Is It good being a primary school teacher?

Question

I've always liked the idea,
Love looking after Kids,
Dont even mind the badly behaved ones
Love the way they are always full of fun and energy
hate working nights and weekends ( dont mind if im in the house though , marking or whatever)
Summer holidays are like 2 months long!
What are the downsides?

Also I was thinking Of doing
Spanish
biology
P.e( If i am allowed, havent done it for gcse)
for A-level
Sound Ok?

I thought teachers earned good money =S lol

Answer 1

Don't even consider going into teaching unless you are totally committed to the profession. There are far too many young people going into teaching for the long holidays, the reasonable salary and the above-average pension scheme (into which you contribute at least 6% of your salary.) Personally, I have little time for potential teachers who refer to children/young people as "kids" and that goes for education ministers as well.
Unless your heart is 100% set on the profession - don't bother. Children can do without you.
Teaching is the ultimate privelege. The minds of impressionable young people are in your hands and they deserve the best available influences being brought to bear on them. Teachers are often in a position where they not only have to teach but also to act as social workers, even as substitute parents and role-models.
The hours seem to be short and holidays long but, believe me the number of hours of "overtime" put in by teachers is enormous and is all unpaid. Hours are spent on planning, out of school activities, training courses (usually in your own time) parent consultations, and many other demands which you cannot refuse.
As far as your glib remarks about "badly behaved kids," I wonder if you would still think the same if one (or more) of them beat you up, hit you with a chair, swore at you, kicked the living daylights out of you, etc. All these things have happened to me - in primary schools. Then there are those who think it funny to tell lies about teachers, to accuse them of assault, etc. The authorities always believe the child in the first instance, so the poor innocent teacher gets suspended while an enquiry is carried out. Fortunately, this extreme has not happened to me but I was accused of kicking a chair from under a child. As if .....!!

Answer 2

Like any job it can be hard work, but also extremely rewarding. The downsides are fairly much as people have said, although be aware that such extreme violence is very rare... Another thing to consider is that, despite the lovely long holidays (one of my favourite things about my job) you can't take holiday when you want it. You are restricted to those times that all teachers have - the most expensive for holidaying - and there is a lot of pressure to come in when you're not feeling your best. Despite all that it can be such a fantastic job. Good luck.

Answer 3

i mean Having a college degree, teachers make more money than social workers... but pay isnt great unless you stay in the same district for 20 + years, get a masters and dont go insane. You never reallly have summers off, paper work is gettign worse, kids are getttig rougher. As teachers we are always working, always learning, always taking classes or seminars.

if you can do spanish or PE - you might want to try that route. All teachers are a little bit crazy.. but that makes for good staff parties. it can be a rewarding job. Emotionally draining, but rewarding.

Answer 4

The downside of being a teacher is long hours, lots of work,(you may have to attend special programs in the summer) with low pay, and no benefits. There is very little chance for advancement, so if you are ambitious or wish to move upward in a profession it isn't going to happen. You also have to participate in many other programs the school offers, sometimes at night and on weekends. You must deal with parents, who usually think they are right regardless of what they know about education. There are good points such as being able to get a job even in a small town, and the rewards of watching children grown and learn each day. Personally I wouldn't recommend it.

Answer 5

Despite what is being said, the pay and benefits for teachers in the UK are pretty good.

You start on £20,000 a year, and this goes up every year until you reach about £32,000.
Also, as one of my teachers was bragging to my class (=P), the pension scheme is very good too.
And that is on top of the obvious satisfaction that comes from seeing your class learn and develop thanks to you.

The downside, as any teacher will say if you ask them what they don't like about their job, is the PAPERWORK.
You will spend much of your evenings and weekends marking work for your class, and possibly sometime during the holidays too.
But still, the holiday time you do get to enjoy is more than you would get in most other jobs.

BEST WAY TO FIND OUT IF YOU LIKE IT...
Get some work experience in a Primary school to see what its like to work with children and to see a teacher at work and find out what their job is like.

I say go for it, I'm considering it myself. :)

Answer 6

I think it's way easier than being a primary school teacher or for that matter any teacher, you have more free time because kids generally don't have a load of homeword during the weekend. And even during the week it's pretty easy to correct. Their also way easier to control and at that age kids still like coming to school. And in addition to that you get 2 months off. I say go for it :)

Answer 7

Yes. If you are self-motivated and willing to work hard, go for it! You will need to stay positive even if you are faced with hardship from all directions. And holidays do sound like a lot, but I promise you, you will need it by the end of the term. It is very hard work, but also very rewarding. Good luck.

Answer 8

If you are committed and have patience then you will find been a primary school teacher a fine job. Working with small children can be fun as well as frustrating.

Answer 9

If you are only a little bit enthuastic you are half way there. The downsides are the paperwork (homework, marking etc), the good side is the pay - around £26,000 per year

Answer 10

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