This is an email my husband sent me back in July 2007. I held on to it in my in-box for some reason.
I am 53!As I look over my students taking a test, I don't know how much longer I can keep teaching.
After 9 chapters, some students have been successfully molded, others are, shall we say, missing essential connections . . .
Students will only rise about half-way up to the level of the teacher. If the teacher is not too high up in the level of understanding, then the students will not get very far.
Teaching, then, depends on learning by the teacher. Not past learning, but present learning. At some point, the teacher gets too tired to learn. Then, the students stop learning, too.
I think I can take attendance, shuffle papers, and make dumb jokes for a while, but I don't know if I can teach for much longer...
So that's the question: how long can one keep teaching before he's all tapped out?
I just discovered that I'm part of a new trend. New unemployment figures released this week say that 10% of American workers are unemployed. Apparently this is really bad news ("first time in 26 years!"). But another figure that doesn't get mentioned much is the under-employment rate, which has also reached a new high (17.5%). Underemployment represents people (like me) who want full-time work but have to settle for part-time jobs. This was a new term for me, though not a new concept. Apparently it's worse in California. Tim Rutten, writing in today's Los Angeles Times ("Jobs Must be Job 1"), says that California, with its $1.6 trillion economy, would be the eighth largest economy in the world if it were an independent country. Then he writes, "If you aggregate the unemployed with the underemployed, [California's] rate of what you might call job distress is 20%. Think about that: One in five willing workers in the world's eighth-largest economy is without full-time employment." These are not encouraging words. I knew I was having a tough time even landing interviews for jobs I felt qualified for--in some cases, over-qualified. Now I guess I understand why. There are just too many of us seeking, applying, praying for the same positions.
What a semester it's been. I wonder if other teachers are facing a similar number of absences, and if so, how they're coping.
Here's a smattering of email correspondence from my students this semester.
From Vanessa (11/4/09)
Hey Mrs. Minamide
sorry i had to leave early today
i threw up during break...
From Lauren (11/4/09)
I am still very sick, I have been on breathing treatments for a couple
days but am not able to do much without getting winded and having to
sit. I am trying to stay caught up with class work as best I can...
From Lauren (11/2/09)
This will be my last day of missed class, i developed bronchitis, but will be fine for Wednesday's class....
From Nicole (11/2/09)
I would like to apologize again for being absent so much. I'm on the last leg of being sick so from here on out I shouldn't have to miss any more class. When I return I will speak with you to get the information I need to catch up. I have been checking blackboard and getting what ever handouts and information so I am doing my best to stay up to date. I would like to also thank you for being understanding. I know it is a lot of extra work for you to grade papers separately, but I greatly appreciate it. See you next time! From Jon (11/2/09)
I can't make it into class today, last few days I have been really sick. any readings that need to be done before next class?
From Lauren (10/28/09)
I'm still terribly sick, this time i went to the doctors, and i got a note from him saying i should not be going to school. Luckily i don't have the SWINE flu, but i do have the flu. Today i finally got some energy to get out of bed and go onto my laptop, so i am going to try the best i can to get that rough draft of paper 2 to you. Thank you for understanding i'm sick and being flexible with me, i really appreciate it.
From Omar (10/28/09)
I won't be in class today, because I have been sick all of last week. So I would like to take today to get better. Sorry that I did not e-mail you sooner.
From Alisha (10/28/09)
Good morning Professor. I am not goin to make it to class today, I am not feeling well. Would u like me to email u my paper 2 packet or do you want me to drop it in?
From Allison (10/28/09)
Hi Mrs. Minamide, I don't think I'm going to make it to class tomorrow. I've been sick for some time but it's gotten much worse and I think I should stay home and try to fight it off for a day or two. If there's any important information I miss, you can email me here. Otherwise, I'll be checking blackboard and doing homework over the weekend. Thanks.
From Justin (10/27/09)
hello, i am just writing to tell you that i have the stomach flu and i will absent tomorrow. I would greatly appreciate it if i could get as much help as you can by giving me the work i missed or any assignments that were given. Thank you very much for your time.
From Jon (10/26/09)
hey mrs minamide, very early monday morning i was admitted to the er because unfortunetly i have become ill. Im sending you this email to tell you why i missed class today and to let you know i will probably be missing class on wednesday as well.
From Lauren(10/25/09)
I have steadily been getting better, this swine flu thing really takes it out of you! Yesterday was the first day i was out of the house in nearly two weeks, i went on a quick Costco run with my husband, i had to take a nap after we got home.
From Sarah (10/22/09)
Sorry I missed class on Wednesday! I had a fever of 103.8 and my tonsils are swollen again!
But I went to the doctor already and got on meds as soon as I could. I am home sick today as well and plan to catch up as much as I can!
From Lauren (10/21/09)
I am really sick. I was up all night with a terrible cough and today i feel horrible. I'm sorry to miss out on class today. Ill make sure to check blackboard and get all of my missed work done.
From Amber (10/21/09)
I am not going to be able to make it to class tomorrow (October 21). I am pretty sure I have the flu. Sorry.
From Nicole (10/21/09)
Professor Minamide. I greatly apologize for not emailing sooner. My internet has been down for sometime and it just got fixed today while I was at work. I got sick again last week through a friend and Monday it was bad enough where I could barely move out of bed, which was the reason for my absense. I know I have missed a week of class already due to illness, and I wish that weren't the case, but I would still like to do all I can to keep up in the class. I'm doing my best to stay healthy, and I truly apologize for the inconvenience this is to you. I will talk to you more in class tomorrow about what I need to do to make up the work, but I will have everything I can ready for class that I can do based on reading blackboard. Thank you again for understanding.
From Aaron (10/19/09)
Hello. Despite my efforts in preventing myself from getting sick, I caught whatever it was that is going around. I had inklings of it yesterday and figured I could sleep it off and come to class today but It has gotten incredibly worse over night. Such is the flaw of my immune system, stong as an ox until I get something, then my body just shuts down : ( I have the assignment for today's class attached and will be checking Bb for any updates you post after today's class. I'll continue to rest and let you know on Thursday what my condition is. I hope you can understand. Thanks in advance.
From Lauren (10/18/09)
I am still pretty sick, My doctor said i can start thinking about coming back to class after Tuesday but judging how i feel today, i don't know if that it realistic, i has planned on turning all this into you on Monday , since that Isn't going to happen i am attaching as much as i can to this e-mail. Please let me know if there is anything else i am missing. Thanks again for working with me,
From Lauren (10/16/09)
i went to the doctor today and it seems i have the H1N1 virus. They have directed me to stay home from work and school until Tuesday, meaning i am going to have to miss one more class. I am going to keep doing as much as a can that is on BB. please let me know if there is anything else I can do or make-up as far and in-class work. I do have a doctors note if you need it! thank you!
******
Note: Those were the sick ones. I’m not including the lost wallet, the car accident, the funeral back east, the wedding in Mexico, the transportation issues, the sick child, the girl with anxiety disorder…and we're only 2/3 through the semester.
And now I'm sick! Sore throat, fever, coughing, laryngitis. Good thing I only have to come in 2 days a week. I should be better by Monday.
