OP, curious as to why your DC wants an "anxiety-free" life? Is DC an anxious person? How is DC's mental health?

I think we start from there. If DC is someone who needs to be extra cautious with regard to her mental health, she's very wise to be thinking about future careers along those lines. DC may not end up being a teacher, but hopefully her insight into herself will help her to choose a path that is right for HER (not you).

My mom was a teacher and would never have wanted her kids to go into the profession. Too underpaid, too micromanaged by idiots who know nothing about education, way underpaid, out of control parents.
OP maybe she could teach for a couple of years and then move to an education company, that’s where the real money is. Selling stuff and programs back to school districts.

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?

Yes, you have an awful mindset! Let your kid pursue their passion. My daughter is becoming a teacher and I think it's perfect for her personality. She's also a high performing student, but wants to do something meaningful and not routine. That said, she understands the burnout that's common among teachers and has a plan B if that happens. But how many jobs are there where you can fell like you are making a real difference in someone's life? For some people that's more important than money.

Anonymous wrote: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).

Wow, you can tell that by reading anonymous posts? You are amazing!!

Anonymous wrote:Just saw an article about salary of a superintendent for a large school district who earns $521K plus benefits benefits so if kid values money, they'll find ways.

That is a really hard job to get and even harder to keep. You cannot go into a job only banking on having one of the top 10 positions in the entire country.

We have college freshman and sophomores come into our classrooms once a week to help out and see what it’s like. This will give her an idea if she really wants to pursue teaching. Some of these kids tell us they had no idea that teachers never sat down most of the day. Some have told me they don’t think they could stand not having a real break all day. I’m at lunch now but on a webinar. We don’t have enough time to go out for lunch and one of the interns said she couldn’t stand bringing her lunch everyday. So if she does want to go into teaching, she needs to spend time in classrooms first.

Just fake it til you make it. Act super proud of her and keep telling yourself how noble the profession is and your heart will catch up. And remember that there is an extremely high likelihood she’ll change her mind.

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

- signed, a teacher

Yep, that doesn't even happen with the younger grades like pre-k or k.

The good news is that usually students like this get woken up when they do their capstones/practicums/student teaching. Student teaching breaks a LOT of teachers.

Anonymous wrote:My public school (FCPS AAP) kid has had some amazing teachers. We need smart, hard working kids to become teachers. I think it is wonderful!

OP’s kid is inspired by the private school experience and wants to teach other rich kids not proles

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?

No, I'd feel the same. Not b/c of "striving" or prestige but I think it is a difficult career path. Teachers aren't paid nearly well enough. Dealing with admin and parents has to be miserable. If they could springboard that into something else - maybe I'd feel better about it. But ultimately, it's their call and I'd need to make my peace with it.

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.

Thanks for saying out loud, I guess. Your kid will know you’re embarrassed. My mother is embarrassed by my career, it is impossible for her to hide it, and I think less of her for it.

- Teacher with Ivy undergrad and masters.

Anonymous wrote: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.

This^. Everyone says we need good teachers but no one good wants to do it.

Are you a troll, OP?

Your DC is bright and accomplished thus far thanks in large part to - TEACHERS!

Shame on you for being disappointed in their ambition to be a teacher, a profession which gives back much more than most to the community and which provides a schedule and lifestyle that will allow them to better enjoy their own kids if they have them, or lots of time off in the summer to travel and adventure if they don't.

My public school (FCPS AAP) kid has had some amazing teachers. We need smart, hard working kids to become teachers. I think it is wonderful!

Just saw an article about salary of a superintendent for a large school district who earns $521K plus benefits benefits so if kid values money, they'll find ways.