Real Talk
Teaching is so hard. Some days I feel discouraged and overwhelmed. The days can be exhausting, and sometimes it feels like all my hard work goes unappreciated. On my worst days, I question whether or not I’m making a difference…Still, I have encouraged many of my high school students and all of my own children to consider a career in education. Because, despite everything, I still believe that teaching is a valid and valuable career choice and a deeply meaningful investment of my time and talents. I’m in my fifties now and nearing the end of my career, but if I had it to do over, I would still be a teacher. These are some of the reasons.
1. Working with kids is fun.
Yes, it is also exhausting, frustrating, and sometimes infuriating, but at every age, be it kindergarten or 12th grade, kids are fun. Young ones are silly, playful, often happy, and full of energy and curiosity. Bigger kids can be clever, insightful, and hilarious.
Of course, not everyone who enjoys kids is cut out to be a teacher, and not every teacher enjoys working with every age. But as an educator, when you find that sweet spot, that grade level, those people–those adorable little people, awkward middle people, or not-quite-grown big people–that you were meant to teach, it is fun (admittedly not every minute) spending your days with them and helping them learn and grow.
2. Teachers shape the future.
Nearly every other profession depends on teachers. Next to the family, education is the cornerstone of our society. There’s no question that our educational system is far from perfect, but having intelligent, compassionate, dedicated teachers is crucial for the future of our country and for the future of the young people who spend their days inside our classrooms. As a teacher, I feel like I’m contributing to society in a worthwhile way.
3. Teachers can change lives.
This has been said so often that it’s almost a cliché. The idea has also sometimes been weaponized against teachers, using the nobleness of the profession to downplay the real struggles teachers face. Still, there is no denying that it’s true. And some of the very things that make our jobs hard–students with difficult home lives, mental health struggles, and learning and behavioral issues–are also the reasons that what we do is so important.
Teachers engage and inspire young learners. We pique their curiosity about new ideas. Through our example, we demonstrate the importance of a good character and a strong work ethic. For some kids, we are the only person to set boundaries or the only adult who is a warm and caring presence in their lives. It is a truly awesome responsibility and not always easy, but for all its struggles, teaching is a deeply meaningful career choice.
4. A teacher’s schedule is conducive to raising a family.
Admittedly, this is tricky because a teacher’s workday can last well into the evening, and planning and grading papers can take up much of our weekends. I sometimes have to make tough decisions about work in order to prioritize my family and my own mental well-being.
It can be a difficult balancing act. But as a teacher, I always had roughly the same hours as my children. Once they were in school, I never had to worry about what to do with my kids on a snow day or who would watch them over the holiday break. I loved being home with my kids in the summer. When my children were growing up, being a teacher allowed me to have time with them that I might not have had if I had taken another career path.
5. I get to talk about what I love all day.
Whether it is phonics, art, science, literature, history, or math, most teachers are passionate about what they teach. As a literacy teacher, one of my favorite things about my job is reading children’s literature and talking about books with kids. I know math teachers who get a real thrill out of helping kids learn new math concepts and social studies teachers who never tire of discussing the events in history that have shaped our lives. And because teachers never stop learning, being a teacher means getting to take your favorite subject or re-do your favorite grade over and over–but you get to be in charge and help other people love it too.
6. There’s room to change and grow.
Some people say that teaching is a stagnant profession since teachers don’t get promoted or earn higher salaries and bonuses based on their performance. But I find that teaching offers a variety of opportunities. Over the course of my career, I have earned a master’s degree, thus increasing my salary. I’ve also changed schools, grade levels, and subjects, which has kept teaching challenging and interesting. And while I’ve never aspired to be an administrator or to become an educational facilitator or specialist, for some teachers, that is a rewarding career move that still offers many of the fulfilling benefits of teaching.
7. Teachers have job security and flexibility.
I’ve lived most of my adult life in my home state, but had my family ever moved, I could have been a teacher in any state in the union or even overseas. Of course, depending on the state or job, this would likely have required additional certifications and licensures. Still, being a teacher is job security–especially now.
Teaching is also a profession one can leave for a time and still return to. I stayed home with my children when they were young, but even after over a decade at home, I was able to return to teaching–albeit I had to learn some new technology and lingo. I can’t think of many other professions I would have wanted or been able to return to after so much time away.
8. Teachers can effect change in the system.
While I have not conducted a formal survey, I suspect the number one reason teachers leave the profession isn’t the kids or even the pay. I suspect most teachers leave because of the system. The American educational system is a mess, and most efforts to fix it involve piling more work and greater responsibilities on teachers. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Change can and should come at all levels of education, and one of the biggest changes we need is more support (financial and otherwise) for teachers.
Admittedly, ‘fixing the system” has never been a primary motivator for me to stay in education. And it’s unlikely that in the years I have remaining as a teacher I will be able to make a huge impact in that regard–except for this: through my writing, through conversations with young adults, and my influence as an educator, I am encouraging the next generation to become teachers, to see the joy in the profession, to impact the lives of kids, and to advocate for meaningful changes in education.
Now more than ever, teachers are struggling. That’s why it’s important to reflect on all that is good and noble and even fun about being an educator–not to gloss over the problems we face, but to remind ourselves and others that being a teacher is worth it and kids and educators are worth advocating for.
As I head into my last few years in the classroom, I can honestly say that I love being a teacher, and I want other people to love it too. I can think of few other professions that are more important.
