Elementary vs. High School teaching?

Question

What are the pros and cons between teaching elementary and high school?
In your opinion, which is "better"?

I'm just about to embark on my teaching path. I would like to know what teachers think about their professions as either an elementary school teacher or high school teacher.

I don't know if it makes a difference, but I am a male. I hope you don't bring gender into your answers saying stuff like, "Men can't handle kids, do high school." I love kids.

One more point: I'm looking into international teaching...so if you're an international teacher it would be great to hear from you. But ANY teacher with experience is most welcome to answer.

Answer 1

I sure hope you have a better time of it than I did. I tried an internship in a high school with a lot of special ed kids in my classes, and I finally had to just walk away. There were things going on in my life at the time that weren't related to the teaching which may have been factors, too, though.

I did a lot of substitute teaching before I got to the internship, though, and the best time I had was with the kindergarteners and first and second graders. At that age, the kids love any attention they get, they love to make their teachers proud of them and they (generally) are willing to obey class rules.

As they get older, they begin to kick against the traces and so on. Also, parents are usually more willing to work with teachers on the elementary school level, while parents of high school students often take the kids' side against authority.

There are pros and cons to everything, but the main differences I saw involved the time and expense of putting together games and bulletin boards and other teaching aids for elementary students, while high school teachers don't have to do all of that. High school teachers have a lot of things to contend with because of the way the system works. I didn't see a lot of teamwork among the high school teachers, but I did among the elementary school teachers. At the high schools, it was "every dog for him/herself" while the elementary school teachers freely passed along ideas and helps, sometimes even offering to take certain classes for one another.

Honestly, if I had it to do over again, I'd pick elementary school, especially K-3.

Best of luck to you!!

Answer 2

Follow your passion. If you are passionate about a certain subject, MS or HS is probably where you will be most comfortable. If you like to work with the youger children, go for elementary. Being a male doesn't predispose you to any grade level. I have worked with men and women at all levels and gender wasn't a factor in their suitability to teach.

I believe everyone has a niche planned by the grand designer to provide the most well-rounded outcome.

My advice to you is to volunteer in your district, get a job in some summer programs, take advantage of practicums, etc.

I have taught grades K-11. Personally, I prefer elementary/middle school. I didn't enjoy teaching high school. My sister on the other hand can't imagine choosing to teach lower than 9th. It is all personal preference and only you can make that decision.

Again, it is less about pros and cons and more about a passion for your calling.

Answer 3

First of all, if you choose to go with elementary education, you will receive the job before it is offered to a female. They are trying to hire more males in the elementary schools. Second, are you interested in coaching? There are more coaching opportunities at the middle and high school levels than at the elementary level. Third, look at your age and compare it to high school students. If you are younger, and you still have a bunch of friends under 21, I would be careful moving in to a high school setting. It can be difficult to remember that you are now an authority figure and not in high school anymore. With all the issues in the news about inappropriate relationships between teachers and students, you have to be very careful how you handle yourself in a high school situation. If you are able to easily carry out as an authority figure in a high school setting, go for it! If you are interested in teaching just one subject and possibly coach, middle school or high school would be the place for you. If you want to impact young children, help shape their minds, and have a chance to teach many different subjects, I would go with elementary. Also, you will still have the opportunity either way to continue your education. You can get your masters as well as your elementary/secondary ed degree and move up or down in the grades as you see fit. Another option....many states offer an emergency sub license. If you have completed 60 hours (in Kansas, varies by state) of college credits, they do NOT have to be education related, you can get your emergency substitute license. This would give you the opportunity to sub at many different levels and see which you like better.

Answer 4

Better? I don't think there is an answer to that one! As a teacher who started out early childhood/elementary, then taught junior high and now teaches at a high school, I've experienced it all. And I've loved it all.

As for being male, more props to you! Education needs more male role models in all levels and grades! The only things to consider are these: In elementary, there are very few male teachers; you will be the minority. In secondary, male teachers have to be extra careful with students so as not to get accused of anything inappropriate.

On to the pros and cons...

Elementary Pros: You teach all subjects, so you can do lots of cross-curricular stuff. Art is way fun! You get hugs and drawings from the students. You tend to get more parental involvement. You have one group of twenty to thirty five kids, so you know them well.

Elementary Cons: You teach all subjects, so you have to be a master of all. You can't do as much higher level stuff with the littler ones. You may spend quite a bit of time tying shoes, zipping jackets and attending to other personal hygiene issues. You have one group of twenty to thirty five kids all day...they may drive you crazy some days.

Secondary Pros: You focus on one subject (usually) and are a master of it. The kids are old enough to tie their own shoes and take care of all personal hygiene issues on their own. You have a new group of students each period, a fresh start each hour or so if it's been a bad day.

Secondary Cons: You focus on one subject and may not get a chance to do that cool lesson a teacher of another subject across the hall showed you. Instead of personal hygiene, you become a counselor to all teen angst issues. You have a new group of students each period...that's a lot of names and personalities to remember.

There are many, many more pros and cons than these. My suggestion is to volunteer as much as you can in local schools in all grade levels. And if you don't like your final pick as much as you thought you would, you can always try another level.

Answer 5

It really depends on your experience with the different age groups. Whether you teach elementary of high school- they are both extremely demanding and complex. I teach elementary because I relate better to younger kids and know that is where I will be most effective. Welcome to the profession!

Answer 6

It really comes down to what age kids you like better. I see the elementary teachers in my school in their classes with kids crying and screaming and say "no way could I do that, I'll take my older kids any day" but then others feel just the opposite.

Answer 7

Im also looking to become a teacher, and im going to teach high shcool. i think you can make more of a difference.