Pros and Cons of Being a Teacher

The life of a teacher can have its ups and downs, but many find this to be a fulfilling career choice because teachers have the unique honor of becoming a part of their students’ journey. Teachers inspire children and young adults to follow their dreams, making a lasting impact on their lives.

In an article by We Are Teachers, it shares the heartwarming benefits of being a teacher, including “88% of people say a teacher had a significant, positive impact on their life.” They also said that “98 percent of people believe that a good teacher can change the course of a student’s life.” These are just a few of many tested and proven impacts of teachers.

A Day In The Life of a Teacher

When working as a teacher, you get the opportunity to do something different every single day. The moods of the children change, your mood may change, and every 10-20 minutes is a totally different interaction. It’s an active and energetic job that challenges you to think on your feet. 

Another important part of a teacher’s day to day is lesson planning, grading papers, and general paperwork. Though your materials and teaching criteria may have state or district guidelines, there is still a great deal of freedom in the curriculum you make and how you present it. This gives teachers the ability to express themselves and their creativity in their jobs.

Pros of Being a Teacher

First and foremost, you get long breaks like Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and most of summer. Long breaks are also an opportunity to work side jobs and increase your income while still doing what you love most. 

There are also excellent benefits such as good retirement plans and health insurance. For example, my mother is a teacher who is set to retire in 2 years, and she’ll be making almost as much as she did while teaching full time. This type of retirement guarantee is a huge plus that many other careers don’t offer.

Another benefit of becoming a teacher is the camaraderie amongst your peers; the environment is typically very supportive and inviting. As a teacher you will be able to work with other like-minded individuals, sharing the same goal of fostering growth within young children and adults. This built-in community is a great perk and can make the daily grind of having a job much more tolerable.

Cons of Being a Teacher

The biggest downside would probably be the administrative work you are required to do outside of the classroom, including working with parents, administrators, and colleagues. You will work outside of your normal hours a decent amount, whether it be for faculty meetings, or late night parent-teacher conferences. Most people decide to pursue a teaching career for what they can do in the classroom, but a large share of the work educators encounter comes from working with people outside of your students.

Unfortunately, there are times when conflicts can arise with administration, as they don’t always see eye-to-eye with teachers. However, this is completely dependent on the environment you work in. I have met teachers who absolutely loved their administration and they worked together to help students; I have also met teachers who conflicted greatly with their schools. The key is to advocate for yourself and make sure you love where you are.

Teacher Anxiety

One aspect of teaching that is often overlooked is the anxiety many teachers face. When it comes to beginning your teaching journey, or anything really, it can be very scary. However, remembering who you are and having confidence in yourself and your lessons can help silence these thoughts. Remember that you are the authority in the classroom and the subject matter. 

Another way to combat the anxiety of being a teacher is having engaging lessons. If you are able to create lesson plans which pull people’s attention and really force them to participate, your fears will ease. Watching your student buy in is a very rewarding feeling, and even more so when they are learning new concepts. So, just trust the process and remember you are more than capable!