Teaching, it isn't for everyone

We all know that if you want to be a teacher, you're not going to be particularly affluent.  I did however learn that teaching has some major benefits and advantages.

1. Usually the contract is a 10 month contract, which means 2 months off per year. Much better than any job I've had to date.

2. After 5 years you get tenured in most school districts.  After 10 years you can actually move on and collect a pension.  If you go to another state and teach another 10 years, you can double dip and collect two pensions.

3. After the double dip, you can also maintain a job teaching at a community college or university and you could be collecting three incomes.

4. Starting salary is usually not less than $32,000, and with continuing education when you're working on graduate studies you could be making $60,000.  Really the salary news isn't all bad.  With a Dr. title you could easily make around 75,000 wherever you go.

There are also a few things that some might consider disadvantages:

1. If you volunteer for extra cirricular activities like coaching, field trips, summer school, teaching band, etc. It is a separate contract for not that much money.  With the time that those things consume it ends up being less than minimum wage.  Hug your band teachers and coaches.

2. Almost all teachers end up paying out of pocket if they want to go beyond the very basics in teaching.  This means you need to be passionate about wanting to help people learn. 

3. During the months you are contracted there can be some long hours and obligations that you will just have to endure.  Try to embrace them instead of course, but some people just aren't built for the dedication it takes to be a teacher.

4. There are politics.  During your first 5 years, if you can't play ball and make waves, they could simply decide not to renew your contract.

So since this is my primary field, teaching, these are some important lessons.  I think I can be the best, which is why I'm pursuing it. 

I've also decided to teach some community education courses on subjects I know to start building a resume' and get used to talking in front of people and running a classroom.  This is a very exciting thing.  I just have to make sure the offering is attractive enough to garner enough students to justify the class. So much to do.

Thanks again for stopping in.

Joe