As the Teach for America lady was
talking today a lot of people brought up the reality that we are not properly
prepared to teach, because we don’t have any experience actually being in a
classroom. I was originally searching the web for the statics on how many
teachers get hired right out of college; the article that I found was more
alarming. The title of the article is “Half of Teachers Quit in 5 Years”. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/08/AR2006050801344.html)
The article
goes on to say, “According to a new study from the National Education
Association, a teachers union, half of new U.S. teachers are likely to quit
within the first five years because of poor working conditions and low
salaries.” When I was reading this I was thinking well that isn’t going to
happen to me because I know that I am going to be a good teacher. But do I
really know that? I have never actually been in a classroom; I have no
experience when it comes to calming down a room full of 3rd graders.
I now have a fear that I am going to be in school for 4 years to get a job and
hate it!
I also
wonder does it all have to do with “poor condition or low salary” or does the
problem lye in the constant pressure to do good on tests and teach the core
curriculum. Is our system today weeding out teachers that are trying to make a difference
in someone life, someone who is really trying to connect and make a
relationship with the students? I wonder what teachers will eventually be like
if the education system keeps making tests the main focus.
I have the same fear! I can only hope that teaching with work out as a positive career choice for me, but I won't really know that until I am in the classroom. A lot of stresses come with the job and I can only hope and plan the best I can that everything will work out for me.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I like to believe my skill sets and passions match correctly with my choice to go into teaching but then I see statistics and assume all the teachers who quit in 5 years also believed the same thing when they were in my shoes. It's scary to go into a career that you have no idea how it will end up for you, especially after spending your college years preparing for said career.
ReplyDeleteI actually know many people that graduated from my high school that went to college to major in Education. Many of them found jobs right out of college. Many of them have now taught for 2 or 3 years, It makes me wonder if half of them will be part of that statistic and feel that fear and give up.
ReplyDeleteI worry about this too! However, I know a few teachers who have quit and a few who are still fiercely enthusiastic about teaching. I am scared to see the reality from a teacher's perspective, but I am hoping it isn't the profession itself but the fit for the person that makes people leave the field.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of different factors play into why teachers leave the profession after less than 5 years. I definitely don't think this occurs only with teachers though. It could just be a change in heart or passion, or maybe the district they were teaching in wasn't supportive...and I'm definitely willing to bet that money plays a part in some of those decisions. Also, maybe if teachers felt more appreciated, they would be more willing to stay in the profession...which is kind of what we talked about in class this week.
ReplyDelete