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Being a Teacher

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hjo3

Diamond Member
May 22, 2003
7,354
4
0
Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
I have always thought about being a teacher. I know its a ton of work just wondering if anyone here is one and what they think of it.
Please don't become an English teacher.
 

KarmaPolice

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
3,066
0
0
Originally posted by: hjo3
Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
I have always thought about being a teacher. I know its a ton of work just wondering if anyone here is one and what they think of it.
Please don't become an English teacher.

1. I would never teach English..I am not going to try and hide the fact that I have not completely mastered the English language.

2. This is a forum...I am allowed not to care. I got my point across.
 

bonkers325

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
13,076
1
0
Originally posted by: hjo3
Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
I have always thought about being a teacher. I know its a ton of work just wondering if anyone here is one and what they think of it.
Please don't become an English teacher.

welcome the internet, where grammar and spelling isn't a pre-req. get off your high horse and stop padding your post count you troll
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Oh, and for what it's worth, you can be a teacher and live in poverty, or you can be a teacher and be a well paid, respected member of your community. It depends on where you decide to teach. Cost of living varies greatly, while the wages don't vary quite as greatly (within a state). I've got to give a lot of credit to teachers who teach in inner city areas - the cost of living is so much higher that it's probably stretching it, and the kids are a pain in the neck. Out in the rural areas, a lot of costs are far lower, and you don't have the same types of problems in the schools.

thats true...30k in boston would be close to homless

Well, its possible to live with 22k :)
Its real tough though... :/
 

KarmaPolice

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
3,066
0
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Originally posted by: Tiamat
Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Oh, and for what it's worth, you can be a teacher and live in poverty, or you can be a teacher and be a well paid, respected member of your community. It depends on where you decide to teach. Cost of living varies greatly, while the wages don't vary quite as greatly (within a state). I've got to give a lot of credit to teachers who teach in inner city areas - the cost of living is so much higher that it's probably stretching it, and the kids are a pain in the neck. Out in the rural areas, a lot of costs are far lower, and you don't have the same types of problems in the schools.

thats true...30k in boston would be close to homless

Well, its possible to live with 22k :)
Its real tough though... :/

I would call that more struggling then living
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,392
1,780
126
The sooner you can become a teacher, the sooner your pay will increase. Basically, you'll get 3-5% cost of living adjustments every year, but you'll also get longevity pay.

Consider getting a Master's in your field of study. If you take additional hours past your master's you may see other pay increases. My mother is a teacher and took 30 hours past her Master's. It added another $5k onto her salary...and it was compounded with the cost of living adjustments. It is conceivable that a 10 year teacher with proper education in a good school system can make over $50k.

However, if you get secondary Ed experience, you can probably start teaching community college level to get experience as an adjunct and eventually apply for college professor status with a Master's....or continue on to get your PhD and make upwards of $60 as long as you're not doing liberal arts studies. Stick to science, business, engineering, or math. Those are the fields of study that pay. History, Art, Theater, Humanities, Psychology, English, etc.....don't.
 

markgm

Diamond Member
Aug 23, 2001
3,291
2
81
I think about going into teaching every now and again. When I graduated college I signed up for one of the emergency certification programs in Delaware to teach math but my college couldn't get my transcripts to them in time and I wound up with a career in IT. I like the money I make now but every now and again I think about it. I did some research about getting certified in Connecticut but it would require me to take too much time off from work. Some companies like IBM will let you do it, but my current employer won't.

I know a teacher in NY making 6 figures, so the money can be there, but I'm sure that salary is unusual.
 

KarmaPolice

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
3,066
0
0
Originally posted by: markgm
I think about going into teaching every now and again. When I graduated college I signed up for one of the emergency certification programs in Delaware to teach math but my college couldn't get my transcripts to them in time and I wound up with a career in IT. I like the money I make now but every now and again I think about it. I did some research about getting certified in Connecticut but it would require me to take too much time off from work. Some companies like IBM will let you do it, but my current employer won't.

I know a teacher in NY making 6 figures, so the money can be there, but I'm sure that salary is unusual.

6 figures? that seems...impossible but nice
 

Unheard

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2003
3,774
9
81
I read the title as "Banging a Teacher", unfortunately the thread failed to deliver.
 

rocadelpunk

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
5,589
1
81
I will hopefully be one of the best high school math teachers...in a couple of years : P

I was going into my senior year of EE and had always planned on retiring early into teaching, but the thought of working in a cubicle/office politics mortified me...I could never do it. So I switched to pure math and will be getting my B.S. soon and then my masters in education for mathematics afterwards.

At least with math/science, there is such a demand for qualified teachers in parts of the U.S. that they will pay for your masters in education or related advanced degree. Also, there is discussion about whether to pay math teachers more, private donors...yada yada yada. There is always tutoring/community college/smaller college in summer.

Personally, I could care less about the money, I just want to teach...but I think within the next decade it will be much better for math/science teachers as *something* will have to be done about the decline in math/science performance of the U.S.
 

KarmaPolice

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
3,066
0
0
I am still contemplating being a teacher. I am conflicted with the idea of teaching and getting a 30k salary, and being an accountant and making a substantial amount more. I might be getting an accounting internship with E&Y this summer so if I finish that and realize that I am not cut out for the mindless work then I might just have to go for being a teacher. How long does it take to be certified as a teacher for the high school level. I live in PA by the way.
 

dawnbug

Golden Member
Oct 29, 2002
1,670
0
0
Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
I am still contemplating being a teacher. I am conflicted with the idea of teaching and getting a 30k salary, and being an accountant and making a substantial amount more. I might be getting an accounting internship with E&Y this summer so if I finish that and realize that I am not cut out for the mindless work then I might just have to go for being a teacher. How long does it take to be certified as a teacher for the high school level. I live in PA by the way.

It depends on where and how you get certified. If you're still in school right now and you change your major, it'll take however long the program is (mine is 5 semesters, and you can't start until your junior year at the earliest). If you've already graduated or are about to graduate with a degree in something else, you could always find out about alternative certification in your area and I think that that generally takes a year or so.