Thread: Job satisfaction and salary

This is so hard to answer. To be honest, I have to divide the topic up into teaching, and "everything else."

To me, teaching is connecting with students and finding ways to help them be successful. Teaching is not curriculum. It is not a text book, a grade book, standards, report cards, dittos, or tests. It isn't what you hear at the staff meeting, or in the staff lounge at lunch. It is celebrating the process of inquiry with students. It is about the incredible rush when somebody "gets" something, and the sleepless worry over someone who is not getting it. It is the frustration and grief when you aren't able to help a student.

1. Do I enjoy teaching? Yes. It is a passion and a joy. It is a calling. I have to teach; I couldn't not teach. Do I enjoy my job? Not really. I love the teaching part, but it is "everything else" that is an issue. The mandates, paperwork, meetings, documentation, compliance, rules, regs, scripted curriculums, and politics consume more time and energy than teaching does. And I so hate that. Would I go into it again? I don't know. It depends on what my options were. As it was, I spent years on the fence: Should I finish the masters in library science and the library media teacher credential, or should I leave the library behind and devote my time to the classroom? I have part of 2 different masters; I never did make up my mind, and time got away from me. That really doesn't answer your question though, because a LMT is still a teacher. I would still be a teacher, no matter which way I went.

2. As far as "typical" salaries, I think there is a huge range, depending on the state and district. I wanted to move to Oregon, where my mother lives; their teachers started at a full 1/3 less than where I was, so I stayed put. I'm told that my area is good for teachers because our (relatively) low housing prices make a teacher's salary go further. I don't know; I've never taught anywhere else. I will say that my son took a job requiring no college skills, and 2 years later he makes as much money as I do, and he isn't paying student loans. I've been teaching 9 years now, and am as far over on the salary scale as it goes. There are increases each year for a few more years, and then I will have reached the top salary I can make in this district. I make less than the average household income for my area, which is definitely not upscale. And...I spend 5-10% of my salary on supplies, books, etc. for my classroom, every single year.

Should you enter the profession?

If you love the students; if they and their families are a higher priority than philosophies, trends, tests, or administrative "pet projects;" if you are more concerned with public service than salary; if you are willing to continue learning and growing for the rest of your life; if long hours and sacrifices are ok with you; if you value public education as a vehicle for serving the public; if you yourself love to learn, and have to keep learning all the time no matter what else is going on...then you might be a teacher!

Thank you for your very eloquent response! I've really enjoyed my year teacher aiding. I love working with the students and developing a relationship with them. For me the biggest challenge has been the class management and discipline issue- when I get the chance to informally teach a class etc. I find that b/c they view me as the "nice" assistant they don't pay attention the moment I step up there and I get so frustrated trying to actually teach them something or do an activity with them. Then I start thinking, yeah it's fun to work with them on the side as an aide, but if the sole responsibility of educating these kids were in my hands, would I be able to actually "teach" them then?! I realize it is a very fulfilling profession but also very challenging.

I'm just starting to worry about financial considerations down the line in the future now. I think that's my main hesitancy. Not that I want a big salary to buy a big house and fancy cars. But I want that someday my (future) kids will have all kinds of options open to them with ease (including college etc.), I don't want to have to struggle with the bills and tuitions and all. I guess that's just my main concern...

Thanks again!