Need some help (serious answers only please)

[Woland]

I haven't read through everyone's posts, but I know for a fact that districts are looking for teachers that are "child centered." Make sure your writing and your interviews reflect that.

 

[Summerof79]

Your essay... isn't very persuasive IMHO.

many of the people will read you essay and you r;losing faith with humanity" and laugh out loud depending on what sort of school you might be teaching at. Especially if lower income area. talk about the positives of teaching, rewarding, making a difference, seeing a child's eyes widen when they gain understanding of a concept, watching a child struggle and then achieve with your help.

Dealing with kids can be a real pain as well. I am a good coach and I have a girl on my soccer team who simply will not run. I honestly have no idea why her parents have her out there. That's the frustrating side of kids, or seeing them slip down a path that you wish you could stop, but can't.

If you wanted my advice on what to do here I would say volunteer more of your time, and work less with your present practice. Money while not everything is important. Think of what you might be able to do in your community with kids if you worked a fair amount less, and took every penny of income past what you would make as a teacher and help out where you see you can make a difference? I don't know how much money or time you could sacrifice, but it's a good gauge of shat you could do without sacrificing your practice for 'the dream." Oftentimes the dream is indeed an illusion, as has been proven time and again. Your emphasis on your present career in the letter draft makes me fear this may be true for you.

I can tell you that being around kids and seeing them achieve is probably the single most rewarding thing in my life outside of my family. I sacrificed money to spend a lot more time with my kids when they are young as I think that the time you spend with them up until about age 12 is the most important and formative for them. However i can also make more income once I dedicate more hours to work rather than my kids. That's about 2 more years of us trying to have one of us be there to pick the youngest up. Once it's junior high and the Bus ride that makes for a nearly full workday again.

I would try to perhaps use your talents in the area of law and the area of golf. Get in touch with "First Tee" and volunteer some time to teach kids golf. Perhaps take some of your legal time and do pro bono or greatly reduced rate work for worthy individuals who could normally not afford your services.

What you are missing is the emotional reward. You will get it some with teaching to be sure, more if you are a good or great teacher. However lots of frustration as well that might end up being "unfulfilled" after a few years. My philosophy sort of lets you test the waters, and use your unique talents for the betterment of the world around you. That's nearly always fulfilling. Helping some person from losing their home in foreclosure has got to be rewarding, especially if there are children involved.

Good luck! A combination of the income from the Law with some volunteer work unrelated to the law and some additional pro bono work might end up making you feel pretty darn good at the end of the day....

 

[Bernard]

In reply to:

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[AeroHorn]

As an engineer, I sometimes feel that I am not touching lives as the teachers, doctors and lawyers do. Think about it. What do people want besides basic necessities? They want education, health and security/justice. With so much illiteracy, lack of basic medicine and justice around the world, these professions can be very noble. Someone teaching kids in Afghanistan or taking care of AIDS victims in middle Africa, or fighting for social/civil/freedom rights for people in less free societies are things that make us proud.

You belong to one of these professions. I know, doctors and lawyers especially (maybe because they make more) have a somewhat unsavory reputation, but if practiced selflessly, they can be the most rewarding.

I sometimes wish that I could reach out to a sick and malnourished village and make things much better because simple medicine is enough. I wish I could give legal advice and representation to those who can least afford it.

You have talents and skills that can benefit a large section of the population. Unlike those high school kids, the people who come seeking legal help from you *will* thank you before, during and after engaging with you. Do not overlook what you have for what you imagine to be better.

 

[p_town_horn]

Disclaimer: It is 1:30 AM I didn't read many of the responses and hope mine is not repetitive.

I like the honesty, but it sounds a little gloomy. I have a billion teachers in my family and the good ones are all fairly perky, up beat, and optimistic people. When you teach you will have to deal with some seriously beurocratic (sp?) *** holes, apathetic parents, and kids who are jerks. You need to let them know that when things get ****** you will not lose the faith you lost in DAs, JAGs, and private practice. Teaching is not always rewarding and you sound like you only see the sunny side of things. Like being a DA the work is not rewarding day to day, but mostly when you look back after a few years and see the difference you made.

I think you will probably find teaching rewarding but I would substitute for a while and get some real classroom experience before jumping in with both feet (also the ship burning sounded a little like you have no idea what to expect, which is a bad thing). Subs get **** on pretty bad so you will see the bad sides to know if you still like teaching. Agian you seem very honest and have a passion to teach so I say go for it, but the unintentional tone of your paper came off something like this (if I was applying to your firm): "Well I was a Dr and saw that it was all about money and not helping patients so I said **** it I will join a law firm and help people by preserving justice and social order.' Just a bit too brash and a little too idealistic. But that is MHO.

 

[l00p]

You have gotten outstanding, honest advice especially from actual teachers. Above and beyond the substitute teaching, speak to many teachers about their experiences. Mostly about what frustrates them. I assume there are forums where teachers vent and seek advice from one another. Maybe Smurfette can lead you to one. If one does not exist, it needs to.

As a son of a teacher as well, it is brutal. I respect good teachers to a level that words cannot describe. I guess kids have sucked forever but something about this breed of youth in general is very unsavory and it seems to be getting worse. Surely this is due to parental shortcomings and the effects of convenience, lack of parental presence or involvement and a host of other things, who knows.

So ask them about how bad it gets and see if that is something you can hang with. Not that you think or hope you can but really can. There will be good things that happen all the time too so focus on the bad. If you can deal with that, the good is gravy for you.

Have you thought about maybe teaching courses at a Jr. College or Community College? You are very much touching or shaping youth and then some. Those students want to be there, unlike many in larger schools who may be there because society or their parents say they need to be there.

You have the ones who cannot get into the large university for money or other reasons. Those who were not ready for college at 18. Those who did not have the grades. You have people who raised their kids and now want a degree or people now more serious about something.

You will get to bring your experiences of the working world, successes and failures and help them on their path. Then you can maybe come in as a specialty teacher of some sort offering tutoring or assistance to get kids on the path to school.

I think if more knew the benefits of getting into a Comm. Coll type place, even part time, one course a semester v. none at all, I think a lot more would keep it up and go.

Just an off idea.

 

[TexEx88]

I have been teaching/coaching for 19 years and I think you have gotten some sound advice. I believe most school districts would welcome you with open arms, if not a little bemusement. If you are willing to teach in a "needs" area like math or science, you will not have any problem finding a job. It's not an easy job. I love it but I would not characterize it as easy. You seem to realize that, though.

One thing I disagree with, though, is the advice saying students do not appreciate your efforts. Not true. They will not tell you that at the time, but after 19 years, I have had so many ex-students express appreciation for my efforts as a teacher or coach that it is quite heartwarming, actually. I have, however, always taught in small districts (A-AAA) with good kids. One thing that was mentioned only briefly is that teaching is a fantastic job for a father. Both my wife and I are teachers and we have taught both of our children. (at one point my daughter had us for three classes in a row). We have always been friends with all of our children's teachers and know all of their friends quite well.(especially the ones to avoid) I never considered this aspect when I decided to teach, but it has been an amazing and worthwhile experience. I know this may not be for some and their children, but we have no regrets. We are a very close family and our two children (one 22, the other 17) have never given us an ounce of trouble. I believe that our teaching our own children and their friends have a lot ot do with that. Good luck, be infinitely patient and enjoy. Yes, the summers are awesome. We also get to travel as a family a great deal. (at least when the kids were younger)

By the way, coaching sports is not a sideline. I put in 70+ hours a week doing it. (football, basketball, baseball). It may not have anything to do with your ability to teach, as another poster pointed out, but it could be the key to landing a job that you want. Good Luck.