Is teaching a good career for someone to go into?

[StellaBlue]

[Rex]

1. Depends on what age group you want to teach.

nt

[ulysses]

2. depends.

What are they looking for in a career?

[blonndee]

3. Depends on a lot of things!

First of all, what it is that will make that "someone" happy. Secondly, whether they'd be any good at it.

[electron_blue]

4. define 'teaching' and 'someone'

Do you mean college teaching? K-12? And what is important to this 'someone'?

[panader0]

5. Okay. the money is not that good

More than a Peace Corp vounteer, maybe. But there is a opportunity to open the minds of your students.

[Jamastiene]

28. I love teachers who do that.

My art teacher was talking about controversial art this past semester and mentioned that all these wars are killing kids and ripping innocent lives apart. She went from normal size to ten feet tall in my eyes when she did that. I have had other teachers who have shocked other students by being openminded, but just became heroes in my mind for it. I like your thoughts on this topic.

[femmocrat]

32. Those teachers are incredibly brave to speak out in today's climate.

[w8liftinglady]

6. My youngest son wants to be a science teacher.

He is such a kind,giving person-he would make a wonderful teacher.I hope he pursues it.

[StellaBlue]

7. Usual person, usual reasons.

Well travelled, life experienced, late 20s career changer who doesn't want the usual profit-driven, 9-5 rat race jobs, has love of learning, considering teaching high school Engish and/or History. Wants decent, predictable salary, decent, "safe" retirement, challenging but interesting work, desires to share knowledge and enthusiasm with others. Loves travel, reading, politics, rock and roll. Has been considering this career off and on for years. Didn't make the jump because of hearing teachers' horror stories and seeing the retention rates - oh, and NCLB and underfunding.

[ulysses]

8. how's his or her patience?

[StellaBlue]

9. Average

Better with long-term issues (e.g. getting a point to make sense to someone) than disciplinary (e.g. crazed students acting like fools).

[ulysses]

13. well, it can be learned. :)

I voted yes, but it's not for everyone.

[peacebird]

14. two cousins and a friend all teach - the cousins each for over 20 years

All say same thing - NCLB has rendered teaching into rote memorization, little leeway given to plan classes to actually entice kids into the love of learning. A lot of pressure to "get the scores up" at the cost of actually teaching kids to think or reason.

One left the profession this year - the other two speak bitterly about how it used to be,

They were all good, dedicated people who got into teaching for the joy of it with eyes open to the low salaries....

[femmocrat]

33. Sounds like an excellent candidate, IMO.

A variety of life experiences is an excellent preparation for the many unforeseen events that happen. No two days are the same in teaching!

[teach1st]

10. You really have to love teaching...

If you love it, it's great, no matter what crap the political-types try to weasel into the schools. I know some teachers who don't love teaching. They're not to happy.

[StellaBlue]

12. What do they love about it?

And is it intrinsic or related also to their school/administration/students/geography?

[teach1st]

18. Many things...

It's great to work with kids all day. They keep me feeling young, on my toes, and I think I still have something to offer them. I feel as if I'm doing something real and positive. Although I love my school, it's not related to my school or where I teach or administration. I've only worked with less well-off kids, so I don't know if that has any bearing.

Basicaly, each day is different. I'm rarely bored (except during standardized test administration). To me teaching is an art as well as a science, and so I'm being an artist all day. It's kind of like jazz, I would imagine. I'm always riffing. The kids let me know if I'm off-key.

[theoldman]

11. My daughter has been teaching for the past year.

So far she has enjoyed her job. I think it all depends on where you are teaching. If you are in a poor neighborhood in the city it must be a tough job.

[proud patriot]

15. Good job

2 months off a year as well as
paid Winter break and paid spring break ..

:thumbsup:

plus I find that working with kids keeps me young.

[maynard]

23. no paid vacations

Teachers are not paid for vacations. They are salaried and that salary is split over 12 months.

Our district (9 month schools) got out June 9 and I am going back August 1 to get things set up. I wish I had two months off of school. I have spent the last two weeks working on our "Power Standards" that will help the students pass their tests. NCLB has made us teach to the test. I also teach Special Education. We have a higher turnover rate that regular education. 50% of all new teachers leave the profession within 5 years. The amount of work I have to do outside of school in order to stay up with what is required of me is unbelievable.

[catmother]

16. my friend is almost 49. he starts subing in september. high

school english. i think he'll be great. he still looks like a kid. he knows he won't get rich, but he'll hopefully make a difference. BTW he's in new jersey.

[w8liftinglady]

17. I find a lot of parallels in teaching and nursing as careers

you'll never get rich doing either one,and you really do have to allow yourself to accept many different lifestyles and ways of life.However-when i see an old patient who thanks me for saving their life,it beats any feeling in the world.i bet teaching is a lot like that.

[maynard]

19. student loans

If he has a lot of student loans, he will spend many years trying to break even. Here in Nevada, new teachers have a difficult time making it financially. NCLB has made teaching here a nightmare. I have been teaching for 24 years. Because of the cost of health insurance, I will never be able to retire. Clark County School District is the 5th largest in the nation and the politics here make Washington politics very tame. I love teaching because I experience behind me. When I see the new teachers forced to quit due to finances, politics on the state, district, and building levels, I totally understand. It was not like this 24 years ago.

If he still wants to teach, he should go for it. He just needs to remember to listen and follow the advice of veteran teachers. They will be what helps him make it as a teacher.

Yes, I sound gloomy right now. I am preparing to go back to school in a couple of weeks and I need to toughen up my hide to deal with the politics within my own building. It was very ugly last year with some new teachers who decided that they had all the answers and the veterans were full of shit. Unfortunately the principal was new and young. She bought into it all. I had a hard time because I had surgery with complications at the end of the summer and the youngsters took advantage of my weak physical state. Not this year. Those chicks are going down! 80% of what I will be doing next year is politics, testing, testing, testing, testing of kids, a lot of paperwork and documentation. Teaching will be a side job.

That is what he will have to look forward to. Good luck. I still like teaching, despite all of that.

[nealmhughes]

20. Get ready to lose any idealism, though.

The pay is adequate, i.e., you can put food on the table and run the car, but don't count on any trips to Europe every year. The retirement is actually pretty good, overall, and since it is under a state or district or union or professional association, it can't be hijacked.

One the other hand, there is a high continual demand, but more and more districts are requiring MA's (or is it MS's in education?). A lot of ed classes are BS. They change theories in vogue every 4 or 5 years, in order to keep from repeating themselves.

The only thing to help you teach is to care about what you teach, about the students and not let them walk over you. It's your classroom, not theirs. Have fun with them, though, don't make it be a drudge. If the kids can write already, start the basics of formal English composition as soon as possible.

I've never taught in an elementary or high school, but I put up with 3 years of freshmen at a very large public university trying my darndest to have a little mercy on kids who started formal essays with "I think" or else changing the text cited (if they bothered to cite) around by a few words. I don't think they were plagarists by intent, just their high school comp teachers had no idea of what their students would be needing in the very near future. Be prepared for the most awkward deeply personal revelations from your students. "I'm sorry I was late, Mr. Hughes, but my mom made me get another abortion last week..."

[B Calm]

21. I know teachers and lawyers who are driving trucks. Truck driving

is a good career...

[pitohui]

22. well it's union so $$$ and benefits are good

i have some friends who are teachers who just love it for the benefits (vacations, sabbaticals, etc.) but they must be v. patient, one of them is a special ed teacher...in new orleans...but this lady is just very relaxed and doesn't let stress get to her, for her it's great

i sure couldn't do it tho, i would be a little ball of misery and tension

i don't agree w. poster upthread who says you can't go to europe, i know a music teacher who goes to italy routinely both on her own time and as part of her duties w. the high school chorus -- so choose your major well, i guess, language and music will probably get more excuses to travel than, say, algebra!

[GOPisEvil]

24. You could try subbing to see if it's for you.

:shrug:

Not that I know or anything.

[mia]

25. I enjoy it!

It's usually fun and never boring. Behavior problems are the biggest challenge
in the public schools.

[LA lady]

26. Do you always end sentences with a preposition?

If you do, please chose another profession.;-)

I taught for a few years. It takes tremendous patience if you are working with younger children. The hardest thing to accept was not "loving" all the children. I worked through that but I quit when I felt I could not treat them equally. Unfortunately, others don't always make that decision. You will see behaviour (from teachers and students) that will almost destroy your faith in mankind.

[StellaBlue]

29. Actually, I would never do that in writing

Except on here! I view this as more akin to speaking, and fast-paced... but if I was posting some of kind of long diatribe or political philosophy commentary, I would proofread it before posting.

:hi:

My mom taught me never to end a sentence with a preposition. That is something up with which she will not put.

[femmocrat]

27. Veteran teacher here! Ask me anything!

I'm also the mother of a soon-to-be student teacher.

[StellaBlue]

30. Okay, would you recommend it to someone?

Or is it so f*cked up by NCLB, etc. that it's not a good career option unless one is a martyr?

[femmocrat]

31. It depends on the potential teacher! Martyrdom is not a requirement!

NCLB is a pain, but the administrators will worry about the compliance aspects. If you teach a subject that is tested (math, language, whatever), it is a good idea to adapt curriculum and "teach to the test" just to keep them off your back. I think the NCLB will be modified consirably when the democrats regain power, and TIIC realize that NO district can be 100% proficient.

Would I recommend it? Yes... and I did to my son who will be student teaching in secondary English this fall. It is stressful, but then so is working for min. wage ... You cannot beat the benefits package and vacation perks. I have friends who are making more in salary, but are paying so much for their health-care, that they are having a hard time. It is no longer a "free ride," and teachers will be kicking in more and more, but for a young person starting out, it is a great deal. There may even be ways to forgive parts of your student loans, and most districts (around here at least) offer some financial aid for those working on their additional credits. Our district even pays for teachers to add additional fields of certification.

[Xipe Totec]

34. What do you value most?

Answer that question, honestly, and the answer you your own question will be obvious.

Pursue that which makes you happiest, no matter what it is.

[GalleryGod]

35. If You Don't LOVE it, Stay out.

:smoke: Seriously.

[Xithras]

36. IIRC, something like half of teachers quit in the first 5 years.

Or something like that. My wife is a elementary teacher in a low income school and she's mentioned the number before....the percentage is HUGE. I'm a college prof, which has its own rewards and problems, but I assume you're referring to K-12.

It's a good, rewarding career but you need to have a real understanding of what you're getting into. Understand that you will never be paid extremely well. Understand that bright, happy children who soak up knowledge are a pipe dream. Understand that parent's will scream at you for even INSINUATING that little Johnny got an F because he didn't apply himself. Understand that teachers have a HUGE paperwork load...everything from lesson plans to grading (more than half of my wifes workday is dedicated to paperwork). Understand that most kids dislike school, and that as a teacher YOU are a part of what they dislike. Understand that you will NEVER have the funds to buy all of the classroom materials you actually need (my wife and I spend about a thousand bucks a year on stuff for her class).

And above everything else, understand that being a teacher is a difficult job, and that "thank you's" are very rare.