Question for Secondary Ed. Teachers...

I am beginning my Masters in Secondary Education this September. I am nervous about what I hear teachers saying about their jobs in local districts...ie, severe problems with parents, dealing with student insubordination without administrative support, etc.

I feel that at the very least I will have my Master's and that is worth its weight even if I decide not to teach (in school) after finishing.

What is everyone's experience? Positive and negative opinions are welcome.

I used to work in the computer industry for 4 years, but then decided to go for my masters in Secondary Ed as well. I was so nervous, because I had no idea if I would like teaching, and it was a big commitment and a lot of work to do something and not even be sure if I’d like it or be good at it. It is too bad that you can’t “try it out” before you buy the education… do you have any teacher friends that would let you observe them when classes start?

I am about to start my third year in September. I have worked in two very good, small districts, in fairly affluent neighborhoods. I student taught in larger, less affluent neighborhoods. I have been lucky (knock on wood) and have not really encountered too many problems with parents. You have the occasional parent who doesn’t want to believe what you say about their child, but for the most part, they have been on my side and we have worked together to solve whatever problem may be occurring (one thing that I have learned—call the parents for a good reason every once in a while and they love you—the kid gets some nice feedback and the parent is pleasantly surprised to get a “good” call from the teacher.) I have heard horror stories about some parents but the main thing is to CYA—Cover Your a**!! Keep a log of every single time you talk to any parent, keep notes of what was said, what was decided, and any important info you got. This way, if the parent complains about little Jimmy’s final grade at the end of the year, you can pull out that log and say well, I talked to Mom and Dad, at this time on this day, and this is what was discussed.

I have been lucky with my administrations too—they have pretty much supported anything I have done or helped me in whatever way I needed. What subject are you going to teach? If you are an in-demand subject, you will probably be able to pick and choose districts, and people know the reputations of each district.

Students are definitely more brazen now than I remember in my high school days. A few are downright nasty… but they are the exception. Most are pretty good… you have to find a teacher that has really good classroom management and see what they do—usually the kids will be good for someone who is authoritative, but fair. It’s really a matter of coming up with a discipline plan and running with it—and every year so far I have changed things, it’s really just trial and error. It is important to have a thick skin… and to understand that the kids have bad days too; I try to figure out why they are acting the way they are acting. You learn to deal with the kids, as you learn to deal with the pain in the neck boss or jerk in your office.

Teaching is the hardest job that I have ever had, but it is the most rewarding as well. I am glad that I took the plunge and did it. I had to get a second bachelor’s and my masters… I did all of this in three years while working full time. It was stressful but totally worth it. You have your good days and bad days, but just like in the corporate world, but I am a much happier person now (Especially in the summer!!!) The kids will come to you after school to “hang out” and you really get close to some of them, and you really get to help others (so many girls remind me of myself at that age, and I try to help them come out of their shell.) It really is a lot of work, but it’s a great profession… and it gets easier as each year passes.

Whew! What a long response! I hope I haven’t rambled on too much… if you have any questions, please let me know.

Wow, you really covered everything! Thank you for your honest answer. I really appreciate it. You've managed to quell almost all of my fears.

I'll be teaching English.

Thanks again for your advice.

i just finished my second semester in grad school. I have those fears as well but I am so excited to begin teaching. I can not wait, the post above makes me even more enthusiastic to start! I can't wait!

I teach Middle School English, and will be starting my third year in September. I have worked in two districts.....both in pretty good neighborhoods.

There are things that make the job challenging. Students acting up, parents not caring, parents caring too much......

But there are things that make it amazing as well!
For the most part, I have recieved WONDERFUL administrative support...it all depends on the district. In the first school I worked in, there was a young man who was very very sad and upset because he lived in the poor part of town and didn't fit it....and he took that anger out on others - myself included. One day, we were discussing writing letters to my brother, who was serving in the Marines in Iraq. The students showed a lot of interest in this project. This young man, though, for some reason decided to say, 'I hope he dies there and never comes home.'

I didn't react right there.....I ignored the comment and went on.

After the class was over, I was telling another teacher what this boy said, and as I was telling the story, the full impact of what he said hit me....and I started to cry. The other teacher walked me over to the principal's office, and I told her my story.

She was livid......even though school had already ended, she immediately got on the announcement system and demanded that if he was in the building, that he come to her office. The kid was still in school, so he came to her office, and for the next half hour, she gave it to him. The next day, his parents were called in. She had at least an hour-long conference with them, discussing his behaviour, and trying to decide what they could do to help him. Then, she called me down to the office, where the parents (crying) apologized to me as well.

The point of that all is.....that it was a horrible day for me....the child hurt me so deeply, yet, I can look back and see the positive side of it because of the support from the school on that day, and also from that day on.

So, yes, teaching is tough, and dealing with parents is difficult, and every now and again, there will be a student who drives you bonkers and makes you want to run out of the school screaming and ripping at your hair.
But schools are also really wonderful, warm, nurturing places where the majority of the people care for each other and take care of one another. (if you find the right school)

And, the majority of the students are so sweet, it will make your heart melt just thinking about them!

Good Luck!!!

I agree with what everyone said. I have GREAt administration, and are very supportive.
I LOVE my job, and yes it is so tough working in a high school in our time now, because things have CHANGED!!!!!!!
I LOVE the staff I work with as well.