Teaching is truly a noble profession. It is also a very time consuming one, requiring a commitment on your part. Teaching can be very demanding but can also be extremely rewarding. Here are five things you should consider before taking up teaching as your chosen career.
1. Time Commitment
In order to be an effective teacher, you need to realize that the time you are at work – those 7 ½ to 8 hours – really must be spent with the students. This means that creating lesson plans and grading assignments will probably take place on “your own time”. Further, to truly relate to your students, you will probably be involved in their activities.
2. Pay
People often make a big deal about a teacher pay. It is true that teachers do not make as much as many professionals. However, each region and city can vary widely on teacher pay. Further, when you look at how much you are being paid, make sure to think of it in terms of the number of months worked. For example, if you starting out with a Php20,000.00 salary but are off for 8 weeks in the summer, then you should take this into account.
3. Respect or Lack Thereof
Teaching is an odd profession, both revered and pitied at the same time. You will probably find that when you tell others that you are a teacher, they will in fact offer you their condolences. They might even say they couldn’t do your job.
4. Community Expectations
Everyone has an opinion of what a teacher should be doing. As a teacher, you will have a lot of people pulling you in different directions. The modern teacher wears many hats. They act as educator, coach, activity sponsor, nurse, career advisor, parent, friend and innovator. Realize that in any one class, you will have students of varying levels and abilities and you will be judges on how well you can reach each student by individualizing their education.
5. Emotional Commitment
Teaching is not a desk job. It requires you to “put yourself out there” and be on each day. Great teachers emotionally commit to their subject matter and their students. Realize that students seem to feel a sense of “ownership” over their teachers. They assume that your live revolves around them.
By: Raquel P. Quimson | Teacher III | Nagbalayong High School | Morong, Bataan
