On Wednesday, I did my first day of casual relief teaching after 'retiring' from my teaching position last year. Everyone keeps asking me how retirement is going, and I have to correct them - let's say semi retired, as I still have to work to top up our coffers. At 400 odd AUD dollars a day, it's not to be sniffed at. For a while there I thought I might some work in retail, perhaps at the local Wholefoods, but to be honest, casual relief teaching at a good school is an easy gig. One just needs to mark the rolls, set work, and make sure no one dies.

It feels odd being back at school, and I feel anxious on the way - there were far too many stressors in my last job for me to feel confident walking into a classroom, but everyone is so lovely. It's my husband's school, so everyone is so friendly and lovely. The kids truly are gorgeous - polite, quiet and respectful, they get on with the set work and I sit and research things on the internet for most of the day.

^{Image via Unsplash}

There are a lot of exhausted and fed up teachers at the moment, so I imagine work won't be thin on the ground. Perhaps not this term (I have my fingers crossed - I need an extended break more than I need the money) but as we head into the middle terms, I imagine I'll be able to earn my keep.

The worst of all of this is the masks and all the regulations in place. It's stifling, both physically and psychologically. Everyone tries their best to get on with things but no one is truly happy. Luckily, where we are, it's not so hot this week. THe first two days of term were worse because of the heat - it is not fun being in a poorly ventilated classroom in the best of times. Nerves are frayed.

The school we work at is reasonably well off, so there is perhaps not the same concerns as government schools. Still, the headlines talk of teacher shortages. Already teachers are leaving in droves or talking about different careers. One of Jamie's colleagues is studying to be a brewer. That idea is tempting to Jamie - he has maybe two years left in him and he's hanging on by a thread, truth be told. It may be a miracle if he gets to the end of the year.

But all this is just more tinder on the fire of dissatisfaction felt in the teaching community. It's an impossible job and the wages, although reasonable, don't make up for what is expected of them. There's never enough time in the day for what needs to be done and the pressures upon them are extraordinary.

It's little wonder I left the profession, and feel such anxiety going back into the classroom, even for a good daily wage and sitting here on HIVE whilst the kids busy themselves with school work.