4 answers
Noah
Student
Grafton, Ohio
2
Questions
Asked
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What are some draw backs of being a teacher
I like kids and would want to work in k-4 grade
#teacher #children #education
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4 answers
Takira Hicks
Tutor
1
Answer
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Takira’s Answer
Some downsides to being an elementary school teacher include being mentally drained and stressed a lot! I"m currently a tutor and teacher assistant for grades first, second, third, and fifth. I enjoy my role as an educator and love coming to school to be with the students every day. But, over time it can become draining mentally. I find myself having to prepare every morning because you never know what kind of day it will be. It is also a lot you have to put in while being a teacher. Your job doesn't end when you clock out, unlike other fields of work. There's still lesson planning, grading, and if you're like me, you'll still be learning different ways to perfect your profession as a teacher. My passion for teaching is what allows me to keep going. If you're dedicated and passionate about what you do, this will only feel like a minor downside instead of a major one!
Dr. James Zavala
Lieutenant Colonel
133
Answers
Lorton, Virginia
Updated
Dr. James’s Answer
1. You must take a realistic look at the hours you are going to be working.
Teachers at every grade level put in a full eight hours in the classroom every day in some way. Even in the elementary grades when the kids are at a specialist, you’re going to be working on grading papers, updating the curriculum, or preparing for the next instructional lessons. There are after-school meetings that teachers often need to attend as part of their work day. It is not unusual to be at school an hour before the day begins and 2-3 hours after the final bell. Then you might be grading papers at home, reviewing test results, or creating the lesson plan for the next day.
Most teachers put in more than 50 hours per week during the school year. It is not unusual for some weeks to stretch into 60 or 70 hours when there are mandatory educational meetings to attend and long assignments to grade.
2. Specialized teachers instruct the same lesson multiple times per day.
Even at the elementary school level as a specialist, you are going to be teaching the same lessons to multiple student groups every day. There is less variety in your curriculum because you are juggling multiple classes or periods. If you don’t like the idea of offering the same discussions 4-6 times daily, then a path toward elementary education or teaching in college might be a better option. Your boredom with the routine will translate into a lack of passion for your students, which creates multiple struggles that can even trigger classroom behaviors.
3. You will struggle to reach a handful of students every year.
Classroom behaviors are more challenging today than ever before to control because there may be individualized educational plans for multiple students to manage. There will be kids who never invest themselves into the learning process, no matter how much potential they display otherwise. Even those who achieve good grades consistently can get bored with the classroom environment and choose to misbehave as a way to cure their boredom.
You can pull your hair out as a teacher trying to find ways that will inspire students to continue learning. Each year, there will be someone who doesn’t care what you have to say or what you like to teach. It’s still your job to try to reach them, which can be challenging if you’re rejected so often.
4. Professional development days can suck the life out of you as a teacher.
School districts today offer an educational development process for their teachers that can take them out of the classroom for some learning opportunities. All-day sessions can even get you a paid day without students. You might prefer being anywhere else than there with some of the content you will encounter with these developmental days. You will have that one professional presenter who rags on what you do. Some administrators might question your loyalty to the school. You’ve still got papers to grade too. It can feel like a complete waste of time even when there are some interesting points to take away from the conversation.
5. Most teachers encounter an issue with their administration team at some point in their career.
There are times as a teacher when you need to make a gut call on what is right in the classroom. Even when you know that the solution you’ve implemented is the correct call, your administration might see things differently if a parent complains. Disruptive students typically have the most vocal parents supporting them, which means your hands can get tied if you need to take a corrective action while teaching. Your lesson plans might not be approved, or there might be an issue with the curriculum where there is no movement. Some ideas might receive vocal support, but not voting support. Frustration occurs frequently in this career, and you must find a way to cope with it.
6. Teachers don’t receive the best of pay.
The average salary for a teacher in the United States is around the median wage for what people earn in every industry across the country. Some schools are exempt from state compensation laws, which means you can earn less than $30,000 per year sometimes. If teaching is part of a public-sector union, then the cost of your healthcare benefits might be significantly higher as well. Although it is something that most teachers can make work for them in some way, it is a challenge compared to what some other people go through in their careers.
7. Most school districts don’t pay you during the summer.
You might get the opportunity to take the summer off as a teacher, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll be getting a paycheck during that time. Unless you are designed as administrative staff or have your salary parceled out all 12 months, the summertime requires extensive budgeting throughout the year to make it through successfully. One unexpected emergency can have you tapping deep into your savings account or credit cards. That’s why some teachers decide to take a part-time job during the summer – it helps them to make ends meet.
Teachers at every grade level put in a full eight hours in the classroom every day in some way. Even in the elementary grades when the kids are at a specialist, you’re going to be working on grading papers, updating the curriculum, or preparing for the next instructional lessons. There are after-school meetings that teachers often need to attend as part of their work day. It is not unusual to be at school an hour before the day begins and 2-3 hours after the final bell. Then you might be grading papers at home, reviewing test results, or creating the lesson plan for the next day.
Most teachers put in more than 50 hours per week during the school year. It is not unusual for some weeks to stretch into 60 or 70 hours when there are mandatory educational meetings to attend and long assignments to grade.
2. Specialized teachers instruct the same lesson multiple times per day.
Even at the elementary school level as a specialist, you are going to be teaching the same lessons to multiple student groups every day. There is less variety in your curriculum because you are juggling multiple classes or periods. If you don’t like the idea of offering the same discussions 4-6 times daily, then a path toward elementary education or teaching in college might be a better option. Your boredom with the routine will translate into a lack of passion for your students, which creates multiple struggles that can even trigger classroom behaviors.
3. You will struggle to reach a handful of students every year.
Classroom behaviors are more challenging today than ever before to control because there may be individualized educational plans for multiple students to manage. There will be kids who never invest themselves into the learning process, no matter how much potential they display otherwise. Even those who achieve good grades consistently can get bored with the classroom environment and choose to misbehave as a way to cure their boredom.
You can pull your hair out as a teacher trying to find ways that will inspire students to continue learning. Each year, there will be someone who doesn’t care what you have to say or what you like to teach. It’s still your job to try to reach them, which can be challenging if you’re rejected so often.
4. Professional development days can suck the life out of you as a teacher.
School districts today offer an educational development process for their teachers that can take them out of the classroom for some learning opportunities. All-day sessions can even get you a paid day without students. You might prefer being anywhere else than there with some of the content you will encounter with these developmental days. You will have that one professional presenter who rags on what you do. Some administrators might question your loyalty to the school. You’ve still got papers to grade too. It can feel like a complete waste of time even when there are some interesting points to take away from the conversation.
5. Most teachers encounter an issue with their administration team at some point in their career.
There are times as a teacher when you need to make a gut call on what is right in the classroom. Even when you know that the solution you’ve implemented is the correct call, your administration might see things differently if a parent complains. Disruptive students typically have the most vocal parents supporting them, which means your hands can get tied if you need to take a corrective action while teaching. Your lesson plans might not be approved, or there might be an issue with the curriculum where there is no movement. Some ideas might receive vocal support, but not voting support. Frustration occurs frequently in this career, and you must find a way to cope with it.
6. Teachers don’t receive the best of pay.
The average salary for a teacher in the United States is around the median wage for what people earn in every industry across the country. Some schools are exempt from state compensation laws, which means you can earn less than $30,000 per year sometimes. If teaching is part of a public-sector union, then the cost of your healthcare benefits might be significantly higher as well. Although it is something that most teachers can make work for them in some way, it is a challenge compared to what some other people go through in their careers.
7. Most school districts don’t pay you during the summer.
You might get the opportunity to take the summer off as a teacher, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll be getting a paycheck during that time. Unless you are designed as administrative staff or have your salary parceled out all 12 months, the summertime requires extensive budgeting throughout the year to make it through successfully. One unexpected emergency can have you tapping deep into your savings account or credit cards. That’s why some teachers decide to take a part-time job during the summer – it helps them to make ends meet.
You made some great points here! I had nothing to add to this thread!
Aaron Kugler
Lieutenant Colonel Zavala - your advice is 100% on point. Thank you for sharing!
Sheila Jordan
Pamela Taylor
Retired teacher
37
Answers
Mansfield, Ohio
Updated
Pamela’s Answer
My biggest thing, retired from 25 years in education, was the treatment of some of my students by their peers and some staff. Not everyone is treated with respect. Bullies exist at all levels, all ages. Some kids were bullied and ostracized. I tried to help but it could be hard to watch.
Another one was kids that were abused. I dealt with some of that over the years. Once I had a young man in my class being sexually assaulted by a parent. He had to testify the year I had him. Others were abused in other ways. That is hard to know and deal with.
Kids in homes with no food. I had twins one year that got snacks other had trashed out of the can to eat. I heard they dumpster dove as well. Their family needed help. Be ready to know where to send them for food and other basic needs if you can.
Things that affected the kids were harder for me than things that affected me. Hope this helps.
Another one was kids that were abused. I dealt with some of that over the years. Once I had a young man in my class being sexually assaulted by a parent. He had to testify the year I had him. Others were abused in other ways. That is hard to know and deal with.
Kids in homes with no food. I had twins one year that got snacks other had trashed out of the can to eat. I heard they dumpster dove as well. Their family needed help. Be ready to know where to send them for food and other basic needs if you can.
Things that affected the kids were harder for me than things that affected me. Hope this helps.
jody babich
Customer Success Manager
4
Answers
Utica, Michigan
Updated
jody’s Answer
There are drawbacks to every career choice/path and it is important to weigh the pros and cons. Teaching is a career that has a true impact on the lives of many. Due to that impact teaching can be draining both physically and mentally. There are many hours of prep to ensure you are delivering high quality lessons and activities. It is important to keep the activities relevant and real-world applicable for students. You will need to keep up on current world topics/concerns/trends/educational movements, etc. You are on all day every day- very little time to yourself as many times prep hours and specials can be taken away due to a variety of reasons. Physically you are on as well- much of your day will be walking, moving, interacting with the students so your body will need to adjust and be prepared for this. Again, great reward will demand great responsibility.