Thinking about becoming a teacher?
There are some disadvantages to the teaching profession. Read on to find out more.
For many, the thought of going into the profession of teaching is nothing short of a nightmare.
These days, there’s so much red tape – red tape that was not there so long ago.
And that red tape doesn’t seem to do much other than make the job of teaching ever more confined.
But if you can get past the red tape, there’s no doubt that being a teacher can be a thoroughly rewarding job.
It’s not just about loving kids. There’s much more to enjoying the profession than loving kids, though it does help.
Have a look at Maya Lee’s video about what’s required to love teaching (and, in Maya’s case, she’s being specific about teaching kids).
Now, what about the advantages and the disadvantages of teaching?
Advantages of Being a Teacher
1 Bonding
One advantage of being a full-time teacher is that you can form a bond with your students.
In turn, if you’re in the teaching profession for long enough, one of the benefits of this bond is that you have former students keeping in touch via e-mail, Facebook, whatever…
You get invited to baby showers, to weddings to college graduations – all because of the bond you established with your students.
That bond can become a friendship. Very rewarding indeed.
2 Decent job benefits
As a full-time teacher, you get the “benefit” of having health insurance in addition to a retirement plan which is respectable.
Fact is, particularly these days, not all vocations offer such “perks.”
3 You can “make a difference”
You, as a teacher, are given the opportunity to make a difference in society.
After all, the nation’s youth is its greatest resource, right?
The nation’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders.
And the teacher has the possibility – has the opportunity – to be a great influence on their student, thereby, in essence, helping to shape the future.
4 As a teacher you can work a relatively “friendly” work schedule
In comparison to the majority of other vocations, as a teacher, you can take advantage of a relatively friendly work schedule.
On two to three occasions throughout the school year, as a teacher you get time off work.
What’s more is that during the summer break, you get up to three months off.
Depending on which school you work at, you may work between 7.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. These hours allow you plenty of time in the evening and night to do what else you need to do.
5 You cannot get bored as a teacher
Though, for an “outsider” to teaching, teaching seems to be a boring profession, that certainly doesn’t have to be the case.
As a teacher, you never find your days to be repetitive.
No two students are the same. No two classes are the same.
In turn, this amount of variety means there are challenges. But with challenges, you can never become bored. Tired, maybe, but bored, no.
6 You can share your knowledge, your creativity and your passion
A great teacher is a teacher that employs passion and enthusiasm to teach.
In turn, this serves to motivate the students.
In fact, it can, and does, go much further than that.
A passionate and enthusiastic teacher has the power to change the lives of their students in unimaginable ways.
7 Work availability
As long as you are not overly specialized – and very few teachers are – it’s easy to get work around the country.
There are always going to be teaching jobs available. It’s a profession that will never be replaced by technology.
What are the Disadvantages of Being a Teacher?
1 Not a particularly glamorous vocation
There is a perception that teachers become teachers because they are unable to do anything else.
2 You will never get rich as a teacher
How much do teachers get paid in the U.S.?
As of July, 2019, for a “standard” teacher in the U.S., the average monthly pay is $2,594.
Most teacher salaries range between $1,792 and $2,875 per month in the U.S.
(Source).
Over the prior decade or more, standardized testing has become more important.
What this means is that teachers are judged on the test scores of their students.
Students score well in the tests? Great. You’re doing a fine job as a teacher!
Students score poorly? Bad news. And it could get worse because your job could be terminated.
4 Lack of parental support
Many parents are too busy to be instrumental in their kids’ education.
However, they will show up at school to complain about something rather than give praise when things are going well at school.
5 Frustrating and stressful work
Teachers have a limited time each year to teach their students.
Within that limited time there’s a lot to accomplish.
At the end of the day, every teacher has to figure out how to obtain results. If they fail to achieve that, they will not be in a job for long.
6 Too much paperwork
While the work schedule is quite friendly, that’s not to say all the work is completed when school is in session.
For most teachers, they arrive at school long before classes commence. They stay at school long after classes have finished.
When teachers are at home, they must invest their own time grading papers and preparing for classes.
Are teachers paid enough to compensate for all this extra work time?
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