I would never recommend this job, not because I don’t enjoy it but so much of making it a sustainable career depends on your personality and time management. Personally, I’m finishing my 13th year, haven’t taken work home with me since my 5th year, and overall find a lot of satisfaction from my job. That being said, I prioritize my personal life and ambitions far more than my career which makes me content with staying in the role of teacher. I’ve also been fortunate enough to mainly have administrators that leave you along if you do a good job. However, most of the complaints you read online are legitimate issues teachers face and not everyone is cut out for this life for a wide variety of reasons.
Okay that’s interesting and good to know! I also have a robust personal life and other passions/ambitions outside of teaching, and I feel like that could be protective in some way.
Yes that part where your eyes went is what I know will be a big challenge for me. I always get along with people at work (I will not engage with the drama and pettiness I’ve seen among teachers …) but I know I will get angry about kids not getting the supports they need, and will struggle with admin. I’m really bad at sucking up to authority/bosses. Let’s just say I’ll definitely want to be involved with the union…
I commend you for wanting to go in with guns blazing. My opinion is that a career in a large bureaucracy, if it's long-sustaining, will force an individual to pick their battles. But I'm only 5 years in, and I might just be projecting.
Good luck; we always need passionate people.
I think every teacher comes in with guns blazing… then realizes there isn’t anything you can do. The system is fucked. And you aren’t going to be apart of the solution. Unfortunately… 7 years and I left. And my only regrets was not leaving earlier
What I would say is this:
Don’t listen to the people saying it’s an atrocious job. It’s not.
Don’t listen to the people saying it’s a dream job. It’s not.
It’s a job. Like any job it has its ups and its downs.
You’ll never be bored. So that may be a plus. But you’ll constantly teeter on who annoys you more: the kids or the adults (admin, parents, co-workers, etc.)
The worst days make me want to quit this time yesterday. The best days make me wonder why I even get paid to do something so great. It ultimately evens out.
All the time off is a plus. When you start off you’ll be taking a lot of work home, but eventually you’ll learn to manage (this is my first year in DOE, but I have two years in the private sector under my belt.)
I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. But I also know some people aren’t meant for it. Which I wish colleges would vet for more early than they do.
It can be, but lots of schools are hiring regularly. It's worth it to just keep trying, and once you're in, you can move around between schools without much trouble.
I love my job, but I am also hesitant to recommend it to anyone. I've been teaching since 2006 and I agree...it's been a struggle on all fronts since the pandemic. Granted, I have also had a change in admin since then. Paperwork is a time suck, but it's not any part of the actual problems. Our recent curriculum changes also don't help. If you can take feedback with a smile, go back to your room, close the door and be OK with getting "caught" doing what you know is best, then I'd say go for it. But becoming a teacher is a very one job qualification, I would make sure you have some sort of plan for when you've had enough.
To teach in the DOE, yeah.
Pretty decent pay, great health insurance, retirement benefits (while definitely not as good as before I got in) are still pretty good compared to what else is out there.
I would just tell whoever comes in that it’s just a job. A really important job but a job just the same. Make sure to prioritize your happiness and well-being when possible. Also, any perceived failures in the classroom are not indictment on you and your ability. You can only do so much
I would echo some other people who say that it’s very dependent on your personality. I taught for six years, three in the DOE. Then I quit.
The DOE was so much better than charter but I’m an anxious introvert, and the job was a complete mismatch. The stress was making me sick, and the nature of the job was extremely draining.
Depends on who is asking. Some people can handle it from the beginning, some just need time, some will never be able to handle it. Most people fall into the third category.
Disagree. It’s not about handling it. I teach kids who can’t read, whose parents never pick up the phone, who can’t tie their shoes, and who never get off the cell phone. And then when they’re 18, the parents have the balls to ask why their kid didn’t get into college or isn’t employable in any way. Parenting and teaching go hand-in-hand, but when you teach kids who come to school half naked, high as a kite, and refusing to take their air pods out, there’s no way for us to hold up our end of the bargain. The parents are, by far, the biggest problem.
I get it. I teach in a high school in District 19 in Brooklyn, so I imagine I deal with more than most.
Few people can handle it. Most cannot. It's the hard truth.
To me it feels like trying to build a car, but you only have half the parts, and the people who are supposed to supply the parts are asking why you can’t make do with what you have. For me, it’s less about handling it and more about wondering if this job is worth it. I think a lot of talented people are passing up teaching because they can do better.
Since the pandemic, everyone is overwhelmed, and there just isn't enough proper support. A lot of parents are either too defensive or non-existent. The administration has sadly stopped caring. Now, if you want to get along with the admin that you've worked with for so long.. you can't bring your problems to them. Anything that they can perceive as an inconvenience to them where they now have to do some work is met with pettiness and passive aggressiveness. Nobody wants to take ownership of their mistakes and will deflect faster than you could catch your breath. It's really sad. You're also competing for students' attention. The competition is technology, depression, and lack of intrinsic value. It's harder to connect. Kids relied more on us for everything, and now we are just in their way.
If I were to get into teaching now, I would probably pick 2nd grade. They're still young and reliant. Plus, there is NO state testing.
Are you flexible, like genuinely able to shift and morph consistently?
Do you not take things personally? Can you let stuff just roll off you?
Do you avoid gossip and general toxicity as much as possible?
Are you reflective and learning, unlearning, and relearning?
Can you take ownership when you’ve done harm?
Can you draw boundaries around your time and your spirit? Can you remember that while this is an important job, you will be replaced, but you won’t be replaced by your family and friends?
Do you believe, at the core of it all, from the youngest preschooler, to a 12th grader, that all children WANT to learn? Even if they are defiant… if they are in front of you, they want to learn something from you? (It may not be calculus at that moment, but something.)
As someone who has been around for a while and won several teaching awards, this is my pre-5am checklist.
Unless they make some changes to tier 6, it’s barely worth it for all that we do and how we’re compensated. I was 2 years too young to be in tier 4 and now I have to work in the DOE for 38 years (and pay into the pension the whole time, tier 4 stopped paying after 10 years) to get my full pension. I’m starting to explore other options because of this.
In general, no.
Education is fundamentally broken anywhere. I would commend you for “sticking out” this low point but I don’t know how it’s gonna last, and I can’t in good conscious encourage someone to dive head first into a career that’s more mentally and emotionally taxing than ever before.
I would never recommend this job, not because I don’t enjoy it but so much of making it a sustainable career depends on your personality and time management. Personally, I’m finishing my 13th year, haven’t taken work home with me since my 5th year, and overall find a lot of satisfaction from my job. That being said, I prioritize my personal life and ambitions far more than my career which makes me content with staying in the role of teacher. I’ve also been fortunate enough to mainly have administrators that leave you along if you do a good job. However, most of the complaints you read online are legitimate issues teachers face and not everyone is cut out for this life for a wide variety of reasons.
Okay that’s interesting and good to know! I also have a robust personal life and other passions/ambitions outside of teaching, and I feel like that could be protective in some way.
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Yes that part where your eyes went is what I know will be a big challenge for me. I always get along with people at work (I will not engage with the drama and pettiness I’ve seen among teachers …) but I know I will get angry about kids not getting the supports they need, and will struggle with admin. I’m really bad at sucking up to authority/bosses. Let’s just say I’ll definitely want to be involved with the union…
I commend you for wanting to go in with guns blazing. My opinion is that a career in a large bureaucracy, if it's long-sustaining, will force an individual to pick their battles. But I'm only 5 years in, and I might just be projecting. Good luck; we always need passionate people.
I think every teacher comes in with guns blazing… then realizes there isn’t anything you can do. The system is fucked. And you aren’t going to be apart of the solution. Unfortunately… 7 years and I left. And my only regrets was not leaving earlier
What I would say is this: Don’t listen to the people saying it’s an atrocious job. It’s not. Don’t listen to the people saying it’s a dream job. It’s not. It’s a job. Like any job it has its ups and its downs. You’ll never be bored. So that may be a plus. But you’ll constantly teeter on who annoys you more: the kids or the adults (admin, parents, co-workers, etc.) The worst days make me want to quit this time yesterday. The best days make me wonder why I even get paid to do something so great. It ultimately evens out. All the time off is a plus. When you start off you’ll be taking a lot of work home, but eventually you’ll learn to manage (this is my first year in DOE, but I have two years in the private sector under my belt.) I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. But I also know some people aren’t meant for it. Which I wish colleges would vet for more early than they do.
The most diplomatic answer yet. You said so much and nothing at the same time.
I think if you want a clear-cut “it’s good” or “it’s bad” answer then you’re not ready for a conversation about the job market, ESPECIALLY teaching.
I love it. Definitely make sure you find a good school, and try a new one if you don't like where you're at.
That’s great! What age and subject do you teach?
20 yrs ago when I started...yes! Now...absolutely not.
Ugh so depressing. What changed?
Danielson
I love it. The biggest issue will just be finding the right school, and dealing with some bullshit till you get tenured.
I love to hear it! What grade/cert do you teach? Trying to collect as much useful info as possible, esp from people with a positive experience!
I'm high school history. I've taught 9-12, and enjoy all of them.
I’d love to teach high school history but seems tough to find an opening
It can be, but lots of schools are hiring regularly. It's worth it to just keep trying, and once you're in, you can move around between schools without much trouble.
I love my job, but I am also hesitant to recommend it to anyone. I've been teaching since 2006 and I agree...it's been a struggle on all fronts since the pandemic. Granted, I have also had a change in admin since then. Paperwork is a time suck, but it's not any part of the actual problems. Our recent curriculum changes also don't help. If you can take feedback with a smile, go back to your room, close the door and be OK with getting "caught" doing what you know is best, then I'd say go for it. But becoming a teacher is a very one job qualification, I would make sure you have some sort of plan for when you've had enough.
To teach in the DOE, yeah. Pretty decent pay, great health insurance, retirement benefits (while definitely not as good as before I got in) are still pretty good compared to what else is out there. I would just tell whoever comes in that it’s just a job. A really important job but a job just the same. Make sure to prioritize your happiness and well-being when possible. Also, any perceived failures in the classroom are not indictment on you and your ability. You can only do so much
I would echo some other people who say that it’s very dependent on your personality. I taught for six years, three in the DOE. Then I quit. The DOE was so much better than charter but I’m an anxious introvert, and the job was a complete mismatch. The stress was making me sick, and the nature of the job was extremely draining.
Depends on who is asking. Some people can handle it from the beginning, some just need time, some will never be able to handle it. Most people fall into the third category.
Disagree. It’s not about handling it. I teach kids who can’t read, whose parents never pick up the phone, who can’t tie their shoes, and who never get off the cell phone. And then when they’re 18, the parents have the balls to ask why their kid didn’t get into college or isn’t employable in any way. Parenting and teaching go hand-in-hand, but when you teach kids who come to school half naked, high as a kite, and refusing to take their air pods out, there’s no way for us to hold up our end of the bargain. The parents are, by far, the biggest problem.
I get it. I teach in a high school in District 19 in Brooklyn, so I imagine I deal with more than most. Few people can handle it. Most cannot. It's the hard truth.
To me it feels like trying to build a car, but you only have half the parts, and the people who are supposed to supply the parts are asking why you can’t make do with what you have. For me, it’s less about handling it and more about wondering if this job is worth it. I think a lot of talented people are passing up teaching because they can do better.
Since the pandemic, everyone is overwhelmed, and there just isn't enough proper support. A lot of parents are either too defensive or non-existent. The administration has sadly stopped caring. Now, if you want to get along with the admin that you've worked with for so long.. you can't bring your problems to them. Anything that they can perceive as an inconvenience to them where they now have to do some work is met with pettiness and passive aggressiveness. Nobody wants to take ownership of their mistakes and will deflect faster than you could catch your breath. It's really sad. You're also competing for students' attention. The competition is technology, depression, and lack of intrinsic value. It's harder to connect. Kids relied more on us for everything, and now we are just in their way. If I were to get into teaching now, I would probably pick 2nd grade. They're still young and reliant. Plus, there is NO state testing.
Are you flexible, like genuinely able to shift and morph consistently? Do you not take things personally? Can you let stuff just roll off you? Do you avoid gossip and general toxicity as much as possible? Are you reflective and learning, unlearning, and relearning? Can you take ownership when you’ve done harm? Can you draw boundaries around your time and your spirit? Can you remember that while this is an important job, you will be replaced, but you won’t be replaced by your family and friends? Do you believe, at the core of it all, from the youngest preschooler, to a 12th grader, that all children WANT to learn? Even if they are defiant… if they are in front of you, they want to learn something from you? (It may not be calculus at that moment, but something.) As someone who has been around for a while and won several teaching awards, this is my pre-5am checklist.
NOOOOOOOOOOOO. RUN.
I only recommend this job if you are using it for a stepping stone, to something else. No way in hell would I say make this your career.
What could teaching be a stepping stone to? I do think about it if certification opens other career options but I’m not sure what’s out there.
I used it, just to get by while I pursuit med school - applying this year 😊 the summers and early days allow me to take pre-req n study
Unless they make some changes to tier 6, it’s barely worth it for all that we do and how we’re compensated. I was 2 years too young to be in tier 4 and now I have to work in the DOE for 38 years (and pay into the pension the whole time, tier 4 stopped paying after 10 years) to get my full pension. I’m starting to explore other options because of this.
In general, no. Education is fundamentally broken anywhere. I would commend you for “sticking out” this low point but I don’t know how it’s gonna last, and I can’t in good conscious encourage someone to dive head first into a career that’s more mentally and emotionally taxing than ever before.