Comments on: So You Want My Job: High School Teacher

By: Joshua

Joshua — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 07:20:11 +0000

Thank you very much for this article! I recently started to think, and I also want to become a highschool teacher. I am currently in Korea, via the US ARMY. I am used to being paid terribly. I want to teach because I like working with people, and I think that if I put work in hard, I can become a great teacher. I have three years left in the military, I just got in, but I do not enjoy it. I want to be close to my family and I want to start a family. I plan on going to college while I’m in the military, so I can almost be completely done with my baccalaureate. I want to teach Highschool English, History, or Social studies/history. Any tips on becoming a coach as well to take part in the sports as an assistant?

By: mario Ferrari

mario Ferrari — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:03:47 +0000

This post drew my attention because there is not much mention of the classroom experience. Disregarding all issues about low pay, personal family problems, school politics, certification etc etc. The topic is about being man enough for the high school classroom. In California, where I teach, many schools are now focused on testing, preparing students for passing the exit exam and not towards careers; this being the case, I see an urgent need for not only men in the classroom, but a practical kind of man who has worked in the 9-5 world. My own experience was this, now with 20 + years in the class, I highly recommend that men become teachers from the private industry world. Why? Because many of the boys are so out of control in the schools due to no strong reinforcing male role models for them. Also a lot of the younger teachers use high school as a temporary stopping off point as they wait to get into graduate school, then disappear after 3-4 years! To me the key is, be confident, be willing to give up a lot of personal prejudices; and to stay the course so that you are a teacher for a long time. This was an issue for me because I came out of UC Berkeley with an MFA, most of my classmates either taught college, pursued their art, or did something else. I now teach computer graphics, and 3d animation, and its a class the kids enjoy – there is constant dialog, i dig in with the kids and forget about the lunchroom gossip, keep my room open at lunch; put in time for the students who fall back, and pay no attention to the complainers or students with a beef; they just are time suckers. Good luck to any blokes out there, teaching is great; you become a mentor for the students if you have the right approach and they need positive and focused men to get them unstuck from their boredom.

By: LM

LM — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:48:12 +0000

I have been struggling with a spouse who either “is about to lose his job” or “hates his job” or is unemployed (notice no quotes as it was/is real”) for the entire time we have been married. I married him with the understanding that I was not after a “sugar daddy” but I sure as heck did not want to wind up a “sugar mama”. We made a number of financial agreements based on this (full dual incomes). After numerous “career changes” now he is studying to be a high school teacher. Even though we had agreements on what he would do should he become unemployed, nothing has come to light (he has been unemployed for over 10% of the time we have been married, with me paying all of the bills and him using his unemployment to pay his car bill – I drive a 100,000 mile car which I paid off when it was 4 years old while he has 2 cars – and any other nice computer / school expenses which only he will see any benefit from). His momma will bail him out, I am sure, but only after I am bankrupt from supporting him. I am tired of his oh so many explanations of why he can’t keep his promises.
I guess it is true, those who can’t “do” -> “teach”

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:02:19 +0000

I found this post by searching for “so you want to be a high school teacher.”

Excellent post in an excellent blog.

The good news for those who want to become teachers but are slightly worred about the apparently low pay: There are lots of ways to cover expenses beyond what you get paid for being in the classroom. There are a few examples listed above, and I personally know a fellow who lives and teaches in a very small town in Michigan who makes most of his money trading real estate. Another teacher I know spends summers overseas teaching and tutoring, which means basically traveling for free.

I encourage anyone who is interested in teaching to overcome their fear of math and science. Look into your past and find out why you think you aren’t good at either. Perhaps it was because you had a jock coach for trig and he gave all his athletes B’s just for showing up? Or you had an algebra teacher who was an English major and was angry at the class because she couldn’t teach you about the inner turmoil of Lord Byron?

Many studies show that the quality of the math and science teaching young kids (especailly young girls) get is an influencing factor in whether or not they go on to study math and science in HS and college.

If you want to “man-up,” learn to overcome your own math/science shortcomings and become comfortable with the wonderful ways of looking at the world through math and science. Don’t you agree that a person who did so would make an effective teacher to those students who are struggling with math and science?

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:29:05 +0000

@Aaron
Thanks so much for this article, I am currently a Junior at a State University in NY.
I am a dual degree major is Psychology/Accounting. The reason for the double degree was to expand my options.
After finishing an Internship this summer at one of the Bigger Accounting Firms, I realize that Accounting may not be for me. I don’t want to be a “sellout”, or work in cubicle for the rest of my life. In my Teens, likewise i was a camp counselor and really enjoyed interacting with the kids. Many people have said to me that they thought I would be a great teacher out of the blue. My main concern is I’m not sure what i could teach. I want to teach something that I feel i am very strong at, i don’t want to cheat the kids . I also would love to be a high school teacher because there are so many personal hobbies i feel i can bring to after school activities.( I would love to coach volleyball/ run a chess or ping pong club.)

QUESTIONS:
My strongest subjects are psychology and economics what subjects would i be able to teach?
As a teacher, are you your own boss, do you have lots of freedom?
I’m still in Undergrad mode, what activities/jobs do you think would be helpful for a teaching career? ( i was thinking of tutoring subjects that i am very fond of at the university)

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:27:39 +0000

Thanks for doing this interview Aaron, its exactly what I needed to read. I’m a lower level undergraduate student at a community college working towards a transfer to university for a math major and teaching minor. The actual requirements for this minor seem pretty light to me but I don’t really know what to expect. Do you have any practical recommendations for extra-curricular activities or anything else I should focus on to become a better teacher and improve my chances of being hired after I graduate?

By: Finnian

Finnian — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:23:37 +0000

As a high school English teacher and a father of two boys, I want to add one small benefit to being a teacher. My summers are free to spend with my sons at my in-laws in Montana, teaching them to camp, to fish, to roam in the mountains and explore the woods. I am intimately involved in a unique way in their formation into men. I am blessed.

By: Tess

Tess — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:05:31 +0000

I just want to say thanks for the perspective. I just finished my Senior year of undergrad work, and I’m set up to do my student teaching in the fall, but it’s overwhelming me. I have this fear that if I’m not 100% perfect, that I’m going to mess my students up for life or something. That’s kind of irrational, so thanks for saying that no one is perfect, and that’s okay. Keep up the good work!

By: Jesse

Jesse — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:13:00 +0000

Well, the only thing I would add is that having been both an actor and an EMT before deciding to enter education has been an amazing help. Many times I have been told by administrators that the non-education experience is what sets me apart as a teacher. It also helps keep your sense of perspective when in the classroom. It can be such a narrow view of the world in a room with our kids. Having experience to draw on outside of the educational field helps give my students a broader perspective on what we are studying.

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:48:57 +0000

@Aaron

Separate unions. Primary teachers represented by NZEI, secondary teachers by the PPTA. Pay parity between primary and secondary wasn’t reached until 1998. This gives primary teachers and principals with the same experience and qualifications the same pay as secondary teachers and principals.

But there’s still misgivings and frustration between the groups. Secondary traditionally view primary teachers as generalists, while they are experts. Primary think that secondary teach only subjects – but not the whole student/child.

Personally I think it’s a failure – we’re all meant to be teachers and need to get on with that – not protecting our egos. If there’s a bad/slack teacher we need to call them out – help them get better. We shouldn’t protect those who aren’t doing the best job for our students.

@Ammon

In NZ, we have a teaching graduate diploma – a one year, post-grad course that allows you to get training as a teacher. It’s designed to get more people into teaching. It has some flaws – mainly as it never really prepares you for the amount of paperwork you’ll have to juggle! I went back at 31 to retrain as a teacher – it was a challenge, but it’s been worthwhile. I really enjoy my work, despite it being frustrating at times. Good luck if you do decide to become a teacher.