AKA "DON'T BECOME A TEACHER!" Words I've heard on more than one occasion, from actual teachers... What would you say to someone (me) who is thinking about entering the education field? What do you like and not like? Every job has its difficult parts, but is there enough good to outweigh the bad? Thoughts on standardized tests, issues/problems with teaching in these times? "Kids these days?" (LOL) If you were 18 and entering college (or other route if you are AC) would you still choose education, knowing what you know now, or would you choose something else? Thanks for answering.
I love my job and I don't regret becoming a teacher. If I were an 18 year old though, I'd probably go into a different field. It has nothing to do with the kids themselves, and it has everything to standardized testing, the corporatization of public schools, etc. I hope I'm in the field long enough for "the powers that be" to realize just how toxic our current teaching conditions actually are for children.
I'm in my third year of teaching. I would absolutely do it again without hesitation. I love where I'm at. My kids are great. I love my admin.
I would still do it. Either this or work in the records dept. I really couldn't see myself doing any other job. I love my students, my school and yes, my summers off. I like being able to have that time off to spend with my daughter. I guess if I hated my school and students, then yeah, I wouldn't do it again. It is all in finding the right place for you.
I love my job and always have. The sun has taken a toll I am sure. The money has always been lousy. My brothers, with no degree, made more than I did. If I was 18 again I would have to find a job that paid better to pay off the loans it takes for college now. The politicians seem hell bent on ruining school for teachers and children. It is obvious why.
I absolutely cannot imagine doing anything other than what I'm doing now. The children of several friends are considering going into teaching and I have told them to think long and hard, primarily because jobs are so hard to come by and because of the current challenges between the government and teachers here in Ontario. I think that they need to be aware that, right now and in many places, teaching is a challenging place to be right now.
I love my job! I can't imagine a job that's emotionally more fulfilling than this one.Who else gets to spend their days with amazing young men and women, introducing them to some of the great literature of mankind, helping them explore deeper themes and the meaning of life. That's awe inspriring and an incredible honor!
I've had other jobs and I can't imagine going back and doing anything other than teaching. This is definitely where I belong. I will say, though, that I would not advise my own children to go into teaching when they get old enough to start thinking about college. I see public education fading away and being replaced by privatization over the next couple of decades - much to the detriment of students and teachers alike.
I would do it again, but I would add a second, more marketable subject to my license from the get-go. To others considering entering the profession, I would encourage them to keep their eyes open and really see the profession for what it is. You need to have thick skin, perseverance, and an ability to do your best work even when being ignored (at best) or straight up abused by your supervisors, the parents of your students, and the general public. Teachers aren't really beloved by society these days, and that makes an already challenging job more difficult. I would also advise people to be really honest with themselves about their ability to live on teacher salaries. If you have to have a second or third job just to keep up with your basic monthly bills, you might not enjoy the experience and might burn out quickly.
I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat! Whenever I was having a bad day at school (as a classroom teacher), I'd remind myself that if it wasn't for those 24 smiling second graders I was entrusted with, I would've never been able to purchase a beautiful home, nice car, etc. I felt respected and loved as a teacher. To this day, if I go to WalMart, Target, or the grocery store, I am approached by former students. I'm happy in my current role as an administrator, but I sometimes wish I would've stayed in the classroom a couple more years. I loved teaching!!!
It is okay for me as a second career. I have told my own child, who was considering it strongly that I would not pay for his college if he went that route. There are a few degrees that I won't finance and teaching is one of them. I have tried to dissuade several you g people from this career. If I knew how badly NC would treat me and the way the general public opinion would sway, I would not choose this career again. No way would I choose one where I get paid LESS year after year.
While I am satisfied with my journey to where I am now, if I could go back as an 18-year old, I would not go into education. There are so many other opportunities out there that I would love to explore. But, as I said, I'm very happy where I am now.
I totally agree with Caesar-you def. need a thick skin in this business. If you have grit, determination, passion, energy and the ability to rebound from rough situations, then totally go for it. I've worked outside of education at a tech start-up as well as run my own business, and I'll say that ANYTHING you choose to do will have it's issues. The business world isn't a piece of cake, either. My husband developed ulcers working at ad agencies. My dad is getting laid off from insurance company at the age of 56 due to downsizing-no loyalty considered. It's a tough world out there. I would not recommend picking a career based on perceived easiness or safety-do what you love, and you'll be able to weather the storms of any career, which will inevitably come.
Great advice Jem-the grass definitely isn't always greener (ignore my avatar!). I think the most important aspect to career choice (and I'll bet you'll agree Jem!) is adaptation. Where you saw yourself at 18 is probably not where you actually are-and probably won't be 10 years from now.
Care to elaborate? Thanks to everyone for replying. I never understood the teacher hatred in our society. Then again, I'm a public employee already, and they usually hate us, too. If I get into teaching, I'd be working in an area with a severe teacher shortage. I am not so sure I would do this and, say, just try to get a job here (PA). There are NO jobs!!! I went to a college that originated as a "teacher's college" and had a great education program. The only people I know who got jobs were those willing to move out of state. The others work in daycare, Head Start or other non-education jobs. And this was ten years ago! It's gotten SO much worse (thanks to certain politicians...) However, if I got there and did not like the atmosphere, I'd have to apply to other, similar districts with the shortage issue. I wouldn't have much of an option of where to go. I'm pretty sure I would not have any offers with all the candidates that apply for each job... I'd be taking a pay cut, which is definetly something to think about. Due to the extreme poverty in the area I'd be moving to, there aren't really any jobs to be found for part-time work (without driving at least an hour, which, with the price of gas, kind of defeats the purpose.) The COL there is pretty cheap, though. It's a lot to think about...
MonicaWinter - I can only speak for my little corner of the world (Southeastern PA) and my experience, but I would NOT go into education/teaching if I had the choice to make all over again. It was constantly preached to us in college how much they need teachers.....what they didn't tell us was while that it was true to an extent, but only for the bottom-of-the-barrel school districts. (By that I mean you spend more of your time trying to break up fights, get kids out of the hallway and into their classes, etc. than actual teaching. And when you do actually get to teach, the students' first question is, "What do I have to do to get a 'D'?" And this is school-wide, not just YOUR class.) That, to me, is a waste of my time, effort, and tuition. Now, it's even worse if you're just getting out of college around here. There's an abundance of teachers - many who lost their positions when the economy crashed - so that's additional competition...from what I hear, 500 applications for one opening. On top of which, its become a trend to get rid of teachers before they achieve tenure - my younger colleagues have mentioning that they feel they have to put off wedding plans because they don't feel secure in their jobs. There's more I could write, but you get the idea. :dunno:
I've only been teaching for seven years now, but the climate now is completely different from when I first started. I miss the flexibility, the fun and not being pressured to score high on standardized tests. Everything is recorded and documented and analyzed and re-analyzed, then brought to round table discussions, then analyzed further, then tweaked. n If I was 18 and saw that school would become what it is now then I probably would've tried to major in some sort of science, like environmental
In my case, I have developed new interests since I began my teaching career. I would have loved to have a job where I could travel. I sort of fell into teaching, then it just became comfortable. I had my children and enjoyed being able to have vacations with them...again it was just comfortable to stay in the career. I would never tell another person not to pursue a career in education. If that is their passion...go for it.
No, I would not choose teaching again. The best thing about teaching for me is my salary and benefits considering I only work 200 days per year. And, this is only because I lucked out and got a job in a very well-paying district.
Ditto. I love teaching. I have thought about going back to school for something else, and truly can't imagine anything else that I really want to do. However, it absolutely terrifies me that I have 30+ years left and it only seems to be getting worse by the minute. I can't imagine anyone my age sticking it out for 35 years in public schools anymore. My little district is pretty protected from all the "crazies" right now, but I'm not kidding when I say surrounding districts are "falling" left and right- districts that used to be recognized as some of the best and highest performing in the country, absolutely crumbled in less than one year in some cases. I keep up with what's going on in these districts because I want to be aware of what's really happening out there. I am insanely jealous of those that got to "just teach" for all those years and are now retiring. Both of my parents are teachers who absolutely love the profession, and they have even been encouraging me to start looking at my options. My mom's latest "lecture" is that I need to improve my Spanish so I could become an interpreter if necessary. She says she literally can't picture anyone staying in education for an entire career anymore.
This. It gives me daytime nightmares to think about having to do this job for another 24 years just so I can get my full pension. The kids' behavior is crazy and only getting crazier (at least where I teach).
I would still choose education. I can't imagine doing anything other than teaching. Trust me, I've tried! I would, however, insist on majoring in English instead of Secondary Education. I do honestly wish I could go back and let my 18-year-old self know how HARD it is going to be. I was very naive coming out of college. I'm generally a pretty naive person. I listened to my dad tell me about his days working as a school safety officer. He talked about how it only took getting your foot in the door, etc. Once you landed your first job you could stay there the next 30 years! It was a different time. I also thought, because I was the first in my family to graduate and my grandfather so highly valued education, that graduating summa cum laude meant something. I thought that if I was the hardest working student, I would be the first one hired out of the gates. For all my academic accomplishments, nobody in the real-world seems to care much. I've learned over the last year, being an unemployed college grad, just how much of a millennial I am. I felt "entitled" because I equated graduating from college with automatically getting a teaching job. I mean, if I wanted to be a substitute or a paraprofessional I wouldn't have gone to school. I didn't think "teachers" actually filled those jobs. Boy, if I could go back and say: it's not going to be that easy. You might be the first in your family to graduate, but you're still going to have to start at the bottom (pay your dues, as my grandmother says) and work your way up. I don't think I would feel so discouraged now if the rose colored glasses had came off earlier. I hope that helps.
If I had to do it all again tomorrow just to keep doing what I'm doing I'd do it in a heartbeat. I absolutely love what I do.
All of this. I don't know how I'll make it another 24 years or so... I doubt I will. I'm so passionate about education, but I really don't think I have it in me.
There is not a week that goes by where I don't wish that I had chosen a different profession. If I could go back and talk to myself in college when I decided on education as a major I would do everything in my power to talk myself out of it. I even have a 5 year plan to get out of teaching forever. The pension is not a big enough carrot to keep me in for another 25 years. The direction schools are heading, the bureaucracy, the stupid tests and "data driven instruction" that force you to teach certain ways that are not in the students' best interests are all too much for me. Not to mention the salary where I am making less now than I did 4 years ago and almost qualifies me for government assistance. With that said I love my job. I had a great class, an amazing team and a fabulous admin this past year and I think it was the most I have ever enjoyed teaching. Teaching strikes a passion in me and I really enjoy working with kids. I will miss it when I get to the point that I can quit.
I wouldn't change my mind, but this is the ONLY profession I ever wanted! If you are wavering at all, then strongly consider your choices. This job is NOT easy, while it is fun (most of the time)...it's not what people THINK it is. Know the issues in education right now...like REALLY research them and ask yourself if you can accept those things. And lastly, you need to be highly adaptable and accepting of change because that's about the only thing in education that stays the same is the fact that it is constantly changing!
The state I am in no longer grants tenure. As we would say down south, "Ain't no way I'd go into a profession that would leave your job security up to the mercy of another person!" I have loved my job and am so glad I did it. It is truly my passion, but it has changed drastically in the twenty one years I have been teaching.
It depends... Would I do it all over again, if I was to start out as a new teacher in 2014? No. In my province there are not really any jobs for new teachers, nor does it appear that will change any time soon. By this I don't mean there are very few jobs, but I mean there are quite literally NONE, as we're actually losing students faster than teachers are retiring. Every now and then a specialty teacher can get their foot in, but I don't have any desire to teach those. If I was sent back to the year 2008 (or even 2002 when I started my degree) and had to make a choice, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Yes, I would for sure become a teacher if I had to do it all again. What I would say to you is that most of the rewards you will get in teaching are the things that you will do that other teachers don't. Also to remember that other adults won't thank you for teaching outside the box. Teaching is great for the difference you make with children, but if you expect gratitude and everyone to love you...forget about it.
I don't need gratitude and love from everyone, but it would be nice if the powers-that-be would tone down their "everything would be peachy if those darn TEACHERS were better and if those darn TEACHERS would just stop demanding reasonable pay and the benefits that they agreed to when they signed their contracts!" talk.
My 18 year old self was largely influenced by my father and he felt that woman should either be secretaries, nurses or teachers. I chose teaching & haven't regretted it. What I do regret, to some degree, are the years I spent working in day care. I remind myself though, I did it while my kids were young & were in day care themselves. I was with them. So, in that respect those years were totally worth it. I will say that my interests have changed over the years & so has what I have taught. If I was younger I'd go back to school & become a school psychologist.
Teaching is a second career for me and I went in (I thought) with my eyes open. I love what I do - I hate the constant testing, analyzing, etc. that others here have mentioned. In general, the kids are very different from those I had when I started 8 years ago. They are more needy, less able/willing to think on their own, feel more entitled, and have less respect for themselves and others. Not all kids are like this, but more and more are and it makes teaching more challenging. More parents complain about us "giving" their kids poor grades. I've taken to scanning instructions and the work their child did so they can see just exactly why their child earned what the did. So far, in each of these cases, the parents have backed down. More parents seem (in my area) to be in a haze - they don't know what their children do or ignore it (my son never lies). I'm amazed at how many parents ask us how they should handle their child! Politicians are also making the job that much harder. I don't want to sound jaded, but I am up front with my practicum students about what they are facing. I think teaching today takes a very different type of person than it did years ago. Dedication is and always has been a major part of the teaching personality. Being abused by parents/students/and the system is new. Facing utter disrespect by the community is new. The poor pay has always been there, but the utter disdain we face when we ask for better pay is new. I disagree with those that say we only work 200 days a year. Even if we never open a book, plan or do PD over the summer, how many hours a week do we put during those 200 days? I work year round - I just work on my own schedule during the summer. I say enter the profession at your own risk. Don't become comfortable. Have a plan B just in case... I have found it to be the hardest job I have ever loved.
