Pagan Teachers

[MoonDust]

Ok.
This may seem like such a silly question, but I’m still very, very, very new to my path and lately it just seems like my life is full of changes. So any questions that I can get answered right now, well it’s just a plus.

So, after one year of college as a computer science major I’ve realized I actually hate it and that I should be doing what I’ve always loved to do and forget about the pay. So I am now a liberal arts major from where I will become an elementary school teacher, mainly K-2. This is my first semester with my new major and I love it.
My question is this; how many of us are out there? Are you in or out of the closet? Not necessarily with the children, but in your community or with the other teachers. What are your thoughts on the whole thing? If you’re not out; Do you find it difficult? Is it more so than when you only have to deal with the adults in your community? Easier? Are you constantly worried parents will find out and make it a huge issue?
Any comments or opinions are greatly appreciated. :D

[Hope]

Well I work with youth and am very out of the broom closet.

And it has worked for and against me. I do not teach in public schools. The thing I hear the most from "non-believers" is
well you aren't like I thought you would be OR
well you aren't like most witches are you OR
wow you are so nice I never would have known

OR
one of my favs

You aren't really are you? I mean you are a good person?

of course there are many others --- but 98% of the time when parents come and see what I teach they LOVE it and see it fits even conservative beliefs very well :)

love
hope

[MoonDust]

Hope, question: Were you out before you started your work with kids?

[MoonDust]

*bump*

[SnowStar]

CS? No wonder you hated it...shoulda gone CompE ;)
As for your actual question, I don't know. Good for you on going for the job you love instead of one that pays well, though...it's a tough decision to make, but I'm also of the mind that it's better to get paid less in a job you love than get paid 6 figures in one you hate.

[Pesha]

I am out of the broom closet. Have been for manyyears and I have had my fair share of acceptance and being not being accepted. I have learned to be careful when I revel my chosen path but for the most part in my professional community of nursing I am generally well thought of and accepted. I could never have told my late parents however, this is something they would never have been able to understand. SAd becasue Igot my empathic gifts from my Mum.
BB
DS.

[Hope]

Hope, question: Were you out before you started your work with kids?


thanks for the bump or i would have missed it lol


Well yes and no

It depends on what people know and don't know about me. VERY often people do not know (shrugs)

I don't tell every person I meet --- Hi I am a witch! lol

Lot's of people bring me their kids for lessons, or come to me in festivals
because they see what we are doing and it looks fun! or someone told them about what I do. So NOT everyone knows even now

Also I teach very main stream stuff with "witchcraft" lol

love
hope

[Amethyst Rose]

In university one of my professors (English) was a Druid. :) I don't remember how it came up, but he just told the class that he was. It doesn't relate to your working with kids, but no one in the class seemed to mind... I'm not even sure if they took him seriously or not.

[MoonDust]

CS? No wonder you hated it...shoulda gone CompE ;)
As for your actual question, I don't know. Good for you on going for the job you love instead of one that pays well, though...it's a tough decision to make, but I'm also of the mind that it's better to get paid less in a job you love than get paid 6 figures in one you hate.Thank you! It took some, to convince my mom though. It wasn’t until I told my grandfather what I wanted to do that my mom stopped complaining about my career choice. He’s very proud of the choice I’ve made. Let’s just hope he never finds out I’m not a good christian girl like he wants me to be.


I understand the whole choosing who you tell –if you decide to tell thing. It’s just that I look ahead to when I have a class of my own. I know the children I teach would be too young to “out” myself to, but I’m thinking what ifs. The parents and administration are what worry me the most.

[Mithrea]

*raises hand*

I'm a teacher. Though, I'm a college professor so I don't know if it counts. Mostly what I get are students going to complain about me for other reasons because they know they can't complain about that. It just SO happens that the ones that have issues with my grading, or my organization or my whatever always have giant crosses on the backs of the trucks and wear rebel flag t-shirts. :lol:

[sunbear]

I'm a public school teacher (high school biology). I don't blast my beliefs from the rooftops, but I always wear my pentacle bracelet. My close friends at school know I'm a Wiccan, and last year one of my students asked me if I was. I answered truthfully, he said "cool" and that was the end of it. I don't know if my administrators know or not, and frankly I don't care. However, I've taught for 18 years, so there's not really a heck of a lot they can do at this point. As a new teacher coming in, I might not be so cavalier about it, at least until I had tenure. I imagine they know, tho, cuz I started a metaphysical store in August called The Tranquil Underground, and Friday the superintendant stopped by my room to tell me "the town of Canton is abuzz" about the store and he's hearing all sorts of good things. (He lives in the town where my store is). I advertise on the radio and in the papers about the pagan supplies, so it's not like that's a secret either!

Well, after all that, I guess my point is ....... what was it again? :rolleyes: Oh yeah -- administrators have a way of making your life really difficult if they're unhappy with you for some reason, real or imagined. But if you do your job well and give 110%, they won't have any reason to complain and neither will the parents. Chances are your religion will never even become an issue at all unless you make it one. Good luck with whatever you choose!

[MoonDust]

*raises hand*

I'm a teacher. Though, I'm a college professor so I don't know if it counts. Mostly what I get are students going to complain about me for other reasons because they know they can't complain about that. It just SO happens that the ones that have issues with my grading, or my organization or my whatever always have giant crosses on the backs of the trucks and wear rebel flag t-shirts. :lol:oh. that's just scary.

Well, after all that, I guess my point is ....... what was it again? :rolleyes: Oh yeah -- administrators have a way of making your life really difficult if they're unhappy with you for some reason, real or imagined. But if you do your job well and give 110%, they won't have any reason to complain and neither will the parents. Chances are your religion will never even become an issue at all unless you make it one. Good luck with whatever you choose!LOL. thank you. Congrats on the store!