Anyone a teacher or majoring in education?

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Yeah, but they'er also the subjects in higher demand in secondary education. I think that it would be a great job, even though it's lower paying than others.

Thats a thing I'm worried about though. I feel like right now there is a lot of competition for teaching jobs and not a lot of spots.

I also don't think my parents would be happy with my decision.

Oct 14 2013 3:51PM

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He hey! Not only was I a teacher, but I went through the same program you would go through. Here is my two cents on the subject.:

UNR's education department is shit. It gets you where you need to be, but do not make it your major. I technically majored in English and minored in Education. You'll have to take a few classes more than the "required" credits to make it a minor in order to get your license.

The secondary program forces you to complete your student teaching the semester after you graduate, which is actually really nice because you're not allowed to consume your time with other classes. I had an absolute shit student teaching experience and it nearly derailed my entire desire to become a teacher. You have to take it with a grain of salt and learn as much as you can.

I can talk for days and days and days about this stuff, but not everyone on here cares, so if you want to know more or have questions, just PM me dude.

Also, if you're going to ask, "Why aren't you teaching anymore?" there are several factors. I stopped because I was disappointed with the small amount of actual teaching I could do. The majority of your job is classroom management and very few professors actually prepare you for that fact. I moved to Colorado and am in process of transferring my license so that I can begin teaching again.

Oct 14 2013 3:53PM

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Sorry for double post, but this is relevant for anyone considering the field.

To address availability of jobs. Yes, there is competition in finding a job, but in no way is it more-so than other fields. Don't be intimidated by that because no matter what job you apply for, it is a safe bet there are two other people you're competing with.

The current overwhelming demographic of teachers are baby boomers; they are all nearing retirement. Currently, and in the next 10-15 years the schools will be experiencing mass exodus of worn out teachers who are at or past their prime for retirement.

Oct 14 2013 3:58PM

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So is it really true that the lack of science and math teachers is greater than the competition. Aka, there's less people applying than there are spots available?

Oct 14 2013 3:58PM

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Dustin.

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My philosophy on majoring in education is pretty simple: It's weak.

If teaching is what you want to do, why not become a professional in the field first so you can share REAL knowledge with students (maybe even at a possibly better paying higher level). I have a degree in Civil Engineering and I'm positive I could teach any of those subjects right out of school just based on what I've studied and instructor experience, but both life and professional experience give your lessons more substance. A few years ago I could only relate to students about what to expect when they go to college. After that? Uh...well I went back to high school so who knows....

I'm sure you've had the teacher who's done nothing but teach the same 40 lessons to the same batch of 17 year olds for 15 years and has nothing to share about the real world. I vote you study something you like and get some real world experience that you could later share as a teacher. That sounds pretty sweet to me at least.

Oct 14 2013 3:59PM

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I have not heard that, but I do know that the amount of people who are going into teaching are going for the "soft" subjects (e.g. English, Art, Photo, etc).

The majority of people who are putting in the time and effort to get a degree in math, science, or any field related can make way more money and deal with way less shit in pretty much any other applicable field besides teaching.

Oct 14 2013 4:01PM

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Dustin.

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I thought your whole post was great, but this seems to reflect what my concerns could lead to.

What do you think? You obviously have some great stuff to toss into the pile.

Oct 14 2013 4:01PM

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That's another thing I was looking at, but I'm still trying to decide what I would want to put an emphasis in. If I wanted to teach a science I would most likely get a degree in that science, biology or something, and then get a minor in teaching with enough to get my license.

Oct 14 2013 4:03PM

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Actually, I've spoken to some people about this. There's a program here, and probably in most other states that works like that. I'm a chem major. If I did the program, they'd basically hire me as teacher, and I'd take a few teaching classes while being a teacher. I'd be a chem teacher, or science teacher, obviously. The idea makes sense. I'm educated in chemistry, so presumably I could learn a few things about teaching and teach it, especially at a basic level in like high school.

I guess their aim is to fill the supposed void of math/science teachers, which would probably put you in a lower class area school or something, cause I'd assume that's where the deficit of teachers is.

Oct 14 2013 4:05PM

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That's another thing I was worried about. You could easily end up in some inner-city school where the kids have no desire to lear. That would be the worst, trying to help kids that don't want to be helped.

I feel like some of the districts that have the most openings are also the least rewarding. Not to sound like a dick or anything but an average or above average district would probably be the best because the majority of the kids are there because the want to be there and not because they have to. Most kids now in high school say that they don't want to be there, like a lot of you on here, but you know that its going to better you later on and that's why you don't drop out. Some of the inner-city schools have extremely high drop out rates because they know that a high school degree won't change anything for them. The ones who do stay in school are the ones who care but don't have the resources to succeed or the kids that don't care.

Oct 14 2013 4:12PM

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Your concept of real world experience brought to the classroom is great, and in a perfect world, it would be amazing. Our kids would learn more and the atmosphere would breed discussion and real life information. The sad truth is that the pay system for teaching is completely flawed. It's all based on tenure and hierarchy. If you put 10+ years into a field that will be paying you 6 figures after all that time (i.e. civil engineering) there's no way in hell anyone would toss all that away to start back at 45k a year (mind you, that's a very.....very generous salary if you don't have actual teaching experience). The schools have small budgets to work with, so they short-change anyone and anything wherever they can. If you came to a school with 10+ years of field experience, but no teaching degrees and no teaching experience, they're not going to pay you what you deserve because they have an excuse.

And after all is said and done....we need teachers.

Oct 14 2013 4:17PM

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Download-My-Apps

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If you do become a teacher, please get your students to call you mr. rim jobber

Oct 14 2013 4:20PM

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Twig

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I'm not from the US but the UK, I teach maths but didn't major in education. My degree is in Economics with Econometrics.

I just had a few classes on how to teach and got down to it. I think that is definitely the better route. Studying education just limits your experience/knowledge of a subject. You'll be able to teach what is on the curriculum but won't know further info of the subject.

So when a student asks why does that happen, or what is the point of learning this, you have no experience of further depth to tell them. By studying a subject in full, you will be a better teacher.

Whereas when I'm teaching statistics, having learned to apply it in my degree, I can show the students how it applies in real life. Makes the whole learning experience feel a bit less pointless.

Oct 14 2013 4:24PM

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"Hello class, I am your new teacher Mr. Weil. Although, all the 14 year olds that ski already know me as RimJobber. Because I am formal, you can call me Mr. RimJobber."

Oct 14 2013 4:25PM

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At my program you have an option to do an emphasis in a field, which is why I think that a secondary education with an emphasis in science would be a good option, although I think that a biology degree with a minor in education would also be a good way to go. Or possibly duel major in biology and education?

I don't want to be the teacher that has no answer for when the kid asks when we will use this in real life. Although it is less common in science than in math, no offense. I think real world experience would be great for a teaching job, but I don't think that schools care about it. They won't care if you have a degree in biology, they want you to teach.

Oct 14 2013 4:29PM

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Yeah, I've seen that. I'll write more of my potentially uneducated opinion later, I'm gonna go play skateboards for a bit. This subject has been interesting me a lot lately, especially considering teaching math and science.

But at least in my high school, which was supposed to be a pretty good school in NJ, there was still a lot of that. And then there's the whole thing, however this works, on judging schools by the test scores. Then everybody blames the teachers when they're low. But everybody has seen kids who don't even attempt to learn, then fail the shit of of standardized exams. The teachers get blamed, but it's not entirely their fault, if you ask me anyway. Parents and the kids' upbringing should be involved, but people like to think the live in a blameless society today, so the teachers seem to take the heat.

Oct 14 2013 4:29PM

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Don't be fooled by the rich suburban kids. They give just about as many shits about their education as the inner-city kids. What the inner-city schools lack is AP and honors programs, which you won't even see until after 5+ years of teaching.

I'm not saying you shouldn't care where you teach because I'm not exactly jumping to take a job in the middle of Denver, but don't let the kids from the Hollywood Hills fool you into thinking they all care about their education. Regardless of where you teach, there will be kids who care.

Oct 14 2013 4:39PM

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deleted5

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don't do it soon all teachers will be out of a job "half joking"

Oct 14 2013 4:40PM

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Very very interesting video. The biggest flaw in my mind is that it relies on the students being self-driven. On the whole.....they're not.

Oct 14 2013 4:46PM

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Barefootin_Fiend

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"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

Oct 14 2013 5:04PM

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True. I moved from a not so nice area (When my school shut down, ironically.) to a nicer area, and the kids there, although more wealthy, weren't much different. Except for people in higher level classes, since they cared.

Oct 14 2013 6:45PM

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humpty

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become a shop teacher at a tech school (ex; woodworking, welding, graphics, automotive) would be more interesting imo

Oct 14 2013 7:17PM

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E__

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Yeah, I'm doing that right now but focusing in Geography and PE, preferably the outdoors classes. I'm having second thoughts about it but it's a good thing I'm not in a specific education program just taking a major in Geography to get a Bachelors.

Because of this I can go work in the field and gain experience in something I really enjoy rather than be stuck with an education diploma and no interest in teaching (if that's the case).

With my school there is the education program and the Bachelor's degree and then a year and a half teaching course, if your school offers this take it without a doubt unless you are 100% and I mean 100% sure you would enjoy teaching the rest of your life.

For me I'm gonna work in the field for Geography, which is anything, get experience and then become a college or university professor like a lot of the professors are.

Oct 14 2013 7:27PM

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Yeah, I was talking with Chris and I think I'm gonna do some shadowing and possibly subbing to see if it's what I want to do.
I think I might get a degree in biology and maybe duel major or minor in education

Oct 14 2013 9:48PM

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Jeebus.

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Those that can't do, teach.

Oct 14 2013 9:49PM

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SFB

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if you do become a teacher just remember that you arent allowed to give rim jobs to students.

Oct 14 2013 9:54PM

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Only if they're over 18

Oct 15 2013 11:32AM

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Chewy.

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Sorry to bump this so late. To the teachers out there, do you notice a huge difference in age and work ethic? I've been subbing and shadowing, it seems like the 7th/8th graders care more than the high school kids. But I'm worried I'll get bored teaching to such a young age group, it'll be very simple stuff. (I'm thinking I'm going to do history.) I'm also considering teaching Spanish, here in Montana there isn't a large amount of competition. Anyone have experience teaching a foreign language?

Feb 1 2014 1:17PM

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everyone thinks teachers have to work really hard for little pay. But really they make quite a lot of money, and they don't have to work as hard as they make it out to be. teaching is a relatively chill job, as long as you don't mind high school kids. If you get stuck with the normal classes you end up having to deal with a lot of shit from them. If you get lucky enough to teach the advanced classes it's a lot better. The kids actually care about school and have futures and shit, so you can focus more on teaching them and less on dealing with their crap. If they aren't doing well you kick them into the lower level classes with the dumb kids.

Feb 1 2014 6:10PM

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Bombogenesis

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Lol

Feb 2 2014 7:26AM

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powerslide

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I've been a teacher for 14 years, with a major in social study and sports, from a dedicated university of educational study. But it is the Scandinavian system and it's some what different from USA. But i love my job. I work with 14-17 year old kids. Today in also working with IT-structure and IT-pedagogy.

Feb 2 2014 4:23PM

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saskskier

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This.

I have a ton of close friends who are teachers and I worked as an ed assistant for a few years and pretty much everyone I know would rather work in inner-city schools. Generally they would rather work with kids who don't focus on school because they have legit problems in life (poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence at home, gang violence, etc) as opposed to rich, spoiled kids who squander the opportunities they are born into. Inner city kids are way more fun to work with.

I've also found the staff in inner city schools tend to be closer knit and work more as a team.

Also you don't have as many problems with overbearing parents who threaten to sue because you have their child a bad mark.

Feb 3 2014 1:02AM

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what are you LOLing about. I know a lot of teachers. Hell my mom is a teacher. She says that it is not that much work for a job that pays over 100k.

Feb 3 2014 1:06AM

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Laurent.

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Oh wow, I think over here a teacher earns roughly 3400 euro a month gross.

Feb 3 2014 1:13AM

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In alberta, maximum years and education at a public school is like ~85k I think. Summer school is like 15k. So at a public school a teacher can make just under 100k max about. But private schools you can make over 100k.

Feb 3 2014 1:38AM

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Chewy.

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I wish American's paid their teachers like this.

Feb 3 2014 2:08AM

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Bombogenesis

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In what fucking bizarro world do teachers get paid a 6 figure salary?

Feb 3 2014 6:04AM

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I just explained that...

go look at the internet. 6 years education+11 years experience + summer school =100k.

private school = even more

Feb 3 2014 6:10AM

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powerslide

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I'm paid (with pension) something like 88000-90000 a year in us $. But again Scandinavia is different. Kids however is somewhat the same. And like stated above some kids in our modern wealthy world don't Have anything to fight for so why care for homework when mom gave you the new IPhone this morning.

Feb 3 2014 8:08AM

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Bombogenesis

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There are 3 people I know in ct who have been teachers 20+ years and are at around 80k. Must be different where you live.

Feb 3 2014 9:18AM

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deleted5

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I have quite a few friends that I got teaching degrees and none can find work, I wouldn't do it.

Feb 3 2014 9:58AM

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I switched anyways. But I love my education classes. I'm super glad I switched. It's probably saved me from not doing anything with my life. Luckily in Nevada where I'll be certified when I graduate, there are a lot of openings for science teachers which I'm going in to.
Nevada teachers definitely don't get paid well though. 49th in the country for education means we aren't going to have a lot of funding. One of my old teachers that has her masters and has been teaching for almost 20 years is making just under 70k. Average starting salary for a high school teacher is around 30k. If I get a masters degree it's an automatic raise.

Feb 3 2014 10:42AM

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Chewy.

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Montana is 50th with a 27k average.

Feb 3 2014 11:37AM

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Mr.Sloth

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I hope that one day my children can be taught science by Mr. Rimjobber

Feb 3 2014 12:47PM

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Kronor

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I'm an undergrad in English and I'm looking into similar things. I'm probably not going to do the eduction route because it just sounds fucking awful and I feel that the education major is quite weak. I'm probably going to get my masters in English. My ideal job would be to teach at a community college for fall/spring terms and then go to Argentina during the summers and teach English to young kids who don't know any.

Does anyone have any experience with teaching english in foreign countries? If so could you tell me what you liked/disliked about it? I would really like to do this not only for the experience of what it's like to live in another country but also to get to ski in the summers. Someone's gotta know something about this, hook me up with some detailsssss.

Feb 3 2014 4:41PM

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SKI.ING

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Unless you go to a research school where the professors are mainly there to further their career/research goals and just have to teach as a byproduct of that.

Feb 3 2014 5:29PM

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Bart.Man

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I hate this quote. I have no intention of going into education, but this quote has always bothered me. To me, it seems that you would have to have an excellent working knowledge of your subject to teach it effectively and well. It seems to me that those who teach can do and teach, which makes them superior, in my opinion.

Feb 3 2014 5:48PM

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