Let’s start with the positives of teaching in a small town.  You can really feel like you are making a difference while teaching in a small town, and you can feel a strong sense of belonging to the community.  Small town schools tend to be more “under control” than big city schools, have less “at-risk” students, and have more parental support than big city schools.  Yes, I know that this is a generalization, and not all of these characteristics are true for all small town schools…but, for the most part they are true.  The trade-off for having less stress at school is that you may experience more stress at home because of “small town” issues.  Here are some ways to lessen your stress:

1.      Keep your address and phone number unlisted.  Students will eventually find out where you live, but don’t make it easy for them!  Also, don’t put a big “Davis Family” sign on the front of your house.  You might as well put a “Please T.P. me” sign out also, if you do that.

2.      Prepare yourself to be T.P.’ed, egged, or otherwise messed with on Halloween night.  I suggest having a big dog that keeps the back yard protected, so you only have to keep watch over the front.  Most of the time, students will not inflict permanent damage on your house or belongings…they just want to “prank” you to show that they like you.  However, if it gets nasty, don’t hesitate to involve the police.

3.      Watch your shopping cart – It can be embarrassing to see students or their parents at the grocery store with personal items or liquor/cigarettes/chewing tobacco in your cart.

4.      Stay out of the bar – Don’t be known as the “alcoholic” teacher.  You may have just gone to the bar to play pool with your uncle or watch the football game, but it will be blown out of proportion.

5.      Sign off – Don’t put political signs in your yard during political campaigns.  I cover keeping your political views private in my “Off Limits Topics” section of this website.  You alienate half of your student’s parents, and they will send their students to school after instructing them to not let you “brainwash” them with your unpopular political views.

6.     

See See the future – If you teach in a small town, your kids will eventually go to the same school where you teach.  This opens a Pandora’s Box of situations for you to deal with.  Will the other kids pick on your child because he’s Mr. Davis’ son?  Will your daughter make the volleyball team because you teach there?  The parents of girls who didn’t make the team will think so.  Will your son tell embarrassing stories about you to look cool to his friends?  You need to be proactive, and think of ways to deal with future situations.

7.      Don’t make enemies – Keep out of power struggles with random people in your small town.  Chances are that the person you are in conflict with is the 2^nd cousin of the superintendent or school board president.  Don’t ask me how it works out that way…it just does!

8.      Moral turpitude – Most teacher contracts have a “Moral Turpitude” clause, which stipulates that any conduct that can be interpreted as immoral by the school board can lead to your dismissal.  What is immoral behavior, you ask?  Answer:  Pretty much anything the school board decides.  The bad thing about it is that most people find out the answer AFTER the school board has ruled.  Getting into a fist fight at your son’s T-ball game, having an affair, or getting a DUI could possibly doom your career…so heed this warning!  You say that none of these incidents happened at school?  It doesn’t matter.  You chose a career that puts you in a position to be a positive role model to others…so be that person.

9.      Move – If you don’t feel like living under increased scrutiny in your small town, you could always move away.  There’s no law that says that you have to live in the same town where you teach (well…actually there are some districts that require you live within their boundaries…but it’s rare).  If you are willing to trade a higher fuel bill each month for some extra peace of mind, so be it.