Of course, there aren’t enough hours in the day for the extra tasks that teachers complete on a regular basis. In fact, a new research survey found that teachers work an average of 54 hours a week. Not even half of those hours are spent actually teaching.

That is why we get just a little bit agitated when there are tasks that we are supposed to do or endure that are a complete waste of our precious minutes.

Tasks just like these:

1. Writing Standards on the Board

Who are we writing these for? I hope it is not for us because we know precisely which standard we are teaching, and there is often a lot more than just what is posted.

2. Answering Unnecessary Texts or Emails from Parents

“No, we don’t know why they didn’t eat their sandwich, and yes, the book fair is on Friday as has already been stated in multiple flyers sent home to you.”

3. Learning a New Textbook Curriculum….

When we just created resources that go along with the old one, AND we like the old one better.

4. Giving and Grading Multiple Retakes of Tests

One test is not allowed anymore. We need to create variations of the same exam for the many retakes that students are now entitled to take, AND grade them.

5. Writing Detailed Lesson Plans

Everything is already listed in the teacher’s manual. Wouldn’t “See Manual” suffice?

6. Intercom Announcements

These go on way too long and sometimes just randomly pop up during the day without any type of warning and begin with, “Please pardon the interruption.” No, we will not.

7. Revising Seating Charts

I am not even sure why we think this helps, but I do it almost every day thinking I am going to come up with the magical combination that will stop students from talking through entire lessons. Ugh!

8. Unjamming Copy Machines

You arrive at a copy machine, without a line, only to find that it is jammed with a shredded to shi@ piece of paper. Please people, if you jam the copy machine and don’t know how to fix it, go and get the office manager.

9. Questions at Staff Meetings

For the love of Pete, please do not ask anything that pertains to you and only you.

10. Duty

Yes, supervision of students is necessary. It becomes a huge time waster when there are five teachers all watching the same 500-square-foot area of the playground.

11. Standardized Testing

So many hours are lost to this outdated practice. Students could be actually learning, thinking, and creating during this time.

12. Covering Classes on our Prep

Our preps are a form of self-care. We are regrouping, planning and taking time to eliminate our stress. That is now out the window.

So, we know there is a teacher shortage and that teachers are overworked and underpaid. It would only follow that teachers would be involved in the process of eliminating duties that interfere with the main goal of teaching students. Why is this simply not occurring?