I am an aspiring high school science teacher. Occasionally, I come across disparaging comments concerning the profession. Do you have experience as a high school teacher? Post your thoughts here. Horror stories? Interesting anecdotes? General gripes? Do you have valid advice for someone working toward his teaching credential? What about the good parts? Or are all those hopes I have of inspiring and swaying minds just pure naivete? I'm too heavily invested now to throw it all in, but I just thought it would be interesting to see what people on here have to say. I know mattbrent has something to throw in.
em - I started teaching high school in 1979 (probably before you were born!). There have been a few years off in there for various reasons, but I still teach. It is a good gig. It does take a lot of energy, which I find gradually decreasing as I get older, but I have a very good job. Obviously it will vary depending on where you are teaching - curriculum; tone of school; principal/board support; colleague 'comradery' all come in to play. I have noticed things change since 1979. Generally, kids are capable of less today than 'days of yore.' I have taught in both public and private schools. My current gig (and longest lasting) is private, and it is hugely different from the local public schools. Yes, you can change lives, but that ability is tied to your ability/willingness to pour yourself into those lives. As matt is discovering, sometimes that leaves you empty by the time you go home - a price too big to ask your family to pay. Yes, you can show up, teach and go home, but it is the ones who care and pour themselves out that have the impact.
Teacher Trainer in relation to EFL/ESL and during those years have interviewed, recruited, assessed, mentored, and trained many EFL/ESL teachers. What I write here is a generalisation, and every person is different.
I tutored high school kids when I was graduate student. I thought it was so great that I became a high school teacher. I lasted a month. One or two kids is different than a room full of them. Here are a few of my thoughts and experiences. - Nice looking young female teachers got the rowdy boys to behave. - Great big male teachers got the rowdy boys to behave (we had an ex-NFL player). - Short pudgy guys with thick glasses got the rowdy boys pent up rowdiness. That was me. - First year teachers get the less desireable classes. - Learning to teach is important, learning to discipline is more important. - The best teachers have a gift that I question can be learned. - Try an internship or subbing first to see if this is the profession for you. I wish you all the best.
This is what I'm thinking. 40 hours, a livable salary (not huge, but doable), pension, state benefits, and who knows, maybe do some good every once in a while. I'm not going in expecting to change the world. I do hope to have a meaningful connection every once in a while, but the desire to teach is more selfish than altruistic. Given my options, it looks like a good gig. Yes, but not by much. :biggrin: I will probably wind up in a rural school in central/west Texas, which is fine by me. This has always been home to me, and I know the people. I get tired of the bible-belt mentality, but all in all, I'm comfortable around here. Thanks for the input nanoose. beenatam, thanks for playing, but I have no idea what you're trying to say. Maybe if I read it again....nope, still clueless. Can you clarify? That's me. I know this sounds silly, but I am not as concerned about the discipline aspect. I'm a big guy and generally have little trouble commanding attention. I have done a little sub work, and have always engaged in tutoring, small group work, etc. People generally respond well to me in groups. Plus, like I say, I'm kind of a big dude, so that in itself has a way of subduing aggressiveness/rowdiness. :iagree: I've had some great ones through the years. Anybody else care to comment? Other than the discipline aspect, what sucks about the job?
