As a tutor, the most difficult aspect of my job is when the students don’t want to learn. The blank stares I get from one of my groups (ten students – all freshman) are a bit… frustrating, intimidating, and saddening. It’s not my job to make the material interesting for them though. They have to show up whether the like it or not (as attendance is part of the grade they receive from their Composition class and I can mark them absent if I feel they aren’t mentally present.) But I’d rather they make it so the lessons / assistance doesn’t feel like pulling teeth.
From what my friends have said about teaching: the bureaucracy of the education system is one of the most frustrating aspects. It’s one few starry-eyed teachers-to-be stop and think about when working for their degree.