Teachers say they work an average of 57 hours a week, but less than half of that time is spent teaching.
The remaining teacher time is spent on miscellaneous tasks such as planning, meetings, administrative tasks, professional development, communication with parents, and extracurricular activities such as coaching sports or clubs. There are plenty of other jobs, too, including some that teachers say aren't fully included in their job descriptions.
That's according to EdWeek's The State of Teaching survey, a nationally representative poll of about 1,500 teachers conducted last October. The survey also found that teachers wanted to spend more time planning and less time in meetings.
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To better understand the scope of a teacher's daily work, the survey asked respondents what roles or tasks they do not believe should be part of a teacher's role at this school, but are expected to perform at work. About 1,200 teachers responded to this question.
“Where should I start?” A teacher wrote an article. “We are expected to do and do much more than we actually do. [which is] The exact reason why so many teachers leave the field. “The pressure is too much.”
Many teachers said they felt vulnerable and were often doing the work of multiple people.
Nonetheless, some survey respondents said they felt all of their jobs were adequate.
“Being a teacher means a variety of jobs and services,” one teacher wrote. “I can’t think of anything I do that isn’t part of the role of a teacher.”
But time is an ever-present challenge. “Every role matters,” another teacher wrote. “Time is the issue.”
Considering the amount of work to be done and limited time, the teacher urged the administrator to get a few things done.. Here are eight tasks teachers say should not be included in your job description. These quotes are all taken from open-ended responses to the survey and have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Find a replacement and fill the role
Schools have been trying to maintain a steady roster of substitute teachers, which has added more work to full-time teachers.
- “When we get sick, we find a replacement for ourselves.”
- “Find your own insurance coverage [Individualized Education Program] meeting.”
- “If bus duty is an administrative job in nature, if you take off your assigned workday, you will need to find a replacement.”
- “We will fill in for other classrooms where teachers are missing due to a shortage of substitute teachers.”
- “Multiple classes are held simultaneously in the auditorium.”
- “Subbing to my preparation [period]; “Take half of the other classes today.”
Student data collection and analysis
Data has long been a source of tension between administrators and students. Student data can inform instruction and help identify students' strengths and weaknesses, but teachers say the focus on data adds a lot more work.
- “We have been repeatedly asked to collect and analyze data. Most teachers don't need repetitive data to know which students need help. … I am not a data expert. “I just want to teach.”
- “The administration should not be requiring us to produce reports on data we have access to.”
- “Handwritten data logs for students when the same information can be accessed and collected digitally.”
- “We are constantly being asked to collect data and administer local assessments, but children who fail the assessments are not given the help they need. We know which children need support without having to do multiple 'district required' assessments, and we prefer whether or not we should provide them. [that] The district provided necessary in-class support based on the results.”
- “There should be no need to prepare and enter data that can be easily accessed on a computer. “It’s repetitive and excessive.”
Helping New Teachers
New teachers need a lot of supportBut some teachers wrote that too much of it fell on their shoulders.
- “I mentor/train new teachers, but I don’t get paid extra.”
- “I help new teachers with classroom management. We help new teachers figure out how to break down the standards into lessons they can teach to their students.”
- “Plan a new employee mentoring program (unpaid) called ‘Bagels with Buddies.’”
- “Supporting new teachers in problem solving, planning, management, etc.”
- “Mentoring teachers to the extent that they need to be observed and evaluated; [give] Please give me feedback.”
Keeping parents up to date on everything
Most teachers want good relationships with parents, but several said they were expected to send more updates than they thought were necessary.
- “I have to assess the kids and call all the parents when their kids are sick or injured. I have no medical training. “There are no nurses.”
- “The administration communicates topics that need to be communicated to parents.”
- “When there are not enough hours in the day, I call my parents and explain to them my bad behavior and my choices. The administration needs to take responsibility for this instead of leaving it up to the teachers.”
- “Parents are contacted regarding student attendance. “Why does it all depend on me when I have an automated system?”
- “Contact parents (about positive evaluations and failing grades). “I understand the value, but I don’t have time for it.”
Participate in school community events
Extra-curricular events can make a school community thrive, but several teachers said they should not be expected to take charge of such activities, especially if they are not paid extra.
- “Teachers were always voluntarily instructed to hold graduation ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, etc. when they were not paid.”
- “Unpaid events, such as hosting extracurricular events such as school dances.”
- “I raise money while working a day shift at McDonald’s.”
- “Become a ticket recipient for school sporting events.”
- “It promotes ‘school spirit.’”
take on administrative duties
Nearly half of public schools reported needing more custodians at the start of this school year, according to federal data.. That may have led to more teachers being expected to fill the void and clean up after themselves.
- “Empty the educational carpet area and empty the trash.”
- “Recycle, take out the trash, clean the classroom, replenish paper towels.”
- “Make sure our recyclables are placed in the recycling bin.”
- “Eat breakfast in the classroom. Please clean up all breakfast messes/food.”
- “Cleaning the room – sweeping, mopping, wiping the desk, dusting. everything.”
Take on non-educational tasks
Many teachers said they were asked to monitor bathrooms, hallways, recess, lunch and dismissal times, and felt it was too much.
- “We have several duties (bus duty, lunch duty, hallway duty, taking the kids to school, etc.). “Some of it is natural and expected, but every year we have more work to do and less time to plan.”
- “We are called to be all things to all people the moment we enter our schools. “It doesn’t matter what the mission is.”
- “We are expected to be ‘team players’ and helpful. [in our contract] It states, ‘Other duties as assigned.’”
Preparing for the Threat of Gun Violence
Although school shootings are statistically rare, the threat is an ever-present fear for most teachers. Some teachers said they wish they didn't have to think about and prepare for the possibility of gun violence.
- “Protect your children from school shooters.”
- “Manage and practice blockade training and drills for active-duty marksmen.”
- “Security for School Shooters.”