There are many myths about teachers that float around because teachers are always in the spotlight. People like to think of teachers as having an easy job, but in reality, the work of teachers can be unrecognized by the rest of society. If you’re an aspiring teacher, you should be aware of some of the common misconceptions about your future career.
Myth #1: Teacher’s Have a Great Schedule! They Only Work 9 Months per Year!
A teacher may spend 8:00-3:00 with students, but their workday neither starts at 8:00 a.m. nor ends at 3 p.m. In reality, there is a lot of planning, organization, and evaluation that has to be done when you’re a teacher. Teachers often spend hours of their time planning lessons and grading work during the evening and throughout the summer. They also typically have additional requirements for creating bulletin boards and room decorations as well as going to faculty meetings and planning parent-teacher conferences.
Myth #2: Teaching is Easy. Anyone Can Do It!
Actually, there’s a reason why all teachers are required to have a bachelor’s degree in education. Teaching requires both knowledge of subjects and ability to utilize the best practices. It requires passion, creativity, and organization. Teachers have to be able to balance the individualized needs of every student in the classroom while meeting state standards. Teaching is only for the people who are determined and passionate enough to balance all of the obligations.
Myth #3: Teachers Are the Sole People Responsible for a Child’s Education
While teachers do a lot of work in order to prepare students for the next level of education or for the workforce, they aren’t the only people who influence a child’s education. Children are constantly learning from their surroundings, and they learn more about the world around them from their peers and parents than they do from the teacher. The best learning happens when parent and teacher goals are aligned and when parents recognize themselves as key educators in a child’s life.
Myth #4: It Doesn’t Matter How Much Teachers Get Paid. It’s All about Passion
While most people who enter the field of education are passionate about teaching and educating children, teachers’ needs have to be met in order for their passion to continue throughout their career. Just like anyone else, teachers need a sufficient salary to be able to do their job successfully. When teachers don’t get paid enough or their tough work isn’t recognized, morale among teachers is lowered, and this affects the work environment as much as collective passion.
