The Conservative Cave
The Bar => The Lounge => Topic started by: Hawkgirl on May 19, 2010, 10:49:11 AM
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I while back, I posted a topic about changing careers. I am seriously considering going back to school for an Education Major. Looking for positives/challenges in teaching? It would take me 2-3 years to earn a B of A in Education with a minor in Science (I'd like to teach Biology or General Science to middle schoolers).
An online university in Utah offers this accelerated program that will fit my needs perfectly. I would take a big cut in pay...Will need to spend about $20G's for the education (but I guess having a bachelor's is always a good thing).
BUT...I would have the summers off, holiday weeks off...and perfect hours to spend with my daughter. Isnt' that worth more than extra cash??
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I would consider it a fair tradeoff, except for one thing, dealing with liberal teachers and the unions. :thatsright: Okay, so that's 2 things, but they are closely related.
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Sounds good if you can get a teaching job. My sister lives around DFW and got her degree/teaching certification over a year ago and is working at WalMart.
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Sounds good if you can get a teaching job. My sister lives around DFW and got her degree/teaching certification over a year ago and is working at WalMart.
Ew....I know a couple of teachers in the area...I'll have to find out for sure...but I hear Florida is pretty desperate. You don't even need an Education degree to teach...just a bachelor's...then you have to apply for "certification" which is a test in the subject you want to teach. I'll need to verify this before jumping into the program.
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I'd be V E R Y C A R E F U L. If you decide to do this look into a Charter, instead of a "regular" public school.
Donno if I could give up $$$, but most teachers make more than I do.
Teachers in Floriduh make less than teachers here in Ca. by about 10K a year.
http://www.fldoe.org/eias/eiaspubs/pdf/tchsal09.pdf
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My Runnin' Buddy's sister is a high school teacher in Florida, in the Bradenton area. She can't wait to quit. I saw her last month and she said it's getting harder and harder to deal with not only the students but all the political school system BS.
I've thought about it, as it would be fairly easy to get certified here, but the pay is horrendous, and the school system BS is here too, just like it is everywhere.
Private schools - at least those here, that are religion based, ie Catholic, Christian - pay even worse than the public schools.
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The school system here is laying off about a 100 teachers and it's not that large of a system......but not one damn one of the "cushy" school jobs that got mandated by the Carter administration 30+ years ago.
Yeah unemployment was high un Carter so the feds gave the counties X-number of dollars for wages for 2 years for these fringe jobs and then mandated that they continue them.
BTW...I was flunking english classes long before Carter came along. :-) :rotf:
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......but not one damn one of the "cushy" school jobs that got mandated by the Carter administration 30+ years ago.
Well you know the old joke, the School District is laying off teachers, but hiring Admin.......
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My girlfriend's boss is a teacher. She doesn't like it very well. As has been said before, the kids are the absolute worst to deal with any more. That seems to be her major complaint. In preparation to exit the teaching business, she recently purchased the store that my girlfriend manages.
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My girlfriend is a teacher and she absolutely hates it. Every day is a new story of lazy, disrespectful, or downright idiotic actions from both kids and admin. She just got into an MLS program to get her masters degree so she can be a school librarian and not have to deal with the teaching.
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If you have a BA or BS now you might look into subbing, here in the Midwest I have known a couple of people who are fairly steadily employed by the districts within their range, more than half-time actually. That would give you a great idea as to whether you wanted to go any further.
My little sister is a teacher, she loves the students but the things that have bothered her over the years fall out into these areas:
1. Evil admins playing the teachers off against each other so they can stiff them on their benefits, or just because they were natural jerks who enjoyed setting people against each other so they could build folders to fire anyone who pissed them off;
2. A district union rep that was in the Super's pocket because she was a complete tool;
3. A few helicopter parents (From high class to Cro-Magnon) who wanted to fight about why it was all her fault as a teacher that their little John Dillinger Jr. was in trouble, with zero backing from the administration;
4. Catfighting and gossiping among the female teachers, especially trying to backstab each other with female administrators or vying for the attention of eligible male teachers or any male admins with even an appearance of power in the system.
She's a Dem but not a total moonbat herself, the union was relatively ineffective as a union due to #2, and she even became co-steward for a couple of years trying to fight the stupid, union moonbattiness never really entered into it for her.
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Don't do it, doll.
My wife was a teacher for many years and finally quit out of disgust.
There is no "teaching" anymore, just show the kids how to pass the big test.
Politics, paperwork, overtime, money out of your pocket you'll never be reimbursed for, angry parents who think you are the state provided babysitter, lazy stupid kids...it ain't worth what they pay.
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Wow, everything you guys described is what goes in the corporate world of the medical field. Only, I get a cushy salary to put up with it.
I'm going to get advice from two "real life" friends and get their input also...
all jobs suck, I suppose...but If that's the case...might as well stay at the job that pays the most.
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Don't do it, doll.
My wife was a teacher for many years and finally quit out of disgust.
There is no "teaching" anymore, just show the kids how to pass the big test.
Politics, paperwork, overtime, money out of your pocket you'll never be reimbursed for, angry parents who think you are the state provided babysitter, lazy stupid kids...it ain't worth what they pay.
Wow...
When I was in school, it seemed like most teachers were happy...I guess it's changed ALOT.
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But I still want my Bachelors...maybe I'll get it in Healthcare Admin. :yawn:
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Wow, everything you guys described is what goes in the corporate world of the medical field. Only, I get a cushy salary to put up with it.
I'm going to get advice from two "real life" friends and get their input also...
all jobs suck, I suppose...but If that's the case...might as well stay at the job that pays the most.
Yeah, you're basically right on all that. Working with the kiddoes really can be very rewarding, and in middle school most of them are still humanoid. Talk to your friends and go for it if they tell you good stuff, don't let the negativism about public school teaching prejudice you.
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Yeah, you're basically right on all that. Working with the kiddoes really can be very rewarding, and in middle school most of them are still humanoid. Talk to your friends and go for it if they tell you good stuff, don't let the negativism about public school teaching prejudice you.
I remember asking a friend of a friend how she liked teaching..(she teaches middleschoolers) and she just rolled her eyes and says "it;s terrible". Another friend, who teaches HighSchool, hates it.
I did a search online..and statistics show most teachers leave the field within 5 years. Also, it's not a 7-3 job...that one will spend hours on their own time preparing lessons, checking homework, grading papers. If you have a problem child, admin. will not back you if the parents complain....Also, dealing with parents is difficult.
My dream is vaporizing.....
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My hubby teaches at the college level, says he'd never teach at a lower level. At least in college, most of the kids know that this is costing either them or their parents money, so everyone is more motivated. He still has a few problems with the parents occasionally, they complain about their kids failing...or he gets homework from one kid that is usually nearly illliterate, and then suddenly nearly perfect because Mom did it...
His daughter wants to teach, and he advised her to teach the very young students...Kindergarten to 4th, because even if they're difficult, they aren't big enough to be terribly dangerous.
If you want to get a taste of teaching before making the big leap, a lot of schools LOVE volunteer aides, or you could teach a Sunday school class at the age you're considering.
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But I still want my Bachelors...maybe I'll get it in Healthcare Admin. :yawn:
Not really a bad idea. Lots of choices in work environment, including opportunities to do instruction in some settings. Good pay. Lots of jobs. Some have great flexibility.
Next to my ranching life, I really like working in healthcare. It has treated me well over the years, too.
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I can always teach radiography at a community college. Even if I don't go into teaching...I think a Bachelor's is always worth it....I may have more opportunities down the road.
Teaching the younger kids is a good idea too....How hard can Phonix and simple math be?
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You could do private tutoring. Lord knows these kids need help with math.
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I can always teach radiography at a community college. Even if I don't go into teaching...I think a Bachelor's is always worth it....I may have more opportunities down the road.
Teaching the younger kids is a good idea too....How hard can Phonix and simple math be?
Phonics. :-)
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Phonics. :-)
I knew that... :uhsure:
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See if this helps: Teacher Shortage Areas Through 2011
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.pdf
Maybe you can do a fast track type thing. My s-i-l already had a degree (not education related) and Texas did a fast track college thing. She was working in ten weeks, but still has to continue toward her teaching certificate. She's out in the No Country for Old Men area and absolutely loves working with the young ones. She's working on her master's in Special Ed.
http://www.texasteachers.org/
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I knew that... :uhsure:
I had Phonics used on me in grade school. I can't say if it was better or worse than any other way.
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I did a fast track back in 98, and taught for a semester. It was hell. Ended up going back to my job, in benefits, in a callcenter. bleck. Texas does have a great fast track program. I did mine with a bachelors, but I had to get the education stuff under my belt. I wouldn't recommend teaching personally, but there are lots of fast track ideas out there, to get your degree.
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I did a fast track back in 98, and taught for a semester. It was hell. Ended up going back to my job, in benefits, in a callcenter. bleck. Texas does have a great fast track program. I did mine with a bachelors, but I had to get the education stuff under my belt. I wouldn't recommend teaching personally, but there are lots of fast track ideas out there, to get your degree.
Yes, I found another local university that will allow me to get a Bachelors while using my vocational school credits...in 2 years..this way I have time to decide whether to advance where I am now...or go back and get certified in teaching. Florida is pretty lenient...you just need a bachelors and then take a short cause for teacher's accreditation. This university is private, and very well known in Florida
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Yes, I found another local university that will allow me to get a Bachelors while using my vocational school credits...in 2 years..this way I have time to decide whether to advance where I am now...or go back and get certified in teaching. Florida is pretty lenient...you just need a bachelors and then take a short cause for teacher's accreditation. This university is private, and very well known in Florida
For healthcare admin....you might be able to test out of some stuff, just on practical experience.
Have you thought about going into radiology sales? I have a friend who is around my age, and had been an x-ray tech since she was really young. She had gone on to get her Bachelors, and all the certs possible over almost 30 years. She stayed at UT Hospital until she had her 30 years in, and now sells for a company that sells either equipment or supplies(I'm not sure which)....she travels alot, works about the same hours, makes really good money, and isn't stuck in the hospital. She wanted a change, and by going to work for this company, she had the knowledge that the company wanted.
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...she travels alot,
a few of my friends did that....it requires a lot of traveling...that's not what I want with a young child at home.
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I graduated with an education degree in 91 and got a job teaching 6th grade in a Dallas suburb. I was young and had lots of energy back then :). I enjoyed it for 3 years, was so/so the 4th year, and by the 5th year I HATED it. We went from being a school that had mainly middle to upper middle income students, and with that type of socioeconomic status comes many benefits for teachers (most parents were college educated, many moms didn't work so could assist us, parents had expectations that their children would succeed, etc). The last year my school was rezoned and I ended up with kids from a very different world - one that I was ill equipped to deal with. Many of the kids had parents who didn't care about their child's education or behavior, students didn't want to work/learn, and I even had a few kids in gangs. Can you image kids in gangs in the 6th grade? I learned basic lessons about poverty that year that I never would've dreamed of. Of course, there were some good kids in the bunch, but by that time I was burned out. My job became more disciplinarian than teacher, and I really started disliking everything about the job.
My advice is to go in with your eyes wide open and realize that school districts are very political places. I didn't know anyone in a union at the time, and the district I was in was pretty conservative, so I didn't have to worry about things we read about from the DUmmie teachers over at DU. I never want to go back. Honestly, I couldn't afford to financially. My degree has actually served me well, although I now work in technical sales. I'm still teaching - it's just the age has changed and no one is forced to listen to me.
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For healthcare admin....you might be able to test out of some stuff, just on practical experience.
Have you thought about going into radiology sales? I have a friend who is around my age, and had been an x-ray tech since she was really young. She had gone on to get her Bachelors, and all the certs possible over almost 30 years. She stayed at UT Hospital until she had her 30 years in, and now sells for a company that sells either equipment or supplies(I'm not sure which)....she travels alot, works about the same hours, makes really good money, and isn't stuck in the hospital. She wanted a change, and by going to work for this company, she had the knowledge that the company wanted.
DebK- your friend's lifestyle sounds a lot like mine. I'm a pre-sales tech consultant for a software company. My job entails demoing software, meeting with customers, and doing all the technical work up to the sale of the product. The difference with me is I'm not the actual sales rep (although I'm in the sales org and get those benefits). There are many great sales related jobs that pay well. I would think the medical field would have a variety of areas to focus on - including medical devices, software, etc.
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a few of my friends did that....it requires a lot of traveling...that's not what I want with a young child at home.
When I worked for an inside sales team, I rarely traveled. I don't have children, but if I did, I would feel the same way you do. Good luck with your decision!
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I graduated with an education degree in 91 and got a job teaching 6th grade in a Dallas suburb. I was young and had lots of energy back then :). I enjoyed it for 3 years, was so/so the 4th year, and by the 5th year I HATED it. We went from being a school that had mainly middle to upper middle income students, and with that type of socioeconomic status comes many benefits for teachers (most parents were college educated, many moms didn't work so could assist us, parents had expectations that their children would succeed, etc). The last year my school was rezoned and I ended up with kids from a very different world - one that I was ill equipped to deal with. Many of the kids had parents who didn't care about their child's education or behavior, students didn't want to work/learn, and I even had a few kids in gangs. Can you image kids in gangs in the 6th grade? I learned basic lessons about poverty that year that I never would've dreamed of. Of course, there were some good kids in the bunch, but by that time I was burned out. My job became more disciplinarian than teacher, and I really started disliking everything about the job.
My advice is to go in with your eyes wide open and realize that school districts are very political places. I didn't know anyone in a union at the time, and the district I was in was pretty conservative, so I didn't have to worry about things we read about from the DUmmie teachers over at DU. I never want to go back. Honestly, I couldn't afford to financially. My degree has actually served me well, although I now work in technical sales. I'm still teaching - it's just the age has changed and no one is forced to listen to me.
Thanks for sharing your experience. The point you brought up is a good one.
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Thanks for sharing your experience. The point you brought up is a good one.
You are very welcome :)