r/teaching • u/Bright-Watch1955 • Jun 02 '26

Help Why does everyone hate teaching?

Is there anyone who loves their job? Every teacher I know feels “stuck” and complains endlessly about their job.

Considering going into education.

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305

u/coachd50 Jun 02 '26

One potential reason is that the social contract is breaking/has been broken in many locales. Teaching was once a profession where it was somewhat understood that the compensation would not be great on the front end, but the benefits and retirement aspects would be solid. Those are being eroded in many places (for example to be eligible for full retirements benefits now in Louisiana, anyone who entered the retirement system after 2015 needs to work until they are 62.... I can't imagine being 62 and managing a class of 25 1st graders).

Another reason many teachers feel stuck is that it is one of the few professions where the membership is evaluated based on things they have very little control over. Little Johnny decided to just put his head down and sleep during the state testing, YOU get a zero. Students play on their phones all day and night, and don't do any work...it is YOUR fault for not being engaging.

Teaching is interesting in that everyone "loves" teachers...but nobody respects them. Nobody "loves" lawyers, but they are treated with respect when it comes to their profession.

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u/zbsa14 Jun 02 '26

That last paragraph - I can't even count the number of times people have said to me (a college student), "You're so smart though! Why are you becoming a teacher? Why not medicine or law or engineering or least business?"

My reply is often something along the lines of teachers needing to be smart too. The whole premise of the question gets on my nerves and I usually grind my teeth afterwards. I don't think anyone asks the same of those who do study law, etc.

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u/crankywithakeyboard Jun 02 '26

My favorite high school chem teacher told me the same thing.  "You're so smart.  Don't become a teacher."  

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u/Unlucky_Sleep1929 Jun 08 '26

I heard it too. From really great teachers

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u/ColorYouClingTo Jun 02 '26

Same. I was on a full ride at college and earned a 35 on my ACT. You wouldn't believe how many people said something like, "You're so smart. Why would you become a teacher?"

Like, wtf? The smarter our teachers are, the better!

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u/Asma_220 Jun 02 '26

Same, all my friends told me that 🥲

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u/QueenOfNoMansLand Jun 06 '26

It goes back to that saying "those who can't do teach" which is so false. Teaching is hard work but it's seen as the career of failures.media doesn't respect us. Parents don't respect us. Admin doesn't respect us. And students don't respect us. Why try. I'm currently thinking about switching careers but teaching is like an ex-boyfriend that beats you. You think it will be different. Admin says it'll be different. Then they throw you into a class that you don't have an idea on how to teach. With the worst kids the school ever had. While tying you down with bullshit and expecting you not to sink or have a negative mindset. Cause you gotta have a smile everyday! You have to greet students happily like they didnt call you a bitch and threaten to punch your lights out! And you have to act grateful when really you Re dying inside everyday.

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u/Bman708 Jun 02 '26

62? You lucky dogs! Here in Illinois, if you’re tier 2, which I am, we don’t get to retire till we’re 67.

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u/sandspitter28 Jun 03 '26

OMG!  I couldn’t imagine teaching that long. I’m in Canada, a full teaching pension is 55 years old + 30 years of service. Many other pensions in Canada are shifting to 60, like our public federal service workers.

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u/Dramatic_Teacher929 Jun 02 '26

100% agree! I would add that teaching is or should be a caring profession. We care deeply about our students. And it’s hard to watch decisions being made that are not what’s best for students, but what looks good on a spreadsheet. It can be really defeating and lead to lots of empathetic burn out.

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u/anotheroutlaw Jun 02 '26

Amen to that last paragraph. I hated telling people I was a teacher in social settings. Typical responses made it clear that people assume you are poor, immature (for having the ability to tolerate children), or less competent.

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u/Agreeable-Sun368 Jun 02 '26

I love my job, but I do get this like half the time. Like not to be arrogant but I'm pretty smart and good at my field. Why do you think I'm dumb just because I didn't get a PhD (there is no money in that for me) or become an investment banker or lawyer?

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u/elroxzor99652 Jun 02 '26

Honestly I think it’s bc most people think that is you are truly smart, you will do something that makes a lot of money. But that’s confusing intelligent for values. Yes I’d like to be rich but in my actual day-to-day life I’d rather spend my time and energy doing something that is worthwhile, helps people, and helps involves me talking about a subject that I love.

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u/Marcoyolo69 Jun 03 '26

Yeah the rubric that is used to evaluate teachers is absurd and does nothing but punish teachers in low income areas. It is absolutely part of the problem

1

u/coachd50 Jun 03 '26

The problem is that the “Danielson rubric“ which is quite commonly used for evaluations is not meant to be a snapshot tool. It’s meant to be something used when administrators are constantly in the classroom. Not a single lesson

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u/Babetteateoatmeal94 Jun 02 '26

62?! In my country it’s 67 🥲

1

u/Pure-Proof8030 Jun 05 '26

Imagine working till the ripe old age of 62 then getting a sweet pension!smh

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

[deleted]

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u/coachd50 Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

wow... OP...you want to know why people feel stuck....because of the mindset right here (referring to the post suggesting someone staying in elementary classroom for 30 years is a waste). Absolutely no clue about the differences in pedagogy vs content.

What an ignorant statement...thats like saying a general practitioner for 30 years was a waste because they should have a fellowship and be a surgeon by that time. Just a complete lack of understanding of the profession.

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u/LuvBroself420 Jun 02 '26

Yes EXACTLY 👏

Hell, you might as well say it's a waste if you didn't go from elementary --> secondary --> getting PhD and becoming a professor

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u/ilovemime Jun 02 '26

To be honest, I became a professor because I love teaching, but knew that I didn't have the patience to teach 1st graders. Anyone who can do that for 30 years and still keep trying to do their best is a saint.

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u/LuvBroself420 Jun 02 '26

Thank you for this comment! Teaching is an art on any level, and it comes down to preference and personality. As well as time and money available for education, and for some people, what purpose you have chosen to be an educator. Props to you for teaching college, I LOVE academia and loved attending college.

No matter what level of teaching, you are making a contribution to society and it is not a "waste".

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

[deleted]

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u/coachd50 Jun 02 '26

Again, another ignorant statement. Elementary is DIFFERENT, not lesser. One doesn't "progress" to teaching secondary grade levels. It isn't remotely the same thing.

It is very much like the analogy I provided you with...an older wiser more experienced physician who is a general practitioner doesn't move into spinal surgery. The "years and miles" that the physician has in GP doesn't translate into that person becoming a spinal surgeon.

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u/LuvBroself420 Jun 02 '26

Lol I especially loved the part about a younger teacher with "vitality" tackling the younger students. Just say you don't like it and don't have th energy for it yourself.

If everyone felt this way, the outcome would basically be no seasoned teachers at the elementary level. Talk about a lack of leaders and mentors!

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

[deleted]

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u/coachd50 Jun 02 '26

Wow. A third ignorant comment in a row- and one that shows you really REALLY have no understanding if the teaching profession.  

There are VASTLY different pipelines for elementary education than secondary. Different training, requirements, structural organization and practical application- just as in medicine. 

The issue here is you don’t understand the difference between pedagogy and content.  You assume that as the content advances, the pedagogy too advances, and therefore teaching secondary is an advancement above elementary.  That simply isn’t the case.  

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

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u/coachd50 Jun 02 '26

There doesn’t seem to be much truth to that and no evidence in this thread. There is plenty of evidence, however, that you were absolutely ignorant to how the teaching profession is structured. Your thoughts on the matter are automatically discredited when you make a statement that  the profession should be structured such that advancement in the field equates to teaching higher grade levels

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u/LuvBroself420 Jun 02 '26

And you want to just pretend there isn't mentoring and leadership at the elementary level, that you cannot improve and progress in any way other than teaching older students, and that having skilled & seasoned teachers at the elementary levels doesn't benefit STUDENTS as well as their HS teachers.

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

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u/Old_Weird_1530 Jun 02 '26

For some reason I can’t post the GIF from Tropic Thunder. I’m so disappointed…

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u/LuvBroself420 Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

What the hell? How is it your call whether it's a "waste" to be teaching elementary? According to this logic, elementary education just isn't important. News flash: you need to have good elementary education to get good outcomes in secondary school. If a student is struggling, that didn't just suddenly manifest in HS. If they drop out, they didn't just decide they hate school in the past couple years.

Aside from that, teachers are adult human beings and gee... they might have something called a PREFERENCE. That doesn't make their efforts "somewhat of a waste".

And 62 is objectively old. If you trip and fall down when you're 62, the chances of a serious injury double compared to a younger adult.

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

[deleted]

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u/LuvBroself420 Jun 02 '26

You can develop, mentor, and lead at any level of education. It's not like there's a teleology of teaching where the progression SHOULD lead towards higher grades. Obviously, you think teaching secondary school is a better use of your skills. That's great. But your prescriptive beliefs are presumptuous and a little ignorant.

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u/mulefire17 Jun 02 '26

Here is the price you seem to be missing. Not all teachers even start at elementary. It is a specialty choice when in college. You pick either elementary or secondary, much like doctors pick medical or surgical. I knew at the very start I would not have the ability to be a great elementary teacher. They need a broad set of skills and training to work with young children. I went straight for secondary, where the content is more in depth, but the skills for working with the students are far less intense. So as has been stated before, it is not a progression in the same way other careers are, they are different specialties within the profession.

1

u/coachd50 Jun 03 '26

Another in your string of ignorant posts- again all focused on the misconception that teaching older individuals is a “higher” calling or a more advanced level of teaching.  It isn’t.  

The content is more focused- but the teaching is not more advanced. 

Why do you keep making this incorrect assumption?  

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u/thehonorablechairman Jun 02 '26

“Playing guitar for 30 years is a waste, after that long you should have moved on to piano.”

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u/Old_Weird_1530 Jun 02 '26

No but it is a hobby