Thinking of leaving...?

Question

I've been teaching for 14 years, but am thinking of changing careers. Any ideas of what to do?

Teaching is getting harder, the kids are getting more and more rude and disrespectful, and I'm not enjoying it as much as I used to.

Answer 1

I hear you! I also taught and literally got burned out. There are, however, alternatives to teaching and that is: teaching at the college level, teaching in a private school, going back to school and go into the administrative sector. If you want to get out completely, ask yourself what would you like to do? You have a degree and can literally do a lot with it, it is just finding what you want to do. Only you can answer that question. Just remember, there isn't a job out there that is perfect, everyone of them has its negative.

Answer 2

Don't know how much help I can offer, as I'm just in the same boat...though I've only been teaching 8 1/2 years. I'm just trying to hang on for the next 1 1/2 years so that I can freeze my retirement. Between now and then, I'm upgrading my skills, having just finished my graduate degree with a concentration in Instructional Technology. My plan is to move into industry or the civilian sector of the military in some area of training and technology...perhaps in computer-based training. Don't know if this is going to fly or not, but I have to try.

I can only recommend that you consider all your strengths, any special skills you have or that, due to your interests/aptitudes, would be fairly easy to add to or enhance your repertoire. Perhaps your area of teaching can be expanded and tailored to the "outside" world. If you can manage some sort of additional education via the web, or, like I did: a web-enhanced graduate program in which one attends 2 or 3 classes per term (per subject) and does a great deal of work via the internet.

Not the easiest thing in the world, but something to think about since it's something that you can do while still working your teaching job.

Oh, and, you might look into finding a career counselor...I haven't done that yet, but I really think that might help me a lot...if I can find one!!!

Hope there's something useful here.

Lee

Answer 3

I have been teaching for 13 years and I have thought that as well. However, what I realize what gives me the most stress isn't the kids - its the adults that put demands on me and my actions. The kids are just being kids - they may talk differently then they did when I was a kid - but at their core they are still just kids.

However, for a career change I use to think I would get into retirement planning. I have met many former teachers who now work with and sell annuity products to teachers. Some others have become educational consultants. Either of these professions I would argue you are probably more than qualified to do.

Take Care and Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

Try teaching at a smaller school. I go to St. Mary of-the-Woods College, and I love it! Students here love and respect the professors. I can't imagine anyone disrespecting the prof. It is a tightly knight community, beautiful campus, and wonderful people. Maybe you're just teaching at the wrong place. My suggestion is teach at a private school, they are smaller and student are more likely to respect you. Parents pay good $ to send their children to a respected school, in turn student show more respect (most of the time). Don't give up! Teachers are not given enough credit. One day you'll see that you have changed lives in some way or another! Sometimes, children don't see or respect what you do until years later. Please don't give up! Without my teachers I would be lost! Seriously, try a little small school :)

Answer 5

Get out, go back to uni to do a subject that interests you at MA or above and go have another career! I did it after 7 years teaching languages (it was the bureaucracy, not the kids, that did for me in the end) and I'm now much happier. You could look at doing research in a uni, working in social services, working in HR or consulting as a teaching background looks good on your CV when applying for any of these (and even better with a relevant MA for the job you decide to go for)!

Answer 6

nah! your just getting older and less patient! kids havent changed-you have!

I'm an adult. My kids go to the same exact school as I went to!
Some of the same teachers are there. My son who I thought had a very cool math teacher turns out to be NOT SO COOL! I even made the remark to her "I thought you'd never grow up? What happened?".

I do understand now that since "Pops" have gone out the window, its impossible to put up with some kids, but most kids are just being kids!

Instead of thinking about changing paths, how bout thinking of ways to better your relationship with your students? You can't think of one thing that made a teacher "cool" when you went to school at that age?

I bet you can!

Now, as for teaching getting harder...I'm right there with ya! They expect some students to graduate with a college degree begining next year! (some new program)

I am sure some of them can do it, however, what happened to being a kid?

Good luck no matter what you decide! Sorry to lose a darned good teacher!

(I guess being principal wouldn't interest you?)

Answer 7

It depends on the income you need. You could sub, which is what I do. I get to pick my own hours, and that works for me because my husband is retired and we like to travel. Have you considered working a half day next year instead of full time? There are plenty of jobs for math and science careers. Not so much for english teachers like me. I've considered positions like:
Employee trainer
seminar presenter
tutoring for Kumon, Huntington, etc.
I quit after 6 years for many of the same reasons. Good luck.

Answer 8

a couple of options are to become a private tutor or to work at a supplemental education center, like huntington learning centers or sylvan learning centers. you still get to work with students, but it's in a more controlled environment, and you don't have all the prep work, grading, take home work, discipline issues, and administrative/bureaucracy nonsense as you do at a school. i work at a huntington center part-time, and i love it! the hours are flexible and it's nowhere near as demanding as being a classroom teacher, but you still get all the rewards of teaching, like seeing your students' faces light up when they finally understand a difficult concept.

if you're interested in teaching at all, you could also explore the option of teaching at the college level. some colleges only require you to have a master's degree to teach some courses, so that could be another option for you.

but if you want to get out of teaching altogether, there's a world of options available to you. you could be a trainer for a company, as they're always looking for people who have facilitation experience. or help schools, publishing companies, and the like develop textbooks, curriculum, or training materials. as i said, there's many opportunities for an experienced teacher in the workforce outside of the school system.

whatever you decide, best of luck to you!

Answer 9

Get the principal's position.