The Secret Life of Teachers in the Summer

Teachers have the most unusual schedule of all professions, based on a throwback to the agrarian age where students were needed on their family farms to help plant during the late spring and early summer. So, now in the "information age" the idea of a summer vacation of three months seems antiquated, and a bit odd to many. However, the idea of a summer "vacation" isn't exactly what occurs.

Example... my summer "vacation" schedule.

Right now I'm Gil Grissom by-day, Bob Villa (or more aptly, Tim Taylor) by-night. I'm involved in a 2 1/2 week set of professional development hosted by Abilene Christian University's Chemistry Department where we study Forensic Chemistry. So far I've learned how to recover etched off serial numbers, detect cocaine on 20-dollar bills, and conduct a number of tests to determine all manner of illicit drugs. Tomorrow we start work on detection and identification of arson accelerants. It's from 9 to 4 everyday. Then when I get home its time to work on the kitchen, which is in the throes of a makeover with new walls, paint, counter tops, and appliances.

When the ACU training is over, then I get to start teaching summer school. That will be the last week and a half, or so, of June.

In July, well... things get worse, so to speak. The first week of July we need to have a curriculum meeting within the science department. The second week, is Singing School at the Church, and I also have to do a couple of TAKS test cram sessions for re-testers. The third week, I have to go to Austin to sit on a committee that's looking at the statewide End-of Course Chemistry exam for next year. The fourth week of July I have a district-wide professional seminar at Possum Kingdom. The fifth week of July I go to an International Chemistry Educators conference (ChemEd,) being hosted in Denton.

So the whole idea of a "vacation" is a bit of a misnomer. It's just a chance to get all those other things done you need to do, but can't since you have a classroom of kids that need you everyday.