Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I taught and would also discourage any bright young people from going into the profession. If you are not concerned about $ but also want to be a do-gooder I would look into non-profit work. That was going to be my move but I had kids and became a SAHM. I am in a state that treats it's teachers particularly poorly and I could count on one hand the number of decent teachers my age who are still in it after 10 years.

I can't speak for your state, but in mine (Virginia) teachers are paid pretty well and certainly more than most non-profit employees, plus there's a nice pension coming in states that stay solvent.

+1. I work at a relatively high SES elementary school in Loudoun and many teachers are pretty happy. Honestly the unhappy ones are mostly the under-30 unmarried ones.

I'm in my 40s and I'd be totally fine with my DC becoming a teacher if it's what she really wanted. Teaching is a consistent profession which always has demand and where the benefits can be extremely solid. It's a respectable job where you can make a concrete difference in the lives of other people. There is also quite a bit of leeway in the profession in terms of deciding what kind of teacher you will be and where you want to teach. I would want to be careful not to overspend on my education knowing that I will never make a super high salary, but a teacher can feel confident she'll be employed and can earn a pension. How many careers can you say that about?

Recently my DD, who likes to write, was asked if she would be interested in becoming a journalist. She shook her head and said it didn't really interest her that much, and I remember in my head thinking "what a relief." Journalism is a more "prestigious" career than teaching to many people, but it's incredibly unsustainable financially. There's no clear path to a comfortable retirement and a lot of it is luck and who you know. I'd a million times rather see my kid become a teacher than a journalist!

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

- signed, a teacher

+ infinity (another teacher)

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?

This is the thinking that makes teaching continue to be a lower paid profession as opposed to the essential service that it is, with all the stress, anxiety, and strain. Teaching is the profession from which all other professions can exist. It’s extremely sad that even after a pandemic some people haven’t learned that the jobs that pay the least, are usually the most essential.

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

- signed, a teacher

I’ve been one and it is pretty anxiety free in comparison to a lot of other jobs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Spouse of a teacher here. My DH LOVES his job--in fact, I don't know anyone with more job satisfaction. One of our kids will likely end up a teacher, and that is fine with us.

It's interesting to me that OP pays big bucks to send her kid to a private school with teachers she apparently has no respect for. That doesn't seem very smart to me but YMMV.

Your DH must be teaching in a school with far less behavioral problems than the average school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I taught and would also discourage any bright young people from going into the profession. If you are not concerned about $ but also want to be a do-gooder I would look into non-profit work. That was going to be my move but I had kids and became a SAHM. I am in a state that treats it's teachers particularly poorly and I could count on one hand the number of decent teachers my age who are still in it after 10 years.

I can't speak for your state, but in mine (Virginia) teachers are paid pretty well and certainly more than most non-profit employees, plus there's a nice pension coming in states that stay solvent.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Spouse of a teacher here. My DH LOVES his job--in fact, I don't know anyone with more job satisfaction. One of our kids will likely end up a teacher, and that is fine with us.

It's interesting to me that OP pays big bucks to send her kid to a private school with teachers she apparently has no respect for. That doesn't seem very smart to me but YMMV.

Do you have kids PP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they did a study that many teachers are millionaires - it could be because their stable career allows them to marry someone who can work longer hours and make a good income. In a good school district, she could make low six figures, have a pension, awesome health benefits, and summers and holidays off. It can be an incredible work life balance for someone who wants a family and also wants to do rewarding work. That being said, she'd have to pick her area wisely since many teachers are currently working 60 hour weeks these days

For what it's worth, I'm an educator and a millionaire.

Yeah ... pretty sure you didn't get there on your teaching salary.

Actually I did and I make more than my husband. The trick is to work for a high paying district with great benefits, avoid student loans and get as many scholarships as possible, and invest early. It's true that the stars have to align and you have to make good choices at a young age...but it is possible.

I would have her do informational interviews with teachers, heads of school/admin, and other related specialties in the field, including education-focused nonprofits/foundations, legislative folks, and college professors in schools of education. No need to thwart her dreams but just help her realize the many possibilities to do great work in education. Also just have a non-emotional look at cost of living issues and budgeting for the DC market so her eyes are open and she is grounded in reality. If she pursues education at the university level, send her to a place that is doing cutting-edge research in the field. If she is motivated and high-performing, opportunities may well open up for her. Also- Lots of top liberal arts schools feed into private schools for secondary level teaching gigs if that is the path you think she may ultimately pursue.

Anonymous wrote: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.

I taught and would also discourage any bright young people from going into the profession. If you are not concerned about $ but also want to be a do-gooder I would look into non-profit work. That was going to be my move but I had kids and became a SAHM. I am in a state that treats it's teachers particularly poorly and I could count on one hand the number of decent teachers my age who are still in it after 10 years.

Anonymous wrote:Consider speech language pathology. She’d still help kids but have better ratios and financial solvency.

- a former fancy private school teacher with regrets

I'm a school speech pathologist with 80 kids and a teacher's salary. And an insane amount of paperwork. I'm not less stressed than the teachers.

There's more money in it if you go into private practice or the medical side of it.

The best teacher I ever had at my urban public high school was a Duke grad. She's the reason I chose my major in college, and I credit her for guiding me in this direction in life. She was a gift. Sounds like your child could be one too.

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.

Don’t pay for ivy or private college if she is a determined to be a teacher. She can go to any affordable state school and get a teaching job.