Two summers ago, right after I got my BA, I had a job at a childcare program at a community center. A friend who works at the center pulled some strings and helped me get an interview (at the very least, as far as I know). Anyway, they offered me the position and I took it because I needed a job and thought that it would be a good test for me to see whether I could go into teaching — not because being proficient in a childcare position means you’d be good at teaching, but simply to know whether I had enough patience to handle a large group of children.

Turns out I didn’t. I could see my co-workers getting frustrated with my lack of ability to connect with the kids and more so, I was beginning to see the effect that someone like me, someone who didn’t put 110% into the job, had on them (those who are in childcare or teaching will know what I’m talking about). It pained me to quit the job at the end of summer, mostly because it would pain me to quit any job ($$$) and because I at least connected with a few of them (but not many).

I finished that summer with a newfound respect for parents, teachers, childcare professionals, all of them. Also, a few funny stories that I’ll write about some other time.

Anyway, just a moment ago, a friend of my parents just contacted me asking if I could tutor one of her kids (and some others) in English. I feel like I’m back to the dilemma stated above. I could really use the money because the occasional cheques I’m getting for freelance work aren’t cutting it but I also know that I’m not good with kids. The newfound respect I talked about up there includes the realization that if you’re not invested in the children you’re with, they will notice sooner or later and they will be affected by it.

I don’t know what to do. I don’t really think she’s contacting me because she specifically sees something in me because we’d never talked/met before the conversation we just had. More likely is that she was talking to my parents about her child’s problem and they suggested she talk to me. I’ve told my parents numerous times about why I quit that job and the implications it has on my ability to be around kids but they still often suggest these kind of positions to me. Frustrating but, you know, parents.

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  1. cureforbedbugs said: Tutoring and group instruction are very different beasts. I think for someone who knows they’re not meant for group instruction, tutoring can be a good way to still teach without dealing with the messiness of teaching a large group.
  2. ankhwilliams said: I imagine a one-on-one tutor thing could be a lot different than the large group experience you had before. The kid’s age and how well that may or may not help you relate could be a factor, too.
  3. theblueprint said: everyone in my family are teachers, except me. for the same reasons that you detailed.
  4. strictlyalright posted this

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