<p>Ok, I'm going to a community college and I'm in my third year. I am planning on transferring to a Cal State next fall. I am majoring in social work and for the past 3 years that's what I've been focusing on. Recently I have been volunteering at my brother's elementary school. I have been helping his teacher out with paper work. While I'm working I watch his teacher teach the class and it has me thinking that I wouldn't mind being a teacher. I love kids and working them. I always wanted to find away to help them, but I don't know what to do. I have been planning on being a social worker for awhile. The cal state I'm transferring to has a great BASW program. After getting my bachelors, which I have 2 yrs left for, I was going to get my masters, which will take about another 2 yrs. I was now thinking of maybe double major in social work & teaching. Should I do that? Can I do that? Will it take longer? Will they work out? Hope someone can help and thanks :)</p>
<p>Just considering continuing with the straight social work major, you can specialise in your career to work just with children or young people. Working with young offenders or indeed the children of people in prison are just examples. I don’t know about the US but in the UK we have/had Educational Social Workers who would work with children/families to help keep them in school or learning. Further on in your career, you could become a trainer of social workers yourself. </p>
<p>As an employer, I think i’d find it odd hedging your bets. Maybe showing a lack of commitment to either profession, although I do understand your anxiety of making the right career choice. </p>
<p>In California, you’ve got a few different ways to become an elementary school teacher after you graduate in a non-education major. There are 1-2 year university intern programs. District interns. From working 3-5 years in a private school and using this as evidence for your credentials. Early completion internship option. Or 18+ months in the Peace Corps. Info is on the state education website.</p>
<p>Maybe try and volunteer at the roughest school you can find- one with real social deprivation and see where you feel you could be of most use. Teaching or enabling the child to learn by helping the whole family. I’m a qualified primary/elementary school teacher and had a brilliant school but heard horror stories of drug addiction, abuse etc from a colleague in another school where learning was nigh impossible because the children weren’t having basic needs met at home. As a social worker, you might be able to help a child in an even more profound way than a teacher. Something to think about :)</p>
<p>You’ll have to decide for yourself, but I can tell you that the best teacher any of my three kids ever had was a former social worker. She became a teacher so that instead of helping one kid at a time she was reaching 2 dozen at a time, every year. And she did. She was a K teacher in a low-income school with almost 100% minority enrollment (and was a minority herself). Parents told me, “Oh, your D has Ms. F. She will always do well because kids who start with her learn how to learn.” That turned out to be true.</p>
<p>I think Ms. F was such a good teacher because she not only understood child development, but the social issues that a social worker would be aware of. She also helped parents find resources for their family issues. My D is planning on teaching much like her beloved Ms. F did. She remains her role model.</p>
<p>But highland’s suggestion of becoming a school social worker is also a good path-though with the tight budgets districts have those positions are not as plentiful now. Still one such person probably saved my D an entire school year of harassment in upper elementary. Good luck to you.</p>