Questions for teachers

jdluvr06 · May 2014

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of your job? And do the pro outweigh the cons?

JCbride2015 · May 2014

I'll answer as a former teacher who left for a career in law.

Pros:

--Interacting with students

--Instant payoff for decisions, both good and bad. You can tell at the end of each day whether you made progress or need to go back.

--Helping students achieve; seeing a mindset change in a student who realizes s/he can succeed at something that was previously a weakness.

--The intellectual challenge of designing curriculum and differentiating based on special needs

Cons:

--The pay sucks.

--The hours suck. You have to do almost all planning and grading outside of school, and that's really a few hours per day.

--But everybody has this idea that you only work 6 hours a day for 10 months out of the year. Just not true!

--Political bullshit in the district and among the staff. This is probably true of every job, but it's especially potent when higher-ups are forcing you to do stuff in your classroom that you know is not going to help your kids.

--It got a little monotonous for me at the end. I didn't like re-teaching stuff I had taught in a previous year, and doing it five times a day for different sections of kids.

AddieCake · May 2014

Favorite: I love working with kids, love the subject matter I teach, love helping students "get" it, love that every day is different, love that I feel like I am making a difference when I do.

Hate: politics, standardized testing, parents who blame teachers when their kids don't do what they are supposed to, parents who don't discipline their kids so their kids act however they want in school, a lot of kids try to take advantage of an inch of niceness, a lot of kids don't appreciate what you do for them

But what I despise most of all are people who think teachers get summers and long breaks off and have no idea the sacrifices we make of our own time on a daily basis. I get 2 weeks off for Christmas? You're goddam right I do. I put in at least 8 hours a day IN the building and another couple at home EVERY night, and many more most every weekend. So fuck you (general you) if you don't think I deserve or have earned those breaks. Besides, I have NEVER gone an entire holiday or summer break not working, either. Just b/c school is not in session doesn't mean I don't have work to do.

JCbride2015 · May 2014

AddieCake said:But what I despise most of all are people who think teachers get summers and long breaks off and have no idea the sacrifices we make of our own time on a daily basis. I get 2 weeks off for Christmas? You're goddam right I do. I put in at least 8 hours a day IN the building and another couple at home EVERY night, and many more most every weekend. So fuck you (general you) if you don't think I deserve or have earned those breaks. Besides, I have NEVER gone an entire holiday or summer break not working, either. Just b/c school is not in session doesn't mean I don't have work to do.
-------Oh box. Why do you hate me so?---------
@AddieCake Yes, ALL of this! People would tell me teaching was "time off" between college and law school. Um... no... teaching was way harder than law school. I spent so much of my own time and money on those kids. I just couldn't maintain that pace for so little pay in a really dangerous neighborhood, and I didn't want to work in a suburban or private school. Seriously, I was not tough enough to keep working that hard for so long. Teaching is not easy.

jdluvr06 · May 2014

What grades did/do you guys teach?

When I got out of college I went immediately into research because I had this idea that I would become the next Jane Goodall. However, even working in a museum at a fairly steady job, it is becoming increasingly obvious that once FI and I have kids I won't be able to keep up with the demands. Not necessarily long hours but the travel involved. I won't be able to go places on the short notice I have been able to in the past and it will compromise my career. I have my teaching degree (it was recommended by every professor I ever had to get the teaching degree just in case) so switching to teaching is something I've been seriously considering.

jenajjthr · May 2014

I teach high school and work from 7 am till after 4 pm every day. I do After School Tutoring on M, Tu, and W. We have Collaboration on Th till 3, then I put in an extra hour at work. On Friday I sponsor the Anime and Gamer's club and that get's over at 4 pm as well. Then of course there is the planning and grading that doesn't get done during the school day.

I do teach chemistry and am trying a new homework policy for second semester. This work is a lot more math related and a lot more mistakes can happen in setting up equations and solving problems. So instead of being graded on "right/wrong" which can take a fully completed paper down to a F grade. Students get graded on completion, the more they attempt, the more points they get, regardless of how many right answers. I got a lot more homework turned in this way. Plus for me, it meant less "grading" at home, more student grading in class (I was less concerned about cheating this way). It was a win-win for all of us.

I don't recommend going into teaching because it's a fall back career choice. It should be a choice because you want to be in the class room, wanting to be there for the kids. If it wasn't for them, I'd leave in a nanosecond. Long hours, students who have no respect, parents who could care less, admin who don't support you, it takes a huge toll on your mental well being. What makes it worth while…."Mrs. Jennathr you are the best teacher, you make this so easy, thank you for staying after to help me." "Mrs. Jennathr, thank you for believing in me, thank you for knowing I could do anything I put my mind to." "Mrs. Jennathr, thank you for knowing I wasn't stupid, but that I thought differently, I know now that it's due to a reading disorder and I am smart and capable." (She made me cry with this note).

Teaching is the BEST job ever and I want to be dragged kicking and screaming out of the classroom. But it is the TOUGHEST job out there as well. There are days where I have to pull out my notes to remind myself of why I picked this job.

tcnoble · May 2014

I'm a 3rd grade teacher, moving up to 5th grade next year. I work in a school with a very high ELL population (87% hispanic) and 93% free and reduced lunch. This presents a whole other set of challenges with our students but I really LOVE my school and the kids.

Pros = Generally, I like coming to work every day. I love my kids and genuinely have fun teaching, despite all the stress that comes along with it. I love the "lightbulb" moments and the passion I see in kids for learning. I like learning with my students - being a teacher is all about being a lifelong learner yourself. I love knowing I am making a difference. I love weekends, holidays, and summers off because, ditto @addiecake, I EARN THEM.

Cons = Even on those weekends, holidays, and summers "off", I am still working. Standardized testing. The words rigor/rigorous. Parents. Staff development. Low pay. And the amount of money I spend annually on things for my classroom.

Teaching is not for the faint of heart. When people tell me they admire me for being a teacher, that's the biggest compliment ever. I despise people who view teachers as overpaid babysitters. I think each and every teacher is a special kind of person and know the world would be a horrible place without us. This is the hardest job there is, but it's also the most rewarding.

I would probably have more things I love about teaching if we weren't 10 days away from summer vacation, but right now both teachers & students are ready for a break!

BreMR · May 2014

I'm currently a junior in college to get my teaching degree, I loved this thread! Thank you all. I have known since the beginning of starting my education that my pay was never going to be what I may want, and I don't really get all of that time off, but I love kids and I can't wait to play a part in their development!

monkeysip · May 2014

Pretty much ditto the previous posters.

I love WHAT I teach (History, Government, and Economics to highschoolers). I love when I see students actually learning and engaging the material. I love when I see them grow as people. I also love the environment I work in because I work in a small, private Catholic high school with a lot of amazing coworkers.

I HATE the stress and long hours. Ditto the above posters about how irritating it is when people are like "You're so lucky to get holidays and summers off!". I work 8 hours at school, at least a couple hours at home, and many hours on the weekend. Not to mention how teaching is one of those jobs you can't help but take home with you. I'm always at the very least thinking about my future lesson plans and my struggling students. It's mentally and emotionally exhausting.

I also agree that you shouldn't go into teaching as a fall-back career. You really have to want it. I'll admit, I love my job but only because of where I'm teaching. I did some of my student teaching and subbing in some bad schools, and I don't think I could do it. I don't have the personality to deal with really aggressive, rebellious students. So I give MAJOR props to those who do.

beethery · May 2014

jenajjthr said:

I teach high school and work from 7 am till after 4 pm every day. I do After School Tutoring on M, Tu, and W. We have Collaboration on Th till 3, then I put in an extra hour at work. On Friday I sponsor the Anime and Gamer's club and that get's over at 4 pm as well. Then of course there is the planning and grading that doesn't get done during the school day.

I do teach chemistry and am trying a new homework policy for second semester. This work is a lot more math related and a lot more mistakes can happen in setting up equations and solving problems. So instead of being graded on "right/wrong" which can take a fully completed paper down to a F grade. Students get graded on completion, the more they attempt, the more points they get, regardless of how many right answers. I got a lot more homework turned in this way. Plus for me, it meant less "grading" at home, more student grading in class (I was less concerned about cheating this way). It was a win-win for all of us.

I don't recommend going into teaching because it's a fall back career choice. It should be a choice because you want to be in the class room, wanting to be there for the kids. If it wasn't for them, I'd leave in a nanosecond. Long hours, students who have no respect, parents who could care less, admin who don't support you, it takes a huge toll on your mental well being. What makes it worth while…."Mrs. Jennathr you are the best teacher, you make this so easy, thank you for staying after to help me." "Mrs. Jennathr, thank you for believing in me, thank you for knowing I could do anything I put my mind to." "Mrs. Jennathr, thank you for knowing I wasn't stupid, but that I thought differently, I know now that it's due to a reading disorder and I am smart and capable." (She made me cry with this note).

Teaching is the BEST job ever and I want to be dragged kicking and screaming out of the classroom. But it is the TOUGHEST job out there as well. There are days where I have to pull out my notes to remind myself of why I picked this job.

You sound like a fantastic teacher, and I wish I had more teachers like you when I was in school.

WinstonsGirl · May 2014

I teach Phys-Ed and French (and foods this year) to anywhere from 4-9. I had no desire to be a teacher, but did a combined BPE/BEd degree, cos I figured 1 extra year for a second degree would be a good thing. I also coached and taught swimming, so I was already working with kids. I loved my student teaching and stuck with it. If you don't love it, don't do it. You'll grow to hate it very quickly. Pros - the kids. I love the relationships, the banter, watching them grow up to become productive people and achieving their goals. I love the kids I coach especially, since I spend so much time with them. I also love that I get to play sports and be active most of the day. Pay and time off. I get a lot of time off and I get paid very well. Teachers in my Province are some of the highest paid in North America, so I will never complain about my pay. I also have total job security now and a pension Cons - The kids. When they have so much potential and they are so lazy and just don't care it's so frustrating. Parents who put 0 responsibility on their perfect little angel. They just don't realize that no responsibility on their kids will set them up for a real rough adulthood. Admin, especially when they're bad. Just let me do my job dammit!! I'm a professional and I'm not incompetent. You can't pick your vacation time, and I always travel at peak season. I'm sure there's a lot more, but I can't think and cook at the same time ETA - TK hates my paragraphs today.

FiancB · May 2014

I'm not a teacher but FI is a high school English teacher. Right now, we are super frustrated because we are moving and even now, with 4 years of experience under his belt with extremely lofty recommendations and knowing people that work at these places, it's proving impossible to get a job in the area he wants unless he's cool with being at the type of school that has gang fights on the daily.

But that's just about any job these days. More people than jobs. The job he has now had 200 applicants and that was for a job in the middle of bumblefuck nowhere. He just had two interviews on Monday. One was not truthful about the job (it was advertised as a full time and it's either .75 or a long term sub), and the other is doing this weird fight-to-the-death rounds thing where he would be doing 4 interviews until they cut down the the last two applicants.

Oh and lots of positions are asking for some dumbass reading certificate, which costs thousands and doesn't teach you a damn thing and is completely pointless for him. Did I mention he has a masters in education?

I'd imagine it's a little easier on teachers for subjects like math or special education that are a bit less popular.

On the bright side, a kid shrink-wrapped his car today as a going-away gift/joke with a note saying he'll be missed and he's the best teacher ever.

monkeysip · May 2014

Winstonsgirl brings up a good point about vacationing.

It sounds like a really dumb complaint, but it does suck that teachers can only travel during peak travel seasons. It's nearly impossible to take a week off during the school year. It's a NIGHTMARE trying to create good sub plans and then deal with the chaos when you get back.

It really sucks taking time off in general. Whenever I feel sick and want to call in, or when I want to take a day off, I remember how much it's going to suck losing that time with my students and the double work that will be waiting for me.

I mean, that's a small complaint compared to the downsides of a lot of other jobs, but it is one of those irritations you don't really think about beforehand.

FiancB · May 2014

monkeysip said:

Winstonsgirl brings up a good point about vacationing.

It sounds like a really dumb complaint, but it does suck that teachers can only travel during peak travel seasons. It's nearly impossible to take a week off during the school year. It's a NIGHTMARE trying to create good sub plans and then deal with the chaos when you get back.

It really sucks taking time off in general. Whenever I feel sick and want to call in, or when I want to take a day off, I remember how much it's going to suck losing that time with my students and the double work that will be waiting for me.

I mean, that's a small complaint compared to the downsides of a lot of other jobs, but it is one of those irritations you don't really think about beforehand.

**** SITB*****

This is true. We could not make it to a friend's wedding without taking a pay deduct. The breaks are awesome, but if you need time off otherwise, you're not getting it. They get a lot of sick days, but only about 4 personal days per year which he'd used on other things so we just couldn't go.

And spring break is supposedly every other year... but it didn't happen last year OR this year... and all the snow days sucked up any other extra days.

larrygaga · May 2014

Both my older siblings are teachers and they get run into the ground. Nothing pisses me off more than here stupid asses say teachers barely work.

AddieCake · May 2014

Currently, I teach 12th grade English. I have spent most of my career teaching 11th grade, and I have also had classes of 9th and 10th.

ETA: Shout out to @WinstonsGirl who helped me with something on my application for my current job.

AND I am just now getting home tonight from a school event that I am a sponsor for. It is after 10 p.m. my time. I left my house at 6:30 this morning.

jdluvr06 · May 2014

Thanks for all the answers everyone!!!

Aray82 · May 2014

The pros are that the good days are really, really good. The cons are that the bad days are really, really bad, like wanting to crawl under a rock with a bottle of wine and start searching for new jobs stat. The grading, depending on how much time I have, how well I've prepared students for the assignment, and how much effort the students put into it, can be either a pro or a con. I've read some fascinating papers from my world literature classes this semester that have changed how I look at texts I thought I knew forward and backward. You're always bringing work home as a teacher so just be prepared for that. I've taught either at the college or high school level for the last ten years and I know I've gotten so much better but I also know I have more to learn. It's definitely a job where you won't get bored.

Also, one of the things I love about teaching college as opposed to high school is that I don't get emails from parents wondering why I'm "letting" their special snowflake fail my class and why I'm not "motivating" him enough. In college, if a parent tries that (and yes they have!), it's literally illegal for me to discuss grades with anyone but the student and the adviser.

Finally, if you're considering this profession, stay away from inspirational teacher movies--or at least just recognize them as fiction like any other movie. They just create unrealistic expectations that you're going to be able to fix everything else in students' home and personal lives just by being awesome and charismatic. They also set up the expectation that you have to sacrifice your own personal life to take care of your students and that's the only way you can be a "good teacher." Nothing can be further from the truth.

Aray82 · May 2014

monkeysip said:

Pretty much ditto the previous posters.

I love WHAT I teach (History, Government, and Economics to highschoolers). I love when I see students actually learning and engaging the material. I love when I see them grow as people. I also love the environment I work in because I work in a small, private Catholic high school with a lot of amazing coworkers.

I HATE the stress and long hours. Ditto the above posters about how irritating it is when people are like "You're so lucky to get holidays and summers off!". I work 8 hours at school, at least a couple hours at home, and many hours on the weekend. Not to mention how teaching is one of those jobs you can't help but take home with you. I'm always at the very least thinking about my future lesson plans and my struggling students. It's mentally and emotionally exhausting.

I also agree that you shouldn't go into teaching as a fall-back career. You really have to want it. I'll admit, I love my job but only because of where I'm teaching. I did some of my student teaching and subbing in some bad schools, and I don't think I could do it. I don't have the personality to deal with really aggressive, rebellious students. So I give MAJOR props to those who do.

So much this! My mom now does teaching as her "second" career, but this was after years of being in a corporate job and working toward getting her master's in theology so she could be a religion teacher at a Catholic school. She really wanted it for so long and while it's not easy, she definitely thinks it's made her a better teacher having made a very deliberate choice.

WinstonsGirl · May 2014

You're welcome Addie!!

JCbride2015 · May 2014

I taught 9th grade English. My second year I designed a curriculum for, and taught, Creative Writing (also to 9th graders).

I worked in Newark, NJ through the Teach for America program so I think my experience was distinct from those in other situations. A lot of the reasons I was so run-down was the extremely high expectations TFA put on us. Teaching would have been a lot easier in a district that was actually functioning. But I got into teaching for social justice reasons, so going to a "better" district would have defeated the whole purpose. So I got a law degree and will remain involved in the educational equity movement as a pro bono attorney instead, where I feel like I can contribute without sucking my own soul dry in the process.

thetimewillcome · May 2014

Both my parents were teachers.

I glanced through the responses so far, and my parents all had roughly the same pros.

One con: they had a hard time with the administration, especially my mom. She was a high school special education teacher, so the parents would complain to the administration that my mom wasn't teaching their children something. My mom would say, but they have the math comprehension of a 3rd grader. I'm trying to teach them to count money. There is no way they can do calculus. The administration backed her up but just as much as they needed to because the parents were yelling too.

The other con that I remember: it was hard for my mom to get days off during the school year. My sister and I did track and my mom loved coming to the track meets, but she couldn't a lot because she could only take 3 personal days off. Sometimes she couldn't get those days off because they couldn't find a sub.

aspoonfulofsugar · May 2014

I love my job, no matter how tough, demanding, and frustrating it can be at times. I teach Kindergarten in a Catholic school (it's where I attended school).

My cons? My pay SUCKS, my benefits SUCK, when I got my Masters? Oh, congrats.... Parents who don't back you, Administration who doesn't back you, the days/months that are so long (evening meetings, weekend open houses, professional development days- just to name a few added bonuses). Like Addie said, summers off? nights off? What are they? I work a second job year-round. And like Monkeysip said, feeling sick? You better have a sub binder/work, or your lesson plan and every ounce of material ready. It's more hassle to take a sick day then to stay home sick. Is it May/spring/April already? Your class has most likely checked out for the rest of the school year.

Why do I love my job? I get to work with (on average) twenty growing children every day who continue to amaze me with what they learn to do. One day they're tapping out words and, as if overnight, they come to me with their metaphorical light-bulb clicked on to read me a book. When you get parents who truly are on your side, it's nice to have their collaboration.

Overall verdict? Teaching is not for the faint-of-heart or those with weak livers (possibly kidding...). I second the statement that it should not be a fallback career, especially if you're planning on having kids. I don't personally know what it's like, but trying to imagine myself with kids AND teaching doesn't really exist in my mind (I won't go back until my kids are in school).

jdluvr06 · May 2014

The more I read on here the more I'm convinced I wouldn't want to teach. Lol. Oh well, back to the drawing board. I'm realistic enough to know I can't stay in research but stubborn enough to refuse to work directly for the federal government because that is where careers go to die.

CamiSelene · May 2014

I couldn't agree more with PP's. I teach in a combined kindergarten/grade 1 classroom, have taught in England, and also had a year where my class was a k/1/2 split due to low numbers. Next year, I will be moving to a new school with a new continuing contract and I will be lucky enough to have a straight grade 1 class with only 14 kids!!!

For me, these are the cons:

-looong hours with minuscule prep time since my prep time is spent doing response to intervention,

-salary.... FI has less education and works shorter hours while making almost triple what I make.

-lack of support/respect from the public

-constantly increasing workload from the government (retiring teachers are saying they work harder now than they did in their first years of teaching)

-depending on where you are, it can be dangerous. I taught a grade 3 class where I was told it was a good day if nobody got stabbed.

-funding for small rural schools and lack of staffing at times. We make do with what we have and trust me, teaching a k/1/2 class with 18 kids, no EA, and very limited resources definitely a challenge.

Pro's:

-You get to watch these little people grow into caring and responsible citizens.

-You are making a big impact in several lives.

-if you teach little ones like me, the sheer amount of growth you get to see happen is absolutely remarkable!

And hey, how many other professions allow you to have the occasional singing and dance parties?? Hahaha, I love getting to be a big dork at work!

I'll admit, there are days where I consider changing careers out of sheer exhaustion or frustration over the politics of it all but at the end of the day, I absolutely LOVE my job and couldn't imagine doing anything else.

aspoonfulofsugar · May 2014

@CamiSelene oh gosh I forgot about my lack of prep periods. But you're so right about singing and dance parties! They're my favorite

tcnoble · May 2014

I forgot the high class numbers. "Class Size Reduction" is a total myth. I love having 28 third graders... said nobody ever.

tcnoble · May 2014

But the occasional dance party does totally RULE!

WinstonsGirl · May 2014

tcnoble said:

I forgot the high class numbers. "Class Size Reduction" is a total myth. I love having 28 third graders... said nobody ever.

We're cutting our Kinders from 6 classes (3 am, 3 pm) to 4, which is where we should be. We shrunk our attendance boundaries for next year to help with this. We currently have 117 kids registered for Kinder next year. Hello classes of 29 kids. I'm used to that, but it's a huge difference between age 5 and age 13 with that number

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