Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Adventurer]

I haven't taught in Canada, I taught in the U.S. in the inner city, and I taught high school. I know I never would teach in the inner city again for even double the salary on the high school or middle school level.
I am thinking of going back into teaching, but I am not sure how it would be like teaching high school kids from suburbia in a decent middle class neighbourhood. Is elementary much better? I can't use Korea to gauge...
Your thoughts...

[willneverteachagain]

i wouldnt teach in NA

[MidwestRepresent]

I'm finishing up my first year teaching in NYC schools and I can absolutely understand your aversion to ever doing this (inner city teaching) again. I taught in Korea for almost 4 years and got the teaching bug from the great experience I had there, but teaching 6th grade in the Bronx is working me over. I'm sitting here with 9 days to go in the year wondering how in the hell I made it this far and if I can make it through the next 9 days.

In regards to your question, I hear that, at least in the NYC area, teaching in the 'burbs is a whole different ballgame. I hear a lot of teachers "do their time" in the city for a few years and then head up to Westchester County (suburban area just north of NYC) for better pay and fewer headaches. A few people I'm working with now are supposedly heading down that route next year. That (sadly) explains the void that inexperienced teachers like me are brought in to fill evey year through novice teacher recruitment programs.

[Scotticus]

University, only.

I taught it before coming to the ROK and when I return I'll be teaching it again. You couldn't pay me enough to put me into anything lower.

[rhinocharge64]

Sounds like my experience in the U.K.

[storysinger81]

I teach in an excellent school in a suburb of DC, but it's in an underperforming district, so it's kind of a weird halfway point between inner city and suburbia.

Honestly, I love my school and the students there, but the stuff of suburb teaching that gets to me is the nastiness of parents who expect miracles (including the crazy pressure for grades/competition in my AP classes). I've actually had parents tell me that I, personally, am preventing junior from getting into Harvard and insinuate that I am an idiot and worse. From what I've read here (not from experience) think ajumma mom with delusions of granduer times 10! Too many students, not enough resources, hours and hours and hours of grading & planning on my own time... And still, it's never enough. Your colleagues will make snide remarks about how "easy" you have it out in the burbs...

You really have to be on your toes for those priviledged kiddies and they'll still pick away at every little flaw. Like one teacher today just got this nasty, arrogant as all get out anonymous letter from one of her ninth grade honors students critiquing everything about her class in excruciating detail (this is a brilliant world-traveled woman--I think her French degree is from Sorbonne--who speaks 3 languages fluently and is kind, hard-working, etc.), and because she actually cares, she was very hurt by the whole experience. At least if you're a good teacher in an inner city students and parents really appreciate it (sadly because they get so many bad people...)!

If you don't mind elitist culture that assumes there must be something wrong with you for choosing a profession that won't make you much money, but would never openly admit to their own obvious prejudice, it can be a lot of fun.

I may come back to it after teaching abroad. I decided I need more experience and a break from certain kinds of teaching stress, so I'll be in Korea next year... but as of now, even with loving so many things about my job, I plan to come back to a Ph.D. program in a couple years.

[Adventurer]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I'd prefer to teach kids who are old enough to drop out if they really hate school.

[oskinny1]

Third grade. They are smart enough to wipe their butts but innocent enough to believe everything you say (usually).