Re: Am I making a huge mistake?
Posted by sincere on 5/10/08
With a quick read of your statement, my immediate thought is
that perhaps you need to consider teaching elementary
school...where students would love your interest in science and
would be spellbound with investigating science concepts... On 5/09/08, career changer wrote:
> I too changed careers 5 years ago (at the age of 45) to teach
> science. This is the best response I have read to those that
> ask whether or not a person should go into teaching. My
> parents were both in the education field and tried for years
> to talk me out of becoming a teacher. I didn't listen to them
> and finally made the switch. Even if you think you know what
> it will be like...you don't until you are 'in the trenches'.
> Is it a hard job? YES. Is it frustrating? YES. Do I regret it?
> Sometimes, but as much as I complain about the kids, they do
> make it worth it in the end.
>
> Good luck
>
> On 5/08/08, ACP wrote:
>> Been there done that. The romantic notion of teaching is
> what
>> attracts most to the profession. The unconditional love of
>> kids is what keeps teachers in the profession.
>>
>> You have to be a people and kid person to be a teacher. If
>> you get into teaching to stroke your ego by showing the world
>> what you know, you will quickly get disillusioned and burned
>> out. You will not be able to see the little wins and the
>> little glints in the children's eyes. You will not be able
> to
>> suppress your embarrassment, anger, and rebuttals when the
>> students purposely and sometimes unconsciously make you the
>> object of their sarcasm, joke, vulgarity, and power
> struggles.
>> You will be miserable! On the other hand, if you truly love
>> the quirkiness, silliness, goofiness, naivety, warped view of
>> life, and morbid compulsive curiosity with bodily functions
>> and reproduction; and if you can keep the big picture and
>> accept that you might influence a student in ways that won't
>> manifest themselves for years to come, then you might be a
>> good or even great teacher.
>>
>> K-12 science is not earth shattering research and deep
>> experimentation. How many times can you talk about simple
>> machines, the rock and water cycle, the major organs of the
>> body, and the scientific process before you get tired of it?
>> You say you don't have a background in science so you will
>> have to take a number of classes to obtain "highly qualified"
>> status. You will have a masters degree when you are finished
>> that will net you a few thousand more than the person next to
>> you just out of a 4 year education program and tens of
>> thousands under what masters in many other professions earn.
>> The hours are long, the big wins are few and far between, the
>> appreciation is low, the support seems lacking or nonexistent
>> at times. Parents will frequently not support you and you
>> will go home at nights pulling your hair out.
>>
>> With all of that said, if you can get into a high school AP
>> physics position, you will be dealing with the upper tier
> kids
>> and able to pursue more academically challenging concepts
> with
>> fewer behavioral issues. But again, don't expect the
>> enthusiasm and passion that you are feeling right now now or
>> to be shared by your clientèle.
>>
>> After twenty five years in the IT industry and frustrated
> with
>> big business, I am now making 1/4 the money trying to teach
> 13
>> year olds how to find area of rectangles. I am happier now
>> than I have been in 15 years, but I must preface this by
>> saying that I am financially OK and I do it because I want
> to.
>> It is not a job I have to do so if I get tired or overly
>> frustrated I will just stop doing it.
>>
>> Your mileage may vary. Only you can decide if you have the
>> right personality to jump into this boat. Yes you will
> change
>> the world, but it will be done in minuscule and often
>> imperceptible increments and you will receive very little
>> recognition and appreciation for your efforts. Your
>> motivation and gratification must come from within if you are
>> to be happy in this profession.
>>
>> Good luck in whatever you decide.
Posts on this thread, including this one
- Am I making a huge mistake?, 5/08/08, by secondary thoughts.
- Re: Am I making a huge mistake?, 5/08/08, by ACP.
- Re: Am I making a huge mistake?, 5/09/08, by career changer.
- Re: Am I making a huge mistake?, 5/10/08, by sincere.
- Re: Am I making a huge mistake?, 5/10/08, by zodea.
- Re: Am I making a huge mistake?, 5/15/08, by <3 2 teach.
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