Not really news...

In the teacher education program, we are told that very few teachers make it past year 5- in fact, my lectureurs even estimated that more than 75% of the lecture hall would not be in the education field by 2008... quite a daring statement considering how many of us claimed that we have always wanted to be teachers and have dreamed of becoming a teacher all our lives.  What will happen to this so called dream??

It's called burn out.  After several years of frustration [the first few years of full time teaching will be frustrating as expected], many teachers just have to give up.  It's partially due to several things: expectation of administration and parents, the attitudes of the students, the amount of preparation that never seems to end and the teacher's own expectations. 

Before one becomes a teacher, one always underestimates the amount of work that constantly needs to be done.  The day does not end at 3 when the students leave- in many cases, it goes on for ever. 

There is always more work to do, and all of us need to look at that in perspective.  Be prepared to work all the time- it's our responsibility.  Also try to look at the appreciation in the student's faces- that's our opportunity for reward.

I don't know if I will last past the 5 Year Cliff, or whether I too will decide to leave.  At this point, I am just about to start climbing that mountain and I'd rather think of it as an exciting, enjoyable journey that will last for many many years, rather than thinking that any moment now, I'll want to jump off.