Where do people get this odd idea..?

Question

That teachers either got a low grade on their degree or chose to teach because they 'couldn't handle' other jobs?

Working as a teacher I have seen several people come from 'the real world' and then quit a little later because they couldn't hack it. Usually they come in very arrogant, assuming that it will be easy, that schools are full of people who failed their degrees, and that they'll be better than us. Then they quit/have a breakdown.

When I worked in the city, people who couldn't hack it didn't choose to teach. Many of them had shoddy generic degrees and cried over the tiniest thing, yet would repeatedly say teachers were second-rate/weak/bitter.

The majority of teachers have 2:1 degrees or higher, have worked in the 'real world' for some time, and aren't bitter, faded swots.

Where has this myth come from?

Shankey- yes, we are allowed to sign passports, as we are law-abiding, government certified professionals. What is wrong with that, exactly?
Why do you think I am putting down your job, and react so bitterly?

Answer 1

Teaching is one of the most misunderstood jobs on the planet, though the prejudices and ignorance of what it entails in this country are stronger than elsewhere in the world.

In Britain, because children are at school 200 days a year for aproximately five or six hours each day, people assume that a teacher's job is a sinecure, with short hours and long holidays. They have no idea of the amount of preparation needed to teach properly or interestingly, nor do they think about the vast amount of marking, the number of meetings taking place, the incredible amount of paperwork involved, the weight of accountability, the responsibility of looking after thirty children and giving them personal attention at any one time, the continuous drive to get better achievements, the demands made by senior students in terms of guidance, advice, and moral support, and all the additional adminitrative and supervision tasks which exist and are particularly numerous in this country. Even teachers from other nations who come here on job exchanges are staggered at the demands and expectations that have to be met.

At one time teaching did not require a degree unless you taught in grammar or public schools, but the teaching certificate for non-graduate teachers was no easy option. One only has to read the Miss Read books to realise that even primary school teachers were a mine of knowledge which they did not acquire without scholarship.
These days not only is a degree necessary , but one also needs a PGCE, so the average teacher effectively has five years of higher education under his or her belt if they have studied a discipline like Modern Languages where a year of work and study abroad is compulsory and locked into the course. So some of those who do a three years university course and then graduate may cast stones on the assumption that teachers are dummies needing a longer term of study. This is ridiculous because, as you have pointed out, most teachers have a good honours degree. Not only that but quite a few have masters and Ph.Ds.

The assumption that teachers have failed their degrees is totally erroneous, for the simple reason that they would not be allowed to teach without adequate qualifications.

Added to all this the pay in teaching is not commensurate with that in many other professions, so again the assumption is that since teachers are doing their job for less pay than say, accountants or city bankers, they must be inferior.

It takes great strength and many interactive qualities to opt for teaching, especially these days where discipline in schools has become a horrendous task, parents are less and less supportive and students more and more unwieldy. There also are so many other distractions competing for children's attention that instilling concentration and a taste for learning becomes increasingly taxing.

It cannot be such a doddle, since we are now desperate for qualified teachers, and the government has had to authorise the introduction of non qualified class-room assistants to bear some of the load, if only on health and safety grounds. It is only after they have had a taste of teaching in schools themselves that people realise that it is far from being the easy option they assumed it to be.

Answer 2

Everyone has experienced school so everyone expects he/she is an expert about what the education profession involves. Unfortunately, like a good magician, you cannot see what teachers are actually doing to be effective at their profession.

The public "sees" teachers working short days with long holidays. What is not visible is the hours of training, preparation and consultation done by dedicated professionals.

Yes, we and every profession will always have people who do a "job" instead of carry out their profession. How unfortunate that the teacher bashers can always think of them instead of the excellent teachers. Ironic, however, is that people who bash teaching in general very often proclaim admiration for their children's own schools and teachers.

Not only does teaching require hard work but excellent teaching also involves an innate quality that you have or don't have. While doctors and lawyers can quickly describe what they did to serve their patients and clients, teachers often cannot verbalize how they came to be successful at teaching their students. How often, during the course of a conversation in which a teacher talks about teaching a class does he/she say:
- I accumulated the necessary resources to demonstrate the concept being taught.
- I arranged the physical space to maximize the learning opportunity of this particular lesson.
- I assessed the current level of my students.
- I modified the prepared materials and teaching plans to meet those needs.
- I consulted with colleagues.
- I addressed extraneous issues (behaviour problems) and arranged appointments to deal with them (after-class discussion with students having problems)
- I assessed the success of the presentation. (Marked homework or quizzes or tests)???
And these are just a few of the descriptors which fit each and every lesson taught throughout the course of a day! If we, as professionals, were better at advocating for ourselves then the public wouldn't have the inaccurate impression that teaching is an easy job that anyone could do!!

Answer 3

It probably comes from lazy people who just can't take it in the working field in any form.

If I had my way, teachers would be paid the most, followed by GOOD police officers, doctors and emergency workers. Nurses would be very high up, too.

Movie stars and athletes would be lower on the totem pole. While I do enjoy my movies, I'd much rather know that there are good, honest, hard-working people teaching our youth so they might not get into trouble once they're out of school, and hopefully, in the work force.

The problem is that most people would rather make sure they get their good entertainment than have educated people handling the world in the future. It's really sad... You know people's priority by what they're willing to pay for certain things...

Another thing that's sad is that teachers often don't get ANY help from the parents these days. My best friend (since second grade) teaches, and she's worn out!




.

Answer 4

I used to teach and know it's one the toughest and most underrated jobs going. The myth probably comes from the fact that many people have had a teacher at some point in their lives that left a negative impression on them, especially older generations.

Many parents who attend parents evenings in schools come with a defensive attitude engrained with their own childhood experiences, especially if they were not particularly successful at school.

I once tried to coach a highly intelligent boy in one of my classes who wasted his time disrupting others and who did no work. I told him that he was exceptionally bright and that if he changed his attitude he could be really successful in life, and have an interesting and lucrative career. Of course, he turned to me and said, "yeah, and failing that I could always become a teacher!"

That told me! Oh well, never mind. It should be remembered that without a teacher nobody could read, count or write. Thank God some people still want to do the job.

Answer 5

Wow!

Lots of interesting responses. I've been teaching for about 22 yrs. Before that, I was in the military, and during my time as a teacher, I worked in a law office as a legal student lawyer/intern (got paid doughnuts on Wednesdays!).

For the education and professional upkeep (university classes/inservices) required of CA teachers, we get paid pretty poorly.

Most of us really do put in tons of "overtime" to correct/prepare lessons, tutor students (many times from other classes), and shoulder other duties (i.e., site council, union stuff, PTA, student sports/clubs, etc.).

Are there slackers? Of course there are. But my first-hand experience has shown me that I certainly do work MUCH harder than I ever did in the military (to include TDY's, deployments, inspection tours, etc.), or the law office (i.e., depositions, research, interviews, motion hearings, etc.).

Personally speaking, my military expereience was pretty rewarding (cool training, comraderie with some very talented people, serving my country, etc.), and my legal tenure was a blast (the constant stress of being just one step ahead of opposing counsel, regular and effective interviewing of clients/witnesses, rehearsal of the conduct of depositions/motion hearings, etc.).

But my heart is and always will be in teaching. I've taught youthful/adult offenders (my first teaching jobs out of the military), continuation schools, and, now, high school.

I don't like EVERYTHING that happens at school (that's why it's called a job ...), but I still can't wait to get to work in the morning.

I know that I've truly been blessed, and I thank God everyday for this opportunity.

Lunch is over, time to get back to work!

Have A Nice Day.

Peace.

(;=]

Answer 6

For dearest Shanky.
I have been a teacher for nearly 10years now and find it a rewarding but tiring job (see all of the above for details). However, I am also a grafter and in my time worked as a :
cleaner
waitress
barmaid
shop supervisor
brickies labourer (yes- a woman can also do this)
caterer
factory worker
mechanics assistant
All of these jobs were taken on while I was in full time education to make ends meet. So, the question is: I could easily walk a day in your shoes, I've been in that kind of environment, can you say the same?

Answer 7

I know... it's crazy... when i tell people that i'm a teacher i get weird looks and questions like, "Are you mad? Who would wanna be a teacher??!!?"

When i was studying for my degree, there was one guy in my phase out of 200 students (I studied for junior grade and pre-school, the rest of us were all women). He lasted 2 years and quit/dropped out because he said the "work is too difficult."

I've also been told that I've only done teaching because it's an easy job... I think it's one of the hardest jobs in the world. You have all these little lives in your hands and they absorb everything you say and do... People take us for granted...

TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK! WE'RE IN THE SAME BOAT!!

Answer 8

The reason is purely ignorance - in the true sense! I have worked in the real world in different jobs over the years. it was not until I started working in a school that I understood the real stress, hours and workload of teachers. In fact, I stopped training to be one because I 'wanted a life'. I still work in a school and find it challenging and thoroughly enjoyable, but teachers still receive my respect!

Answer 9

i dont know where the myth comes from.... but i can tell u that i certainly dont think that way. and i dont know anyone else who thinks that way(altho thats prob coz I would bite their heads off if i knew hehehe!). So basically I would like to say, HURRAH FOR TEACHERS!!!! NONE OF US WOULD BE WHAT WE ARE WITHOUT THEM!!! AND FOR GODS SAKE PPL DONT DISS THE WHOLE JUST COZ MAYBE U MET ONE BAD TEACHER THERE ARE BAD APPLES IN EVERY BARREL!!!! lol hmmm dyou think i got my point across??? lmao! ps sorry for the caps hehe ive been incredably lucky in that ive had some great teachers who really shaped my life so i feel very strongly bout this issue =0Þ

Answer 10

Who knows! Teachers who LOVE what they do are in short supply. Ignore the slammers - people always rubbish something they're not comfortable with. Maybe they had horrible teachers.

If you are lucky enough to be doing something you love AND get paid for it make the most of it because you're doing something important. Lucky you!