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What are the pros and cons of being a secondary school teacher?

what do you think are the pros and cons?

I'm still in school but I'm just wondering what peoples opinions are because It's something i'm interested in
thanks :smile:

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Reply 1

Mr M

What do you think they are? I would be interested in your views before other people influence you.

Reply 2

k8ht67`

you get to **** tons of horny teenagers.

Reply 3

cardine92

Pros: they can go to the toilet by themselves, not like some primary school kids.

Cons: secondary schools like the one I went to. It was hilarious for us, but not so fun for the teachers.

Reply 4

Revolution is my Name

Con: Children are annoying and obnoxious.

Reply 5

Spinnerette

Pros they dont need babying and you get to teach much more advanced material, school trips.

Cons: they misbehave a lot or at least the one where I went to where they'd wind up the teachers and get expelled for setting off fire alarms.

Reply 6

clair1987

If you teach the lower sets they can be disruptive, when I was at school this included throwing chairs and a desk out of a second floor window :smile:

Reply 7

Angelil

The only con I can really think of is that the behaviour can just sometimes be horrific; behaviour management is the most difficult thing about the job in my view.

Everything else counts as a pro - sensible working hours, great holidays, I get to use subjects I'm good at, some of the kids are great fun, if you're organised and meticulous then you'll thrive...etc.

Reply 8

ourlastmemory

I reckon you need to be extremely strong and secure to be a teacher, the **** people say about some teachers at my school has to get back to them and there will always be kids who don't like you, and they're all incredibly judgemental especially to people who are in authority to them.
The only teaching I would ever go into would be for A levels/similar standard because then I would know people actually want to learn my subject, I can't imagine having to deal with arsey little year 8s who have absolutely no interest in what I'm teaching them, what a waste of time.

However teaching = good holidays, working with people, you learn more yourself through teaching other people, it's kinda altruistic I guess helping other people learn, good hours, fairly good money, helping to raise a future generation.. I suppose it can be really really fulfilling if you're good at it and you can handle it :yep:

I can't imagine some teachers at my school in any other job, they are just made for it and you can tell they really enjoy it.

Reply 9

Crimsonchilli

eppppiccc holidays. Imagine having school length holidays all the way til you retire ...

Reply 10

Smiz

Bad: behaviour problems, not amazing pay
Good: get to teach some students who want to learn, holidays.

Reply 11

kamc

con - you'll have to try and teach kids who have no interest in what you are teaching
con- trying to deal with ********* who don't want to be there
con - dealing with parents of ********* who think their kids behaviour is justifiable and you're in the wrong
you'll also have to deal with issues outside the classroom (bullying, etc) - this could be a pro or a con depending on whether or not you want to do that or not
pro - teaching kids who want to learn
pro - you could be an inspiration to someone
pro - could be very rewarding
pro - working hours, holidays, decent pension, job security

Reply 12

annab1684

In year 9, I did a secondary school music teacher for my career leaflet.
I asked this question to our head of music:
Con: the kids
Pro: the holidays

He was a right idiot though.

Reply 13

Geogger

You might think the holidays are a definite 'pro' and you'd be right. However, they need to be long because teaching isn't a simple 9 to 4 job. For a couple of hours on most nights of the week and for at least one day at a weekend, you need to be be marking, preparing or attending meetings. You actually have no time to go out during the week or if you do it has to be very carefully arranged. Long holidays are there to provide the 'time' compensation to an extent - and you need them.
I actually get to school at 7.45 and do an hour's work before registration (downloading and dealing with emails, photocopying etc) teaching most of the day, a 50 minute lunchtime which often has interruptions, two days out of 5 there are 1 to 2 hour meetings after school and twice a term it will be Parents' evenings. In addition to marking there are core assessments which have to be upladed on Tracking Data for senior management and regular reports.

It does sound pretty time-heavy - but your system gets used to it!