What a week...

Here it is, Wednesday already, and I have a story to tell.

So yesterday I went to the Toronto District School Board's office for a supply teacher orientation session (I've already been hired provisionally, this is just a matter of filling out paperwork, or so I've been told). I met some friends, generally had an interesting time. Until, of course, it turned ugly. Apparently, before I can set foot in a classroom, I have to undergo what is euphemistically called a 'full-disclosure check'. Unfortunately, during the initial interviews in January, I was not told about it, nor was I informed that I'd have to have one, which is odd. It gets worse, though - There's an 8-12 week waiting period to complete the background check and a $50 fee. Add to that a week to get an employment number from the TDSB, plus a week to get subsequent paperwork done, and it's minimum 10 weeks before I can set foot in a classroom. That brings the total of money that I've paid for paperwork alone to at least $400 to prepare for teaching (Licensing fee, background checks, paperwork fees)

That's two and a half months. Conservatively speaking.

All this is making me rethink teaching. Should it really be this much of a struggle to teach? I love teaching - Do I need to wait this long, pay this much, bear this much just to enter the classroom?

All I want to do is teach. I just don't understand what's going on anymore. I really don't. And now I'm facing the question of whether or not I should stay in teaching to do something I love, or leave for greener pastures. It's pathetic; the one thing in the world I really can do and love is the very thing that I'm being prevented from doing. I don't... really know what to do anymore.