Just plain old high school or middle school or elementary school. I’m curious because it seems like on College Confidential, very rarely do you hear someone talk about teaching as a career (at least compared to things like medicine, law, stem, etc). Even people I know have an attitude towards teaching that’s a bit like “Why would you do THAT? You have so much potential, etc etc.” Wondering if anyone out there has seen this attitude and/or if they themselves are considering teaching.
Nope nope nope nope and nope. I think it has horrible pay and in general I have found most elementary and middle school teachers to be moronic in my experience. Really people I consider to be not moronic are the ones that go into college/university teaching because of the decent pay and the actual ability to innovate and do big things. Possibly high school but again terrible pay.
Me! I’m interested in teaching, I’ve been thinking math at the high school level. I really like explaining math and trying to make it as clear as possible, although I’m not really sure I’d actually be any good at teaching.
Another thing about teaching that kinda concerns me is the fact that it’s significantly easier to get a teaching credential in the state you went to college, so I’d be a little strapped down in terms of which state I’d live in. I know it’s not impossible to go to school in one state and teach in another or anything, just that it’s easier.
I’m a total math nerd but I don’t think I’m smart enough for research math or a PhD in math sort of thing anyway, as far as any sort of “wasting potential” goes, lol.
Our oldest daughter is a senior planning to go into elementary education. She is a high achiever and an idealist who believes she can make a huge difference in lives that are very impressionable. She knows she isn’t going to get paid what she could in many other professions but is ok with that and the thought of being a difference maker with individuals. Completely different thought processes/direction than my technical orientation but I get it. As she has said, there’s more to life than money.
Not personal intrested, but I definatley teaching is an amazing thing to aspire to. We really do need more passionate teachers out there who really love and are good at what they do. It’s amazing how much influence one teacher can have on so many students. I don’t think its a ‘waste of potential’ at all and power to anyone who can control 30+ kids simultaneously!
@chargerparent Kudos to your daughter, that’s really inspiring. And “there’s more to life than money”- so true! Wish more people thought that way.
@Madeline25 I totally agree, it sometimes seems that other than parents, teachers have the biggest hand in shaping kids
@DogsAndMath23 That’s true about the state credentials thing! & fellow math nerd here, lol
I’m a math major, and I’ve often considered becoming a high school math teacher because explaining math is pretty much my favorite thing to do. The pay doesn’t worry me as much as the fact that I have social anxiety and I don’t think I could manage a class at all.
Please, if you’re smart and able to communicate, be a teacher. I’m a community college instructor. My wife teaches high school. We know so many morons who became teachers. The country would be better if more smart kids believed that teaching is noble
I can relate, @halcyonheather , my fear is that I wouldn’t be able to properly handle a class (well, one fear). I’m also not a very good public speaker, though that’s something I’d like to get over regardless.
I’m looking into the program that some california colleges offer where you can get a degree and teaching credential in four years, so if teaching doesn’t work out you still have a four year degree in something like math to fall back on.
My high school actually has a really high amount of teachers who used to be students. I mean, two of our three AP Euro teachers were originally students of the third teacher. Of the 13 teachers I’ve had so far, at least four of them went to school here. So maybe my school favors former students in hiring? I think I’d like teaching at my school, though I’d have to get over the feeling of being stuck in high school forever, haha.
There is a pretty serious teacher shortage looming because fewer students are getting teaching credentials.
Our elementary district is a desirable place to work, because our raises have been above average. But, we have hired many of the teachers we like from our substitute pool, and there are fewer new teachers available. Our list of available substitutes is getting smaller, and other local districts have also raised the daily rate they will pay subs. We have talked with parents who volunteer in classrooms about taking the CBEST so that they can work as subs.
California will probably pass legislation next year to create a plan to forgive student loans for teachers.
For what it’s worth,
I’ve been teaching high school math since 1980. It’s the only career in the world for me. I love what I do. I deal with some pretty amazing kids-- and some kids who simply have yet to find their own “amazing.”
Both my husband and I teach in Catholic schools, so we’re not paid quite as much as our public school peers. (But there are other perks-- I’ve been at the same school for the majority of my career, and it’s absolutely the right place for me.) That said, we live a comfortable enough lifestyle. Last year’s vacation was a week upstate; we’re hoping for a return to Disney World this summer.
As far as your degree goes: the best programs are those that allow you to spend time in a classroom from your first or second semester onward. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you know anything about teaching because you’ve spent your life in a classroom; the perspective is totally different. (My favorite analogy on the subject: I’ve given birth twice. That doesn’t mean I have a clue of what it’s like to be an OB-GYN. The experience was shared, but the perspective was different.)
Be cautious about programs that will allow you to get your Masters in 5 years. Yes, many states (including NY) will demand that you eventually get that Master’s to complete your certification. But most schools and districts pay on a scale-- experience on one axis and number of graduate credits on another. The problem is that you can’t predict success in a classroom based on credits-- only experience can tell that. (We’ve ALL had teachers who knew their stuff but who simply could NOT explain it or control a class.) So some districts are very hesitant to pay extra money for that Master’s without a good indication that you’ll be successful in a classroom.
As to the teacher shortage-- be very careful about believing those claims. Thousands of teachers have been laid off in the past few years. The colleges are still cranking out class after class after class of graduates, and many parts of the country are experiencing a real glut of teachers. That doesn’t mean you should avoid following your dream, it means you need to be smart about it. Elementary Ed has always been a near-impossible job market, so pair your Elementary Ed degree with a minor in literacy or ESL or something else to give you a leg up on the competition. Secondary English and Social Studies have always been brutal, so get some college experience working with a local school on yearbook or Debate or Model Congress. Every wannabe doctor who washed out of medical school has always picked up Bio certification, but it’s always been impossible to find a qualified Physics or Chem or Secondary math teacher. Many of those claims about a teacher shortage tend to come from the colleges-- the very ones who have the most to gain by having more people apply for teacher education programs. Ask anyone who has looked for a teaching job in the past 30 years or so, and in most parts of the country you’ll find that the shortage has been grossly overstated.
If you’re considering teaching, speak to some current teachers. Learn about the highs and the lows of this career I love so much. But go into it with your eyes wide open. It’s not about the summers off, or the ability to be in charge. It’s not about the pay or the hours. It’s about dealing with some wonderful kids, about believing in them and watching them grow.
@bjkmom Thanks for all the insights!
I was also wondering: is it possible to become certified in teaching both secondary English and Math? If so, would it be worth the extra effort? (in order to keep options open, have a better chance at finding a job, etc)
Possible? Sure. Take a look at the State Education department website of your home state to see what they require in the way of certification.
And attaching a Secondary Math certification to just about any other makes you a far stronger candidate. But be aware: if you’re hired because of that Math certification, you may find it hard to break into the English department. Once they have you pegged as a strong math teacher, they may not want to lose you from that position.
I think I would like to become a teacher one day, maybe if I want to change careers (I kind of have my mind set on becoming a neurologist). I’ve had a couple of amazing teachers so far in high school who’ve really helped me open my eyes and change my perception of subjects and just life in general. I realized the power of teachers to completely affect how students feel about a subject or a career, and it would be absolutely wonderful to have a similar positive impact on students. I don’t think my parents would be very happy with the decision, though.
I sure hope so. Education is one of the true equalizers in our world. We need teachers. It is a hard job, our society (and some posters here who I won’t name) does not seem to value these public servants, and that is a crying shame.
We in America are entitled to a free and public education–if you stop and think about what a tall order that is, we should be proud of the fact that so many kids in our country, including many of the very high functioning students who post on this website, benefit from this opportunity.
If you want to be a teacher, you should feel proud of that decision.
I don’t think the primary problem is the salary, actually - you make a decent salary as a teacher, not massive amounts but enough to be middle class. The biggest problem is that teachers are not well-considered - they’re even used as scapegoats by politicians, somehow equated with a privileged class despite evidence to the contrary (teacher’s income vs. hedge fund’s income, teacher’s lifestyle vs. executive lifestyle…) and many people see them as their servants, as not as valuable as people who make money in business. The testing craze has made them less autonomous as people in charge trust commercial tests rather than classroom teachers. So, rather than salary, the problem in my opinion is society’s respect, irrational emphasis on multiple choice tests, and the public discourse.
Let’s just say that that hasn’t been my experience over the last 35 years in the classroom.
Im interested in teaching middle or high school math as a career. I love teaching and explaining things and I have loved all of my math classes, so I feel like teaching math would work well for me, although who knows, things could change when I get to college. My math teachers have been wonderful and have inspired me to be one as well.
@misschoding let me know if there’s any way I can help.
@bjkmom Thank you!