AHH changing college majors...help?
07-22-2010, 08:58 PM
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Idaho
Posts: 1,048
Yes, exactly. I teach college mathematics and I work with pre-service math teachers. They get jobs almost immediately. You will be competing for jobs in social work with persons who have experience, masters degrees, and PhDs. If you are looking for a career, teaching is great! However, you can also continue your education while teaching and add counseling certification to your teaching background.
Originally Posted by sweet
Teachers can begin work after a 4 year degree, whereas a social worker typically requires a MS.
07-23-2010, 05:34 AM
#23
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 17,068
Originally Posted by lab fairy
Teaching is not for the faint of heart. You do not get your summers off (people just think you do because you are most often required to take classes, write curriculum, etc. w/o pay) and there is no 8-3 (I got to campus at 6 am and left after 5:30 everyday).
I think the grass is greener to many people. I think social work is noble but grossly underpaid and overworked. The burnout rate is higher than what is found in education. No one talks about the fact that most teachers only teach 5 years or less.
I suggest you research interests, pay levels (you will have to repay student loans somehow unless you are lucky enough to have everything paid by scholarships and grants, but very few are that lucky), and working environments. Check with university programs, ask if you can meet with directors of those programs, ask to talk to their intern coordinators, see if you can visit workplaces, etc. That is all part of data gathering and it really pays off in the end.
I think the grass is greener to many people. I think social work is noble but grossly underpaid and overworked. The burnout rate is higher than what is found in education. No one talks about the fact that most teachers only teach 5 years or less.
I suggest you research interests, pay levels (you will have to repay student loans somehow unless you are lucky enough to have everything paid by scholarships and grants, but very few are that lucky), and working environments. Check with university programs, ask if you can meet with directors of those programs, ask to talk to their intern coordinators, see if you can visit workplaces, etc. That is all part of data gathering and it really pays off in the end.
PS. Wow, I didn't know that tidbit about teachers working less than 5 years. Yikes!!
07-23-2010, 05:52 AM
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,388
I just looked at my class roster for this next school year. Two of my classes have 37 students in them. The other two have 31 and 30. I don't even have enough desks for that large number. I actually had a nightmare about it last night. I teach seventh grade and having 37 students in a class is a managing nightmare! We went from having three classes a day and a planning period to four classes a day and a planning period. Not only will we have less planning time this year, but more students.
I will have 135 students total. If I spend thirty seconds a day grading one paper per student, I still would not have enough time to get it all done and recorded during my 80 minute planning period. That doesn't take into consideration planning for instruction, making parental phone calls, and attending mandatory professional development during two planning periods a week. That gives me about four hours total a week to do all my grading, communicating, and planning.
I usually spend about fifteen additional hours a week working on school-related work. I arrive at school at 7AM and leave at 3:10 (to get my own kids from school). I get about fifteen minutes for lunch and am lucky to find time during the day to use the restroom. So, I put in about eleven hours a day.
I'm not trying to discourage someone from becoming a teacher, but don't want to sugar-coat it either. I really think the hours put in during the school year, the ridiculously large classes, the lack of administrative support, the difficult parents, and the apathy of students is what often drives teachers out of the profession.
I will have 135 students total. If I spend thirty seconds a day grading one paper per student, I still would not have enough time to get it all done and recorded during my 80 minute planning period. That doesn't take into consideration planning for instruction, making parental phone calls, and attending mandatory professional development during two planning periods a week. That gives me about four hours total a week to do all my grading, communicating, and planning.
I usually spend about fifteen additional hours a week working on school-related work. I arrive at school at 7AM and leave at 3:10 (to get my own kids from school). I get about fifteen minutes for lunch and am lucky to find time during the day to use the restroom. So, I put in about eleven hours a day.
I'm not trying to discourage someone from becoming a teacher, but don't want to sugar-coat it either. I really think the hours put in during the school year, the ridiculously large classes, the lack of administrative support, the difficult parents, and the apathy of students is what often drives teachers out of the profession.
07-23-2010, 09:37 PM
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Rancho Mirage, CA
Posts: 1,855
Originally Posted by sweet
Teachers can begin work after a 4 year degree, whereas a social worker typically requires a MS.
I love my job. It is frustrating, I'm overworked at times and the paperwork has gotten overwhelming. I work with emtionally disturbed students ( I use to work with incarcerated children) and it is very gratifying when you are able to make a difference.
MistyMarie is correct, I often leave for work at 6ish and don't get home until 5 or later. It makes for a long day. I'm lucky, my children are grown. Some of the drawbacks really wear you down.
07-26-2010, 04:14 PM
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: High Entropy Zone
Posts: 1,247
Originally Posted by MistyMarie
I just looked at my class roster for this next school year. Two of my classes have 37 students in them. The other two have 31 and 30. I don't even have enough desks for that large number. I actually had a nightmare about it last night. I teach seventh grade and having 37 students in a class is a managing nightmare! We went from having three classes a day and a planning period to four classes a day and a planning period. Not only will we have less planning time this year, but more students.
I will have 135 students total. If I spend thirty seconds a day grading one paper per student, I still would not have enough time to get it all done and recorded during my 80 minute planning period. That doesn't take into consideration planning for instruction, making parental phone calls, and attending mandatory professional development during two planning periods a week. That gives me about four hours total a week to do all my grading, communicating, and planning.
I usually spend about fifteen additional hours a week working on school-related work. I arrive at school at 7AM and leave at 3:10 (to get my own kids from school). I get about fifteen minutes for lunch and am lucky to find time during the day to use the restroom. So, I put in about eleven hours a day.
I'm not trying to discourage someone from becoming a teacher, but don't want to sugar-coat it either. I really think the hours put in during the school year, the ridiculously large classes, the lack of administrative support, the difficult parents, and the apathy of students is what often drives teachers out of the profession.
I will have 135 students total. If I spend thirty seconds a day grading one paper per student, I still would not have enough time to get it all done and recorded during my 80 minute planning period. That doesn't take into consideration planning for instruction, making parental phone calls, and attending mandatory professional development during two planning periods a week. That gives me about four hours total a week to do all my grading, communicating, and planning.
I usually spend about fifteen additional hours a week working on school-related work. I arrive at school at 7AM and leave at 3:10 (to get my own kids from school). I get about fifteen minutes for lunch and am lucky to find time during the day to use the restroom. So, I put in about eleven hours a day.
I'm not trying to discourage someone from becoming a teacher, but don't want to sugar-coat it either. I really think the hours put in during the school year, the ridiculously large classes, the lack of administrative support, the difficult parents, and the apathy of students is what often drives teachers out of the profession.
Sugar coating reality to lure people down a dark alley is wrong. When one makes important decisions all pertinent data should be evaluated. Ignorance helps no one and hurts many.
07-26-2010, 10:38 PM
#28
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 174
Originally Posted by Ditter43
I do know neither job pays very well and the stress can be brutal in both jobs. I guess it depends a lot on where you work. Good luck!! :D
07-27-2010, 02:44 AM
#30
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 112
It sounds like you want to work in a profession where you can make a tangible difference. If teaching is your passion, you might consider working in a Title I school. The burnout rate is high but you make a difference everyday for the students. I worked in Title I schools for 10 years and then needed a break so I moved to the "other side" and now work in a school with upper middle class students. One day, I'll go back to Title I.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ArizonaKAT
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
0
03-26-2012 11:04 AM
