What's the worst and best part about being a teacher?
t_nichol
that come with teaching, and some of the bad things that come with it. I
want to know so I will be able to expect some of the bad things, and more
importantly, know how to deal with them. So, please, if you have any advice
send some my way. Thanks!
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Lynn Davis
I am a 27 year veteran science teacher. At various times I have taught
7th, 8th and 9th grade science in a Junior High School and in a Middle
School configuration -- always within the same school district.
As with any profession, teaching has its pluses and minuses. On the
minus side is the pay. You'll never get rich teaching, how much you make
depends on where you teach. In Centeral New York (near Syracuse) where I
teach, the starting salary for a BA is around $33,500, with a MA around
$36,700. If you've been around for 30 years you'd make around $60 -
$65,000. This is pretty good compared to other states, not so good
compared to other areas in New York. Different areas pay drastically
different amounts. If money is a concern, look around before you settle
down. My wife also teaches which makes our combined pay really good
(although remember that I started at $7000 per year in 1972).
The school district and the school building you eventually work in will
make or break your teaching experience. You need to find a district /
building that fits you as a person. Some people like to work in rural
settings, some people prefer to work in inner cities, some in the
suburbs. Different areas offer different concerns, problems, challenges,
pay scales, etc.
A good administration is also important -- some are proactive, some are
mired in controversy, some don't support teachers, some haven't bought a
new science book in 10 years, some are up on current research and always
looking for ways to improve -- there are all kinds!!
Middle school kids are always on the go, very social, very active, very
willing to try new things -- a plus (or minus depending on your point of
view). Each grade level has it's own demands, techniques and rewards.
You need to find the right grade level to teach that fits you as a person.
Depending on the state you teach in -- there may be requirements for
additional study beyond your college BA/BS. In New York you have to get a
Masters Degree within 5 years, and you will also have to have to have 175
hours of inservice / college work each 5 years (details are being worked
out).
Vacations are great -- but remember they are not paid vacations. It is
super to have the same time off as your kids (should you have any) and
your spouse (if you marry a teacher). That works out really great. A lot
of your vacation time will be spent working on additional education,
however -- see the above paragraph.
The work load at home is a lot -- especially for a new teacher. Lesson
plans, grading papers, setting up labs experiments, planning the units,
etc. are very time consuming. The more you do these things the better,
and faster, you become at them.
You will find that the teaching profession is under a lot of scrutiny
-- it is a political battlefield because of the money that states and
local governments are forced to spend. Everyone seems to want a say in
how that money is spent -- and a lot of people seem to think that a "free
public education" shouldn't cost the public any money. A lot of people
are pushing agendas that are not compatable with public education (charter
schools and vouchers for example) and it is really frustrating that a lot
people don't understand, or appreciate, the job that we do. On the other
hand, there are also a lot of people that do understand and appreciate the
job of a teacher -- and that is very gratifying.
I have constructed a web site for parents, teachers and students. It
contains a lot of information that you may find useful. You can visit the
site at:
http://www.dreamscape.com/wgtaweb
Best of luck,
Lynn Davis
**********************************************
In article <79ljcn$vb$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>, t_nichol <tnich...@kih.net>
wrote:
> Hi, I am an education major. I am wanting to know some of the good things
> that come with teaching, and some of the bad things that come with it. I
> want to know so I will be able to expect some of the bad things, and more
> importantly, know how to deal with them. So, please, if you have any advice
> send some my way. Thanks!
******************************************************
Mr. Lynn Davis
da...@twcny.rr.com..................Davi...@aol.com
Science Teacher, West Genesee Schools, Camillus, NY
Webmaster -- West Genesee Teachers' Association
http://www.dreamscape.com/wgtaweb
******************************************************
hyacinth
I have been a teacher for 9 years now and I agree to all what you have stated. I
would like to add that the job work load is the greatest disadvantage of all. In
addition to the teaching, marking, testing and others; there are many other odd
jobs that a teacher does at school. I am a memeber of 3 committees at the school
and have to attend all meetings get my share of attending to this or that matter.
I am the head of my staff and am responsible for conducting meetings, organizing
activities , workshops and inter-visitations. I am not sure if this happens in all
countries though.
Regards
Kevin C. Killion
> A lot of people
> are pushing agendas that are not compatable with public education (charter
> schools and vouchers for example)
There may be valid arguments against charter schools and vouchers, but
this is not one of them. Charter schools *ARE* public schools. And
vouchers are perfectly acceptable at public schools as well as private
schools.
Perhaps the author meant to say that charter schools and vouchers are not
compatible with the political social agendas and anti-choice rhetoric that
some theorists insist on confusing with public education itself. And it's
THAT kind of thinking that is causing so much heat nowadays. Way too
often, it's the *teachers* that take the brunt of the complaints when the
*real* problem is these ideologues who run districts, fight choice
initiatives at all costs, dummy down curricula, and push for fuzzy
assessments.
-- Kevin Killion
CateWittig
high schools is like being on the front line some days. I, myself, am a
masochist; or I must be to keep going back for more. But, for all the bad
things that can happen I always find myself suckered in by the students who
come back to say thank you. The funny thing is, the students who do come back
are never the ones you'd expect.
Martin Rowley
straight) to see me and another teacher. He shook my hand and looked me straight
in the eye and said "I'm real sorry I put you through hell last year". He had
joined the army after graduation and was back on leave. Standing there in his new
uniform it didn't look like the same person, I guess in some ways it wasn't.
Just another reason, I try my best to put up with the "bad" ones.
Martin
CateWittig wrote:
> <snip> I always find myself suckered in by the students who
Magi D. Shepley
> high schools is like being on the front line some days. I, myself, am a
> masochist; or I must be to keep going back for more. But, for all the bad
> come back to say thank you. The funny thing is, the students who do come
> back
> are never the ones you'd expect.
>
mental limitation raising the abusive child with mental illness and
mental limitation and the children and youth worker who won't do a damn
thing about it... because the child "seems happy and is playing with his
friends outside."
I also teach in a urban setting. I don't really want to leave, but
after 4 years, I think I've just about had enough. :( I can't take the
blatant lying and violations of the law anymore.
Magi
Lynn Davis
New York State, where I live, is just now getting around to
establishing charter schools. According to the Syracuse, NY, Herald
American newspaper (Feb. 8, 1999), a "large black New York City church
wants to open a charter school, as do the Mohawk Indians." In the same
article, the paper states that charter schools were designed to "operate
without much of the bureaucratic red tape as public schools."
Assuming that the above is true (and I DON'T know that it is other than
what was in the paper) -- if special interest groups are allowed to open
charter schools, and charter schools won't be burdened by the red tape
that public schools have -- will charter schools *really* be a public
school or will they simply be a private school that is funded by public
tax money?
My original post stated, "A lot of people are pushing agendas that are
not compatable with public education (charter schools and vouchers for
by money taken from the public school systems. One of the proposed
charter schools in our area will take approximately $1.5 million per year
away from local school districts. I don't see how that drain in funds is
going to be helpful to the students left in public education.
PLEASE -- I do not wish to antagonize anyone. I ask these questions
out of total ingnorance -- not having seen how charter schools actually
work in states where they are up and running.
Lynn Davis
***************************
>
> There may be valid arguments against charter schools and vouchers, but
> this is not one of them. Charter schools *ARE* public schools. And
> vouchers are perfectly acceptable at public schools as well as private
> schools.
******************************************************
Alfred C Thompson II
>Hi, I am an education major. I am wanting to know some of the good things
>that come with teaching, and some of the bad things that come with it. I
>want to know so I will be able to expect some of the bad things, and more
>importantly, know how to deal with them. So, please, if you have any advice
>send some my way. Thanks!
The best and worst thing about teaching is students. The good ones
make your day, your year, your life worthwhile. The bad ones make you
think about taking up drinking for a living. I try and only think
about the good ones.
4th grade teacher
The worst part about teaching is feeling unappreciated. Nothing hurts more!
MARYANNOH
students. I can't tell you how many times I've had a student that was a royal
pain in the a** almost push me over the edge only to have another student come
along and say or do something that almosts lets me forget the pain. They
really make it worthwhile. They must, because I keep going back day after day
for the good and the bad.
mst
>I couldn't agree with you more. The best and worst part about teaching is
the
>students.
I agree with the best, but in my experience, other adults (teachers, admin,
parents) can make things much more difficult than the student with the worst
disciplinary problem.
But when it's good, it more than makes up for the bad days.
--
Teri
++++
"Well, since you got here by not thinking, it seems reasonable
to expect that, in order to get out, you must start thinking."
Tock the Watchdog
mskr...@students.wisc.edu
watching each one of my students grow academically, emotionally and socially.
When a child has been struggling for so long and it seems that nothing you do
gets through, a light bulb goes off for them and seeing them smile and how
proud they are of themselves and how proud you are of them, it turns a
horrible day into a great one. Those are the moments you should look forward
to. Try not to focus on the negitive, focus on the children and their
acheivements.
In article <79ljcn$vb$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,
t_nichol <tnich...@kih.net> wrote:
> Hi, I am an education major. I am wanting to know some of the good things
> that come with teaching, and some of the bad things that come with it.
I
> want to know so I will be able to expect some of the bad things, and more
> importantly, know how to deal with them. So, please, if you have any advice
> send some my way. Thanks!
>
young_...@my-dejanews.com
mskr...@students.wisc.edu wrote:
> I am currently teaching in a kindergarten and the best part about my job is
> watching each one of my students grow academically, emotionally and socially.
> When a child has been struggling for so long and it seems that nothing you do
> gets through, a light bulb goes off for them and seeing them smile and how
> proud they are of themselves and how proud you are of them, it turns a
> horrible day into a great one. Those are the moments you should look forward
> to. Try not to focus on the negitive, focus on the children and their
> acheivements.
I agree that we should focus on the positive aspects of teaching, such as
seeing actual growth (either social, emotional, or academic) occur in the
classroom, rather than the negative. But to go along with that, it sometimes
takes a very long time before the "light bulb will go off" in a child's head.
Some children have very difficult home lives and are not ready for the
structure in your school or classroom. Some children are outrightly defiant.
But with some attention and patience, the light bulb will go off. It might
not even go off in your classroom, but it will eventually. Children need
great teachers! Hope this is helpful. J. Sherling
mskr...@students.wisc.edu
students and in your teaching.
In article <7b1hs4$34b$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,
mskr...@students.wisc.edu
young_...@my-dejanews.com
> I agree completely. To be a great teacher, you need to have faith in your
> students and in your teaching.
>
But I wonder how we would respond to the question, is there a "critical
period" in learning during which "the lightbulb must light up?" I have faith
in my students, but sometimes it's hard to let them leave before you have
seen them shine. J. Sherling