5 Things to Think About Before Becoming a Teacher

So, you want to be a teacher? Here are some things you need to be aware of and consider as you make your career choice:

Vacation - you get 3 months off in the summer, weekends, holidays, and you’re done by 3 p.m.

So, slow down. That may be the general public perception, but it is not the reality. Here are some hard truths: you don’t get paid for any days you don’t work. In my school district, I get paid for 186 days, and I teach for 180 of those days. You might get a paycheck during the summer (which is two months, not three), but they just took money from the months you did work - you don’t get paid more, you actually just got paid less during the other months than you actually earned for days taught. I don’t get a paycheck in August. As for the charming quip, well, you’re done at 3 p.m. Another public misperception. Remember, you teach all day and maybe get a prep period, if you’re lucky. When you're teaching kids, you can’t plan, correct papers, or respond to emails…you’re teaching. So, you’re not done at 3 p.m. Everything else takes hours, so plan on working before 8 a.m., after 3 p.m. and on weekends. Unpaid.

Your job is so fun! You just play all day.

Umm, no, no it’s not fun, and we don’t play all day, not even in kindergarten. Yes, there are some sweet moments here and there, but they are few and far between. For the most part, teaching is really hard, draining, and gross. The things I have seen kids do….🤢. I was also sick with a cold or flu every month for like 10 years. My immune system is a champ now, but that first decade, always sick.

Teaching makes a difference.

Yes, but only when kids/parents care enough to be a part of it. Teachers can’t change lives just by being a teacher. Students have to want to hear what a teacher has to say and respect a teacher enough to put it into action, but as the years go on, fewer and fewer actually care about what I have to teach them. I’m lucky if I get a verbal thank you at the end of a school year from more than a handful of students. I work hard and put on a show everyday, for what? Crickets, that’s what. I’ve learned that I don’t work hard for my students anymore, I do it for me because I value and appreciate it. Students owe me nothing.

Pretty good retirement package.

Well, this one is true if you start teaching at 23, continue full-time until you’re 62 and worked the entire time (39 years), not taking maternity or teaching part-time. If you do that, yeah, it’s a great retirement. You get about 90% of your final paycheck and you get yearly cost of living raises. Basically, teaching for a great retirement is a young person’s game. You’ve been warned.

Freedom and everyday is different.

This is the reason that I got into teaching. I thought that I wouldn’t have to work at a boring desk job that was the same work day in and day out. Yes, every day of teaching is different. Heck, every hour is different. I thought that I could change grade levels if I got tired or get a teaching job anywhere, become an administrator, or work for the teacher’s union. So many options, right? Wrong. So wrong. Here’s the truth. Most school districts only accept 6 years of teaching credit. Teachers’ wages are based on experience. If I left my school district now after 23 years, I would start back on the pay scale at 6 years. That is about a $50,000 pay cut. Or about 1/2 what I am paid now. As for changing grade levels, it takes so long to make lessons, learn the curriculum standards and buy materials. It is so hard, time consuming, and expensive to change grade levels. I’ve only taught two: kindergarten and 7th grade and I hope that I don’t get switched to another grade level because I got a new principal who likes to “switch things up”. Also a tell tale sign of an admin who has spent very little time actually being a real teacher.

Bonus item to also consider about freedom, you can’t go to the bathroom when you need to because you can’t leave your students unattended with out adult supervision. Drink your water sparingly during the days that you teach because you spend most of your time at school teaching, doing yard duty, or attending mandatory meetings. All of which you can’t leave to go to the bathroom. You get a 30 minute lunch period for that luxury and maybe a 10 minute break if you’re lucky each day. Also be prepared to wait in line for the bathroom. There is always a f-ing line because we all get the same limited time off from supervising students and there are only three bathrooms for the 65 teachers who work at my school. 😩 All other adults at my school can go to the bathroom whenever, just not teachers.

Basically at this point in time, the only reason to become a teacher in America is if you can’t see yourself doing anything else. I wish someone had pointed out these flaws to me in 1999 when I started my teaching credential program because I would have definitely chosen other options.