Thread: Is it all worth it?

That's a very good question and one I'm sure all teachers face at one time or another. I think I'd start by saying that if you were good enough, grade-wise to take the test, you must really love your subject. That's a great starting point. Even thugs and gang members can get excited about learning with a teacher who loves sharing his/her knowledge in a way that is interesting to kids.

Secondly, I'm going into teaching with the belief that for every thug in my future classroom, there are at least 5 other students who want to learn so that they can make at least a minimal success of their life in the future. They may not want to be in Spanish (my subject) but even if they never learn the language from me completely, I'll at least have the opportunity to expose them to other cultures.

In today's society, you are going to have thugs, etc in every classroom. Unless you land a job in an exclusive private school that probably doesn't pay as well, you have to accept that fact. But if you really want to teach kids your passion about your subject, you are going to get nowhere fast unless you go into the job loving the idea of sharing your knowledge.

I should of course tell you that I'm not a teacher yet so what the heck do I know? But I am a parent and past the age of 40. I've worked with teenage kids a lot, which led me back to college in the first place. If you search for the good in a kid or something that interests them personally, you are going to be able to teach that kid something. And at the very least, even the thugs will show you respect for trying to get past their "tough" veneer to see the real kid inside.

Good luck. I hope you decide to teach. One of my methods teachers has promised me that someday, when I least expect it, I will hear from or about one of my past students that they picked their career based on what a great teacher I was to them. I hope I live long enough to hear it personally!

Is it worth it? I'm sure you will see some varying feedback, depending on how many embittered teachers are out there. However, my guess is that there aren't many. Have you ever sat down and tried to teach someone something new? It could be anyone, and it could be anything. Did you see the look on their face once you finally helped them to figure it out? It feels great. It's a feeling of pride, and a feeling of accomplishment. It's a feeling that I almost deprived myself of. I was working as a professional for three years when I was asked by two different people to tutor them. They were both failing their respective classes. By the end of my time with them, they both had passing grades, and felt so much better about their classes. It was then that I knew I wanted to take the bull by the horns and change my path to that of a teacher. I have no regrets, and I never want to look back; I know this is what I want to do.

Give yourself some time, test the water. You will figure out what is best and what is right for you. Every teacher has horror stories, some worse than others. Most of those people, though, are still teachers. They are still in school every day trying to help the students to grasp all of the knowledge they are given. If you should decide that this isn't right for you, that's alright too. But take the time to make the right decision. I wish you luck in making it.

I am not a teacher yet but I am working on it. Personally, I think students are what you expect them to be. If you criminalize them (and they know it) they will be criminals. Students have a way of sensing what a teacher thinks of them. If someone thought I was a thug I would probably be resentful and act out; I think that is a natural response from a kid. Keep in mind, these are negative reports you are getting, most likely from negative people. If you are a positive person you will get a lot more positive responses.

Here is something our school's education department gives all of the teacher candidates. They helped me decide to work towards my certificate after I got my undergrad.

Cindy

Teacher Candidate Dispositions

·Positive Outlook – (Optimism, Enthusiasm).
Traits: cheerful, finds good in most situations, able to praise others, sees possibilities rather than obstacles, laughs easily, responds to challenges, sees crisis as opportunity.

·Intellectual Integrity – (Honesty, Trustworthiness, Fair-Mindedness)
Traits: takes pride in his/her work, does the “extras,” gives credit where due, careful thinker, values research, admits limitations, not afraid to change mind, realizes that truth is relative, open to new ideas, values others opinions.

·Respect – (Consideration, Cultural Sensitivity, Empathy)
Traits: listens more than talks, realizes own fallibility, giving, makes extra effort in situations, genuinely cares, eager to learn about others, slow to judge, thoughtful, mannerly.

·Self-Awareness (Sensitivity to Others)
Traits: knows and accepts strengths and weaknesses, able to think hypothetically, able to reach high quality of reflection, willingness to hear another viewpoint, able to accept criticism.

·Dedication (Persistence, Flexibility, Generosity, Creativity, Patience)
Traits: gives extra time, cares about work, generous with time, talents, and resources, actively engaged in life, does extra work, willing to help others, volunteers, completes work on time, self-starter, takes risks.

I see that you've already gotten some pretty good responses and advice from your peers.

It's impossible to answer your question in a way that would satisfy everyone. But If I understand your question well enough, I don't think I have to do that...

Don't believe everything you hear and only about half of what you see. Your perception of things will be different, depending on your background and experience.

Every career or line of work is going to have drawbacks. No getting around it. Someone I know has a degree in biology, too; she went to work for a local biomedical corporation. She hates it. Pay isn't that great (where she is) and there is loads of politics. Furthermore, her immediate supervisor thinks that women have no place in the sciences, that it's a realm intended solely for men. Hmmmm...tell that to Madam Currie or Sally Ride...

But I digress...

As another poster already said, if you know and enjoy your subject matter, that will make a huge difference. I know that in my area of the United States (most areas), science teachers (good ones) are at a very high premium. Some of the ones who aren't so good do far more harm than good and sometimes, THAT is why students act up. I'm no Galileo, but with my 6th graders, I chuck the book and teach from experience and from the vast amount of information given to me by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); my young ones love science because I make it come alive rather than reducing it to "read pages 20-25 and answer the questions...." Yes, students have to know how to do that, but in too many cases, that is nearly ALL they get. Small wonder they hate science. YOU don't have to do that and that could reduce your problems significantly.

I won't tell you there won't be challenges. There will be. You're dealing with adolescents. By definition, they are a challenge...BUT...they don't call the teen years the "Wonder years" for nothing. Funny (and I've said this before), but at the time they most need us in their lives, both they and us want to put as much distance between one another as possible. It's unfortunate.

Look :? ...the only one who can answer this question is you. And if you don't at least try it, you will never know. Something I heard an someone say went something like this:

"When I'm on my death bed, years from now, I don't want to look back over my life and say 'oh, how I wish I had done....' It will be too late then."

And so it would be. My advice? Go for it.

What has made me stick with it for 21 years? Brain damage :?: I am not even sure myself. The dilemna of every teacher is that, too often, we NEVER know what kind of an effect we had. When a dentist does that root canal (ouch!) or the lawyer wins that big case, they know...right then, how good they are. We don't always know that. But there are exceptions. I'll share one with you and then I will get off my soapbox...

I had a student, years ago, who came from a very dysfunctional family; her father had died and her "mother" was too busy with the garden club and the social circuit to bother with her 12 year old daughter. The girl was on a downward spiral that could have ended...well, her psychiatrist told her mother (during one of the times she was listening) that the child was headed for a breakdown, possibly even suicide. We worked very hard with her at school, gave her as much attention as we could. She not only made it through middle and high school with fairly decent grades, but went on to college. And you know what career field she wants to go into? You got it: she studied to be a teacher. Ah....the spoils of war!!!

Good luck to you!

I love what I do. I have been a teacher for 11 years. I have taught sp.ed. Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd (looping), technology, reading, and now 5th grade - and have loved every bit of it. Yes there are days that you feel like you are not "saving" a child who needs help - but you must remember that sometimes you make an impact that you do not know about until years later - even though at the time you had no idea you were making a difference.

I would like to suggest that if you are not sure - don't do it. The job is much too hard if all of your heart is not in it, and frankly we have too many teachers in the field who should not be here. Too many quit within the first 3-5 years and the stress is high. If your heart is not in it, you are cheating yourself and the kids. I have worked with teachers who were not happy, not effective, yet "hung in there" and cheated themselves and the students.

I am sorry if this sounds harsh. There is no doubt in my mind that you are an intelligent person. But looking back over my years of teaching, I was often frustrated working with another teacher (not many - but more than I would have liked) who did not have their heart in it. Their classes were not under control, and the kids did not "connect" with them. Both teachers had a very high intelligence - that does not matter.

Good luck to you, and I admire you for asking the question before you dive in :wink:

:lol: Hi yes it it worth it. I teach 12th graders. All I ever heard about High School was negative. But once i accepted the position I found out that rumors are not true. Our youth are in bad shape, they need someone to lead and guide them in the right direction. No it will not alwyas be easy and no you will not have seet angels in each class but if life deals you lemons you take them and make lemonade. I see so many students with all kinds of problems and all they are looking for is for someone to believe in them. GOOD teachers really do make a difference. It it is because of 2 teachers that I had in elementary school, that I am a teacher today On the lighter side were are you going to find a job where you are off on the weekends and every holiday? Plus you are off in the summer and still get paid?