It seems that everywhere you turn these days, there is an article about teacher burnout, issues with the current education system, or lack of parental or administrative support for teachers. While many of these articles speak to the true challenges teachers face every day, what gets lost or muted is that many teachers love their work and find great joy in teaching their students.
For those who are preparing to enter the teaching field, including William Woods University bachelor of education students, we put together six reasons why teaching is a great career choice:
1. The vast majority of teachers find great satisfaction in their work. Despite the everyday challenges teachers face, a number of surveys conducted among teachers indicate that the vast majority of them are satisfied with their job. For example, the School and Staffing Survey by the National Center for Education Statistics, found that nine out of 10 teachers responded with “satisfied” or “very satisfied” when asked about their teaching career. Also, a survey of America’s Best Teachers found that most teachers feel and appreciate recognition they receive from colleagues, students and parents of students.
2. Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions. There are many reasons why teachers love their profession. However, one of the most valued aspects of teaching is the ability to make a difference in students’ lives. Teachers typically report the daily “aha” moments they witness as the most rewarding. Seeing students finally make a breakthrough and understand something they’ve been struggling with allows teachers to feel the direct impact of their work on a daily basis.
3. Summer break allows teachers time to recharge. While some teachers take up other jobs during the summer or spend part of their break planning for the next school year, most teachers still see the summer break as a great perk of their job. The summer vacation is not only a break from classroom instruction but it also allows teachers to care for their own children, spend more time with their families, take long trips, create lasting memories, and simply recharge for the next school year.
4. Teaching offers job security. A career in teaching is one of the most recession-proof jobs according to CNBC News. This is because even in times of economic struggle, communities will always need teachers. Also, job growth is expected to see a steady increase, on par with the national average, with 1.9 million new job openings for teachers between 2014 and 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
5. Teaching is full of little joys you simply can’t quantify. In her Huffington Post blog titled 11 Reasons Teaching is the Best (Even When It Isn’t), teacher Jenna Wiley talks about the simple, silly, every-day joys of teaching. For example, Wiley writes of the sweetness her students show her with compliments kids are known to give so selflessly or classroom chores they are always eager to help with. There are also the joys of student birthdays, school pajama days, or comradery with other teachers. Then there are the funny things kids say without intending to be funny, their genuineness, and their sense of wonder. These and many more are what energizes schooldays and makes teachers excited about going to work.
6. Teachers enjoy retirement benefits. According to a Heritage Foundation article, “Pensions for teachers… are much more generous, on average, than the retirement benefits received by comparable private-sector workers.” Also, public school teachers benefit from contributions that can come from several different sources, including the member, the state and the employer. And while the age restrictions vary from state to state, in most cases teachers can start receiving benefits at age 55 if they had contributed to their retirement fund for 30 years.
The bottom line is that while teaching can be a tough and demanding job, for those who are looking to make a difference in the world, it can be one of the most rewarding and satisfying professions.
At William Woods University, students can pursue their passion for teaching through some of the top education programs in Missouri, with degrees in elementary, middle-level, and secondary education.