disappointed DC wants to be a teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. One of the problems is that DC goes to a pricey private school with amazing facilities. The teachers are great for the most part and engage with every student. DC is inspired by them and wants to be like them. The problem really is me. I'm the type-A striver parent who is embarrassed about telling other parents that DC wants to go to elite colleges but "end up" being a teacher. I'm trying hard to change my mindset, but it's not easy.

Being inspired by the teachers and wanting to be like them is a gift. I hope that's exactly what they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. One of the problems is that DC goes to a pricey private school with amazing facilities. The teachers are great for the most part and engage with every student. DC is inspired by them and wants to be like them. The problem really is me. I'm the type-A striver parent who is embarrassed about telling other parents that DC wants to go to elite colleges but "end up" being a teacher. I'm trying hard to change my mindset, but it's not easy.

Not gojng yo read all the responses but I know plenty of peole with ivy degrees that do just that. Encourage your kid to major in something other than education. They can take some educ classes on the side but get a solid substantive degree — math or comp sci would be particularly useful as no one will teach those. Then if she hates teaching she will be in a better position to pivot to something else. Law school is filled with people who taught for a few years and then got frustrated with the pay or thr system.
My kid is similar and is also talking about maybe teaching HS — she really loved tutoring and mentoring so it might be a good fit for her. I told her I’m not paying Ivy prices for an Ed degree though, so that won’t be her major. (If you really want to just do elementary Ed. Save your money and go to someplace like longwood or Towson.). I’m fine if that’s the path she chooses though.

+1 I think if they want to be a teacher that is really great, we need smart, capable teachers. But also get a good foundation education, maybe do Teach For America, knowing there is a high likelihood it will not be a forever career. Also, look for opportunities to job shadow, substitute teach, etc. early in college to get clarity on what the job is like. FWIW, I have a couple friends in corporate training who started as teachers. Nice 9-5 job and you don't deal with kids.

[Anonymous]

First, we need teachers and if she has a gift for it - wonderful. However, she will likely change her mind once in school or even once she teaches a few years. The field has a huge turnover.

She then may go to grad school and work on education policy, or specialize in assessments, counseling, curriculum development. Or, go in to adult learning or corporate HR with leadership and development roles.

She might get an MBA and work with academic institutions as a consultant for a top 3 consulting company.

So very many, many options. I’ve seen all of these. Former career advisor at a top school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. One of the problems is that DC goes to a pricey private school with amazing facilities. The teachers are great for the most part and engage with every student. DC is inspired by them and wants to be like them. The problem really is me. I'm the type-A striver parent who is embarrassed about telling other parents that DC wants to go to elite colleges but "end up" being a teacher. I'm trying hard to change my mindset, but it's not easy.

If she wants to be able to give her own kids that quality of education, she needs to look for either a different career or a rich husband

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. One of the problems is that DC goes to a pricey private school with amazing facilities. The teachers are great for the most part and engage with every student. DC is inspired by them and wants to be like them. The problem really is me. I'm the type-A striver parent who is embarrassed about telling other parents that DC wants to go to elite colleges but "end up" being a teacher. I'm trying hard to change my mindset, but it's not easy.

I'd wager that most people who major in education in college do not go on to become teachers, or if they do, they only last a few years. Tell your DS to major in something of interest, teaching can always be there if he wants it. Do not major in education.

[Anonymous]

Make sure she gets a masters to set her off on the right pay scale.

My sister's roommate from Yale is a public HS History teacher. There's no shame in it! We need smart driven people to teach, not just the dummies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. One of the problems is that DC goes to a pricey private school with amazing facilities. The teachers are great for the most part and engage with every student. DC is inspired by them and wants to be like them. The problem really is me. I'm the type-A striver parent who is embarrassed about telling other parents that DC wants to go to elite colleges but "end up" being a teacher. I'm trying hard to change my mindset, but it's not easy.

If she wants to be able to give her own kids that quality of education, she needs to look for either a different career or a rich husband

You get free tuition for your kids at some privates as a faculty member.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. One of the problems is that DC goes to a pricey private school with amazing facilities. The teachers are great for the most part and engage with every student. DC is inspired by them and wants to be like them. The problem really is me. I'm the type-A striver parent who is embarrassed about telling other parents that DC wants to go to elite colleges but "end up" being a teacher. I'm trying hard to change my mindset, but it's not easy.

You are nuts

It’s not your life

Since when is being a teacher not acceptable in society?

Since when are teachers less than?


I can think of a million other majors I’d be embarrassed by a teacher is not one of them.

You definitely wasted that private school tuition.

Elite private in DMV is hysterical

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember when I was your daughter's age and mentioned a slight interest in teaching my father said "Larla, that is a nowhere job." That snuffed out that thought immediately. I'm a lawyer, which isn't exactly a walk in the park, but it's much, much better than being a teacher. My BIL is a hs teacher, and my entire family looks down on him. Flame away, but it's the truth.

And I look down on people who look down on teachers, so there you go.

Oh, gosh. I'm crushed by this. /s

You sound like a peach!

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher and I’m so so sad that teaching is not an occupation that is respected in this country. It’s one of many reasons why so many things are backwards in education and why our system is failing.

That said, my dd also wants to become a teacher. She’s amazing with little kids and would be amazing. She’s a teenager. She might change her mind. Op, none of this is set in stone right now. Why are you stressing? She can change her mind 100 times before she figures anything out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a straight A student and a strong athlete in high school. SAT is above 1500, and taking challenging AP classes. Yet DC says their goal is to become a teacher and lead a stable, anxiety-free life. I am so disappointed that they're not more ambitious, given their commitment to do well in school. I'm hoping that going to college will open their eyes to other options and get them excited about alternative professional pathways. Am I a bad parent for thinking this way?

First of all, you should be proud that kid values education, both for himself and for others. Second, They are only 17, they'll change their mind several times. Third, even if they do go this route, its not a dead end, they can always go do something else later. So many physicians were teachers, cops, nurses, dentists, lawyers, bankers, engineers before they decided to do change careers. Never say never.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. One of the problems is that DC goes to a pricey private school with amazing facilities. The teachers are great for the most part and engage with every student. DC is inspired by them and wants to be like them. The problem really is me. I'm the type-A striver parent who is embarrassed about telling other parents that DC wants to go to elite colleges but "end up" being a teacher. I'm trying hard to change my mindset, but it's not easy.

If she wants to be able to give her own kids that quality of education, she needs to look for either a different career or a rich husband

You get free tuition for your kids at some privates as a faculty member.

Some, not all. More common is discounting which only makes it affordable if you have a high earning spouse or rich parents. You’d also need a k-12 for that to work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. One of the problems is that DC goes to a pricey private school with amazing facilities. The teachers are great for the most part and engage with every student. DC is inspired by them and wants to be like them. The problem really is me. I'm the type-A striver parent who is embarrassed about telling other parents that DC wants to go to elite colleges but "end up" being a teacher. I'm trying hard to change my mindset, but it's not easy.

If she wants to be able to give her own kids that quality of education, she needs to look for either a different career or a rich husband

You get free tuition for your kids at some privates as a faculty member.

No. Nowadays it is more like 50% discount. A friend taught at a DMV private and struggled desperately with making ends meet and paying the tuition for two kids to attend the school he taught at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. One of the problems is that DC goes to a pricey private school with amazing facilities. The teachers are great for the most part and engage with every student. DC is inspired by them and wants to be like them. The problem really is me. I'm the type-A striver parent who is embarrassed about telling other parents that DC wants to go to elite colleges but "end up" being a teacher. I'm trying hard to change my mindset, but it's not easy.

If she wants to be able to give her own kids that quality of education, she needs to look for either a different career or a rich husband

You get free tuition for your kids at some privates as a faculty member.

Some, not all. More common is discounting which only makes it affordable if you have a high earning spouse or rich parents. You’d also need a k-12 for that to work

I am a former boarding school teacher so I know. The smart thing to do is to get hired somewhere with free tuition. Most do public until high school.

[Anonymous]

All these people telling OP they are terrible are also in the threads talking about how earning less than 300k/year makes you subhuman and an unfit partner (if a man).