Is being a teacher still a viable career choice?

[bassguppy]

I'm pondering a career change due to recent health issues and would like some input and guidance. I don't need to make mega-money ($30,000 minimum range would be great though) as I have a spouse who has a good career. I was considering going back to school (probably about 2 more years) and finish getting a Bachelor's degree in Education, Child Development, etc..

I recently had some major health issues and my physical strength may be an issue long-term. I have stamina but it would probably be wise at this time to change paths from other work I've done where I need some physical strength & endurance. Not to say teaching can't be grueling but in a different way.

So..any advice from educators, professors, teachers, or the spouse of a teacher out there? What to do or avoid? I'm thinking elementary ed but again this is preliminary. I'm also older (46) so would I be getting myself into something that only a youngster could do. My plan is a career I could put a good 20+ years into. I also live in California and plan on that long term if that is a consideration.

[Jinro]

My mother was a teacher, and I may end up being one as well. One word of advice: depending on where you are located, don't teach in a public city high school. The ones here are violent and riddled with gang activity, and the system is corrupted to the point that education standards are lowered so that the kids who don't study still get good grades and inflate the school's test scores. If you live in a better area than I do, you shouldn't have a problem though.

Other than that, it's a viable career option.

[Joe Nerve]

No.

You'd have to be insane.

Trust me. I know. Unless you're planning to teach private school, as Jinro said. And as long as money doesn't matter, because you won't make any.

[macaroni tony]

I have three friends who were *supposed* to be teachers and had to shift their goal posts a little bit. From what I've heard, in Southern California, teaching is not a viable career choice.

Two of them are school counselors, and the other is some sort of social worker.

[bassguppy]

Originally Posted by Jinro

My mother was a teacher, and I may end up being one as well. One word of advice: depending on where you are located, don't teach in a public city high school. The ones here are violent and riddled with gang activity, and the system is corrupted to the point that education standards are lowered so that the kids who don't study still get good grades and inflate the school's test scores. If you live in a better area than I do, you shouldn't have a problem though.

Other than that, it's a viable career option.

I just worry a bit with the choice because my drummer is a teacher and some of the newer teachers in his district were let go because of budget/declining tax revenue issues.

[N.F.A.]

Check your PM.

[Jinro]

Trust me. I know. Unless you're planning to teach private school, as Jinro said. And as long as money doesn't matter, because you won't make any.

Also, if you do end up at a public school, shoot for teaching AP or Honors; those typically have the good students. And that's correct, you probably won't make a whole lot unless you teach at a college--which then requires a PhD, and years of writing and publishing worthless papers, journals and books that no one cares about just so you can attain this mystical bullsh*t known as "tenure".

I just worry a bit with the choice because my drummer is a teacher and some of the newer teachers in his district were let go because of budget/declining tax revenue issues.

If you can find a private school you should have better luck, since private schools rely on students' parent's tuition and rich parents' donations instead of on taxpayer money. (I went to a private school with a bunch of rich d-bags )

[nutdog]

Around here, science and math teachers are more in demand. At one point, if you had some sort of science/math degree our system would hire you while you finished ed courses. But overall, it's harder but not impossible to get a teaching job in the public systems, which are not bad.

Teachers can make decent money, considering the many days off they get. I know many teachers that retire after 20-30 years and then take a teaching position in another system while still drawing retirement pay. Administrative positions pay well.

Benefits, while not as good as they were, are still pretty good. Ten years ago my wife stopped teaching 2nd grade when we had children. With 6 years experience and a masters she was making in the 40's with health, retirement and a 403b. Anybody else doing that with a Fall break, Christmas break, Spring break and 2 months off in the summer?

[macaroni tony]

I was going to school to be a teacher at one point...it is a sad, sad state of affairs the educators of our future are saddled with.

[bassguppy]

One thing that terrifies me is my age, I'm 46 now & by the time I finish will probably be 49.

Who will hire a 49yo new graduate?

[Chebass88]

My wife is a teacher, so here is my input.

Money - pretty decent, considering the length of time worked. All of the teachers on this board will immediately fly into a rage about this statement, but there is a reason why I mention this. If your school follows a conventional schedule (September to June, with weeks off at Christmas & Easter, days off here & there), it is roughly 9 months worth of "working time" per year. If you normalize salaries to the "working time", it is pretty equivalent to other professions. In NJ, new teachers start at ~$40K/school year, which on a MONTH WORKED basis is equivalent to a $53K/calendar year. Until I received a significant promotion at work, we made within $0.25 per hour worked (I am a chemical engineer).

Unions - Personally, I think they are a bunch of thieves and essentially worthless, but they are prevalent in the education business, as there is a guaranteed source of income for the cronies. My wife paid $1093 in union dues in 2011. On the positive side, if you have tenure, you cannot get fired. Your position might get eliminated, but not fired. Whatever. A good worker is a good worker and has no need of such nonsense. It does protect you somewhat against the cronies in the school district.

People will dislike you for your profession. It takes a certain amount of money to operate a school and provide 7 hours per day of instruction (babysitting) to students. The teachers require salaries, benefits, and retirements, there are operating costs, etc. For our local district, the cost per student is approximately $15K/student/year. I only paid ~$3700 towards the school via my taxes last year, so you can see that there is an imbalance. Everyone else in the district makes this up, and they don't like it, especially when they don't have kids.

On the plus side, you get a LOT of vacation time compared with industry / businesses. The days are generally shorter, and the pay is decent.

Go for it!

[nutdog]

One other point. My wife is now teaching at a local private school. The compensation is significantly less than at the public schools. But it is offset somewhat by the tuition discounts for our 3 children. And she really loves the environment.

Also, in some circumstances, a teaching degree is not required at a private school.

[sandmangeck]

I was going to school for English Education. I stopped my second year. I had a flashback of myself as a student.
Go for it.

[Tituscrow]

Wow. Some interesting perceptions of the vocational calling of a teacher! May I chime in with a British perspective...

I have been a secondary school (11-18 ) physics teacher for 20 years and I have worked in several state schools, with catchment areas encompassing some of the poorest parts of the cities. Yes, it's sometimes been very challenging battling a culture of disengaged and disaffected kids. Yes, the hours are long and the out-of-hours stuff is relentless. No, the money isn't brilliant, but it allows for a more than comfortable standard of living. But the joy of seeing kids make progress and achieve their potential, and to see kids from generations of underachievement make it to university (for example) is a truly rewarding experience.

I've had a few career-changing opportunities over the years but not once have I ever considered quitting or heading for the money.

I have the utmost respect for life saving professions (firefighters, nurses etc), but there aren't many jobs where you actually get to change lives.

Go for it, but be prepared to have your eyes opened on day one.

[nortonrider]

Become a School Administrator - that's where the money is.

[Kwesi]

No first had experience but whenever I hear people talk about teaching as a career someone with experience always says something to the effect of "You damn well better get your Masters or Doctorate or you're boned."

Those mean A LOT. My old high school has had numerous math teachers over the years but the one who has been there longest despite the fact that she is a god-awful teacher had a PhD in Mathematics.

[nutdog]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

No first had experience but whenever I hear people talk about teaching as a career someone with experience always says something to the effect of "You damn well better get your Masters or Doctorate or you're boned."

Those mean A LOT. My old high school has had numerous math teachers over the years but the one who has been there longest despite the fact that she is a god-awful teacher had a PhD in Mathematics.

Yes. For some reason educators are very big on education.

[Jhengsman]

Originally Posted by bassguppy

One thing that terrifies me is my age, I'm 46 now & by the time I finish will probably be 49.

Who will hire a 49yo new graduate?

Many public schools are still hiring on emergency basis. Many people begin teaching as a second career. If you are thinking of going the elementary track, then good for you since the deferment for the draft ended there has been a lack of men as role models for boys in the lower grades. At about ten years of age is when the social problems with students and their interaction with the community starts. I am not saying younger kids don't have problems just that violence is less likely to invade your classroom.

[BBox Bass]

Originally Posted by Jinro

Also, if you do end up at a public school, shoot for teaching AP or Honors; those typically have the good students. And that's correct, you probably won't make a whole lot unless you teach at a college--which then requires a PhD, and years of writing and publishing worthless papers, journals and books that no one cares about just so you can attain this mystical bullsh*t known as "tenure".

If you can find a private school you should have better luck, since private schools rely on students' parent's tuition and rich parents' donations instead of on taxpayer money. (I went to a private school with a bunch of rich d-bags )

At the college level, tenure-track jobs are rapidly disappearing. As tenured professors retire, the trend has been to replace them with instructors or part-time adjuncts. Ten years ago, I was very fortunate to land a tenure-track job, and received tenure 7 years later. I feel very grateful to be in my position.

As someone downthread mentioned, the way to $$$$ in education is administration. Go to graduate school, obtain an Ed.D. in educational administration, then get a job where you spend your days telling instructors how they should be running their classes. I've heard that plenty of people with this degree have never spent a single day in a classroom. Given how out of touch some of them are, I'm not surprised. It's downright depressing sometimes.

[Staccato]

Talk about scary responses-regarding the prospect, or desirability of working in public schools! Those of us that hit college (and graduated) in the four years after high school, are a small minority. You can't blame people for wanting a work environment away from schools, and where 'our youth' want to chase the teachers out the door (or worse).