Overrated Career: Teacher

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Great comments, the only thing I have issue with is the fact that people say summer is unpaid. Not true you have pay options- 9 months’ big checks or 12 months smaller checks. Which one do you think people choice? Yep 9 month and that means no pay in the summer. Teachers do us (society) a great service, it is easier to converse with education than with ignorance, but let’s be clear. We make what we make for a lot of reasons, importance, danger, toughness and climate to name a few. Is teaching important? Yes but not like "national security important" dangerous? NO, not anymore than any other office job, tough? Climate? Nope. I have a fair amount of education and have members of my family that teach and they do it well and they don't complain about something that was in full disclosure before they began. God bless the teachers whom go to work with the purpose of educating and shame on the 400 lb (teachers are the heaviest profession) terrible example of how the system failed. To you teachers I wag my finger in your general direction!

Free ED of GA 11:28PM January 15, 2012

Reality of 2011: Teachers do not necessarily have benefits that rival those in the "private" business sector, and political office holders are working to dismantle even those (why? when did teachers become the enemy?).
Your article states three times that teachers get the summers off. Hear this: we work on a 9-10 month contract that is usually at least a year behind in negotiations AND we do NOT receive a SINGLE DAY of vacation with pay. How many people do you know who work in a career field professionally that does not get time with pay? So when you hear "summer's off" it means OFF THE PAYROLL.
There are more reasons that this career is over-rated beyond the ones you listed in the article--but it would be nice to at least remove the reiteration that "summers off" is a benefit.

sad but true of FL 11:29AM July 18, 2011

TEACHING IS BEST LEFT TO THOSE WHO CAN, NOT THOSE THAT SEEK WEALTH.
TEACHING IS THE GREATEST REWARD ONE CAN HAVE IN THEIR LIFE.
IF YOU CAN READ THIS YOU SHOULD RETURN THE FAVOR AND TEACH, IF YOU DARE.
WHEN I STARTED IN EDUCATION I WAS UNEDUCATED TODAY I LEARN STILL.
ITS NOT HOW HIGH YOU RISE BUT ABOUT THE DISTANCE YOU HAVE TRAVELED.

EPLURIBUS UNUM of CA 4:26AM January 14, 2011

How tragic that in our society we value super models, and celebrities moreso than Educators, Scientists, Police officers, and healthcare personnel.
Back when i was a Paramedic in NYC i encountered the best and worst of humanity. We were frequently placed in physically, mentally, and emotionally high risk situations in order to save or otherwise help our fellow human beings.
It was a low paying job, at the time, and still is when you consider the danger and "sacrifice" involved.
An acquaintance of mine, on the other hand, who worked in a safe and comfortable work environment, made anywhere from $5-30K in ONE DAY.
She was a Model who averaged a monthly income of around $15-20K for just a few days of work. In a year she cleared 6 figures even with an "unemployment" lapse of 2-3 months. She was offered the world by men and companies simply because she was ~beautiful.
It didn't matter that she was not very intelligent or that she never attended college and barely made it through high school. It didn't matter that she was egotistical, self absorbed and wouldn't lift a finger to help someone.
The only thing that mattered was her beauty.
Now at the age of 44 she is "retired". Having earned so much money during her teens through her 30's there is no need for her to ever work again- anywhere.
She married a wealthy stockbroker who manages her money since she has no idea how to do it herself. (lets hope he doesn't met a "younger model" and walk out of the marriage with all the money). She has, in her life, made 0 difference in the life of another human being.
Ironically, years ago, i used to be envious of her but not anymore. Now i kind of feel sorry for her- though financially secure she is broke in so many other ways.
In contrast here i sit, in my 40's, unable to retire (though i wouldn't want to at this age anyway) yet excited at the prospect of another career change.
Unlike my Model friend, I have always had a "purpose" my whole life and have had so many amazing experiences in the course of fulfilling that purpose. Though i am not financially rich, i am rich in ways that truly matter and are much more meaningful.
I have the essentials --- a wonderful home, a healthy family, the desire, health and strength to continue working in ways that will positively impact the lives of others. I don't want for anything and prefer to have few material possessions (much less cleaning involved).
It's so important for people to stop wanting less of what they don't have and to start appreciating more what they do have. Try it and believe me you will start seeing the world in an entirely different way.
Live for today, anticipate and prepare for tomorrow but don't become so fearful of not having a million $ in your 401k.
As long as you're healthy there's no reason why you can't work into your 70's and 80's. My grandparents did and loved every minute of it!
Their secret?:
1. They had a purpose
2. They loved what they did for a living.

JackieNeutron of TX 5:11PM June 05, 2010

Simply said, teaching is not for the faint of heart for all the reasons mentioned and a hundred more. You might be able to just about weather it if you have a supportive administration and supportive, compatible co-workers but administration and co-workers can leave (retire, move) at the drop of the hat and then you will have (underlined) nothing. Once you have taught for enough years to achieve some kind of permenancy and a number years of experience, and want to leave teaching you will realize that you can't afford to give up your by now almost livable salary and benefits and pension to go out somewhere into the unknown. My daughter got her masters and stopped teaching after 15 years to raise her children, and if she decides to return to teaching now (seven years later) she will be paid for 0 years of experience and no masters. She is too expensive to re-hire when they can get new teachers right out of college with no experience and no masters. There are an astounding number of teachers out there who are truly caring and dedicated in spite of the drawbacks to teaching but there are also an unfortunate number of teachers who are out there just putting in their time to reach retirement.

ruth of IL 4:29PM April 24, 2010

Yes, summer's off are wonderful. If you can afford them. All of my co-workers and I have to wait tables in the summers, some do real estate, others have to babysit, at upwards of 30 years old! And, as mentioned in the article, there is so much governmental regulating that makes you wonder if those politicians were ever in a classroom themselves or if they care at all about actually giving the kids an education. And don't even get me started on teaching a class with gifted & talented in the same room as special-ed and non-English speakers!!
And in my personal experience, if you have a spouse whose job may relocate you a few times in your lifetime, DO NOT TEACH. Getting re-certified in each state is the biggest hassle, and the biggest insult to your intelligence you'll ever encounter. I just paid thousands of dollars in one state (tests, courses, fees just to get the paperwork done, fingerprinting) and then had to move. Now I have to start all over again and pay all that money again. Even though they claim there is reciprocity between these states, I still have to take 3 tests ( at an average of $200 a pop), wait about 8 months for paperwork to go through, get fingerprinted again (What, no nationwide database?) get letters from my last employer proving how long I worked (they don't just trust a resume) and the list goes on and on.
I don't suggest one shouldn't teach if they want to do that, but you should know you'll need a tough skin and resilience!!

CrM of CA 11:09PM February 11, 2010

The average teacher works 55-70 hours a week. If he/she is a special education teacher they'll most likely work 60-70 hours a week.(but only paid for 40). That`s how much I worked until i couldn`t keep up the grueling hours anymore and had to leave teaching. Teaching is by far one of the worst careers if you plan to have children and actually spend time with them. I fell hook line and sinker for the myth that it offered a great quality of life and would allow me more time with my family. I have spent more time away from my children in the two years i was teaching than i have in my other careers.. About the only time I had any time off was in the summer --roughly 5 weeks, the rest of summer i was in training and prepping for return in the fall. The holidays were all work for me (as well as other teachers). During this time we played "catch up" Personally, I felt I had a much better quality of life with a "regular" job that offered 3 weeks vacation. I made 43K as a teacher and worked upwards of 70 hrs a week. You do the math. You could make that and more as a Secretary or Executive assistant with alot less training, stress and less hours required.
"Intrinsic" and "idealistic" motivation is wonderful, just not very realistic.
While you are out "saving or making a difference" in the lives of other people's children, who'se taking care of your own?
How are you making a difference in the lives of your own children when you are working upwards of 70+ hours a week?

jax of TX 2:14AM February 08, 2010

My goodness, RD, you claim to aspire to people management, yet you just lashed out defensively at someone you don't even know. My opinion is of no consequence and a temper that short could create a bit of a problem for you.
I have worked for some of the finest administrators on the planet. I am blessed to have some bit of remaining professional autonomy in an age of lock step teaching standardization. Most of my fellow teacher mentors retired long ago and I have no interest in taking their place. Public education and teaching just isn't the same job I signed on for 20 years ago. Regardless, I wish you a thick skin to cope with your future parents and teachers, let alone administration higher ups when you make it to the "show". Administrating education in the era of LEARN and Race to the Top is not something I'd wish on anyone.

lj of AZ 11:45PM January 11, 2010

Who said I didn't care about children? Is it not possible that I have organizational skills that I can use to help give students an efficient learning environment? Take a deep breath and quit crying...I'm sorry your boss slaps you around too much...it's probably because you are one of those teachers that can be replaced by anyone.

RD of CA 9:16PM January 02, 2010

My prediction for the impact of "pay for performance" on education in the next decade is that it will have a negative effect. The reason? The whole approach is based on a faulty business model. (Research Dan Pink and the Surprising Science of Motivation. ) Good teachers are intrinsically motivated by the idea that they can make a difference in the world. Knowing that what they are doing matters and has meaning is what pushes them. They desire and need autonomy, mastery and purpose. Their investment in students is not solely driven by more money, or for the purpose of impressing superiors, or even to avoid punitive consequences. (Yes they want a decent paycheck and good evaluations, but these things are not their top incentives.) Neal is right about the top reward lying in that "ah ha" moment of making an intellectual connection with a young mind. It is that accomplishment which drives teachers. When educators begin to feel abused, overly-regulated, taken for granted, unsupported and or insulted in general, they will be forced to take a stand and go against their natural inclination. Organizations and administrators working to improve performance will need to take a different approach then the one that is being currently implemented all over the country, or very little will change in our public education system.

Cindi Chow of FL 11:35AM January 02, 2010