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.

This is awful, and so demeaning to these teachers who have given your child the gift of education.

wow i feel for your kid that you are embarrassed about them wanting to help others.

If I were to do it over again, I'd study foreign languages again and either become a linguist or language instructor for the army: you get the great benefits, you don't deal with tough teens.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My tween wants to be a PE teacher. She’s a B student at her private K-8 and sporty. I’m totally fine with it.
You need to try and change your mindset OP

I think PE is very different from academic teaching.

Same pay but no homework to grade

No homework, not the same classroom attention/phone issues, no constant curriculum changes, less pressure from administration...

There’s a reason the teaching profession is experiencing mass exodus. Your child needs to get real perspectives from teachers who have been doing it a long time. Stress in the profession comes from low wages unable to save money, being overworked by some school districts, handling angry complaining parents. and poor or disrespectful behavior from students.

Having said that, my spouse switched to teaching after 15 years in industry. He loves the kids and the classroom. Hates the administrative stuff. But we can only make it work and raise a family on a teacher salary bc I make good money and because of previous earnings and investments.

Maybe your kid isn’t cut out for rat race but there are other professions he could explore that are relatively low key. Anything behind the scenes could work including web developer, graphic designer, instructional designer, data analysis, lab researcher, actuary, museum archiving, video editing can be lower key jobs. I think he needs better career exploration to help him see other options more clearly.

She needs to do it in one of the few states that pay very well, or go the boarding school route: room and board, zero bills...Salary is low but you can save so much that way (btdt)

Have her to do the exercise of taking the average salary for a teacher (say mid career) and then see what mortgage, grocerie, car payment, childcare costs are and creating a budget and seeing what that could look like. Its a good and necessary profession that sadly does not pay enough to manage a stress free life financially if thst is the main source if income for a household.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My tween wants to be a PE teacher. She’s a B student at her private K-8 and sporty. I’m totally fine with it.
You need to try and change your mindset OP

I think PE is very different from academic teaching.

Same pay but no homework to grade

Anonymous wrote:My tween wants to be a PE teacher. She’s a B student at her private K-8 and sporty. I’m totally fine with it.
You need to try and change your mindset OP

I think PE is very different from academic teaching.

My tween wants to be a PE teacher. She’s a B student at her private K-8 and sporty. I’m totally fine with it.
You need to try and change your mindset OP

I was your dc, then I became a teacher and lasted five years. It's not anxiety-free at all.

Teacher here. I love my job and this thread is very sad. Think about it from this perspective: who do you want teaching your grandchildren? OPs child sounds like they could be an excellent, caring teacher.

Anonymous wrote:I was the A student that went to elite schools, but went to graduate school and got the type of job you would want for your daughter. I hated it, and now I'm a stay at home mom. Had I been a teacher or something else I may have been happier in my career, so be careful what you wish for. She also has time to change her mind, I certainly did between high school and the end of college and again by my late 20s.

I was also a straight A student at an elite school and started in a field you would have liked. I didn’t and switched careers to be a teacher early on. I liked being a teacher but it’s not the same now. My family and I are in the midst of real conversations if I can financially leave after this year, not earning my full retirement and if we can make it work long term. I have an appointment with our financial advisor soon. Do not encourage teaching here. It’s not about education or students anymore.

I would be so proud if my kid wanted to help others. Too many smart people waste their intelligence chasing money.

Anonymous wrote:If your DC thinks being a teacher is going to provide an anxiety-free life, they are delusional.

- signed, a teacher

This.