A few weeks ago I received the email below from one of my followers on Instagram:
Hi Kelly-Anne,
with a concentration in social studies/history and I have an
overwhelming passion for U.S. History and government! As I begin to
think about life after graduation, I have been asking for advice and
talking to several educators and administrators, including a few of my
high school history teachers. The majority of responses I am getting are
making me terrified of becoming a teacher. From the low pay, to new
common core standards – I am being very negatively influenced on the
profession. One of my favorite teachers has now quit teaching after just
four years in the school system and has made me question my college
major. I feel overwhelmed because people say teaching is the hardest job
and you aren’t rewarded and compensated like teachers should be. I
understand that I won’t become rich being an educator, and I am OK with
that 🙂
teaching experience with me because you seem to love what you do, and
you look so very happy! I admire you and I only hope to be the crafty
teacher you are someday.
It took me a little while to respond as it’s sort of a daunting question…what advice can I give those looking to enter the teaching profession? Here was my response:
Hello!
First, thank you for the
lovely compliment at the end of your email…I am, for the most part,
very happy in my life and chosen career! I, too, majored in secondary
education with a concentration in social studies (focusing on US
History) and was very excited and passionate about my area of studies!
I’d like to disagree with what others have said to you about the low pay, low
recognition, and high stress, but I can’t. Those are all very real
downsides to this profession. I’d also like to say that I hadn’t
seriously considered leaving the teaching profession for some other
career choice but I can’t say that either because I have, at one point or
another, thought about other career paths.
I’ve heard and read that over half of all new teachers
quit within the first 5 years (so it doesn’t surprise me that your
favorite teacher quit after only 4 years in) and I, too, personally know
friends/colleagues who quit after only a few years. It’s an extremely
demanding career field where you will work harder than you ever
imagined. There will be lots of days where you will work yourself
ragged and will be so very patient but still wonder ‘am I really making
any difference here‘? Some teenagers can be ruthless (I use the word ‘some’ because others are thoughtful, helpful, and kind) and can be very quick to
complain. It’s hard to not take that personally but you will eventually
realize that it’s often times not really about you and really more
about them.
I still remember my days as a student teacher where I would
spend hours coming up with what I thought were such creative, fun,
engaging lessons and activities only to have my bubble burst when some
kids would still complain about what we were doing and wouldn’t complete
their classwork, homework, or any work at all! I almost gave up right then and there because I thought
‘what’s the point of working this hard if they’re just going to
complain’? But, luckily my mentor teacher told me he thought I was going
to make a really good teacher and that I should stick with it.
Here
I am 11 years later and I’m still in the trenches! So, here’s the good
side…if you can learn to tune out and/or tolerate the bureaucratic
nonsense that is public education, the parents who enable their kids to
be lazy and entitled, the increasing demands from administration to do
more with less time, the aforementioned complainers, and every other person who thinks they can do this job
better than you (because obviously having once been a student means one is an expert on teaching), there’s a lot to
love about this job.
It feels really, really good teach someone
something they didn’t know before (like really good). It feels really
good to show a kid kindness and patience and to see them make progress
and reach goals. It feels really good to laugh out loud almost every day
(because my kids can be so funny, witty, and clever). It feels good to
put in a hard day’s work and know that your life is dedicated to serving
your community. It feels AMAZING when, every now and then, you get a
letter or an email from a former student thanking you for not only
teaching them something they are now using in their life but for
teaching them to be kind & hard working people, especially when it’s
from a kid whom you never expected to receive such a note.
I
am a more patient, more tolerant, more industrious, more creative, more enthusiastic, and
better-educated person because I am a teacher. Until the cons
outweigh the pros, a teacher I shall remain!
AMEN! I am currently in school working towards becoming a high school English teacher! I really, really love your response 🙂 It is educators like you that make me so stinkin' proud to be a future educator!!
Thank you so much! I'm happy to know my response has resonated with as many teachers as possible! Good luck!!
I am currently working toward my associate's in social work, but am thinking about double majoring for my bachelor's in social work and k-8 education. I also work part time as a special ed aide substitute. As a former corrections officer, a classroom full of kids scares me to death.
Haha! Yes as the saying goes "once you can master the art of standing in front of a room full of teenagers, you can master all else"!
I am so glad to have found your blog! This fall, I will be starting my full-time student teaching internship for History Education. Unfortunately, there is a lot of negativity surrounding education that has made me hesitant about continuing with my degree. Of course there are plenty of people outside of the realm of education who always bring up things like, "Why would you want to become a teacher? You get paid so little!" or "You have talent. Why would you just want to be a glorified babysitter?" While those comments can be easily ignored, the comments said by those in the education field are harder to shrug off. From professors, to collaborative teachers,and even administrators make discouraging comments to aspiring educators-nothing's quite like observing a classroom while the collaborative teacher, while very sweet, said her only advice for those who wish to become teachers was to "change their minds"…that's why I love finding blogs like yours. You provide lovely resources and honest responses for current and future educators. I have definitely pinned and bookmarked your blog because it is a great resource.
Stephanie, thanks so much for your thoughtful message! It really means a lot to hear that the resources I'm sharing can be of help and inspiration to teachers and soon-to-be teachers out there! Teaching is incredibly challenging but can also offer incredible rewards that other professions can't offer! Good luck on your journey!