Ask:
I know there are a number of teachers on this board, and others who work in education. I'm interested in your thoughts here (and others are welcome to comment too!)
I switched careers from software consulting (big money!! high profile!! travel!! empty. boring.) to teaching secondary math (exciting!! meaningful!! high-energy!! low pay. low respect.) about 4 years ago. I love my job and am a passionate teacher. When I left software, I was relieved to get out of business, particularly in Germany.
So I left the big-ego, self-centered world of business for the student-centered world of education. I was so excited! I love teaching and I love teaching math - it is such an exciting subject and it's fun to get bored teenagers into it. What I was unhappy to learn is that the egos don't go away, nor does the selfishness. I mean, this is Education!! Shouldn't it be about the kids? Clearly, it's just like any other organization with all the types of personalities involved...
The hardest part I have found about being a teacher has nothing to do with the classroom. It has everything to do with how society views teachers and education. 5 years ago if I said while meeting someone new, "I'm a software consultant", I got all sorts of impressed looks, interested questions, and respect. Since then when I say "I'm a math teacher" I get the response: "oh... I hate math." and that's about it. People usually tell me about all the terrible things they did in the classroom and then we move on in conversation. The obvious disrespect is frustrating. So is the pay.
They say that new teachers have an average lifespan in the classroom of 2-3 years before quitting. I can understand that. I work at least twice as hard as a teacher compared to when I was a software consultant (including travel, etc!). I use ten times more energy, I wear myself out attending student performances, games, running clubs and other activities. Yet parents and administrators look down on me. The only respect I get is from the kids and from my colleagues. I'm "just" a teacher. My salary is less than half of what it would be today in software.
Clearly, I chose this lifestyle and I knew what I was getting myself into. But I romanticized it and figured that I would be a "better" person for accepting low pay and low societal recognition in order to do a job that I love. What has happened instead is that I have all sorts of vision now about how to run my own school one day and how to change the education system in general
Anyway, a giant software firm has contacted me recently and asked if I want to go back. I set out a whole list of requirements (part time, from home, boss outside Germany, working with skills in both software & education, etc.) and they are still interested! With my father sick on another continent and me unable to afford plane tickets to visit him, and with ds now here and the thought of working from home more attractive, suddenly I am considering leaving my dream job and returning to software. Don't know yet what I'll do but that's what I'm thinking.
OK, so down to my question for those of you in education: Do you think of leaving and doing something else? What keeps you in education? Do you have fantastic principals who motivate and support you (I don't), or is the intrinsic reward enough to keep you motivated? For me, it is a lot, but with ds here and my priorities shifting, I am starting to see things differently. Tell me your thoughts if you managed to read this far...
Thanks!
Answer:
I don't have any brilliant advice, except to say that I do understand how you are feeling. I did leave my teaching career after 8 years when I had our son. I had planned to go back but when the time came (my school held my position for 3 unpaid semesters), I just could not go. I wanted to be a sahm more than anything. I thought my pay was low before.... One of the things that helped in the choice actually was the pay- all my career really did for us financially was put us in a higher tax- bracket. I LOVE my new career but when the children are in school, I am hopeful that I will find another teaching job. It is kind of the best of both worlds as I would still be doing something I love and have my children's schedule.
I would be VERY tempted to work more with the software company if I were you... it sounds like it would mean more time at home and more money. I seems like a win-win while you have a young child- unless it would cause you more stress with the decrease in job satisfaction. I wish you luck with your decision. I know mine was not easy... I was tenured as a reading specialist and a classroom teacher so when I go back I will be starting all over but to be with my son (and hopefully a 2nd child soon) all day makes it all worth it. There- I answered your novel with a novel!