Are Teachers Hoarders?

Are teachers hoarders?  OK.  I am not trying to generalize or point fingers.  I can only speak for myself… but I am beginning to think that I am displaying early signs of hoarding.

I have been a public school teacher for 16 years and I have collected many “things” during my career.  At one time they were important, but not sure if I will ever look at it again. 

A few years ago, a colleague and good friend of mine helped me to move my “things” from one classroom to another.  At the time, she helped me to rethink some of the things I was hoarding.  I would keep “things” like extra photocopies, old projects, books, receipts, and handouts from workshops.  She threw away boxes and boxes of “stuff” without me knowing.

Honestly, didn’t notice what was missing… if anything.  Last year when I left teaching to pursue my graduate studies full-time, my friend helped me again.  And, once again, boxes and boxes of “stuff” went to recycling or the dumpster.  It was tough love.  I still ended up taking about a dozen boxes of “stuff” home.  What is all this “stuff?”  It’s lots of EDU-STUFF.

My car trunk is still full of this “stuff” and so is my office.  After my Educ 809 course, I realized that I needed a place to write my thesis, and write in general, that had some order and solitude.  Yesterday, I moved my “stuff” from my office to the third bedroom.

I have a lot of “stuff.”  Where is my friend when I need her.  I need to purge.  I still have books from my teacher training program from UBC during the mid-90’s.  It’s almost 20 years old.  Is it worth it to keep it?  Apparently, YES.  I am in the mind set of… I may need it later.

To all the teachers out there… Does this sound familiar?