You Know You Are a Retired Teacher When...
By Susan
@HazySue (39264)
Gouverneur, New York
May 24, 2017 12:38pm CST
I saw this saying and knew I had to use it on a post. As a retired middle school teacher it really hit home with me.
Of course, for me, I think I would add that being a retired teacher I realized right from the get-go that to be a teacher in the first place requires you to be a little bit crazy.
I loved teaching but boy am I glad I am retired. I am still trying to learn how to stop shoveling my food down my throat in 10 minutes or less.
It is weird to know that I can go into the bathroom anytime my little heart desires.
And not hearing my name called 58 times and hour is a really hard thing to get used to. I am still hearing shadows of little voices in my ears.
But all in all it was the most rewarding experience in my life.
19 people like this
20 responses
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
24 May 17
I bet it was. Having your name called so many times a day would be nerve wracking. I don't know how you teachers do it but, I have sure had the privilege of knowing some awfully good ones here where I live in the last forty years or so.
There is a commercial for a travel app that shows a woman(the teacher) in a room of rough and rowdy kids and it always makes me so mad to see it. Any teacher that would let a room full of kids get that out of control needs to have a lobotomy. They have more patience than I ever could have but come on.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
30 May 17
@HazySue .....I understand that commercials have to be over the top to get to some but, to demean teachers in the attempt just makes me mad. No imagination and doesn't act lie she cares much either.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
31 May 17
@celticeagle yeah, it isn't my favorite type of commercial.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
24 May 17
bless ya fer takin' that role 'f teachin' those young minds...without needin' bail money due to the parents, lol. ya could get a parrot if'n ya miss yer name bein' called i reckon ;)
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
30 May 17
@HazySue :D aint't though? i miss the smell 'f alfalfa fields, sweat (mine'n the horses)... don't reckon a parrot'd help there, eh? ;) roflmbo!
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
27 May 17
Had I been guided better by my school counselor I would be ready to retire from my teaching position. However, that isn't going to happen. I wish I had pursued my education further.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
31 May 17
@HazySue When I was in high school I talked with my guidance counselor. She seem not to really care about my interest. Just told me to look at the books on the shelf and get back to her. I had no clue what she was talking about or where to start.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
31 May 17
@ElusiveButterfly Unfortunately it is the way many of them are. They can't seem to be bothered.
1 person likes this
I'm sure you do . . . you were around so many kids on a daily basis for a long time!! And they probably miss you too!!
@xstitcher (30302)
• Petaluma, California
24 May 17
You think being a teacher requires you to be a bit crazy...try being a preschool teacher ! 
1 person likes this
@CRK109 (14558)
• United States
29 May 17
Teachers are so important in our world and when they work to the best of their ability, yes, they are exhausted when it's time to retire. I think we all remember certain teachers as being "special" for the rest of our lives for what they brought to us, and I'm sure there are many who remember you just like that!
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
30 May 17
I loved teachers. Like any other job it had its good days and it's bad days. But it certainly took all of you energy and love to be able to be effective. There is nothing like the feeling of being able to reach a child and help them into their future.
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
25 May 17
hmmm, i have 3 colored pens-red, blue, and black, my bandage scissor, pencil measuring tape, small stapler, and my ID's hanging around my neck. for sure i am not yet retiring, and i enjoy my vocation so much
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37526)
• India
24 May 17
It quite difficult to forget those days, my granny was a teacher. After retirement, she was not able to pass her time and always used to think of her work and experiences. Those little things happened with children and all ,she used to share some of them with me..
I remember some of them still.
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
24 May 17
A good teacher is beyond value to my mind. I still remember with gratitude those who made me aware of new things, encouraged me to do better in the familiar subjects and who taught the subject that they loved.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
24 May 17
I was a teacher at secondary grammar schools for 40 years. The pupils are between 10 and ~18/19 years old.
I don't find myself in these sentences.
-Why wouldn't I eat apples? I don't understand what this alludes to.
-I do hear the sound of the bell because I live behind a school.
-I have nothing against cafeterias. But then I never ate in a school cafeteria. The schools I taught at introduced them only after my retirement.
-I own two red pens.
The last sentence is ok.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
30 May 17
You taught in a different atmosphere that I did. Apples were the thing we were given most by our students and you found yourself eating them constantly so as to not insult the child. Cafeterias in school these days have food that is yucky, at least to most of us. I own pens of all colors. When I first started teaching they wanted us to grade our papers in reed ink only
@thislittlepennyearns (58140)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
24 May 17
How long did you teach for? And what subject?
When I was younger i wanted to be a english teacher, and my freshman year in highschool my english teacher made me promise to come back and student teach with him. It must not of been meant to be- because i didn't ever do the schooling neccesay to get a teaching degree and instead just got an English and Art degree, and then the last time i heard from that teacher he was living in Seoul.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
30 May 17
I have aught kindergarten, a self contained class of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders (all subjects), language arts (6th grade), ancient history (6th grade), art (9, 10, 11, and 12 grade), and forensics (9,10,11, and 12 grade). All in all I taught for 23 years. I had other jobs in between. Sometimes we feel the need to try other things.
