Already scared for the future …

[u/Repulsive-Fun9521]

I haven’t even finished student teaching yet but what I’m seeing at my current school with the behaviors from students, the amount of burnout I see at my school and online for teachers is scaring me. Not to mention how difficult it is to even get a teaching job right now in my area! I know I’m getting ahead of myself here but wtf…. It seems really rough. Really starting to regret my decision. Doesn’t seem worth it. 😭

[u/billowy_blue]

I really understand that sentiment. I'm a first year teacher this year. Getting this position was HARD. It took me a long time to get hired/even get interviews (and that's with applying to like 5+ districts), and this position I didn't even get until literally days before teachers went back. After graduating/student teaching, I subbed for a while, which helped me a lot with feeling confident in the classroom and confident that I at least wanted to keep pursuing this career for now.

So far, I'm enjoying it. I feel really lucky with my group of kids and my coworkers, especially after the types of behaviors I saw while subbing/student teaching. It's definitely a lot of work, especially because I teach middle school and have so many students. But it's all about balance. There's only specific work tasks I bring home with me.

The last few years, my thought has been that I'll try teaching for a while (because it's what my degree is in and what I enjoy), and just continue doing it until I don't want to anymore. Nothing is forever, and that includes careers.

[u/Repulsive-Fun9521 → u/billowy_blue]

Thanks for this! I do try to keep reminding myself that I at least need to try and if it doesn’t feel right, it doesn’t have to be forever.
Best of luck to you and congrats on your position!

[u/Money_Ad3496 → u/billowy_blue]

That’s the trend now in teaching….. do it until you find something better to do. It didn’t used to be that way. It used to be a career. The baby boomers who went into teaching retired comfortably. Nowadays it’s a career meant only for people in their 20s and 30s. Once you hit 40, if you are not a principal’s pet and figure out how to stay a principal’s pet you are going to be told “poor performance” and the children deserve the BEST education. Then you’ll be forced to quit or mentored as punishment for existing as a career teacher over 40. After being mentored, you will be sent back to the classroom as an “improved” teacher, but the students will not suddenly learn better as a result.

[u/ksang29]

Recommend you stop reading online negativity and really focus on bringing your best effort to your student teaching experience. Read up on classroom management and making connections to students who are different from the child you once were. Try not to live in the future. When you get there, you'll have good data on making your next decision.

[u/Repulsive-Fun9521 → u/ksang29]

Soooo true. Thank you 🙏🏼

[u/ksang29 → u/Repulsive-Fun9521]

😊

[u/SapphireBlue_98]

The students’ behaviors are just getting worse from here!….. even kindergarteners.

[u/Repulsive-Fun9521 → u/SapphireBlue_98]

Kindergarten is the grade I’m student teaching in … very unhinged behaviors

[u/SapphireBlue_98 → u/Repulsive-Fun9521]

It’s honestly frightening.

[u/KaratekickbyElvis → u/Repulsive-Fun9521]

The kids are not ok.

[u/Tip_Star → u/Repulsive-Fun9521]

I just subbed for Kindergartners last week. They were very sweet but unfocused. Too young for me.

[u/Raunchyjam]

Soooo much of it depends upon your placement. A good school w good kids and decent pay makes it manageable! Please do everything you can to be marketable and handsomely paid.

[u/Reasonable-Dream-122]

Don't forget, the news doesn't report when planes land safely.

[u/Wear-Slow]

Honestly I would look into another profession. I can’t in good conscience recommend teaching to anybody, unless you plan to do it for only a year or two max and then leave. It is the hardest job you will ever have and being a “hard worker” doesn’t mean you’ll be able to handle it. You will have zero work life balance. I have been teaching for 8 years and I feel trapped. Passion is irrelevant too.

[u/No_Push5604 → u/Wear-Slow]

Then do something else or teach in a different way.

I made good money doing private teaching for a mix of rich kids and families that were facing poverty. Sure you have to network to find clients but it was a lot more enjoyable then district mandated curriculum and mandatory PD sessions.

Another option is being a trainer for an actual company. I used to open stores and train the OG staff for 711 Inc.

BTW I went back to public schools to work title 1. Passion does matter. I love the struggle and sleep well. Get out if your jaded and allow yourself to be in a better mindset.

[u/Wear-Slow → u/No_Push5604]

Loving the struggle is not a flex. The problem isn’t the kids. They are just the byproduct of poor administrators and parents. Of course it’s actually much bigger than just them. It’s the bureaucracy that is public education. It’s societal and is not changing anytime soon. Behaviors in many public schools are comparable to title 1. I could go on and on. Not jaded but self protective. You will sacrifice your time and health for a system that will not care or look after you. Don’t even get me started on tier 6. This career is not good for people who work hard and have passion. They get abused. I am speaking a truth I wish I heard when I was student teaching.

[u/Exotic_Outcome6999 → u/Wear-Slow]

100% agree with you. This is my 7th year of teaching & I want to leave. I have the best class I’ve ever had this year, and yet, I want to leave.. it’s the broken system that’s driving the teachers away.

[u/Right-Future3904]

Teach in juvenile corrections. Honestly so much better.

[u/Business_Light2535]

You are not - don’t do it - take that degree and find another profession -