Teachers: Would you keep teaching if suddenly you had to work 12 months w/no summer break?

Question

Imagine if our society suddenly decided that students would go to school year around with no breaks (except 1 week for Christmas, 2 days for Thanksgiving a couple random holidays like Labor Day and MLK's birthday).

Would you keep teaching? Do you think a lot of people would leave the profession? Would less students major in education and go into the school system? Would teachers only a year or two into the field?

Answer 1

A few teachers I know are quitting the profession already because of politics and/or the lack of good pay.

I think it would burn out many teachers, but if the compensation was more realistic and competitive than many other teachers would stay.

Answer 2

I would love to work 12 months, as long as they are going to pay me for 12 months.  Right now, I collect a check 10 months out of the year and must either save enough to cover me those two months or get another job.  If I could work as a teacher in those two months and get paid for it, I would jump at the chance.  

People always criticize teachers saying things like, "It must be nice to get two months off every year."  What they never think of, is that we are not paid for those two months.  

I always ask people to imagine if their job told them they were on an involuntary, two month, unpaid leave of absence, but were expected to stay on and return to work in the fall.  What other job would put up with this?  

So, yes, I would love to work an extra two months , just give me my hourly rate for the additional time.

Answer 3

Almost all professions have advantages and disadvantages.  If you ask people to work 20% more for the same pay, I think you will find people leaving the profession by the droves.  One of the advantages of teaching is the schedule.  One of the disadvantages is the pay.  In any profession, if the advantages are decreased and the disadvantages increased, there will be people leaving.  Would doctors continue to be doctors if they made $50,000 per year?

Answer 4

As long as we are discussing fantasy, I would say no I would not quit aas long as my son were on the same schedule. I do not think this would happen in a million years though.

Answer 5

I would keep teaching.  I think any quality educator would!  I am going into this field for intrinsic values, I want to help the students and change lives.  I'm not in it for the summer break! :)

Answer 6

If you like your job, of course you would. I am on summer break right now, and have so many workshops and seminars to go to, it would be easier to work instead! I love what I do, and did not sign up for this job for the vacation or the pay (althoughh I would expect more pay for more work!), but for the kids I teach!

P.S. Other people work year round so can teachers!!!

Answer 7

I've actually advocated for my district to go to year-round schooling. I think it would benefit both the students and the teachers. So much time is wasted at the start of every year simply reviewing the material students forgot over the summer. If we eliminate summer, we eliminate that problem.

That being said, I do struggle with the "no breaks" part. Burn out is a real problem, even with a summer vacation many teachers leave the profession because every year because they burn out. Educating and nurturing 130+ young adults brings with it a  tremendous amount of stress and responsibility.

Ideally, a year-round school would take a week off not only at Christmas, but at the end of every grading period (9 weeks in most school systems). This would give the students and teachers time to refresh and relax, but eliminate the educational losses that many students suffer over the summer.