Attn: teachers!! Do you prefer teaching in public schools or private schools?

Question

...and why?

I've only worked in a private school for 1 year, and I find a lot of backstabbing and sucking-up to the principal (because pay raise and promotion does not follow set rules, and favoritism is often the determining factor), disorganized administration, and an extremely strict and stressful environment.

I'm hoping that public schools, or any other school for that matter, are better! I like the students -- it's all the politics and catty-ness that really suck. What has your experience been with school politics?

Yes to what Melanie said! Our school is EXACTLY like that! A lot of us are already working 13-hour days at the school, with morning supervision duty, after school tutoring, helping out w/ sports and extracurriculars, etc., ON TOP OF regular teaching! Instead of showing any appreciation, it's just constant criticism and "why don't you do more?" Plus having the principal and dept. chair and president standing there watching over your classroom all the time.
Apologies if I'm ranting, but I'm just so relieved to hear that someone else has experienced this and can verify that not all schools are like that! Whew! What a relief!!

Answer 1

When I taught in a private school at least 1 principal would come and stand in every doorway EVERY day. I felt like I was not trusted to run my classroom. They did this to everyone.
They were so strict with the teachers that it was ridiculous. I am a good teacher and I did not need that kind of stress. When you offer your best it was never quite good enough. Our best professional opinions were not trusted. I was reprimanded for what I still believe to be a good decision in FRONT of my students!

Now I teach in a public school. There is still some favoritism and politics are there. I make a lot more money and I feel like I am appreciated. I believe that I really learned a lot about teaching at the private school and that has made me even better. My administration recognizes my efforts. At the private school they just always wanted more.
The difference in the students and their behaviors is not great. I have no more discipline problems now than I did then.
Go for the switch. Really.

Answer 2

No matter where you work you will find that some people are catty and a pain in the butt to work with. Administration can be good or bad in any school whether public or private. Each type of school has its positives and negatives. Just try to find the good things in school like the students that you enjoy to work with. That may help you accept any situation you are in.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 3

I taught in a public school for six years. Now I am teaching in a private school and I have been there 4 years. I want to get back into the public school setting. There might be still be some catty-ness, but at least you have a union to back you up and stop favoritism.

Answer 4

I've worked in both - happily, I've never had office politics to the extent you seem to have, but you encounter it in both.

For my money, the principal differences are that you'll make significantly less money in private schools, but (depending on the school) you'll have fewer problem children in class. For me, teaching in private schools was a lot more fun than teaching in public schools - it just meant I had to find work during the summer to make up for the shortfall. That was never a problem, though, and I had some wonderful experiences!

If your school has problems like that, it sounds to me like the Administration isn't doing it's job very well. I'd look for a different school.

Answer 5

This answer is basically a ditto to many I have read, including yours. I actually experienced much more trust and freedom to teach in private schools. The training for dealing with parents was AWESOME because the parents were very, very rough and basically ran the school.

However, the pay was AWFUL and the amount of duties for free were ludicrous. At least in public you get fewer duties and get paid for extra clubs, etc.

I am still new to public so right now I'd say YAY to the pay, and BOO to the lack of individual creativity. However, I am happy to never have lunch duty again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck!!!

Answer 6

I refuse to work in the private sector.

Education is not a commodity - it's not there to be bought and sold. It's there for every child to experience.

Sure I get paid less and can't hand select my students, but job satisfaction has a higher value than money to me.

Answer 7

creation technological expertise ~~~ No such ingredient! that's an oxymoron! instruct despite happy-crappy on your non secular faculties! or sensible layout ought to learn in public faculties? ~~~ comparable ingredient! that is not something yet non secular pseudo-scientific desperate attempt to validate your susceptible and ignorant 'ideals'! save it interior the non secular faculties the place no person expects something of import, your church 'faculties' merely assure that your toddlers would be serving burgers and fries on the grounds which would be all they're solid for! And different menial jobs! And, then, they are in a position to instruct on the church faculties, and the cycle keeps; ignorant, holier-than-thou sinful hypocrites passing on all that... 'poisonous waste'!