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Message: [QUOTE="twiceahusky, post: 5196846, member: 7126"] Pretty solid reply here. 22 years ago I switched from corporate to teaching in my early 30s. I thought I was going to LOVE it, and for the most part really do. Stuff has changed quite a bit though, and generally not for the better. [LIST] [*]we used to have a lot more control of our lessons, tests/quizzes, and curriculum. Now we have more layers of administration and coaches dictating this stuff. Not necessarily a bad thing, but when they force a math curricula like IM down your throat, it sucks. [*]pay just hasn’t kept up with high inflation. Teacher pay got destroyed by the recent high inflation, and we’re not getting it back. Govt data shows inflation and pay increased together in the private sector, but NOT for teachers over the past few years. [*]kids are a LOT different these days. They are very tuned into phones and instant gratification, and productively struggling to learn and deep thought are becoming a thing of the past for such a large portion of students. Fighting with kids to put their phones in a designated caddy, and the endless arguments over who is next in line for the lav takes its toll on you. EVERY day. [*]post COVID, kids are REALLY struggling with mental health, and that is hard to see. School learning can be secondary to just getting through the day … I guess it is good that we can be part of the support system, but it is hard. [*]there’s a lot of BS like mandatory passing (or retakes or minimum grades on tests) that are training kids to not be accountable. [*]Now that I’m 54 and my corporate friends are starting to make real $$$$, it is very noticeable. [*]my job is less about teaching math, and more about managing students behaviors, expectations, and rewarding those executive functioning skills that employers like. If I didn’t get to teach AP Calc once a day (math content is important, students behave like adults, …), I don’t think I’d still be around. [/LIST] Probably 96% of students in my high school are nice and likeable. But so many are disengaged from learning for any number of reasons. It is EXHAUSTING at times. You need thick skin, and you GOTTA LOVE TEACHING/INTERACTING with your age group. I love that part, and it is still exhausting. Every now and again the personal rewards are incredible. Summers off are also incredible. Get certified to sub (easy), and go check it out by subbing a bit. Or tag along with someone like me for a day. Good luck! [/QUOTE]

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