I have been hearing a common refrain among teachers that 'teaching used to be fun'.  Teaching, like healing or tending the sick, has traditionally been a profession made up of those who have been "called" to that field.  It has been a joy of the heart.  But it seems like more and more teachers are experiencing career burn-out or facing years of joyless employment.  How unfortunate!  But completely understandable when you look at the big picture. I don't know of any teacher who enters the profession because they love to assign Bloom's taxonomy to their lesson plans.  I don't know of any teacher who enters the profession because they love the paper work and files they must maintain.  I don't know of any teacher who enters the profession because they know that their administration will not back them up in parent/teacher conferences.  I don't know of any teacher who enters the profession because they hope to administer multiple standardized tests and achieve benchmark scores.  And the list goes on... Teachers teach because they love what they teach and whom they teach.  Teachers love their students and want to help them achieve their personal best.  However, often teachers are frustrated because they understand that the very thing that will help these children succeed, which is quality time and instruction, is the last thing on a long list of priorities that are being handed down from above.  It is sad when you hear a veteran teacher tell a recent high school graduate not to even consider teaching as a career choice.