Elementary Education Teachers - Would you recommend your career to a young adult?

[tvguy]

I say for overall quality of life-no. Ask me again in summer though. Then it seems worth it. Right now it doesn't.

Your preferences, and your past jobs certainly play in a role in that ranking. For the folks here, vastly improved quality of life is one of the reasons they switch to teaching. Like I said, those with kids say the having the same schedule as their kids is huge. A week off at Thanksgiving, 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week off for President's day week, and 1 week off for Easter, all holidays off and 9 weeks for summer and no getting called in at 2 am or on weekends anymore.

 

[Tattylou]

As the wife of a teacher who loves his job....the downside of teaching is you have to take all your Disney trips on school vacations when it's crowded....lol lol lol. Kidding!!

 

[Snowflakey]

My DD just graduated college this past Spring and was fortunate enough to get a job teaching 3rd grade. So she is just out of college working full time in a career she has had a passion for since she was around 14. She is really enjoying it although I do have to say she is having many "eye opening" moments. She knew the obstacles she would face and is facing them with maturity and wisdom. Her and I walk 3 miles each night and I have to laugh because the entire time is her babbling about her day. I think I may be her therapy I know she wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

[MrsDuck]

I'm a high school teacher but I would wholeheartedly recommend teaching to someone who has a passion for it.

Yes, the pay sucks, we are undervalued and most certainly not appreciated, and there's a lot of politics that drains your energy but it can be so rewarding and worth it.

 

[disykat]

I do have to wonder if that is the same in almost any job. There is a reason work is called "work". Especially in jobs that have changed for the worse.

The fact that other people are dissatisfied with their work doesn't mean that people can't answer this question about their particular job. ????

 

[nugov2]

I'm a high school teacher but I would wholeheartedly recommend teaching to someone who has a passion for it.

Yes, the pay sucks, we are undervalued and most certainly not appreciated, and there's a lot of politics that drains your energy but it can be so rewarding and worth it.

Again, I don't think this is the majority of teachers. Every single teacher I know feels appreciated most of the time and makes good money for the amount of days/hours they work. The politics are ridiculous though, I agree there. I kinda feel like it is statements like that that give teachers a bad rap. My dh never has an "appreciation day" in his industry. Sometimes I feel the overall attitude perpetuated and what cause the backlash is that teachers deal with work issues others don't or are in unfair working conditions. All employees have issues with being undervalued, bad pay and bad work environments. It isn't unique to one profession. You can certainly be unlucky and be on a unsupportive district, but many are extremely supportive. I don't think those environments are as elusive as it is made out to be. I loved my district, the parents were the toughest part (more than the politics), but we had great support. I have teacher friends in rural, suburbs and the city. All have different obstacles, but all overall enjoy their job....we all have the realization that a job is just that...a job. It is always going to have good and bad things. The plus side of teaching that many others don't really have in their profession is a truly rewarding side. Seeing a child master a skill, improve in school, make friends....tons of milestones that give you joy and make the bad days worth it. Some just face the daily grind in an office and never get that feeling and why I could never have an office job. This isn't directed at the person I quoted, but there isn't a profession that complains more via online blogs, memes, Facebook posts then the teaching profession and I think it scares people away and also gives the profession a bad rap. I think it is a good career and has lots of perks.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

My daughter is a senior in high school and considering majoring in elementary education for her undergraduate degree.

I was speaking to a friend of mine the other day and she told me her daughter (same age/grade as mine) used to want to be a teacher but then she spoke to some teachers she knows and they all said they were unhappy with their careers. She told me that none of them recommended it.

I realize that it's not a career where she is going to make $200k per year but in my opinion, if you are happy with your career and feel fulfilled you will be happy with your choice. She said "there is no room for promotions and no room to move up".

Thoughts?

If you want everything you do dictated to you and you getting blamed if it doesn't work when you had no hand in determining it, then elementary education may be right for you.
If you like parents blaming you because they did absolutely nothing in Johnny's 5 years of life to prepare him for school and he's about to be held back, well education may be right for you.
If you like a boss that won't back you even if you're clearly in the right, then education may be right for you.
If you like teaching things that you know are false but have to anyway because some politician said so then education may be right for you.
If you like state budgets bloated elsewhere balanced on your back then education may be right for you.
If you like uninformed idiots in the state house and on the radio and TV saying you have a cushy job then education may be right for you.
If you like filling out request forms for stuff you should already have and then having to go buy it yourself because your request is turned down, then elementary education might be right for you.


If you are a genuine outside the box innovative thinker and have something real to offer and want to pass that on to the next generation, then

 

[DawnM]

Another thing to consider. Might she want to do something else in the field of education that isn't a direct classroom teacher? Speech therapy, school counselor, reading specialist, ESL teacher, media specialist. school psychologist, resource teacher, and social work all come to mind.....there are lots of jobs in the schools outside of the classroom.

 

[Magpie]

If you want everything you do dictated to you and you getting blamed if it doesn't work when you had no hand in determining it, then elementary education may be right for you.
If you like parents blaming you because they did absolutely nothing in Johnny's 5 years of life to prepare him for school and he's about to be held back, well education may be right for you.
If you like a boss that won't back you even if you're clearly in the right, then education may be right for you.
If you like teaching things that you know are false but have to anyway because some politician said so then education may be right for you.
If you like state budgets bloated elsewhere balanced on your back then education may be right for you.
If you like uninformed idiots saying you have a cushy job then education may be right for you.
If you like filling out request forms for stuff you should already have and then having to go buy it yourself because your request is turned down, then elementary education might be right for you.


If you are a genuine outside the box innovative thinker and have something real to offer and want to pass that on to the next generation, then

Sounds like a lot of jobs...

I worked retail for a time. I had customers blaming me for store policies that inconvenienced them, even though I had no say in their creation. I had customers blaming me for stock not coming in. I had a boss who wouldn't back me even when I was clearly in the right. I had to be polite to people I couldn't stand. I had people look down on me because I was "only" working retail. I had to fight to get my dental covered. And once I got fired, because my boss wanted to hire her best friend.

The civil service? I knew someone who had a toxic boss. I watched him work his butt off, trying to please someone who couldn't be pleased, and I saw what it did to him. I know another man in the civil service whose doctor insisted he had to take stress-leave, due to the state of his health.

I myself once had a student where every hour-long session left me with a pounding headache... but he turned out to be one of my most rewarding students, in the end! Throwing stuff at me, calling me names, under the table and won't come out... it was all worth it when he finally realized that not only could he read - he was pretty darn capable and clever, too. (He likes me now.)

I think anyone who feels the way you've written about their job - whether it's teaching or any other job - seriously needs to look into changing career paths. And most especially if you're a teacher, as your negative attitude can easily hurt the children in your care.

One of the two worst teachers my children ever had was a thoroughly embittered woman who was just a year away from retirement. She quit halfway through her last year, and it was the best thing that could have happened for everyone. A five year old with an owie on his finger needs a bandaid and a kind word, not a woman snapping harshly at him, "What are you whining about? That little scratch? That's nothing! Oh no, don't you start crying now!" (I was volunteering that day, and got the wee fellow a Bandaid myself, and dried his tears - which were entirely caused by that old harridan yelling at him.)

 

[scoutie]

This is a hard question to answer. Here is what I would have said two years ago. YES YES YES! There is nothing better than inspiring kids and sharing the love of your subject. Knowing that you are the one who could change a kid's life is an amazing feeling. I would have said YES YES YES as long they had a passion for teaching, loved kids, and knew that they would have to give up a lot of their personal time. The nights/weekends off is definitely not happening, and summers off your first five years isn't happening either, because you'll need to supplement your income with other jobs. I would have said go in with your eyes wide open and be prepared for the time of your life. For instance, last year on the last day of school, my middle schoolers put a homemade crown on my head, made me stand in front of the class, and each of them read a note on why they loved my class. They presented me with a beautiful frame that said, "The best teachers teach from the heart, not from a book" and they had all signed it. I cried...they cried...this sums up kind of the amazing thing working with kids brings you. Kids are incredible. They are so much fun.

However, now....despite the amazing kids....my job has morphed into something I don't recognize anymore. The biggest challenges used to be large class sizes, difficult parents, the occasional hard to reach kid, differentiating for gaps in learning. Now we have canned curriculum, pressure to teach to the test, being forced to do things so upper admin looks good, inputting data, analyzing data, being evaluated on growth (I teach Honors...the kids are already pretty high, so it's hard to show a significant jump on one standardized test)...it's a lot of pressure that is outweighing the benefits. I love the kids. I love my subject. But what my district expects me to do isn't what's right for kids, and so I'm looking for something else. People who know me would be shocked, because I've always been very passionate about my job and I'm good at it. Educational policies are quite honestly pushing good teachers out. All districts aren't like this...and there are some subject areas where you can still be creative and be encouraged to do what's best for kids.

 

[tvguy]

The fact that other people are dissatisfied with their work doesn't mean that people can't answer this question about their particular job. ????

Not it all, it is a discussion board.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Again, I don't think this is the majority of teachers. Every single teacher I know feels appreciated most of the time and makes good money for the amount of days/hours they work. The politics are ridiculous though, I agree there. I kinda feel like it is statements like that that give teachers a bad rap. My dh never has an "appreciation day" in his industry. Sometimes I feel the overall attitude perpetuated and what cause the backlash is that teachers deal with work issues others don't or are in unfair working conditions. All employees have issues with being undervalued, bad pay and bad work environments. It isn't unique to one profession. You can certainly be unlucky and be on a unsupportive district, but many are extremely supportive. I don't think those environments are as elusive as it is made out to be. I loved my district, the parents were the toughest part (more than the politics), but we had great support. I have teacher friends in rural, suburbs and the city. All have different obstacles, but all overall enjoy their job....we all have the realization that a job is just that...a job. It is always going to have good and bad things. The plus side of teaching that many others don't really have in their profession is a truly rewarding side. Seeing a child master a skill, improve in school, make friends....tons of milestones that give you joy and make the bad days worth it. Some just face the daily grind in an office and never get that feeling and why I could never have an office job. This isn't directed at the person I quoted, but there isn't a profession that complains more via online blogs, memes, Facebook posts then the teaching profession and I think it scares people away and also gives the profession a bad rap. I think it is a good career and has lots of perks.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I see/read about many teachers that seem to be unhappy because they feel they are under appreciated. I do believe this gives teachers a bad rap.

I can't say that I've ever heard of any other profession where so many say they are under appreciated. Does anyone's mailman ever complain about being under appreciated? How about sanitation workers, construction crews that build/maintain roadways? Probably not. And if they did few would have any sympathy for them.

If you are a teacher, that is your job. If your paycheck shows up in your bank account on time each week then you are due no further compensation. If you are unhappy with the compensation you recieve then perhaps it's time to pursue other, more lucrative careers.

 

[momtosam]

Sadly, no. Twenty years in.

 

[tarheel618]

OP my response earlier was No and still is but if your daughter has her heart set on it then I would highly encourage her to get a degree in something else and then earn her teaching credentials. For example: Math, Science degree and then earn teaching license. Many states have alternative paths to becoming a certified teacher now.

This would allow her to change jobs easier than just earning a degree in Elementary Education etc.

 

[alicat8]

Your preferences, and your past jobs certainly play in a role in that ranking. For the folks here, vastly improved quality of life is one of the reasons they switch to teaching. Like I said, those with kids say the having the same schedule as their kids is huge. A week off at Thanksgiving, 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week off for President's day week, and 1 week off for Easter, all holidays off and 9 weeks for summer and no getting called in at 2 am or on weekends anymore.

I don't know what schools get those breaks but I want them! I get 1 week at Christmas, 2 days for Thanksgiving, 2 days in February, a week in April. 8 weeks in summer, 9 on a good snow year. Other holidays outside of those are usually Columbus day, veterans day, mlk, and memorial day. And that's the reward for not being able to breathe for the 187 (official) days I do work Hours of work at home at night and on weekends. No coffee breaks, no "out to lunch", no pee breaks, expensive disney trips-all trade offs! Did I mention expensive Disney trips?

 

[tvguy]

I don't know what schools get those breaks but I want them! I get 1 week at Christmas, 2 days for Thanksgiving, 2 days in February, a week in April. 8 weeks in summer, 9 on a good snow year. Other holidays outside of those are usually Columbus day, veterans day, mlk, and memorial day. And that's the reward for not being able to breathe for the 187 (official) days I do work Hours of work at home at night and on weekends. No coffee breaks, no "out to lunch", no pee breaks, expensive disney trips-all trade offs! Did I mention expensive Disney trips?

It's been 50 years or so since I was in elementary school but Christmas break was 2 weeks even then. But like you do now, we got 2 days for Thanksgiving, not a week, Presidents Day, one day not a full week. They no longer take Columbus Day here, not politically correct.
Teachers in the San Juan district get one prep period 4 days a week, and every Thursday is a minimum day for the students so teachers can have more prep time. And being California, they HAVE to get a lunch break.

 

[alicat8]

It's been 50 years or so since I was in elementary school but Christmas break was 2 weeks even then. But like you do now, we got 2 days for Thanksgiving, not a week, Presidents Day, one day not a full week. They no longer take Columbus Day here, not politically correct.
Teachers in the San Juan district get one prep period 4 days a week, and every Thursday is a minimum day for the students so teachers can have more prep time. And being California, they HAVE to get a lunch break.

Some years we get lucky because of how Christmas/new years fall, but normally 12/24-1/2 We're hanging on to Columbus by a thread

 

[alicat8]

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I see/read about many teachers that seem to be unhappy because they feel they are under appreciated. I do believe this gives teachers a bad rap.

I can't say that I've ever heard of any other profession where so many say they are under appreciated. Does anyone's mailman ever complain about being under appreciated? How about sanitation workers, construction crews that build/maintain roadways? Probably not. And if they did few would have any sympathy for them.

If you are a teacher, that is your job. If your paycheck shows up in your bank account on time each week then you are due no further compensation. If you are unhappy with the compensation you recieve then perhaps it's time to pursue other, more lucrative careers.

I'd imagine the mailman doesn't complain about being underappreciated because every politician doesn't bash him in the news at every opportunity, blame him for a flawed system that he didn't create and has no control over, and make him obsessively collect data on his junk mail delivery to prove himself. My governor, after pandering hard for teacher votes, actually said the words "all they have to do is show up for 4 years and they have tenure." Apparently he didn't hear about the countless hours of classes, meetings, forms, projects, and observations that I did in those first 4 years. But anyway, I don't need to be told I'm appreciated. I'd just appreciate not being constantly told I'm failing.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

I'd imagine the mailman doesn't complain about being underappreciated because every politician doesn't bash him in the news at every opportunity, blame him for a flawed system that he didn't create and has no control over, and make him obsessively collect data on his junk mail delivery to prove himself. My governor, after pandering hard for teacher votes, actually said the words "all they have to do is show up for 4 years and they have tenure." Apparently he didn't hear about the countless hours of classes, meetings, forms, projects, and observations that I did in those first 4 years. But anyway, I don't need to be told I'm appreciated. I'd just appreciate not being constantly told I'm failing.

I would agree that it is a difficult and noble profession (especially in today's parenting climate) and I know that a GOOD teacher is worth their weight in gold. But my primary point was that I seem to sense a craving for accolades and unending gratitude by ~some~ teachers on forums such as this one. However I see it as any other job. A teacher is paid to teach the way their superiors tell them to teach. Not the way they themselves think is the best way to teach.

I would imagine the challenges you mentioned in your post are present in many professions. In my county and in bordering counties a teaching job is a HIGHLY SOUGHTAFTER by many graduates. Teaching salaries here are considered to be very favorable. Sadly many of those seeking such a position will never find it because of the fierce competition. So I find it odd that so many teachers in other parts of the country are not as happy with their job. Is there really a large difference in teachers' compensation from one region of the country to another?

 

[alicat8]

I would agree that it is a difficult and noble profession (especially in today's parenting climate) and I know that a GOOD teacher is worth their weight in gold. But my primary point was that I seem to sense a craving for accolades and unending gratitude by ~some~ teachers on forums such as this one. However I see it as any other job. A teacher is paid to teach the way their superiors tell them to teach. Not the way they themselves think is the best way to teach.

I would imagine the challenges you mentioned in your post are present in many professions. In my county and in bordering counties a teaching job is a HIGHLY SOUGHTAFTER by many graduates. Teaching salaries here are considered to be very favorable. Sadly many of those seeking such a position will never find it because of the fierce competition. So I find it odd that so many teachers in other parts of the country are not as happy with their job. Is there really a large difference in teachers' compensation from one region of the country to another?

And my point is that most teachers aren't craving accolades, but hoping for someone to tell them that the hard work they are doing actually is making a difference. And it probably wouldn't even be necessary without all of the political nonsense. I think the appreciation stuff started around the same time as No Child Left Behind (shudder)-mostly parents wanting to make us feel good when our government was trying to make us look bad-basically use us for political gain. Since I'd guess 98% of us aren't in it for the money, I don't think the monetary compensation makes up for the way we're made to feel every day. Although I do get a wave of calm every night when I light my fancy cigar with a hundred Maybe that feeling of failure wouldn't matter so much if we didn't feel like the future of the world depended on our success. It's not enough to make me find another job, but it does weigh on you.