Teachers out there?Did anyone ever try to tell you you shouldnt be a teacher?

Question

That has happened to me (more than once) and has made me question whether I want to finish the teaching program.

Answer 1

I was told not to for two main reasons:

1) there was a glut on the market of teachers -- too many teachers for the number of jobs out there -- which would drive down the pay scale and leave me out of work

BUT now there is a shortage of teahers and I'm glad I pursued it.  PLUS one person told me there's always room for another GOOD teacher.

2) and teachers are not respected in the U.S. the way they are in other countries.  This is reflected in their salary scales and the attitudes towards them by their students,parents, and community members.

BUT without good teachers, this country will stop producing people like Linus Pauling and John Steinbeck and Rene Zellweger and Charles Schultz and Peyton Manning and John F. Kennedy.  The fact that teachers had an effect on people like these and many others worth mentioning should be reason enough to earn them the respect (and salaries!) that they are due!

Answer 2

I have had a few people say yes, and a few people say no.  The bottom line is everyone is good at teaching, but we each specialize in teaching different thing to different levels in different ways.  Some people are not suited for teaching small children, then they should teach adults.  Some are not the best fit for adults, so they should teach children.  Some do not do well with large classes, then maybe special ed or other more individually focused teaching is best for them.

If you WANT to be a teacher, then it is RIGHT for you to be a teacher.  You just have to find out what you are RIGHT to teach.

Answer 3

it really depends if there is substance in their reason for saying that. Are you sometimes a impatient, cold or curt, especially with children? It strikes me that telling someone they shouldn't be a teacher is a rather personal comment and wouldn't be made if there wasn't truth or maliciousness backing the comment.

I agree that you might want to ask why and privately re-evaluate yourself, go over your weak points and strong points and see if the releavant weaknesses can be fixed for the sake of your future pupils. If you find that after an honest and thorough assesment of yourself your image of yourself is similar to the image of teachers you disliked or learnt little with in high-school/primary school (if you can recall your primary teachers clearly) then you might want to have a chat to a close friend and consider choosing a different path. If, however, you feel that you are passionate about teaching and are going to have the discipline to pursue it well...then definertely go ahead. Work on anything that you are bad at, encourage yourself about what you aer good at. And influence the children of tomorow for good.

Answer 4

Happened to a friend of mine.  She went on to run a day-care program with 120 kids and several teachers.  Ask them why they say it, but if that's your dream, keep going!

Answer 5

I've had a few people tell me that. I was 40 when I went back to school to become a teacher. The reasons were:

1. I was too old and wouldn't have the energy to keep up with the kids and would change my mind after the first year!

2. For the money I would be getting as a starting teacher, it wouldn't be worth the money I was spending going back to school.  The feeling was if I started younger, I would have had more time to go up the pay scale which would make it more worthwhile.

Well....I'm 50 and still doing it! I think there is almost a "calling" to go into teaching.  There isn't any prestige, respect, or big money....yet the value of those "teacher moments" when you know you have reached a child are invaluable!

Answer 6

None! but in your case just go on because teaching  is a novel profession.  As a teacher, we molds the minds of young ones. or we mold the future of our nation without teacher there is no doctors, architect, lawyer, engineers etc.  so you must be proud to be a teacher.

Answer 7

Maybe it depends on why they think you shouldn't be a teacher. I don't know your situation, but I would say if being a teacher is your dream goal, and you are good at it and good with kids, then go for it and who cares what anyone else says?? I'm only a preschool teacher, but I just got a degree in Early Childhood, and I didn't really care what anyone thought. My mom thinks I am crazy, but I don't care. It's my life, not anyone else's. If teaching makes you happy, then do it!!