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I’ve always wanted to be a teacher as well since I was little, and now that I’ve been teaching for 7 years, I definitely want out! These kids are just so different and the lack of respect, discipline and accountability in education makes my job so difficult! I definitely wouldn’t recommend being a teacher now. I’m curious to see the status of teachers in 5 and 10 years. I don’t think there will be that many left!
Also as of now none of my four kids are interested in teaching so I must be letting my bias show. They also want to make more money. It makes me sad because teaching where I am is still a great job. But rural schools in rural states are a dying thing and I don't think 20 years from now we will have been able to resist the changes that are happening nationally. We are "behind" other places in a good way in terms of still having student respect, parent relations, admin support and community engagement. But it's slowly creeping in.
I decided that I had to let my 3 kids (all boys) decide on their own. Two made changes after a couple of years of school, but in the end, they're all happy. Only 2 finished college.
It's hard when you are passionate about a career choice, and maybe don't even see it in that light but more of something you are very interested in. It was social work for me- 7th grade. My dad did a number on me however trying to convince me that this choice was not acceptable. After a couple of years in NY at Rochester Institute for Technology for Graphic Design and Photography, I changed my major to social work thanks to my boyfriend/fiance at the time. Initially, I did not tell my parents, transferred to another college back in MI, and then told my parents I was going into OT. I didn't but of course, because I completely paid my way undergrad and grad, my dad's opinion in terms of this matter didn't count.
My nephew went through the same thing. My sister (a teacher) tried to get my nephew out of the teaching profession. He's 32 and just got his first job in teaching and he loves it. This is his 3rd degree.
Your daughter is young. She will have many ideas, but if she continues to gravitate towards teaching, don't hold her back. At this point, she might be identifying with you because you are her hero.
As of right now, my three kids (17,16, & 14) all say NO WAY to becoming teachers. My husband and I are both teachers. I teach hs and work a ton beyond my contract hours (planning etc)—not so much grading anymore. I also have a part time virtual teaching position. With all of that said—the hours spent working outside of “work hours” and not being able to afford what their friends’ parents can afford (who have chosen other professions) has encouraged them to not become teachers. At least that’s their outlook for now.
I have been teaching for over twenty years now! I have four children, and they all say that there is no way they would be a teacher after seeing what I have done and been through in the last twenty plus years! So, I have always told my kids to pick a career path that will make them happy!
I told my kids no to become teachers- unequivocally. If they want to work with kids, they need to find another avenue.
How exactly will you stop them I'd that's what they decide to do?
I wanted to be an astronaut and neve happened so stop worrying about it.
How about this? Have honest conversations with your kids. Make sure they know what they're getting into. That doesn't mean just being all "doom and gloom." Talk about the pros and cons. It wouldn't hurt them to understand they probably won't be summering in Acapulco (or that they'll never use the word "summer" as a verb), but it can be a very fulfilling career if they don't mind a more modest life. We don't have to overcomplicate everything.
Fair enough, and I do generally agree that the current model of public education is highly flawed, but do we know what any industry is going to look like in 20 years? While I can easily see a world where schooling looks a lot different than it does now, it's hard to imagine a world where there are no teachers. Like I said, there's nothing wrong with being realistic. I tend to prefer realism. I just think the conversation needs to be open and honest from all angles.
And just for the record, I don't recommend sharing the gruesome details with a 7-year-old. I'd save that for the older teenager in the process of seriously considering a career.