Teachers are a rare species. Learning Policy Institute found that the US would be short of at least 315,000 teachers by 2025.
With such great demand, is being a teacher a good career? It is a good career if you are ready to have a bad work-life balance and being underappreciated. Having passion is the only way to keep teaching a good career.
According to a report by the Alliance for Excellent Education, roughly half a million U.S. quit or leave teaching. Turnover in the field is especially high among new teachers, with over 40 to 50 percent of teachers throwing in the towel after five years.
What are the most common reasons for teacher turnover?
The common reasons for high teacher turnover are long working hours and a stressful working environment.
How long do teachers work?
A report from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation found that teachers work an average of a day, which is three hours and 20 minutes more than the average required by the U.S. The workdays of teachers are about 30 percent too long. When people talked about why they stopped teaching, burnout is always a culprit.
A 2017 survey from the American Federation of Teachers reports that 58 percent of educators said their mental health was “not good” for seven or more of the previous 30 days. The findings also show that 61 percent of educators feel their work is "always" or "often" stressful.
In a recent PDK Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools, 62 percent of public school teachers reported feeling undervalued by their community.
How Much Does a Teacher Make?
According to the National Education Associate, teachers earn an average starting salary of $39,000 per year, which works out to about $20-$30 an hour which is quite low for the mental stress.
What is the process to be a teacher?
If you get a degree in a related field and want to become a teacher, you'll need to complete your student teaching field experience and earn certification.
As long as you've met the requirements for your state, doors will open for much more than teaching alone with a bachelor's in sociology, computer science, biology, or any other non-education degree in your pocket.
What's a teacher typical day like?
A teacher shared his schedule which shows why the working hours are so long because they work after-hours grading. Perhaps AI can help teacher grades work in the future.
My schedule typically involves getting to work around 7 a.m., working straight through lunch, leaving around 4 p.m., and then once I'm home spending at least an hour planning lessons and an additional 2-3 hours grading assignments and prepping for the week ahead.
Most importantly, teachers are not provided compensation for work done before or after school, let alone on weekends.
Why should you work in education?
Kids need to go to school, whatever the economic climate. Therefore, it is the most recession-proof job, besides healthcare workers.
What are the most recession-proof jobs?
Roles in primary, secondary, higher, special education, and even adult education, some of the most recession-proof jobs. On top of the consistent demand for educators, teachers in the public school system often have strong unions, making layoffs even more unlikely.
Why Should You Be Teaching?
Teaching is a stable job with a job market that hasn't slowed down. Working as a teacher provides a unique environment that can be rewarding, inspiring, and fun.
You'll build skills such as organization, motivating others, coaching, creativity, and public speaking. Remember that Jack Ma, Chinese billionaire, and Alibaba founder, was a teacher too.
What must you enjoy about teaching?
Working with kids and teens gives plenty of opportunity for creativity, silliness, and seeing the world from a different perspective. It does not help if you don't enjoy working with kids and teens.
Can You Grow Your Skills?
The soft skills of teaching do not change much, but you do need to upskill your professional skills if you teach higher-level students.
Whether you get into teaching for a few years or a lifelong career, it's a respected profession that is sure to enhance your professional skills in many ways. This is needed to upskill yourself to teach the new skills needed in future industries.
Why do teachers feel trapped in their careers?
I've heard a lot of teachers say they don't have enough time to spend with their children.
“I'm trapped in one of the few careers where my schedule will always match my children's schedules"
How much time do you spend on your own is limited as a teacher. Even holidays have classes and preparation work required.