As a child, many of us are asked the most daunting of questions: “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Sometimes the answer is obvious, we want to be teachers. Of course, the running joke is what are the three reasons for becoming a teacher: June, July and August for vacation. But there are other reason for teaching than just having all summer off. Why would anyone want to be a teacher when they would have to deal with kids who don’t do their homework, mean parents, unreasonable principals, low salaries, and they still have to pay the same taxes as anyone else who doesn’t have to deal with all this? This does not sound like the ideal job for anyone. So, how do you know if teaching is the right career path for you? Here are some of the pro’s and con’s for the teaching profession besides the usual time off in the summer.
1. If you want to teach, you must be prepared and organized in everything you do. This means that your life is orderly, neat. As a teacher, you will have to document grades, attendance, even parent-teacher conferences. So being an organized person will help. If you are not very organized, then teaching may not be for you.
2. If you want to teach, you have to be enthusiastic about your subject matter more than the paycheck. Let’s face it, teachers make horrid salaries. Many schools even expect teachers to pay for their classroom supplies with the own money from their meager paycheck. Unless, you are passionate about the subject you teach, then teaching may not be for you because you could make more money in the business world than as a teacher.
3. If you want to teach, everyone will be critical of everything you do in the classroom. Some parents may not like your use of technology and others will think you do not utilize the internet, computers enough. You will never please everyone. If you do not like people being critical of you, the teaching is not for you.
Overall, if you love learning and want other people to love your subject just as much as you do, then teaching may just be your best career choice.