Opinions on Teaching?

[AGDee]

I'm not a teacher but several of my friends are and they have told me that the best route (here in Michigan) is to get a second bachelor's and not a Masters. The school districts here don't want to have to pay you what the teachers make with a Masters. You have to get 20 credits towards your Masters within 5 years to keep your certification in Michigan. If a district can get away with paying you only $34,000 a year at first instead of $60,000 a year, they will!

[AchtungBaby80]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I'm not a teacher but several of my friends are and they have told me that the best route (here in Michigan) is to get a second bachelor's and not a Masters. The school districts here don't want to have to pay you what the teachers make with a Masters. You have to get 20 credits towards your Masters within 5 years to keep your certification in Michigan. If a district can get away with paying you only $34,000 a year at first instead of $60,000 a year, they will!

Yes, that's why it's a good idea to check with the state about exactly what the requirements are. In some states, you don't ever have to get a Master's. Here in Kentucky there's the same problem with schools not wanting to hire teachers with Master's degrees because they have to pay them more, but Kentucky requires that teachers get a Master's if they want to continue to hold their certification. That means that it's easier to get a job when you're fresh out of undergrad, but once you get your Master's, they pink slip you. I can't believe that teachers in Michigan make $60,000 with a Master's! Do you know what it is here? Well, if I started teaching right now, today, I'd be making around $33,000. And that's with a Master's degree and full certification. If you work for 20 years or so, you might make $60,000, but it takes a long time and probably more education.

[AGDee]

It's all about the unions up here. I have a friend who teaches in Kentucky and she was floored too. But, the average salary of the Detroit Public School District (who have been on strike for two weeks now) is over $70K.

Most do go on to get the Masters because they already have 20 credits toward it and with the Masters they get another raise. I believe the standard is Bachelor's +10 credits= raise, Bachelors + 20= raise, Masters=raise, Specialist = raise, PhD = raise. I know a lot who get the Specialist, but few who go for the PhD.

But yeah, it's all about the unions. (And, I don't think you could pay me enough to work in the Detroit Public Schools as a teacher.. most say they need hazard pay.. Suburban schools, sure, whole different ball game!)

[BetteDavisEyes]

Here in CA, there is a never-ending need for qualified credentialed teachers regardless of grade level.
The problem is that you'd have to work at some of the worst schools & the pay isn't that great in a lot of districts.

[orchid2]

There is so much valuable information here. Thank you to everybody that has contributed to this thread! I have been out of town for the past week so I apologize for not coming on here sooner.

I wish I had known about the Knowledge is Power program early in the summer... that's something I would have been interested in doing. I've also considered doing some substitute teaching to get "real life" classroom experience.

Thanks again for the wonderful suggestions and ideas!

[DeltAlum]

Mrs. DA is a former high school teacher. She loved teaching, but it was a tough job and long hours.

Slightly off the subject, you find some really interesting people teaching.

One of the analysts on our network is a former All American and professional football player (center).

He is probably 6'3" and around 250-275 lbs with a shaved head and FuManchu (I don't know how to spell that, obviously) mustache/beard.

I just found out that he teaches 4th grade.

The good news is that he's a really nice guy and one of those "gentle giants," but can you imagine what a little 4th grader must think the first time he/she meets the new teacher?