Does Anyone Recommend Being A Teacher?

[gemwoods11]

Any teachers - do you recommend a career in teaching or is it as stressful as it sounds? Are there any pro's? I just finished uni and I'm debating applying for a PGCE but now I don't know if I'd regret it, but how will I know? Any advice would be good!

[teacher1]

I taught for 30 years, and loved it most of the time. I began my career as a Woodwork teacher, but over the years my subject changed and I became a Technology teacher. I did not like that at all and early retirement was a blessing. Much depends on the catchment area, the school, the subject and these days the paperwork! You must want to teach ..... it is no good going in because you think you might like it as a career. If you are not positive ....... don't make it your future! Good luck

[Paigntonian]

Depends where you're teaching.

[thisinspiringlif]

I would try doing some work as a teaching assistant first so u can get an idea of the long hours and hard work involved in this type of career. It's extremely fulfilling but can be very very draining. Both me and my partner are ex-teachers. We still work in education but doing something different now. Try hooking up with a educational recruitment agency like https://www.i-teachers.com/ and seek advice and guidance on getting a placement as a TA and take it from there

[jourdain2]

I could write a lot. So much depends on you - and the area and school you end up teaching in. As has been said, you must want to teach and that must be on a deep level inside you. Children are not saints and some will try to stop you helping them and others.
Yes it is very stressful. It can also be wonderful and the knowledge that you have changed lives for the better is good to live with.

I simply could not cope with the technology and paperwork these days. I left in 2001, but until Covid struck I volunteered in a local Secondary helping to improve reading ages with individuals and small groups and that was so very enjoyable and rewarding. My subjects were English, Art and History - I've taught all to GCSE and English at A level.

It can also break you - one school left me heading to the off-licence every day and with horrible diarrhoea every morning. My god-daughter tried for a year and it wasn't for her. You won't know until you've tried it. Good luck in your choice - a PGCE is always handy, of course.

[teacher1]

Because I still live in the area I taught in I still see many of the pupils who passed through my workshops, and it was really a magical moment last week when a 60 ( yes, sixty ) year old approached me and said ...... Hi sir. How are you? My mother still has that coffee table that I made in your lessons !

[andy-hughes]

My wife was a teacher, Deputy Head, Head, and an Ofsted and ISI Snspector, and now works as an Early Years Consultant.

She would agree entirely with the advice thus far, the stresses are there, but the rewards are considerable.

You will know if its for you, or not, and you can decide to carry on, or not, but if you don't sign up you'll never know.

We bump into my wife's ex-pupils all the time, and she remembers all of them.

A couple of weeks ago a woman came up and said hello to my wife, her old Primary teacher and thanked her for everything she did for her.

The lady is now a consultant gynaecologist in a London Hospital.

Another of her pupils is a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing.

Now that's what I call job satisfaction!

[sandra4444]

There can also be benefits in later life. My eldest daughter who is 40 now goes to visit one of her old teaches and takes her two daughters to see her also.

Needless to say the teacher is getting on in years and loves the visits, who now lives alone after losing her husband some time back.

[Peter Pedant]

// and it was really a magical moment last week when a 60 ( yes, sixty) six-oh year old approached me and said ...//

I have tried to thank people who helped - and most were as above surprised
AND
1964 "he probably didnt think it was worth the effort" ( teaching Latin poetry) concerning FHR Dix a Latin master
1970 bemused - cdnt understand why I had stopped at the college ( FE Salisbury ) to say I had passed Zoo A level.
1973 - thought I wanted something ( law tutor)
1976 - you didnt do X? - I dont remember telling you to do X! - ( career in X)
1976 - good god did he? ( pass an exam)
1978 good god did he ( pass a more advanced exam, same subject)
1982 I have no idea where he is going to get a job

so all in all - I have some effect on my teachers

[Peter Pedant]

oh and....
Old Sir Milo X - still going strong and doing good where it is needed, met my brozzer and they talked at some jaw-jaw.
My brother reported, "he must have thought you were me. did you work for him ( like hell) . He gave me some very odd looks. I tried to be as polite as possible"

and I said - yes I did - he used to bully me.
so Sir Milo remembered me as well!

[jourdain2]

I should add that my daughter - who swore she'd never teach - worked for several years as a teaching assistant and when forced by finances I talked her into teaching. (Maths). She loves it.

[Peter Pedant]

I am sure you try it and see
some like primary -
My brother in law as a univ lecturer cdnt 'DO' secondary school

One prof of pure maths ( Wylie also a code breaker) retired and offered to take A level pure maff classes at Hills Rd Comp. Blimey i wdnt have minded going there....

Mixed ability adult teaching - I wonder how on earth they do it - ( me a pupil) and they say - if it clicks with any one person we know he will get a better job....

most of the examples above are with motivated learners. God knows what you do wivda average secondary schooler. Shoot them I think