@Kadel1023 - What’s more puzzling is when the OP says they want to become a teacher, why you feel the need to tell them they shouldn’t pursue that path just because it’s not your desired option. Seems to me it should have been a thread you should have looked at, realized didn’t match your interests/knowledge, and moved on.
It’s not a surprise that those of us who love our profession stand up for it countering your “facts” as those “facts” certainly don’t carry over to everyone - or even the majority - of those we work with.
There are things to beware of (like high college debt, esp if one plans to teach in an underpaid district), but otherwise? BJKmom is absolutely right that all the rest (thankless job, stress, etc) come in ANY job - esp if one doesn’t love their job (aka picked the wrong path for them). At our school we have a much loved teacher who came from the medical field as he loved teaching more than dealing with patients. I can’t count the number of students and parents who have thanked him over the years - including myself as he was my son’s favorite teacher. I can’t think of a single teacher who doesn’t have a thank you note of some sort around there desk. I can think of oodles of teachers with multiple notes - often having to change them as years move on to have room for them. All of us have our less-than-favorite students and policies, etc, but that doesn’t make the whole job horrid. My engineering H has less-than-favorite clients and policies he has to deal with too. He also loves his job.
Anyway, OP, can you tell us a bit more of what you’re looking for in a school?
Size?
Location in terms of rural/ urban/ suburban?
A real number attached to a budget.
Distance from home. Stop and think. If you’re on the west coast and something, heaven forbid, happens to Grandma, will you be OK with not being able to be there? Are you OK with the possibility of being snowed out of a trip home for Thanksgiving? My nieces attend a school that’s a 14 hour drive from here-- Clemson. They LOVE it. But the distance would be an issue for my daughter.
Good lord! Teach! We need great educators. I know it’s cc and all roads seem to go through “on campus recruiting for investment banking” as the enlightened ideal for college attributes. It’s not and your goal is noble. Appreciated and valued. Try working in a call center, retail or gernicnoffice environment. How about the DMV. That must be a bundle of laughs. Overnight ER. Accountants. Lawyers always get a lot of love too.
There’s no perfect job. But teaching especially in an environment you enjoy and with a few extra weeks in the summer sounds pretty ok to me.
I thought teachers are always protesting and striking for better benefits? Guess I am wrong. But when strikes happen, can you talk to your union brothers and sisters on how great teaching is and how much you love teaching?
I never said teaching is bad or am I talking down on teaching. You probably do not teach communications. I wish all teachers the best, and wish they are appreciated more. Your reply is “no, we dont need more, we are happy! We make 100K and we get thank you notes.”
I guess forget business degree or engineering, education degree is better.
You accuse me of misleading simply because I would not do it, which you are correct, and I do admit. But arent you misleading because you like it?
I apologize for what I said. Most of my teachers have been great, and I wish they are as happy as you are, and make as much. My teachers have to deal with parents blaming them for my deficiencies, or my laziness. No one in my school thank their teachers for their achievements.
Lets leave it as “I would not teach because it is not for me, but good luck with your education degree”, and “I apologize if you thought I said teachers are awful, I didnt mean as such.”
Be the bigger person and the adult and leave the poor kid alone.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
The OP is asking for advice of selecting colleges. If s/he wants advice about choosing teaching as a profession, s/he can start a separate thread. In the meantime, let’s move on from discussing whether teaching is a viable choice.
@Kadel1023 This actually was very helpful because I was able to see how experienced teachers feel about their jobs. I know the pay and stress of the job is something to consider, but this has been a dream of mine for quite some time. Thank you for your opinion as it was valued, and for sparking an interesting conversation where I was able to understand how those working in this profession feel about it!
@Kadel1023 This actually was very helpful because I was able to see how experienced teachers feel about their jobs. I know the pay and stress of the job is something to consider, but this has been a dream of mine for quite some time. Thank you for your opinion as it was valued, and for sparking an interesting conversation where I was able to understand how those working in this profession feel about it!
Oh, Macbear-- I could write volumes. If you want to start another thread about it, I’ll be happy to be more concrete. But have you thought any more about where you want to go?
And another thing to keep in mind: you’ll want a school that puts you into the classroom right away. If you can start doing observations as a freshman, great. It’s funny-- being in a class as a student is nothing like observing as a potential teacher. You’re no longer so focused on the lesson itself, though of course that’s part of what you’re seeing. But you’re looking for classroom management as well. How does the teacher handle bathroom requests? What happens if kid doesn’t have his homework? And, the $50,000 question: what does the teacher do when a bee enters the room. (ANSWER: Turn off all the lights and open all the windows. The bee will be attracted to the light.) When you observe, write down EVERYTHING–right or wrong-- that happens in that class.
Another thing: Secondary history can be a tough job market. So be sure to spend some time over the next 4 years on activities that will add to your value as a potential candidate. Can you coach Debate or Model UN at a local high school while in college? Can you minor in Special Ed or ESL or something? Think outside the box, consider the opportunities presented, with an eye towards the job market.
ESL/bilingual/special ed would be a must, indeed - and coaching debate/MUN would really help, too
And having a minor (or just a cluster of relevant courses) in psychology or geography could be useful since AP Psych and AP Human Geo are common.
Basically, make yourself relevant professionally, look at your market.
And choose a state where teachers are well-paid and respected.
If you want to go far from home but might want to return home to teach, look into reciprocity between states. Check the state requirements to get licensed in the states where you might want to work.
Also, it will change in the next 4 years but see where there are good job markets now. Best wishes! I dropped my ed major the first time and went back to get my teaching cert 20 years later. It is stressful but I love it.
