DS thinking about Elementary Education

[bethben]

Ds is thinking about becoming an elementary teacher.  Yes, he can get that degree through our local university in town, but I'm concerned about the very slanted bias he could get during his learning.  Let's just say, I am less than impressed with the direction public schools in general are headed and if I can, I would like to have a child entering this field be part of change for the better instead of doing what the teacher's union says is correct.  I know I'm being biased and judgmental.  

 

All this to say, what would be a good way for him to get a teacher's license?  Are there affordable colleges that are better than others?  DH and I make too much money for decent financial aid (I think - I have no idea what is considered financial aid/scholarship levels).  We do not feel like we can be paying for his college - we can help a little - since we have to think of his very disabled brother for whom we have to provide a lifetime of financial care.  So, the college would have to be very affordable or give ds the ability to work his way through college paying as he goes.

[katilac]

Is this the 16-yr-old? Has he taken a practice ACT or SAT? If not, I would have him do that so he can see if merit aid might be an option at certain colleges. 

 

I would also see if it's possible for him to volunteer in a local school. 

[clementine]

We have a dd pursuing elem ed at a state college.  Yes, the liberal influence is totally apparent.  But, we're hoping that a good moral foundation and strong beliefs will be enough to not sway her to a different way of thinking.  It's okay to be presented with new points of view, but it's okay to stay true to yourself at the same time.  

 

Regarding college cost...our state school is reasonable (as compared to other public and private schools in our state), so we're hoping that somehow it'll all work out.  We will help as much as we can.  

[Hilltopmom]

Id be sure there are actual jobs near you. Here, they get thousands of applications for each opening.

(Former teacher here)

Oh, and in my state you need a Masters degree as well, to get certified.

Edited March 18, 2017 by Hilltopmom

[DawnM]

What are you worried they will teach her about being an Elem. teacher that would be liberal?  

 

I got my teaching credentials/MA from a Christian school, but they still had to prepare us for working in the real world and abiding by PS district/state standards.

 

Or do you want him to go to a Christian college and only teach in Christian schools?

[clementine]

I didn't mean to offend anyone by my post.  

 

She didn't want to go to a Christian college, and we certainly did not try to influence her choice.  We are not uber-conservative, we are very middle-of-the road. Many of her professors have been very vocal about their political beliefs and why they are 'right'; in my opinion, that is not a necessary part of education.  I think schools/teachers should teach children how to constructively consider other opinions and beliefs, but not push their own over all others.  

 

This is only one example, but I don't want to start an argument.  

[bethben]

  I think schools/teachers should teach children how to constructively consider other opinions and beliefs, but not push their own over all others.  

 

 

 

 I guess this is my main beef.  I guess I see more so than not the push for everyone especially in education to believe a certain way and if you don't, you obviously need sensitivity training.  I want my ds to be able to get beyond all the junk that has been brought in - testing testing testing, multiculturalism (let's divide the children by race!  and then teach them how much more special one race is over another!), sexual orientation, etc, etc...Stuff that has creeped into the school that more often than not, has nothing to do with educating a thinking population.  I want him to learn how to teach children effectively and be a part of changing the educational landscape to bring back the main thing - actually teaching children how to think and reason without constantly telling them how they should be thinking.  This goes for both public and private Christian schools.  

 

I know most colleges and universities have a fairly liberal thought pattern that is taught.  I'm not so much concerned about that aspect.  My concern is that he will be learning a career based on that thought pattern and not have any other mindset to counteract that.  

[daijobu]

It sounds like your ds may be happier teaching in a private school.  We have all sorts of private schools for every stripe of family:  religious, tiger mom academic, hippie-dippie, gifted kids, play-based, waldorf, etc.  Even the public schools have their own flavors depending on their neighborhood and the types of families they serve. 

[bethben]

He also wants to make a living wage.  I know that teaching is not going to make him rich, but I don't want him and his future family living in poverty either.

[bettyandbob]

A side note: I recommend getting more than a minor, possibly another major along with the elementary education. A degree in math or science can lead to him becoming the "lead teacher" in that subject in his school giving him some security. Or he may want to do English with a focus on children's lit opening up the possibility of leading to school library work or becoming a reading specialist.

 

Basically, have more than the general elementary education in mind. Have something extra to bring to the class and share with your school. Start now with a special skill that makes your more valuable that just the certified to teach k-6.

[Crimson Wife]

He also wants to make a living wage.  I know that teaching is not going to make him rich, but I don't want him and his future family living in poverty either.

 

I would look into things like Speech & Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy, or Child Psychology. They pay better and there is less micromanagement than classroom teaching. He'd need a master's degree but these days many (most?) states are requiring classroom teachers to get a master's within 5 years of their initial credential.

 

A teacher with a master's degree in my district starts at $57k while a SLP or OT with a master's starts at $73k. The child psychologists start at >$90k.

[sbgrace]

I would look into things like Speech & Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy, or Child Psychology. They pay better and there is less micromanagement than classroom teaching. He'd need a master's degree but these days many (most?) states are requiring classroom teachers to get a master's within 5 years of their initial credential.

 

A teacher with a master's degree in my district starts at $57k while a SLP or OT with a master's starts at $73k. The child psychologists start at >$90k.

 

I agree with this, if he has any interest. In our state, as I assume most, there are many more openings for these types of positions. In fact, most the schools around here carry open/unfilled school psychologist positions. Those positions will pay better too. And he'll still be helping kids.

[JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst]

A side note: I recommend getting more than a minor, possibly another major along with the elementary education. A degree in math or science can lead to him becoming the "lead teacher" in that subject in his school giving him some security. Or he may want to do English with a focus on children's lit opening up the possibility of leading to school library work or becoming a reading specialist.

 

Basically, have more than the general elementary education in mind. Have something extra to bring to the class and share with your school. Start now with a special skill that makes your more valuable that just the certified to teach k-6.

While I don't disagree with the above--keep in mind that many elementary education programs do not leave enough vacant time slots to complete a second major.  It will, of course, depend on the school but in order to be licensed many programs require that you have a general education/liberal arts/interdisciplinary studies major with elementary ed as your minor.  

 

Also, you can become a school librarian from any field of study within education, English isn't a prerequisite.  In some universities school librarians are trained through the education school and in others through the library studies/information science school.

 

As a side note--you need plan ahead for what degree is needed. Some states require a masters for basic licensing and you might want to look for a 5 year (as opposed to 6 year program) program that would include the masters.  It is my understanding that a masters grants the most flexibility for advancement opportunities.

[Granny_Weatherwax]

Definitely look at current and projected job availability in the area in which he plans on living. Here in the midwest, recent elementary ed graduates cannot find jobs and many return to school within  a few years to earn a secondary degree; not necessarily a graduate degree but a second bachelors, of which the BSN is most common. It is recommended to not get the MA in Ed. right away as that puts the new teacher in a higher pay category at the outset and decreases the chances of being hired. The majority of teachers here wait until the second year of teaching and then begin the MA. The best chance of being hired here is someone with certification in special ed or ESL.

 

 I would also think long and hard about becoming a librarian. Our local school district just laid off every librarian in the district (8 of them) as a cost saving measure. Beginning with the next school year, those positions are to be covered by volunteers.

[Dmmetler]

My DD is planning a double major in K-8 Education with an emphasis in Math/Science and Biology. Her eventual goal is to work somewhere like the GA Sea turtle center, which does both research and outreach. She is doing as much as she can at the local CC while still in high school, and also looking closely at which classes double dip-for example, bio major level bio and Chem can substitute for the bio/Chem for teachers class, which are focused on foundational knowledge, but calculus cannot substitute for Math for elementary school teachers, which is far more focused on how to teach math and assumes the students can already do elementary math.

 

She's also picking up weekend teacher training workshops in science education. At least right now, there are a lot of reasonably priced ones, many of which give cheap college or graduate credit. (although that may change).

 

Her hope is to be able to, by using credits earned before college, do both majors including student teaching within 4 years, then go to grad school in biology.

Edited March 20, 2017 by dmmetler

[Mom22ns]

In education, it is helpful to get a degree from a college in the area where you want to work. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, colleges talk to the large districts that are hiring in their area and they tailor their programs to fit what those schools want. Trends in education are constantly changing. Having the "right" knowledge will make all the difference in an interview. The other reason is that teachers are often grabbed-up when they are student teaching. If the district is impressed and they have an opening, they will be hired. If he student teaches far from where he wants to live, obviously he loses this opportunity.

 

If he wants to stay in your area, his best shot at employment after college is probably your local state U. 

 

(Both of my parent were PhD's in education who worked in the public K12 environment and were involved in hiring.)

[JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst]

 

 I would also think long and hard about becoming a librarian. Our local school district just laid off every librarian in the district (8 of them) as a cost saving measure. Beginning with the next school year, those positions are to be covered by volunteers.

 

I am amazed they can do this.  Having an credentialed/degreed librarian used to be one of the baseline items to be an accredited school.

[Hilltopmom]

I am amazed they can do this. Having an credentialed/degreed librarian used to be one of the baseline items to be an accredited school.

Our local schools got rid of licensed librarians & put teacher aides in the job instead.

[Frances]

I am amazed they can do this. Having an credentialed/degreed librarian used to be one of the baseline items to be an accredited school.

Librarians are often the first to go in many districts when my state cuts k12 funding.

[Dmmetler]

In education, it is helpful to get a degree from a college in the area where you want to work. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, colleges talk to the large districts that are hiring in their area and they tailor their programs to fit what those schools want. Trends in education are constantly changing. Having the "right" knowledge will make all the difference in an interview. The other reason is that teachers are often grabbed-up when they are student teaching. If the district is impressed and they have an opening, they will be hired. If he student teaches far from where he wants to live, obviously he loses this opportunity.

 

If he wants to stay in your area, his best shot at employment after college is probably your local state U. 

 

(Both of my parent were PhD's in education who worked in the public K12 environment and were involved in hiring.)

 

In addition, teacher licensure is state specific, and while states sometimes have reciprocity, it is common to need to take several classes to change an interim certificate to a "professional" one-even if you're coming in with graduate degrees already. So it's a good idea to get your certification where you expect to work.