Hello all,
I was recently having a conversation with my dad - a veteran teacher of 15 years - on this topic. Not to bring everybody down, but it makes for an interesting read when considering where we will all eventually branch off to after this program is all said and done. After searching around and reading conflicting reports from several sources, the rate at which teachers move jobs or drop out of the field altogether, within the first five years of teaching, seems to be much less than originally thought (allegedly 40-50%). Still, I think this is something to reflect upon as we are about to take up what is easily one of the most thankless jobs in America. Everything we've learned so far has hopefully equipped us with the skills necessary to not fall victim to this trend and ourselves, become a statistic. Your thoughts?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/04/30/study-new-teacher-attrition-is-lower-than-previously-thought/
What an interesting article, Sean! While I am happy to hear that the new teacher attrition rate is decreasing, it is difficult to determine which factors actually cause the rate to fluctuate so much. As the article suggests, the change in this simple statistic represents a myriad of possible explanations. However, I believe that our MAT program has greatly prepared us for the challenges that lie ahead. We have been in classrooms for the last two years and have had a chance to witness the expectations, joys and hard work that is to be expected of us as classroom teachers. I think that our two years of interning has placed us in a better position than most preservice teachers. We have gained so many experiences throughout our internships that will help us to be more influential, motivated and compassionate teachers when we have our own classrooms!
ReplyDeleteSean this was interesting. I actually like that you shed light on a different perspective of our career. We can be as positive as we want, but the statistics do demonstrate many new teachers leaving the profession because of its high demands. I also saw that more new teachers starting in an inner city school are likely to quit, which is of particular interest to me since I am interning in one. I would be devastated if I did all this work, got a job at my current school, and then was unhappy. But, I'd like to think that Quinnipiac has better prepared us for this profession and because of that, we will not become part of the statistics :) We can do this!
ReplyDeleteSean this is something that I was throughly intrigued by because I see and hear many teachers wanting to move about in the field. I've seen new teachers begin to get worried at the end of the year about being moved or having a veteran teacher wanting to move grades and this results in a rookie being moved. I'm hopeful that districts are smart and fair to all the teachers and look forward to being able to be that veteran one day. I do feel though that I would be very surprised if I could peek into the future to see that I wasn't still in this field. I think being a sub is extremely hard but even with that I don't dread going to my internship each day. I feel as though even if I get put into the challenging class that its my day to help these students! Each day is a new day for the students and for us!
ReplyDeleteLooking back at all of the hard work that we have done, and knowing that there are still tasks ahead in this program, it is so sad to imagine all of that being for nothing. When I come across people talking about how they USED to be a teacher, I always wonder how you could go through everything needed to get certified just to change professions.
ReplyDeleteThis career path is definitely not for the faint of heart. In the United States teachers are underpaid and unappreciated. We need to follow rules and protocols set by people who have never been in the teaching profession personally. "Evaluation" are based on student performance instead of the teacher's (which you will not find in any other job). Looking at it from this point of view makes it more understandable that people would become fed up.
Hi Sean,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that this is an interesting article to read. Like you, my mom has been teaching for 13 years and loves being with her kiddos, it is everything else that comes with the territory that becomes troubling. There are definitely hard days and challenging characteristics associated with this profession. Along with the previous comments, I do believe that our schooling has prepared us for this career, and we are fortunate enough to be in the classroom every day for two continuous years to completely know what we are getting into. Talking with family members and friends that are educators, they did not receive this privilege as they just completed their student teaching hours and then applied for jobs. Even though we do get frustrated with the position we are in, I do think it is most beneficial to shed light on exactly what happens within the school building, letting us know if this really is the career path we want to enter into. Although the statistics and situations in which teachers are put into make the drop out rate understandable, we are most prepared for this job, know what we are getting into, and are ready to tackle it!
Hey Sean,
ReplyDeleteI remember reading about the statistics you mentioned and teacher "drop-out" rate not too long ago. At first I was alarmed, and it made me think about why I chose teaching. I started to think about why I wanted to do this altogether, and if I was built to make it past that five year mark they talk about. It's understandable why people decide teaching isn't the right path and drop out. We deal with so many different elements on a daily basis from other teachers/staff members, students, to parents. It can be a lot to take on. Fortunately, I wake up happy to go to school every morning, even after a tough day. I remind myself that I knew I wanted to do this my whole life. I agree with the people above in saying that we are beyond prepared to take on our roles as teachers. It's definitely not always going to be easy, but the hard work will be worth it, especially if we can impact the students that truly need us! I think that most, if not all of you guys feel the same way about teaching that I do. We are going to make our students very happy to come to school some day!
This article was so interesting, Sean, thank you for sharing. It is important that, as we are looking at and sharing all the great parts of our profession, that we also shed a light at some of the aspects that we may not want to hear. With every profession comes its plusses and minuses, and this is just one of the aspects that we have to remember as teachers. I do believe though, as other people have previously said, that we have been so prepared to take on our careers as teachers, and I believe that we will all excel and work through the hard times that we may have. I do see many people who start off as a teacher and end up as something else in their lives, but on the other hand, I see so many people starting teaching as their second profession and loving every second of it. It is just important to keep in mind what is motivating us to keep working, and how far we have come so far. We have gained so many experiences so far, and have learned so much, that we will be the most influential and compassionate teachers and will be ready to tackle whatever comes our way!
ReplyDeleteI have several friends who used to be teachers. You are absolutely right. It is a thankless and underappreciated profession. There is no real incentive to be a teacher, other than loving what you do. Teaching "isn't what is used to be." You don't make enough money, you don't have enough resources to reach all of your students in one day, you don't have parents on your side... actually, when you think about what teaching has become, it doesn't sound all that great... which is why I think people leave. It's something I love though, so I hope I'm never one of the people who says, "I used to be a teacher." It's all worth it to me when I get a smile out of the one kid who NEVER smiles, or when the new math strategy finally "clicks" with the one kid who cries after math every day. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be worth it!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with your comment about teaching being a thankless and underappreciated profession, which is clearly shown through the research provided in this article. Although it does somewhat put a damper on teaching, I agree with you that it is extremely important for us to be informed about this kind of information. Although many people complain about many aspects of the job, I feel that many of the people who choose to leave the profession simply become very burnt out due to the demands of the job, and no longer feel the same love that they once did for teaching.
ReplyDeleteOn a more positive note, I feel that people who are made to be teachers and who love the moments that Leslie was referring to, when you get that kid to smile or understand a concept, are all moments that will never dwindle if you are a motivated, proactive teacher. In my opinion, these kinds of teachers are much less likely to become "burnt out". It is the love for the kids that will always keep us going.
Thank you for sharing! :)