Life as a Secondary Education Teacher?

Question

I'm planning to become a teacher in Arizona, Biology of course. However I always hear that they are underpaid for the amount of work they do. I talked to one high school teacher about it before beginning full time college last year, and he said life was fine for him. However, though I'm not going into it for money, I'm curious how well off teachers are.

So what class level (lower, lower middle, middle, etc) do you believe being a teacher has placed you in?

Is there anything else you'd like to say to someone becoming a teacher?

I'm very independent, so I always look at life as though I have to take care of myself completely and hope that if I need to I could with this job.

Answer 1

I think a biology teacher would spend a lot of time preparing lessons/lectures, but perhaps not as much time as an English teacher looking at work and marking exams.  

I think of myself as solidly middle class.  When I was a full time English teacher in high school, I worked a lot of hours and it was highly stressful because I worked with a lot of defiant, entitled, aggressive kids with parents who didn't discipline them.  I'm glad that I don't teach those kids anymore.

I took home about 3500 dollars a month after working for about 7 years.  I lived alone and rented an apartment, so I lived pretty well.  My salary eventually went up to about 4000 a month (that's 40,000 a year because we get paid for 10 months).  When I married my husband, also a teacher, we basically doubled each other's salary.  

By the way, we live in California where the pay is much higher than other states.

You can definitely get by and have a comfortable life, but you'll never be rich.

Answer 2

Money was never a problem for me because I was married so my husband carried the salary weight. My salary helped pay our taxes and paid for our vacations.  Salaries should be public knowledge so you should be able to get a salary range from any school district you are interested in.  Keep in mind that Arizona has a lot of diversity in its' poulation.  what kind of students do you want to teach.  The drug problems in AZ high schools kind of scare me.  Don't forget that you also have some very high income levels in certain cities and that may influence the student attitudes.  Some parts of Mesa are definitely deprived, but sometimes teaching those students in the most rewarding because they appreciate what you are doing for them.  I spent a lot more time doing "stuff" when I was teaching than when I had a regular job.  Teaching never seems to end.  Obviously, teaching has benefits other than the satisfaction of interacting with the students.  Some districts pay really well, you usually get pretty good insurance benefits, and you do get regular vacations to re-energize yourself. Obviously, the more courses you take, the more you can move up the salary scale, and many school districts pay for those courses, so long term it's a pretty good deal even if it tight in the beginning.  The federal regulations and competencies,  dealing with less than competent administrators, dealing with students and parents with attitudes may be the downside, but if you really want to do it,go for it. With a major in Biology, you will never be lacking some kind of job.  Good luck.  AZ also money for science teachers for grants that do not need to be paid back if you teach in some lower income areas for a while.

Answer 3

last year, i thought before to become a primary teacher as i graduated from my high school and i love children and teaching! but i gave up coz i heard from my high school teacher said that being a teacher is a good dream for me but it will be a bad dream for me ! coz if u had became a teacher, the government may send u to sumplace that u dislike like in the village, sumplace out from the city! but now im a daycare teacher! (taking care of primary children, arranging bathe, checking their school bags, correcting/teaching homeworks or tuition works n more!) although it is not as good as being a teacher that teach in schools as i teach in a private centre but im happy! like my mum said, "no matter how much high they paid for u to work for them, it wont make u stay longer as u dont like the job u had in there!"

Answer 4

I teach in high school and taught for a number of years in middle school before this.  I work far more than 40 hours each week.  The stress level in the classroom is high and directly proportionate to the maturity, manners, and motivation of the students.  I find that I have spent more time trying to discipline and keep a proper environment in my classroom than actually teaching.

Before I married my husband, there was no money left over at the end of the month.  I worried constantly that I might not ever be able to buy a house in a decent neighborhood, etc.  

Teacher salaries are public record, and you can go to the district's website and see the pay scales.  Do the math yourself and deduct for taxes and divide it out per month.  See for yourself how it fits your own budget.

My real advice is this:  If you feel you are called to do it, you will work out the money issues.  Although, you will never be rich on your own, not even upper middle class.  If you merely think you might enjoy it, then do not do it.  It won't be worth the stress and low pay.

Answer 5

Life as a Secondary Teacher is very difficult because you are preparing teens for college. It also can be difficult because you will have kids who don't learn as fast as others. Hope this helps you.