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Haha, I just finished quitting my job teaching high school computer science today. I went from private tutoring CS to teaching in an afterschool program to thi
by tranced 8y ago
Haha, I just finished quitting my job teaching high school computer science today.
I went from private tutoring CS to teaching in an afterschool program to this because I really enjoyed helping students break through conceptual blocks and mental ones.
The work is emotionally exhausting but satisfying. Only recently have I wondered whether or not this was the right thing to do instead of going to industry(maybe it's because a lot of my interviewers have been asking me that exact question) but it seems blatant now that my friends are senior engineers who have almost infinite job opportunities.
The real crux of it is that teachers get put into this triangle of pressures between students, administration, and their parents which almost takes away all agency from the job. I got so tired of getting put into difficult situations that were almost always juggling acts.
At the end of the day, if you want to fix anything as a teacher it's almost like going against an institution. You risk your pension, your 401k, or maybe just your potential future in industry for what?
I wasn't in it for the money and I would imagine most teachers aren't either... but what happens when your hands are too tied to actually teach?
sigh maybe I could've done everyone justice if I had some tech money to fall back on.
- snarf21 8y agoEven worse is the whole 'no child left behind' structure where schools lose funding if they don't meet certain numbers. The administrators live in fear so the kids spend half the semester taking practice tests so the school district doesn't lose funding. It is such a shame and there seems to be no appetite to expend political capital on these issues.
- reilly3000 8y ago"The real crux of it is that teachers get put into this triangle of pressures between students, administration, and their parents which almost takes away all agency from the job. I got so tired of getting put into difficult situations that were almost always juggling acts." I think that is also happening today with medical doctors and it is an absolute travesty; the opposite of progress.
- jeklj 8y agoYes, I can see how doctors’ struggles with students, parents, and school administrations is highly relevant to this topic.
- seanmcdirmid 8y agoHow do you risk your 401k? Unlike a pension, they can’t take it away from you.
- TheCoelacanth 8y agoUnvested employer contributions can be taken back.
- seanmcdirmid 8y agoOnly for the year.
- myroon5 8y agoanecdotal counterpoint: Amazon takes back all employer 401k contributions for employees who do not work there for at least 3 years