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<p>Whenever one of my kids has reported a teacher who has “checked out” and relies solely on worksheets and packets, I ask how old they are. Inevitably, they are a couple of years shy of their retirement benefits and have to hold on a little longer. I admit that I probably couldn’t stand 3 years of teaching middle schoolers, much less 30, but I wish there was somewhere to place the almost-retired teachers so they could be productive without shorting our kids on instruction. </p>
<p>Teachers, please don’t get up in arms about my comments. I’m talking about “checked out” teachers because this thread is about teachers. I readily acknowledge there are some who are burned out or who check out of every profession. The difference with some professions and not others is job security. I am a lawyer. If I “check out,” my clients fire me.</p>