Give me the pros and cons of becoming a teacher

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Maryland Teachers Chatboard

Give me the pros and cons of becoming a teacher

by Joan Weintraub

Feb 12, 2011

After a career as a university administrator and a technical recruiter I am seriously considering becoming a K- 12 (preferably K-5) teacher in Maryland. I have a master's degree in counseling and a bachelor's degree in history and would like to hear from veteran teachers on the pros and cons of becoming a teacher at this stage of my life. Really appreciate any feedback you can give me. Thanks!

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DEVIL CONS Many more CONS nowadays. The only way you may scape is if you go into Special Ed., so good luck!

On 2/12/11, Joan Weintraub wrote: > After a career as a university administrator and a > technical recruiter I am seriously considering becoming a K- > 12 (preferably K-5) teacher in Maryland. I have a master's > degree in counselin...See More

Feb 12, 2011

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Kathy I am a career-changer. I have been teaching for 9 years now, and I love it.

PROS: I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same geeky stuff I am. I get to talk with teenagers and influence their lives. I have a nice salary with nice benefits I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same geeky stuff I am. I co...See MoreI am a career-changer. I have been teaching for 9 years now, and I love it.

PROS: I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same geeky stuff I am. I get to talk with teenagers and influence their lives. I have a nice salary with nice benefits I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same geeky stuff I am. I continue to learn new things and new ways of doing things. I get to learn from my colleagues and my students. I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same geeky stuff I am.

CONS: The bathroom is way down the hall and I have 5 minutes between classes to get there and back. I never have 5 minutes between classes to get there and back. When faced with a tough decision or problem, I don't get to take a walk outside and think about it. My supervisors have risen exponentially: department chair, VP, Principal, Department Supervisor, students, parents of students, parents of other students, neighbors, and the state of Maryland. (We won't talk about how it can go national - look at California where they posted teacher effectiveness.) I see my students and their parents everywhere. I have had unplanned parent teacher conferences in the lingerie department at Wal-Mart. I'm taking a break right now from grading papers. I can't take a sick day without first doing all the work I would have done had I been at work. When I come back from a sick day, I have all the work I would have completed still waiting for me. I am very lucky that I am in a new school - the last school had poor lighting, low ceilings, low technology, and too many people cramming the halls.

I've come up with many more CONS, but the human brain usually find those easier to come up with. Would I do something else? Would I change the last 9 years? NO. I love what I do. I love the teens I get to teach. There are a lot of people in the school system that do not have the same breadth of experience that career changers have. Many of the teachers I work with have parents who were/are teachers. They think that school is the way the world works. I came from a retail industry and worked for my father's business for quite a few years before going back to school for my degree in Secondary Education.

When you become a teacher, find the best teacher in the building and listen to what they have to say. Mix that with your own experience and enthusiasm. Realize also that each teacher has his or her own leadership style - find what works with you and make it work with your students.

Feb 13, 2011

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what about the shortage of jobs-a major CON. nfm On 2/13/11, Kathy wrote: > > I am a career-changer. I have been teaching for 9 years now, > and I love it. > > PROS: > I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same > geeky stuff I am. > I get to talk with teenagers and influence their lives. > I have a nice salary with nice benefits > I get to talk to o...See MoreOn 2/13/11, Kathy wrote: > > I am a career-changer. I have been teaching for 9 years now, > and I love it. > > PROS: > I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same > geeky stuff I am. > I get to talk with teenagers and influence their lives. > I have a nice salary with nice benefits > I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same > geeky stuff I am. > I continue to learn new things and new ways of doing things. > I get to learn from my colleagues and my students. > I get to talk to other adults who are interested in the same > geeky stuff I am. > > CONS: > The bathroom is way down the hall and I have 5 minutes between > classes to get there and back. > I never have 5 minutes between classes to get there and back. > When faced with a tough decision or problem, I don't get to take > a walk outside and think about it. > My supervisors have risen exponentially: department chair, VP, > Principal, Department Supervisor, students, parents of students, > parents of other students, neighbors, and the state of Maryland. > (We won't talk about how it can go national - look at California > where they posted teacher effectiveness.) > I see my students and their parents everywhere. > I have had unplanned parent teacher conferences in the lingerie > department at Wal-Mart. > I'm taking a break right now from grading papers. > I can't take a sick day without first doing all the work I would > have done had I been at work. > When I come back from a sick day, I have all the work I would > have completed still waiting for me. > I am very lucky that I am in a new school - the last school had > poor lighting, low ceilings, low technology, and too many people > cramming the halls. > > I've come up with many more CONS, but the human brain usually > find those easier to come up with. > Would I do something else? Would I change the last 9 years? > NO. I love what I do. I love the teens I get to teach. There > are a lot of people in the school system that do not have the > same breadth of experience that career changers have. Many of > the teachers I work with have parents who were/are teachers. > They think that school is the way the world works. I came from > a retail industry and worked for my father's business for quite > a few years before going back to school for my degree in > Secondary Education. > > When you become a teacher, find the best teacher in the building > and listen to what they have to say. Mix that with your own > experience and enthusiasm. Realize also that each teacher has > his or her own leadership style - find what works with you and > make it work with your students.

Feb 14, 2011

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Feb 14, 2011

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