I would find something in the college level, even community college. The students at this level are paying for their education which makes teaching more rewarding.
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jims1 wrote: I would find something in the college level, even community college. The students at this level are paying for their education which makes teaching more rewarding.
You would think that, but there are many who take classes and still treat it like high school.
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Hello, I have been teaching on the elementary level for over 25 years in an inner city school north of Boston. The neighborhood has the highest reported incidences of abuse and neglect. Much of it ,I think, from our prinicipal who has been creating a community school helping children, parents, families and adults who want to learn English or get a GED holding night school classes for the past 25 years. It can be tough at times but it is also very rewarding in many ways. Here are a few of the pros and cons for me.
Cons
Constant testing and more testing and then more testing and test preping in between
Not being able to have spontaneous teaching moments about things kids are really interested in. Any subject kids really like any kind of animal, volcanoes, Salem Witchcraft Hysteria, maps( kids really love maps) and hundreds of other things due to the restrictions of state standards and state testing
Constant discipline
Parents who dont care Ie. a student who falls asleep in class constantly from lack of sleep at night as mother goes to bed at 8;00 and has no idea what her kids are doing
Constant interruptions
children who come to school hungry and not dressed for cold weather
The constant story after story about the abuse, neglect, homelessness, and just the horrible things our students have to see and experience at a tender age.
Did I mention constant testing and test preping?
Pros
Seeing the progress that students make from September to June
Just being around kids.
The letters and postcards and visits from former students. One of the best feelings of satisfaction in the world is a letter from a former student thanking you or telling you how important you were in their lives. Reading about their success. Or sometimes their troubled lives. Telling you they still think about you and will never forget being in your class.
Getting to know families and having brothers and sisters over the years from the same family. Or as is now the case for me, the children of former students.
Getting a big hug when they see you out and about even though they are teenagers.
Knowing that in a small way I am helping take care of so many children with such tramatic lives.
And just today, a 2nd grader telling me " I want to be in your class next year. Would I "Talk to the principal about it?" and "I will be the smartest 3rg grader in the school" Makes your heart melt.
I have known many people who went into teaching later in life leaving a career behind. Most of them successfully. Teaching can be the most frustrating job and a tough challenge. It can also be the most satisfying and most challenging in a good way. Good luck in your efforts and decisions.
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I haven't made any firm decisions but am really intrigued by the idea of the radical change in career.
I will address some of your comments directly but I need to get going to my current job or I will REALLY be needing to look for another MUCH sooner than I intended.
Thanks again
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Teaching jobs in my are (Southwest Virginia) are hard to come by. If you are willing to relocate, it can be a great career. I love it. However, there's an average of 200+ applicants for every job posted here.
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amandasgramma wrote: Go for it --- where else can you get a job that gives you 2 to 2 1/2 months off in the summer and a week or 2 in December and oh, yeah, spring vacation..........oh and I think you'd be a good teacher with your military background --- maybe you can get some order in the school rooms that many of the current teachers can't get.
Sure, you get a lot of time off, but you can't schedule it around life events and such. If you need a Friday off on a school day to be in a wedding it is much more difficult to get a day off.
Now, I do know a number of teachers who work at summer camps and such during their summer off. What other jobs would allow one to work at a summer camp every year and still allow one to have a normal job?
amandasgramma wrote: Go for it --- where else can you get a job that gives you 2 to 2 1/2 months off in the summer and a week or 2 in December and oh, yeah, spring vacation..........oh and I think you'd be a good teacher with your military background --- maybe you can get some order in the school rooms that many of the current teachers can't get.
Sure, you get a lot of time off, but you can't schedule it around life events and such. If you need a Friday off on a school day to be in a wedding it is much more difficult to get a day off.
Now, I do know a number of teachers who work at summer camps and such during their summer off. What other jobs would allow one to work at a summer camp every year and still allow one to have a normal job?
Not only that, but during the school year, a teacher's day is normally a full school day, plus many more hours at night grading papers and getting things ready for the next day. Weekends are spent writing lesson plans. Most people leave a job at the end of the day and they're done until the next day. Teachers take their work home with them. I've often thought how nice it would be to have a job where when you're done working, you're done working.
And, you become a role model in the community. If you're in Wal-Mart and run into your students, you're working. Go to a bar and have a few drinks with friends? Better make sure no one posts pictures of it on Facebook. I have a second job as well, and often see my students there...guess what? I'm working then too. You have to be on your best behavior anytime you're in public.
Veronica --- MUCH of what you say can apply to other professions, too. I worked for an administrator of a state agency --- we had to keep up appearances, worked 60 hour work weeks, and couldn't take the vacations we'd like to take. My daughter is a caseworker --- forget going out for drinks --- too many of her clients hanging around. Oh, and lets not forget how much government workers are abusing the system and just sitting around -- yeah, right....I worked harder at the government work than I did at ANY private job I had.
I will be completing my 25th year in the trenches this June. I love my work and working with students is very rewarding. Yes, there are jerks but the great moments outweigh the bad ones and all of the high points in my career involve students.
I don't know about other states but PA has ongoing education requirements so "summers off" is a myth. Like another reply to your post, testing is now the tail that wags the dog. All we're accomplishing is teaching kids to hate school because all we do is prep them, test them, prep some more & test some more. JMHO
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