A Day in the Life of a Teacher

a short story.

A prominent psychologist studied the teaching profession. She tallied the following raw data after observing a teacher for one day:  

1 teacher. 178 students. 11 phone calls. 63 emails. 218 questions. 9 excuses. 2 disciplinary referrals. 68 smiles. 4 arguments. 27 late papers. 1 bathroom break. 3 meetings. 6 cups of coffee. 1 near fight. 2 belly laughs. 637 decisions. 1 hour of preparation time. 3 trips to the counseling office. 14 interruptions. 5 thank yous.. 167 assignments collected. 0 breaks.

The psychologist then presented her conclusions at the National Educators Conference:

“I have observed extreme highs and lows of teaching; I have witnessed within a teacher’s day periods of high energy, jubilation and happiness alternating with periods of severe anxiety, despair and hopelessness. It is my studied opinion that profession of teaching itself is clearly...Bipolar. “

Unphased, a teacher in the audience stood up and said, “That’s not bipolar disorder, that’s just a day in the life of a teacher.”