Why I “Quit” School…

Many people have asked me why I “quit” school. First of all, I did not, really… I just dropped my classes this semester and I am still planning to take one or two in the summer, depending on schedule.

Then why did I drop my classes this semester? It was something that I was agonizing about since the beginning of the semester, after I dropped calculus in order to focus on the two classes remaining. I was in Cell Biology 2 and Introductory Medical Microbiology. Both of my classes were interesting, and not too difficult, so I thought that I would stick with them.

On the teaching side, I had received my “Standard” BC teaching certificate near the end of November. I was continuing with classes in order to upgrade to the “Professional” level. Then the BCCT announces some sort of deal with Alberta under a labour mobility act (or something to that effect) which would allow teachers from both provinces to teach in BC or AB easier. Concurrently, I found out that the BCCT was changing the requirements for the “Professional” certificate and advised that I suspend upgrading plans until the new guidelines are finalized in April. However, I could continue to upgrade as TQS (people who decide where I sit on the teacher salary grid based on years of education) might honor what the BCCT said I need.

I had a dilemma on my feet. What to do? Should I stay in school and slog away at the old lectronics forge, then apply to supply/TOC in April or perhaps I should drop my classes, slog away at the old lectronics forge and apply to teach now. The benefit of applying now is that I am hopefully ahead of the reams of new graduates that will be unleashed in April. The young grads with their new-fangled college type book learning out to save all of the at-risk and marginalized youth in the verse.

I did really miss teaching, and I wanted to work somewhere I wanted to. Not that I do not appreciate my current job, but it is not my hearts desire and I did not go into debt (and in fact am still in said debt) to work where I am currently working. So I talked it over with Angela, quit classes and applied to Langley School District. That was six days ago, so I hope they call me. That is really the only flaw in my plan. What if no one wants me to teach for their district? Oh well… I can always go back to UCFV (I really did like it their, but I always felt old…), get my BSc and maybe become a CSI or labrat…

Now I sit, adding contacts to my new computer, waiting for my birthday so I can hopefully get Guitar Hero for my system and waiting for the phone to ring with a principle at a science focus elementary school wanting me to teach science to all of the kids (One of my current teaching dream job…)

Life is not bad, it could be worse, and I have no important complaints. Dropping classes is not that big of a deal. Things will work out, and if they don’t, then I will have to become a famous novelist or movie star

Scotty