Do You Like Being a Teacher?

RHunce

Apologies if this has already been done.

Sooooo, as the title states the general gist of this thread is to establish the likability of teaching.

Firstly, do you like it? If so why? If you don't then why not?

What have been the highs and lows of your career? How did you get into teaching? Did you dream of being a teacher since national school or is it something you accidently fell into and loved instantly?

I'm sure it's a pretty stressful job! In your opinion is this a fair assessment?

Do you ever wish you could try a different career? Does teaching allow you to do other things which you wouldn’t be able to avail of in a different profession, ie. travelling during the summer.

And anything else ye can think of feel free to add those in.

Thanks

spurious

Yes I like it. It's what I always wanted to do and I'm now in my 26th year.
I work in a very difficult location and choose to take the classes that don't really want to be there, so it's kind of stressful. The summer helps me recharge. My doctor would love me to do something else, but there you go.

I generally work during June and try to take a course for part of July. Once the exam results are out, I'm back in getting things ready for the new year. I usually get about 4 weeks in the summer where I am not working or doing something related to work.

Highs - seeing children I first met as non-readers at 12 pass their Junior Cert. and sometimes stay on to the Leaving.
Meeting students years later and hearing about their adventures in the world.

Lows - The main lows would be hearing of the deaths of past students, of which sadly there have been many instances. I suppose being hit and regularly threatened with physical violence isn't a very pleasant thing to happen at anyone's work, but the recent media frenzy of attacking teachers personally upsets me more. I am sick to death of people who have no idea what teachers do telling me what an easy job I have.

The nonsense of all the useless (and never read) paperwork that has been introduced over the past few years sickens me. We sat and watched the UK make a mess of things and then we blindly followed.

TheColl

I love teaching. I'm only in my third year, so maybe I won't always love it this much! But so far I'm enjoying it even more than I thought I would.

When I finished school myself I had no idea what I wanted to do and it took me a few years to decide on doing the B. Ed. but it has turned out to be the best decision of my life. I genuinely love going to work every day. It can be very stressful at times but for me this is balanced out by the fun and reward that can come from working with children.

And yes, the holidays are great. I love having my summers free, I've seen quite a bit of the world over the past two summers, and even during the year (Halloween, Easter etc.). And financially it's fine too, not spectacular and I won't get into the whole current debate on this, but it fulfils my current needs!

So overall I'm extremely happy teaching and hope to remain so for many years to come

looksee

I came to teaching very late, but I love it. I like my subjects and have quite a bit of freedom about how I deliver them. I rarely have any hassle in class, but I tend to keep going, on my feet, helping individuals and conducting the class, and yes, it can be very tiring and by June I am ready for a break. I do put in a good bit of time in the summer preparing for the next year's classes. Since I am part time I only get paid for teaching hours. I find it very satisfying.

gaeilgegrinds1

Yes. I love teaching. I find it relatively easy to get through to students, don't mind the long hours necessary to get results and love my subjects.

BUT. it's much more difficult than it used to be. Respect it near but gone for teachers and I find it harder to get support from management, more a case of paddling my own canoe. Have had quite a few serious incidents in my school recently and we get told to forget, in any other profession the Gardaí would be called.

So in answer to the question, yes when I get to teach, no when dealing with all the other tripe I have to deal with.

livinginkorea

Yes I love teaching. My students are very motivated and most of them have a lot of experience already so I can relate their material in a very reflective and practical way. I enjoy the classroom enviroment and the banter back and forth with students. There is no way I could have been a researcher in my field (teaching education). The high point would be when you see students getting better and better adopting techniques and skill applied from your teaching. However, an odd time (about one per semester) you have a student who really shouldn't be there. The level or material is too difficult for them and you know that you can not and do not have enough time to help that student. The pay and holidays are nice but I spend the majority of them preparing for the next batch of classes in the following semester.

I think that teaching is a stressful job which people outside the industry do not know. They look to the long summer vacation but forget that the majority of teachers put in a lot of hours every week. I teach 12 hours a week (3 graduate classes and 2 undergrad classes) at university level and with a couple of office hours (lets say 2~3 hours), I spend a further 35~40 hours studying, preping, answering student queries (emails) and having meetings leaves about 50 hours at least per week on the job. It's something I could only do if I loved it.

dixiefly

spurious wrote: »

Yes I like it. It's what I always wanted to do and I'm now in my 26th year.
I work in a very difficult location and choose to take the classes that don't really want to be there, so it's kind of stressful. The summer helps me recharge. My doctor would love me to do something else, but there you go.

I generally work during June and try to take a course for part of July. Once the exam results are out, I'm back in getting things ready for the new year. I usually get about 4 weeks in the summer where I am not working or doing something related to work.

Highs - seeing children I first met as non-readers at 12 pass their Junior Cert. and sometimes stay on to the Leaving.
Meeting students years later and hearing about their adventures in the world.

Lows - The main lows would be hearing of the deaths of past students, of which sadly there have been many instances. I suppose being hit and regularly threatened with physical violence isn't a very pleasant thing to happen at anyone's work, but the recent media frenzy of attacking teachers personally upsets me more. I am sick to death of people who have no idea what teachers do telling me what an easy job I have.

The nonsense of all the useless (and never read) paperwork that has been introduced over the past few years sickens me. We sat and watched the UK make a mess of things and then we blindly followed.

Thats interesting, if I had continued teaching I too would be in my 26th year. However, after doing a HDip in 1984, I worked for a few months and found it quite tough. I was probably too nice as there were quite a few tough characters in the school and I would have a few stories even in that short period.
I was lucky to get a job in industry and have had quite a few jobs since with a lot of travel and have also worked public sector. However I dont think I am any better off financially after having probably worked probably treble the hours I would have worked teaching. That said I was as tired after a days teaching as I ever was after a 12 hour day or late return after travelling.
My wife is a teacher and really likes it. She, like her colleagues, is very committed and does quite a bit outside of school hours including always giving extra classes outside of school hours to exam classes.
In summary, teaching is a great job and has some nice perks including the pension which people working in varous private sector companies would struggle to get. There is good job satisfaction. However, it is not easy and can be v stressful. I dont think I would have been a success at teaching though I have generally been successful in my other roles.

byhookorbycrook

Yes, I love it ,no two days the same, no two children the same. Lows- cutbacks of special ed. budget and raising of ptr.

dory

I love teaching. Would never want to do anything else. I like interacting with the students, even when they're a little mad (right now I have a gang of 5th years calling me 'Weatherman').