What are the perks of being a High School English teacher vs. PhD Literature Professor?

Question

I'm an English major who will soon graduate with an undergraduate degree. I am debating whether to go on and get my PhD in English literature or a Masters in education. What are the perks/downfalls of each profession? I am also an avid horseback rider and would like the funds and the time to pursue my interests. Thank you!

Answer 1

If you want your focus to be on teaching, either go for high school or get at least a masters and teach community college.  College can have several advantages - it pays more, the school year is shorter, and you don't have to deal with discipline or attention problems - if the kid is causing problems, kick them out.  If they cheat, fail them.  

Answer 2

You answered yourself in your last statement.  As an English teacher with a Masters degree, I would say the only difference is the maturity of the students -- dealing with much silliness in jr high and high school.  Teaching in a regular school, although stressful times, can be a lot of fun.

Answer 3

YES

Answer 4

If all you want to do is a lot of teaching, you might do better in high school.  Most university professors are expected to produce research as well, so while they don't teach as many hours/week as do high school teachers, they have far more other duties than do teachers.  It is definitely easier to get tenure in a high school than in a college.  You would make a little more as a professor than as a teacher, but the difference is usually not huge in subject matters like English literature.  Another difference is in the types of students you would be teaching.  High school teachers get a chance to turn people on to literature for the first time, and some students may be more receptive than are college students.  On the other hand, while everyone in college is there by choice to some degree, the same cannot be said of high school, so you are more likely to deal with behavioral problems in high school.  Another factor is that most high school teachers get to teach in the parts of the country they want to live in.  The same can often not be said of college professors, who have to go where they can find a job, and that can include some really unpleasant locations.  As to free time, lots of people misunderstand this, and I'm afraid neither job will give you a lot.  While you aren't usually teaching in the summer, both jobs have factors which limit your free time.  High school teachers often get other jobs during the summer to supplement their incomes, and spend time preparing for fall classes.  College professors do most of their research during the summer and prepare for fall classes.  

Answer 5

As a high school English teacher, I would echo what others have said here - if you want freedom from discipline, go for teaching in a college.  At least there you shouldn't have as many parents second-guessing your grades and administrators looking over your shoulder.  Although, I think some administrators in college will have pretty firm guidelines about what you teach and how you grade.  Overall, I think there is probably more freedom at the college level though.  

If you're looking for the "joy" of teaching, I'm not sure you'll find it anywhere any more.  State testing and other mandates have sucked a lot of the creativity and pleasure out of teaching.  Add merit pay and other nasty things, and you would be better off working in another profession.  

Good luck with whatever you choose.