If you are considering a career in education, you should read this article first. It is a rewarding career, but it can also be very high pressured and tough. It’s not all perfect behavior from your classes, and an apple on your desk every morning! In fact the more recruits that know that before they go for the training, the more likely they will be to stick with it in the long term.
Positive
Teaching is a very varied and creative career. You have to think outside of the box in the way that you plan your lessons and present information to the students. You also have to teach them to be able to use their skills to facilitate their own learning. Not the easiest of tasks, but hugely rewarding and worthwhile.
Negative
Some teachers complain that there is just not enough hours in the day. They can feel like they are doing three people’s jobs. Which is funny because a lot of people think teaching staff have it easy because of their long holidays!
You will often hear teachers complain about workload which includes 5-6 hours of classroom teaching a day. Then there is the planning of exciting and engaging lessons and the creation of resources, and following up on paperwork and marking too. Yes, this does seem a lot, but after a few years, you find ways to cope with the workload as best you can.
However, if you love the idea of being in the classroom but don’t want to overload yourself, then you can always consider working as a supply teacher. Supply teachers can sign on with agencies such as Simply Education, and travel to different schools to cover absence and illness. The wage is good, and marking and planning are almost non-existent.
Positive
One of the biggest positive things about teaching is that you get to make a real difference in people’s lives. But be careful it won’t happen overnight, it’s not like the film Dangerous Minds! It is a slow slog to earn the students respect, and being consistent in your treatment and expectations of them is the best way to achieve this goal.
But with some tenacity and commitment you can help people get the best from themselves and this in itself, is priceless.
Negative
Teaching is a stressful profession, there are very few working within education that would disagree with this. The stress can come from a range of areas as well.
It can come from parents and their refusal to work with the school on something. Or their high expectations of what it is possible to teach their child in four hours a week. It can come from other staff members and comparing yourself to them and their achievements too.
Or, most commonly it can come from the students. Teachers in good schools can find that students often need a lot of help and support in completing work. While teachers in no so good schools have aggression, violence and poor behaviour to deal with. Sometimes almost constantly!
So remember to pick the type of school that you want to work in carefully, and be aware of the downsides so you can be prepared for them.
Would you consider becoming a teacher? Let us know your thoughts below
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