Being a Team Player

I graduated with a degree in Integrated Language arts, which means I'm qualified to teach 7-12 language arts. I don't have much experience with teaching anything else except using firearms, rules for board games, and writing poetry. Then, this conversation took place about four days ago:

Principal: Hey Jake, I have the schedules done for the High School.

Me: Oh! Cool! What courses do you have for me?

Principal: Well, you'll be teaching Physical Education, British Literature, Language Arts II, Health I, and two US History courses. 

Me: Wow. That's quite the day.

Principal: Yup. You okay with it?

Me: Yup. Challenge accepted.

Was I surprised by the fact that I'd be teaching and prepping for five different courses? Yeah, a little. However, it was pointed out to me very early on in the hiring process that I would be teaching other courses besides my English courses. So, I can't blame my principal at all, and I actually don't want to. I'm actually surprised that he already has that much trust in my ability despite the fact I just met him last week.

Of course, there were many ways I could have reacted to our conversation. I could've said, "ABSOLUTELY NOT! ARE YOU INSANE?" or I could have grumbled on about how I'm not much of a health kind of guy and how I would rather not teach anything but my English courses. That's not how it works though, not here at least. We are short a high school teacher, and these kids need the courses my principal gave me in order to graduate. Why would I deny them that? Sure, it'll be hard work, but I didn't get into the teaching business because it's easy.

At our staff meeting, my principal talked about choosing our attitudes. The comment brought me back to the fact that, as teachers, we have personas for teaching. In a way, teachers are actors and actresses. No matter how we feel when we wake up in the morning, no matter how much we dread the day, and no matter how much we want the day to be over with, we put on a smile and we teach. This is why I figured out early on that the people who have a background in some form of theatre - like myself and some of my peers - will become very strong teachers in a shorter amount of time. Sometimes, you really do have to fake it to make it; you just can't let anyone know that you're faking it.

In short, we all struggle. Or as the teachers here at Eek would say, we all have a fabulous struggle. You can choose to grumble on about how hard that struggle is, and how much you don't want to do it. I get it. It's easy to take that route. But we eventually have to do the work, so why not do it with a smile on your face and a look in your eyes that says "get out of the way"?

EDIT: I found out today that I'm also teaching Introduction to Culinary Arts. My attitude? It's still positive. I even have my first lesson planned out already!