of
summer. I still teach, but the classes
are of shorter duration, leaving me with some down time. I use that down time in various ways, which
include family activities, reading, professionally developing, catching up on
chores, or whatever else I decide to use it for. So while I do agree with both Mr. Vala-Haynes
and Ms. Nesbitt, I think there is something to be said to all who work, not
just teachers, about summertime, when the livin’ (can) be eas(ier).
When my children were very young, summer was great because
we could go to parks, the zoo, and all manner of outdoor places. They could run off their energy and fall into
bed at night, tiredly contented. Of
course, I was just as tired and eventually welcomed school for them. But then, I grew to dread summer, because it
meant that my time was now circumscribed as theirs was free. Now I had to entertain them all day, every
day—at least, that’s how it seemed. I
was not teaching then, so schooltime for me actually meant freedom. So I hated summer, even though I thrive
emotionally during sunny weather.
Fast forward some years, and they got older and I went back
to teaching. Now we were both occupied
during the school year and free in the summer.
But I have found that I don’t hate summer any longer. I value not having to get my kids up when
nobody wants to get up. I enjoy a
slower, more relaxed schedule. I have
time to enjoy my family, and hopefully I am more enjoyable to them. I also have time to read my teacher books, reflect
on the school year, make adjustments and alterations to my lecture notes,
reconnect with colleagues, and other things.
In short, I am able to do all the rejuvenation that Mr. Vala-Haynes
experiences and the professional stuff that Ms. Nesbitt outlines.
What’s to stop everyone from this a mindset? Sure, most people don't get an entire summer
off, and not everyone works 9-5. But summer
brings longer days with more sunlight.
And with kids out of school (meaning no homework, sports, or activities
to deal with), families hopefully have an easier time doing things together,
maybe even having new experiences. They
do not have to take a long vacation, but just slowing down and savoring the
summer can go a long way toward getting us through the long winter…until next
summer!
