Attn: Teachers! What are the pros and cons of your job?

[Byrd]

I agree with Minnie3, teaching is hard work! It is also the most rewarding thing a person can do in life, other than be a parent. You will be with your students as much as most parents are daily.
I will be starting my 31st year in August, and I still get excited about what I do! It is not a job, but a calling.
The pay here is not the best. I have a MEd and a SpEd above my master's, and still only make 53,000. I do pay for some supplies with my own money, but we do get $200 back from the state each year to help out. I write grants for my classroom to bring in additional materials and technology. So you don't have to spend all of your own money on your classroom.
My favorite thing to do is be a second grade teacher, and then do Disney.
Good luck to you! I know that you will love teaching.
Byrd

 

[Tasha+Scott]

I do pay for some supplies with my own money, but we do get $200 back from the state each year to help out. I write grants for my classroom to bring in additional materials and technology. So you don't have to spend all of your own money on your classroom.

That is definitely good to know!!!

 

[ilovedale3]

I agree with the pros and cons that everyone has stated so far. I just have a word of warning for you. Please make sure that there is a need in your area for elementary ed teachers. Unfortunately, in my area, elementary school teachers are quite plentiful, and therefore are not as in demand as someone with a special ed or middle grades certification.

I graduated from college in December with a BS in Early Childhood Education. I am certified by my state to teach pre-K through fifth grade. However, though I have lots of experience as a long-term sub for several different elementary grades, I have yet to find a full-time position (and believe me, I have applied, gone to job fairs, and jumped through lots of hoops in the past year to secure a position). I am very discouraged and really not sure what the future holds for me, even though I was sure that teaching was what I was called to do.

I know everyone's situation is different based on where you live, but I just wanted to warn you that these "teacher shortages" that people hear about are not always for ALL teachers. With all that said, I am rooting for you!

 

[Caradana]

Tasha - my advice - the major doesn't matter. Whether you major in elementary or secondary is really irrelevant. You'll find a way to teach whatever you want when the time comes. Don't worry about governmental budget cuts or any of that. For now, go back to school, buckle down, pick a major, and FINISH.

You don't have to love your major. Most people didn't. But to live life as a high school grad in the Deep South is to restrict yourself to a certain subset of jobs and a certain kind of life. Give yourself the flexibility to pursue more options by FINISHING.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

ilovedale3~ Sorry you are having trouble finding something! And thanks for the advice! I will look into the demand before I take any classes that won't transfer into secondary ed. just in case! I do believe there is more of a demand for secondary ed. teachers here but I don't know how the demand is for elem. teachers.

Dana~ I agree. I am more concerned with just working toward a degree at this point. I am going into education either way but am not going to worry about which one for at least the next 2 semesters anyway. I still have quite a few academic classes to get out of the way since a lot of the classes I took before were not the right academics for an education major. I have had a couple of decent jobs here based on my schooling that I have acquired but nothing that I felt committed to. Hopefully I am on the right path to change that though!

 

[Donaldnut]

Here's a pro and lets hope that it lasts: As a teacher your can get the teacher's rate at the swan and dolphin. This year it was/is $149 for the value season and $169 for peak season. I was able to book three rooms during Christmas break and the price was better than a moderate at that time. Good Luck in whatever area you decide to major in! Teaching is a passion for many!

 

[teacherforhi]

I've learned I need to move! If I stay here for 30 years, I'll top out at less than $50,000!

I agree with what most of said, but wanted to add a caution about going into special education. Special ed is in a state of flux right now. Due to No Child Left Behind, many special education teachers (me included) are being told that we are no longer qualified to do our jobs. I have two education degrees, but that isn't good enough. Each state gets to make the final determination as to what makes these teachers qualified, so I would make sure that you find out what that is, whether it be taking an extra test or having dual certification.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Here's a pro and lets hope that it lasts: As a teacher your can get the teacher's rate at the swan and dolphin. This year it was/is $149 for the value season and $169 for peak season. I was able to book three rooms during Christmas break and the price was better than a moderate at that time. Good Luck in whatever area you decide to major in! Teaching is a passion for many!

Oh, I forgot about that one! I love the Dolphin! Hmmm, maybe that was the only pro I needed!? Just kidding! Or am I?

 

[Tasha+Scott]

I've learned I need to move! If I stay here for 30 years, I'll top out at less than $50,000!

I agree with what most of said, but wanted to add a caution about going into special education. Special ed is in a state of flux right now. Due to No Child Left Behind, many special education teachers (me included) are being told that we are no longer qualified to do our jobs. I have two education degrees, but that isn't good enough. Each state gets to make the final determination as to what makes these teachers qualified, so I would make sure that you find out what that is, whether it be taking an extra test or having dual certification.

I have great respect for special ed teachers but I feel they are not treated with the respect they deserve in the school systems around here. Aside from that I also don't think it is for me and you just gave me another reason not to consider it! I hope that everything works out for you though since you sound more that qualified to me!

 

[paigevz]

Ahhh, girl, don't you know we don't need special ed anymore? All the kids are above average now, and prepared for each next grade level because we're not leaving any behind!

Big, big push in my state (hello) for bilingual Spanish/English teachers........however, the pendulum swings, and we may not have bilingual anymore ten years down. It's frustrating when you teach for a while and it goes back and forth..............this year we hate this, it's a horrible way, let's do something innovative.........five years later, this new stuff doesn't work, let's go back to basics...........and back again. When I went into teaching, early childhood was a big area..........before 9/11, we were getting ready to open 4 year Pre-K into others besides just the low income and ESL children, and start a 3 year program............we already had the background done.............9/11 killed all extra funding(diverted to defense), and we had to scrap anything new.

Parents have become more abusive where I am...............they've always complained, but now they're calling names, threatening, and there's always the constant "I'm calling my lawyer"...............the best way to handle that is to know the law, carry insurance (be in an Association that offers legal support.........and this is for subs and student teachers too), and keep sticking to your legalese........"I am not allowed to discuss other students with you. I will be glad to talk about YOUR child, and how we can help her." "I'm sorry, Aunt Sally, I can not discuss your niece with anyone except her parents or guardians. I'll be happy to meet with you and her mother or father, but I cannot discuss anything without them present." Be sure and watch those IEPs! A lot of teachers don't pay attention and get themselves in trouble by not doing what the child needed.

Soccerchick had great pros and cons. I loved the renewal one. I get just excited at the beginning of each year. Other jobs don't have that. Also, there are tremedous advantages for your child, as well as the disadvantages already discussed.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I am a sped teacher and in my state you only needed to have 20hrs in each core subject that you teach to be highly qualified. That is b/c we have to take so many courses to reamain certified.
Sped is great for may obvious reasons. But it is bad for all the same reasons. It depends on what type of sped in which you certify. Moderate Sped is mostly kids with LD and you can and do seem to make a difference and that is my certification. I am the type of person who wants to see results and KNOW I have made a difference a child's future. Many of my kids go on to regular ed and are very successful and independent.

Severe sped is just a labor of love. YOu must go in KNOWING that maybe you will spend the whole year teaching a child to hold a fork or notice what the weather is like outside. I really admire the teacher who deal with severe sped.

The pros of teaching have already been stated.


I must say the cons are starting to become more and more intrustive:

Politics is the biggest problem. Local, state, and federal are all culprits. Each one wants to LOOK like they are influencing education when it fact they are only grandstanding. When you get right down to it, teaching is based on a relationship 1 to 1 between teacher and child and the politicians shoudl but out!!

In our state we have MCAS and it is a joke. More and more colleges are finding that the kids from Mass need remediation when they go to higher education b/c of this test and the asinine significance put on it by people who truly do not understand child development much less sped! Teachers are teaching to the test so kids can perform well in order that the school will not be underperforming. The kids can do okay on the test but they truly do not understand what has been taught. There is no time to explore, or deviate from the curriculum frameworks and this is STIFILING young minds.

If one could just simply be left alone to just teach it would be a great job BUT the superficiality of administrators and the government would definately make me definately NOT choose this profession if I had it to do over.

 

[da-winnie-pooh]

I lasted 3 years. I taught kindergarten, and if I had to do it all over again, I would have majored in elementary (grades 1-6) as opposed to early childhood (K-3). Cons - it's hard work! You're on your feet all day, trying to keep kids' interested who are used to TV and video games. The worst con was the parents, though. Some of them literally neglected their kids for 5 years, then expected me to undo it. Sorry, life doesn't work that way. Hint, hint - if your child enters school not knowing their abc's or even their colors, they're not going to be reading in 9 months. The disrespect - "Oh, you teach? You're LUCKY! You get summer's off!" Yeah, and I can't tell you how many hours I worked during the school year - WAY more than my friends who thought I was so lucky. I know it's better now, but I spent over $1,000 out of my $18,000 pre-tax first year paycheck. Not good.

Pros - seeing sweet little faces light up when they learned. And, seeing sweet little faces light up when their friends learned. Some parents were wonderful. Some co-workers were great. Summer!

Sorry, don't mean to be a downer. I definitely was not meant to teach. Maybe you are! You sound like you've really thought it through. I loved kids, still love kids but it takes a lot more than that to be a great teacher.

Now I homeschool and I get the satisfaction of teaching without as many headaches. Without a paycheck, either, but I'm saving us about $15,000 a year by not putting my kids in private school.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Anita

 

[Grandma Bear]

In Southern California main Special Education Students are now being mainstreamed into regular classrooms due to the no child left behind act.

 

[da-winnie-pooh]

If one could just simply be left alone to just teach it would be a great job BUT the superficiality of administrators and the government would definately make me definately NOT choose this profession if I had it to do over.

What she said.

Anita

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

In Mass sped students are also being mainstreamed due to NCLB. WHAt a joke. These kids will be left behind in a big way due to this. YOU cannot take a kid with a 54 IQ and grade 1 (at best ) reading and math skills and put him/her into a grade 5 gen ed class and expect him to not be left behind. For example, the reg ed kids are tackling multi step, multi-operational word problems the sped kids are still trying to add single digit addition problems with out regrouping!! Now can someone tell me how that is NOT being left behind. Sounds good on paper but in reality it is stupid. And of course the kid trying to add 2 plus 2 is NOT going to feel really inadequate in that setting. Sure!

 

[teacherforhi]

Mainstreaming is not a new idea and people were advocating it long before NCLB. However, the difference now comes in to Sp Ed teachers not being "certified" to teach academic subjects. Since it would be next to impossible to hire enough Sp Ed teachers with the correct academic certifications, it's simpler to put the kids into regular education classrooms with special education teachers acting as support.

I'm not advocating this at all! As a matter of fact, I teach in a self-contained classroom, which is why I'm having troubles under NCLB. But at least my school system is intelligent enough to realize that the regular education setting is not automatically the best one.

 

[Grandma Bear]

Mainstreaming is not a new idea and people were advocating it long before NCLB. However, the difference now comes in to Sp Ed teachers not being "certified" to teach academic subjects. Since it would be next to impossible to hire enough Sp Ed teachers with the correct academic certifications, it's simpler to put the kids into regular education classrooms with special education teachers acting as support.

I'm not advocating this at all! As a matter of fact, I teach in a self-contained classroom, which is why I'm having troubles under NCLB. But at least my school system is intelligent enough to realize that the regular education setting is not automatically the best one.

I agree! When you 10-12 students with IEP'S in one class the impact is greatly felt!

 

[Cindy B]

Sped is great for may obvious reasons. But it is bad for all the same reasons. It depends on what type of sped in which you certify. Moderate Sped is mostly kids with LD and you can and do seem to make a difference and that is my certification. I am the type of person who wants to see results and KNOW I have made a difference a child's future. Many of my kids go on to regular ed and are very successful and independent.

Severe sped is just a labor of love. YOu must go in KNOWING that maybe you will spend the whole year teaching a child to hold a fork or notice what the weather is like outside. I really admire the teacher who deal with severe sped.

If one could just simply be left alone to just teach it would be a great job BUT the superficiality of administrators and the government would definately make me definately NOT choose this profession if I had it to do over.

I really appreciate this post.

I recently went from an in class support inclusion to working in home with non verbal autistic students. Its a different type of teaching.

Just yesterday, it took me 2 hours with another therapist there for my student to say four words. Yes, a 1/2 hour per word. Thankfully, my student is eager and is motivated.

Its very interesting work, and very patient work.

I too, have been burned by administrators and internal politics. Not only did my school go through four principals this past year, but the superintendent just quit! YIKES!

 

[Cindy B]

I agree! When you 10-12 students with IEP'S in one class the impact is greatly felt!

Yes, that is where I cam in with classrooms. There were always the "max" of inclusion students in each room. Our max was 9 in a 24-27 student classroom. All of my classes were at the maximum capacity. These were just the students with known IEP issues. There were also the students with 504's, the undiagnosed students, the students that were not "severe" enough to qualify for special ed, the ESL students, well the list goes on and on.

So, I "techincally" worked with 9. In actuality, it was about 15 of the kids that needed support.

Inclusion has its good and bad points. Some of my students were mostly in self contained, but did some inclusion classes for certain subjects. (This was a middle school). For example, they would be in self contained for language arts, math, but come to a science and history class. The self contained students were much better behaved in a full inclusion class instead of a self contained class. These students actually worked harder in the inclusion class because more of thier peers were in these classes.

The bad point was some were so far behind that they could not keep up at all. For example, in the 6th grade science class they were doing an appropriate thing of doing area L x w x h. My students could not do that unless the numbers were small! Other measurements, they could'nt do. It took them a long time to even understand the decimal in an experiment. I had to make a number line for them to understand that 5/10= 1/2 or .5

This frustrated the average or even students that were ahead. These ahead students were frequently paired with the sped students to "pair them with a peer". The ahead kids hated it!

 

[soccerchick]

I've learned I need to move! If I stay here for 30 years, I'll top out at less than $50,000!

I agree with what most of said, but wanted to add a caution about going into special education. Special ed is in a state of flux right now. Due to No Child Left Behind, many special education teachers (me included) are being told that we are no longer qualified to do our jobs. I have two education degrees, but that isn't good enough. Each state gets to make the final determination as to what makes these teachers qualified, so I would make sure that you find out what that is, whether it be taking an extra test or having dual certification.

Oh, thanks for reminding me of that! Yes, in Va and many states, Sped teachers who majored in Education or Special Education are NOT considered highly qualified under NCLB. You need to get a degree in a "regular" subject, such as history, English, or psychology, and then get your teaching certificate or Masters in Ed. with certification.

Another thing that might tip the scale to elem., middle or high school is the expectation at the HS level of sponsoring, coaching and attending multiple events such as concerts, sports games, plays, etc. The coaching and some of the sponsorships entail a modest stipend; others do not. At the elem and MS levels, there are far fewer events that go on after the regular day.

Also, get any "extra" certifications in your field that you can. I have a journalism endorsement that allowed me some leverage in going part-time. Jobs like newspaper and yearbook advisor are often hard to fill, as are foreign language teachers.