Thread: Thinking about education.....

Hmm...math and sciences are not the only things hard to fill- the special education slots are big demand, as well as school administrators. I'm a history teacher and I feel incredibly fortunate to be employed at all.

Mozey your way over to your states department of education websight and look to see what they have to say about how to get certified. Some states are easier than others if you already have a degree. If you call them and talk to them they are most helpful, if you actually get to talk to a human. If you are in Arizona then your chances of talking to a human are slim but they are helpful.

I completed one year of college before dropping out and worked a year before becoming an EMT, now that I know the value of an education, I am definitely considering going back to school to finish my degree. I started as a Journalism major, so I have several credits towards a degree in English/History education.

According to my States Education Department (I visited their website)
* A minimum of a bachelor's level degree is required for all teaching licenses.
* All teachers must have successfully completed the following testing:

Praxis I, reading, writing, math
Praxis II, content test for all parts required
Praxis II, Principles of Learning and Teaching

* All applicants must successfully complete the required criminal
background check.
* Persons who complete the above requirements through an approved Arkansas teacher education program or the Arkansas Non-Traditional Licensure Program are eligible for an initial teacher license. An initial teaching license is valid for not less than one year, and no more than three years. During the initial licensure time, novice teachers are considered to be in a time of Induction.
* During induction, novice teachers will have a site-based, trained mentor assigned to support their practice and professional growth. When novice teachers and their mentors decide that their teaching meets the mentoring requirements, the capstone experience of induction, which is Praxis III performance assessment, will be scheduled.
* Upon successful completion of the performance assessment a standard teaching license will be issued.
* Licensure renewal is based upon a five-year cycle, during which all educators are required to accrue 60 professional development hours per year.


Thats pretty straight forward and basic, the hard part is completing the 4 years of education in order to get the licensure.

That is the thing about education. You have to go through a lot of it before you are allowed to teach it.

It is not bad. If nothing else, it will allow you to find out if this is really what you want to do.

Hmm....Arkansas requirements are similar to ours...save that we have to do less to keep our teaching licenses.

My first advise to anyone thinking of a teaching career, especilly if you are changing careers, is to evaluate why you are doing it. You mention salary as your reason not to pursue EMS. If money is your motivation in teaching then please save yourself alot of stress and find another profession. If your motivation is to pass on your knowledge, then by all means take every step you need to fulfill that goal.

Sorry if that was too blunt.

No money isnt my only motivation in this-
but it is a factor considering EMTs are paid less than the average poultry worker in my area, which is sad. I thoroughly enjoy EMS dont get me wrong, but given our wages and the lack of an effective union, Im doubtful if we see any positive changes on the provider end of pre-hospital care. We all have families to feed and whatnot.

As for teaching, one, I think it would be nice to put myself out there in the community, hopefully preparing these kids for adulthood in the academic sense. And two- I was the picked on kid when I was in school, should I get into the profession Id like to form an effective program that puts bullying under control, and find ways to make sure certain kids dont fall through the cracks and never genuinely thought of again by their classmates or other teachers. I want to help, without getting too involved, if you know what I mean. (Ive seen promising teachers, get WAY too involved in trying to rescue their students that it only sent the teacher packing in the end, no matter how good their intentions were)

Hopefully this will answer some of your questions

Dixie