Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I have always loved school and helping others, so what better profession than that of an educator? Going into high school I strayed away from becoming a teacher because of all the negative things that people said about the profession. So, I went into college as a Political Science major. Soon, I realized I didn't enjoy it, and my mind went right back to becoming a teacher.
So here I am ending my sophomore year as a Secondary Education Social Studies major, and I couldn't be happier. The classes I have taken, the people I have met, and the organizations I have joined have helped me fall in love with education. I know that this is my passion, but what really gets under my skin is when people try to put down that passion. Us education majors hear negative comments about our future profession, and we are tired of it. Here are some things you should never say to an education major:
1. "You're only becoming a teacher to have the summers off."
No, that is now why we're doing it. We're doing it because we want to change the life of children. Having summers off is just a bonus.
2. "You're spending all that money for college JUST to be a teacher?!"
JUST to be a teacher?! Really?! This is what I want to do with the rest of my life, so yeah I'm going to pay all the money I can to be the best teacher I can be.
3. "You're not going to make any money."
Thank you for that insight. I really had no clue. I realize teaching doesn't make a lot of money, but since when is making money all what life is about?
4. "You're going to have to marry rich."
Just stop right there. I know many people that life comfortably off a teacher's salary, so I don't see your point here.
5. "You want to work with preschool/kindergarten/first grade/? That's just glorified babysitting."
We are not babysitting. We are educating young children because early instruction is crucial to child development. Seeing these students grow is so rewarding.
6. "The people who do the most important and impactful work in this country are the ones that get paid the most."
Um.. what? We are educating our nation's children to become the next doctors, lawyers, president, and so much more. What is more important and impactful than that?
7. "I wish I could play with kids all day instead of doing real work."
See #5.
8."Oh, education? You could do something so much better because you're so smart."
Don't we want the people educating our children to be the best and the brightest?
9. "It must be so nice to have an easy major."
This is not an easy major. We still have as much work as any other major and are challenged, just in different ways.
10. "Isn't all you do is color in class?"
If that's all you think we do, then you really have no clue what it takes to be a teacher. Step into our shoes for a day and see if you can handle it.
I would like to give a special thank you to all my SPSEA friends who helped me with this article.
