Teaching in 2012 - Teachers...Is It Worth It?

[mbperrin]

6. I would definitely recommend it, with the following provisos:

1. There will be some bad days, as in any job.
2. If you will ask yourself this: How will this help kids? and if there is no answer, don't do that.
3. In those cycles like now, which are a generally down cycle, work to the contract for management and do what you need to do for kids.
4. I'm in my third decade, teach in the neighborhood I live in, and get my day made every day by bumping into former students who thank me for one thing or another, rarely related to course content.

So ignore or circumvent the bad, pretend to do what they want if it's bad for kids, always do what's good for kids, and enjoy yourself. I worked in banks, the oilfield and insurance before teaching, and this is the only satisfying job I ever had.