Summers Off, My Ass!

There is an urban legend that has wormed its way into our society and has tunneled in so deeply that the general public just accepts it as absolute truth.

It’s not about a baby alligator being flushed down a toilet and growing to gargantuan proportions in the sewer system.

It’s not about cats sucking the breath out of babies while they sleep soundly in their cribs.

It’s not even the one about motorists flashing their headlights only to find themselves the unwitting victims of a sick gang initiation.

It’s the one about teachers kicking back for a summer of lazy fun right after the dismissal bell on the last day of school. You know, those infamous summers “off”.

If you happen to teach as a profession, you are nodding your head in agreement. If I had a dime for every time someone said to me, “It must be nice to have the whole summer off,” I’d have so much money that I wouldn’t have to work another day of my life. And, I plan on living another 45-55 years.

Other variations are:

“What are you doing with all of your free time?” Uh, I don’t know. Catching up on housework, appointments, and everything else I didn’t have time to do while I poured the bulk of my personal time into my work from August –May. I even (gasp) collect cool ideas, articles and resources for lesson plans. And, if I’m interested on getting a jumpstart on the year ahead, I plan lessons. If I know what I’m teaching, that is.

“How are you enjoying your vacation?” I just got asked this at the dentist. Super nice woman too. I hope the daggers I tried not to shoot her way didn’t hurt too badly when they most certainly hit their target. I didn’t realize sitting in a dental chair was a vacay activity. Or the mammogram I am scheduled for next Monday. Nothing like having your girls smashed between glass plates to signal you’re on vacation.

I will tell you without giving too much detail so that I may remain anonymous that I have had a jam-packed calendar with work related “opportunities” as well. Trainings to improve my own teaching practices. Trainings to train other professionals to improve their teaching practices. Meetings to plan to train other professionals how to improve their teaching practices. Developing the trainings. Trainings to learn a program we are implementing at my school. Checking work email to make sure I am not missing any alerts or pertinent information about any trainings I need to attend or deliver. I think I’m forgetting a few things, but I honestly can’t remember because my brain is fried from all the lying around I’ve been doing for nearly a month.

Don’t get me wrong, I actually volunteer for this stuff. Well, some of it. More than a few of the days are part of the duties for the position I hold. And, I do enjoy a lot of it. I love learning. I enjoy using my brain and keeping it active. Really, I do. 

Just know when you see me out and about during the scorching, indolent summer months, I never really take much time off. And, I think I can safely say there aren’t many teachers who do. 

So, if you’re tempted to buy into the myth about teachers having the summer off, please keep it to yourself. Or run the risk of me feeling obligated to set you straight.  Your choice.

Enjoy your summer!