Focus questions

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a teacher?  Advantages are Good health insurance, excellent work hours for people with families, tenure.  Disadvantages are that there are some unrealistic parental expectations to meet and being responsible for how students perform on tests.

2. What are the satisfactions—and complaints—of today's teachers?  They don’t get paid sufficiently for the amount of time they put in and they didn’t realize how much time is needed to prepare and adjust for lessons and classes.  They don’t have sufficient books for the classes they are teaching.  Access to technology is limited.

3. Can we consider teaching to be a profession?  According to the chapter, it’s a semi profession.  If carpentry, plumbing, and landscaping can be considered professions then teaching should definitely be considered a profession.  There are vocational schools for carpentry, plumbing and landscaping.  After going through a vocational program, there is field experience and testing needed to be a professional plumber, carpenter, and landscaper.  You are then considered licensed.  The same is true for teaching:  you must go through a rigorous college program to get a master’s degree, you have to pass New York State tests, and finally you need to Student Teach in order to be a teacher.     

4. How has teacher preparation changed over the years?  In colonial times there was no training required at all, then there were normal schools set up for a 2 year training program.  And now of course there is a very rigorous and in-depth process involved to be a teacher.  You must have at least a bachelor’s degree, student-teaching, and pass 5 New York State Exams.

5. What are the differences between the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers?  The NEA is the largest and one of the oldest professional associations in America, while AFT is smaller and affiliated with the labor movement.

6. What traits and characteristics are needed for successful teaching?  You must be a people person because you are constantly in contact with people (especially children).  Teachers need to have a good work ethic, they need to like to work because it’s a lifelong pursuit.  Sometimes they bring work home with them, or spend long hours at school preparing lessons after normal school hours.  You’d better have a good sense of humor and be able to control your temper.  We are in possession of the most valuable thing in the world, children.  If you fight with them or yell at them, you can guarantee to lose with their parents every time.  

7. Is teaching a "good fit" for you?  I believe teaching is a great fit for me.  I was a substitute teacher for 1 full school year.  I substituted in various classes.  I also was a Director of Education at Sylvan Learning Center for 5 years.  These two experiences were by far the best work experiences I have ever had.  I enjoy teaching high school students more than any of the other professions that I have tried throughout my working career.  There is something about the “Ah Ha” moment that is just so satisfying, when a student that I help finally understands something after much effort and hard work.