Is teaching a “hobby” job?

[Anonymous]

If you are talking about full-time teaching in K-12, that is exhausting work and many teachers don't make it through the first five years.

If you're talking about teaching one or two classes as an adjunct professor in college, that's much easier, but you will only receive "hobby job" pay, which will barely be enough to pay for your commuting expenses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We all know teachers don’t make much, so between the low pay and summers off, is that enough to constitute a “hobby” job?

Being a bonehead is obviously your calling.

[Anonymous]

Public schools - definitely not, super exhausting

Private schools - I think for some it's a hobby job, the pay and benefits aren't as good as public schools so people are choosing to be there. They may have a spouse who makes more or family money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am jealous that teachers get summers and all holidays off, but I wouldn't ever want to be in that profession.

You're jealous of unpaid time? How strange.

Not really strange. It’s that I could not keep my job and take that much LWOP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am jealous that teachers get summers and all holidays off, but I wouldn't ever want to be in that profession.

You're jealous of unpaid time? How strange.

Not really strange. It’s that I could not keep my job and take that much LWOP.

I’m a teacher and I don’t see it as a perk. I feel I’m forced to use summer for all my doctors’ appts, scheduled procedures, trainings, workshops, etc. because it’s too hard to take leave during the school year.

If I could, I’d trade the unpaid summer for better flexibility.

[Anonymous]

I teach. Honestly, I can see what OP is getting at. I guess I would consider it a “hobby job” for me. I teach middle school by the way. Do I have to work because I need the money? No, my spouse makes triple what I make. Do I love having the Summers off? Of course! Do I like that I will have a pension when I retire? You bet. Do I also enjoy what I do? Of course! I love teaching students. I would choose no other career. I do not want to move up and out of the classroom. I truly love teaching. It’s a hobby I suppose. Is that a bad thing though?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all know teachers don’t make much, so between the low pay and summers off, is that enough to constitute a “hobby” job?

Absolutely not -- hobby jobs are ones that don't actually contribute that much to society (like... making jewelry or something).

Teaching is one of the most essential jobs in our society. It's just not well paid in the US because there is not capitalist payoff for good teaching (there is, but its too long term). It's well paid in some other countries.

…or consultants, which DC is overflowing with. Consultants love to yap. They usually have never done any meaningful work, but sure can talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am jealous that teachers get summers and all holidays off, but I wouldn't ever want to be in that profession.

You're jealous of unpaid time? How strange.

Not really strange. It’s that I could not keep my job and take that much LWOP.

They aren't taking LWOP. Their job is unavailable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am jealous that teachers get summers and all holidays off, but I wouldn't ever want to be in that profession.

You're jealous of unpaid time? How strange.

Not really strange. It’s that I could not keep my job and take that much LWOP.

They aren't taking LWOP. Their job is unavailable.

We know. It’s just equivalent to someone in another profession taking LWOP for 8 weeks every summer, and most regular jobs don’t allow that (even without pay). It’s just a different structure.

[Anonymous]

This post is offensive.
Teaching is not a "hobby job." It is a much needed profession and great contributor to society (I am not a teacher).

[Anonymous]

Ha! You can say what you want. I think $128k a year to teach Kindergarten for 10 months is great. I own a home, manage and I invest my money well, own rental properties and go on vacations all over the world during the summer with my family. But, sure. It’s a hobby and I am impoverished.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha! You can say what you want. I think $128k a year to teach Kindergarten for 10 months is great. I own a home, manage and I invest my money well, own rental properties and go on vacations all over the world during the summer with my family. But, sure. It’s a hobby and I am impoverished.

And I make $75K a year teaching AP classes to 150 high schoolers, often working through weekends. It’s rather demanding. I also get asked to write tons of college recommendations, which are done during the summer.

I’m glad you’ve got a great set-up, but it doesn’t reflect reality for many teachers.

So I do find this post offensive. (No, I’m not the PP who also stated this is offensive.)

[Anonymous]

Girl what.

[Anonymous]

Hobby job? Do you know how hard good teaching is even for fully experienced professionals?

For reference, as a teacher I make $125k a year after 20 years. Salary was not good in the beginning, but now I am quite happy with my work life balance. There are ways to boost that income further with leadership positions and National board certifications.

Teacher are one of the top job likely to be millionaires. Thankfully, I can include myself in this group and that’s not even including pension and health benefits. It has not been easy nor an are most able to to do this. But “a hobby”? What ignorance.

[Anonymous]

You do realize we work hard 10 months a year, have no choice to get unpaid time off because our job is not available and many teachers work extra summer jobs?

You do realize that we can’t go to the bathroom whenever we want and sometimes have to ask someone to cover our class if it’s more than when our kids are at lunch, recess or specials. We are on our feet so much of the day. If we have a headache we can’t just close our eyes for a few minutes like someone sitting behind their computer can do. I have SO MANY friends who work at a desk job who are on social media 10 times an hour. Is that considered a hobby job?

If teachers didn’t teach, what would happen to the future of our society? Where would we get the future doctors, lawyers, politicians or people with “real jobs” as you suggest? They wouldn’t know how to do math, read or write.

I honestly hope you are a troll and not a real person who believes this, because it makes me sad. You wouldn’t last one day in a classroom trying to keep this generation of “gently patented” kids in order. Teachers are LITERALLY creating a productive future for themselves our society. Please think about that.