What would you say to DC considering teaching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is not getting into William & Mary with a 3.8 and a 1310 whether in state or out of state. It's not happening.

Sadly, this is true. Last fall's class had a 4.53 at the 75th percentile and a 1530. Even the median had a 4.35 and a 1470.

You are looking at public high school weighted.
This is a private school - not included in the data.
Please educate yourself.
My 2 kids got in OOS with 3.7uw and 3.8uw private. One was TO. Neither attended.
Our HS doesn’t weight bc it doesn’t matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those of you getting obsessively hung up on ECs apparently couldn’t be bothered to even read the topic of the OP’s post (which is about going into teaching). We get it, W&M is a reach. The student has other options they’re considering and maybe you could be helpful by suggesting additional schools. It’s sad to read so many parents trying to create mini-adults with complete resumes, curated story arcs, evidence of ECs aligning with majors, etc. OP’s kid sounds like a solid student and contributing member of society who would make a great teacher!

OP, what about Mary Washington as a safety? They have a good teaching program and are strong in liberal arts, English, etc. I also like Dickinson College as a possible target.

MW is a really crappy school. There are better safeties for this kid, TO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter studied elementary ed at a small liberal arts college where she received a full tuition scholarship. She is very happily teaching under excellent conditions at a small international school

She was hired there with no teaching experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't do it!

I'm a high school English teacher, and I actively discourage any young person from following this path. Teaching and education have changed and devolved radically over the past 20 years. It is a difficult job and the behavior of students and disrespect from parents will have you questioning your life choices as you sit down for yet another multi-hour grading fest in the evening or on the weekend.

almost everyone these days would tell you not to do whatever career they are in. they think the grass is greener elsewhere. not true. every profession has changed and devolved radically over the last decade or so. not just teaching. all jobs are difficult. all jobs involving the general public will involve dealing with disrespect. all jobs will have you questioning your life choices. just because a job is tough and has changed and has to deal with people and pay has gone down and workload has gone up ...does not make it a bad job. all professions could have written the PP. choose what you love and what you think you'll be happy doing and do it.

Career changer here. I’ve been in other professions so I can compare.

Encourage her not to teach. The days are so absurdly overstimulating and the stress resides in your body long after the last school bell. Your weekends are also work days. You’re never off duty.

You can do the best job and you’ll still deal with hostile parents and/or administrators.

I wasn’t a fan of my old corporate job, but the stress was nothing compared to teaching. And I was paid and respected a lot more for my work, too.

I advise against it, OP. Think of it this way: we have a teaching shortage for a reason. Other professions aren’t facing shortages.

[Anonymous]

My niece is a teacher in NYC. It's her first year, she earns $75,000, amazing benefits and has the summers off. Plus she likes her job - at least so far. I don't think it's a bad profession and she easily got a job as soon as she graduated.

(she got her degree at masters at a NY Suny public).

[Anonymous]

I work in ed research. A few years of teaching experience and then a pivot to an adjacent career is a good option. Graduate school would probably be needed but teachers also often need to get advanced degrees to earn step increases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in ed research. A few years of teaching experience and then a pivot to an adjacent career is a good option. Graduate school would probably be needed but teachers also often need to get advanced degrees to earn step increases.

Future of education is in EdTech:
https://www.edtechinnovationhub.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My niece is a teacher in NYC. It's her first year, she earns $75,000, amazing benefits and has the summers off. Plus she likes her job - at least so far. I don't think it's a bad profession and she easily got a job as soon as she graduated.

(she got her degree at masters at a NY Suny public).

Where does she teach? NYC is very dependent on the school, neighborhood and principal. I know a number of teachers who put in their first few years in tougher schools and then are able to transfer. Glad she found a good one!

[Anonymous]

Teaching would be my dream job. The only reason I don't teach is because I am old school and probably spank kids if they misbehaved, and that is a big No NO.

However, if my kids wanted to do this...I would basically have a business plan for them to ensure that they can make money with side gigs in education. And I would support them financially (like living rentfree with me etc) so that they could actually afford this career.

[Anonymous]

She needs to change to engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teaching would be my dream job. The only reason I don't teach is because I am old school and probably spank kids if they misbehaved, and that is a big No NO.

However, if my kids wanted to do this...I would basically have a business plan for them to ensure that they can make money with side gigs in education. And I would support them financially (like living rentfree with me etc) so that they could actually afford this career.

I’ve never heard someone refer to teaching as a dream job.

I can’t imagine many of us think we are living a dream as we grade papers at 10pm, get yelled at by angry parents for disciplining their child, get treated like children ourselves at pointless faculty meetings, etc.

- teacher

[Anonymous]

Don’t. There’s so many other careers. If she likes the idea of teaching others, she should consider being a manager or working on a people’s team. I’ve seen too many young adults’ lives made much worse by teaching. The pay isn’t even the worst part of the career anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teaching would be my dream job. The only reason I don't teach is because I am old school and probably spank kids if they misbehaved, and that is a big No NO.

However, if my kids wanted to do this...I would basically have a business plan for them to ensure that they can make money with side gigs in education. And I would support them financially (like living rentfree with me etc) so that they could actually afford this career.

I’ve never heard someone refer to teaching as a dream job.

I can’t imagine many of us think we are living a dream as we grade papers at 10pm, get yelled at by angry parents for disciplining their child, get treated like children ourselves at pointless faculty meetings, etc.

- teacher

I’ve known quite a few people retire and then go into teaching and they love it. DS literally says he’s “gotta get rich first,” so he can teach

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teaching would be my dream job. The only reason I don't teach is because I am old school and probably spank kids if they misbehaved, and that is a big No NO.

However, if my kids wanted to do this...I would basically have a business plan for them to ensure that they can make money with side gigs in education. And I would support them financially (like living rentfree with me etc) so that they could actually afford this career.

I’ve never heard someone refer to teaching as a dream job.

I can’t imagine many of us think we are living a dream as we grade papers at 10pm, get yelled at by angry parents for disciplining their child, get treated like children ourselves at pointless faculty meetings, etc.

- teacher

I have several family members who are current or retired teachers who would say it is/was their dream job. They have the chance to make a much bigger impact on people than people like me who push papers around a desk all day. The bureaucracy and unappreciative parents and challenging kids are very understandably a huge source of frustration - I get it. And the pay stinks. But it is meaningful work.

The part of my job that I like the most is mentoring and coaching. Unfortunately, my moron boss does not recognize or appreciate this. I have considered going into teaching but I do not have the patience. But I admire those who do and I often wonder whether the many victories a teacher experiences would help me put up with the challenges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teaching would be my dream job. The only reason I don't teach is because I am old school and probably spank kids if they misbehaved, and that is a big No NO.

However, if my kids wanted to do this...I would basically have a business plan for them to ensure that they can make money with side gigs in education. And I would support them financially (like living rentfree with me etc) so that they could actually afford this career.

I’ve never heard someone refer to teaching as a dream job.

I can’t imagine many of us think we are living a dream as we grade papers at 10pm, get yelled at by angry parents for disciplining their child, get treated like children ourselves at pointless faculty meetings, etc.

- teacher

I’ve known quite a few people retire and then go into teaching and they love it. DS literally says he’s “gotta get rich first,” so he can teach

I’ve noticed a trend on DCUM.

Teachers generally say not to go into the profession, citing the many reasons that contribute to the current teacher shortage.

Non-teachers say they know someone who loves it.

I’m a veteran teacher. I’ll state this clearly: half of our new teachers don’t last the first few years. They burn out and transfer to another field. I’ve urged them out of cars crying, telling them what they are experiencing is normal and that the rest of the teachers are inside to lift them up in time for the start of the school day.

So no, I don’t think it’s a dream job. I like it, but I’m 20 years in and know how to handle 35 teenagers at a time.