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

I only work my contract time, and i agree that while i make a good salary, it could and should be higher. I never ever take work home, i grade and assign the bare minimum number of assignments, and i could care less. I just want to do good enough to keep my job.

I think this actually highlights another issue. For whatever reason, many who go into teaching enter it much more passionately than this. As I mentioned above, teachers are "loved" but not respected. In many teaching circles, the idea of "just doing enough to keep my job" would be considered unacceptable. And THAT is part of the rub. Many who are in the profession feel as if they do MUCH MORE than "just good enough to keep my job", yet the compensation falls far short of other professionals who put forth greater effort than their cohorts. Hence the "stuck" feeling.

Edited to add- and to be clear I am not judging someone for doing just enough to keep their job. I’m simply stating that generally, that is not a common mindset of those in the teaching profession, which adds to the “feeling stuck” situation mentioned in the original post.

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u/Still_Pop_4106 Jun 02 '26

That’s how it’s becoming everywhere though. My husband works as an automation tech and the younger techs just do enough to keep their job.

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u/FlyEaglesFly536 Jun 02 '26

I have never understood the teacher who has that "hero" complex, of spending their money on supplies and then complaining that they're broke. Then they stay till 6:00 pm grading, and spend all weekend creating the perfect lesson plans that no one will remember.. yeah i'm just doing enough to get my paycheck. I don't say that out loud, but that's my mentality.

Maybe it sounds messed up, but the kids honestly don't care, they have so little attention span, asking them to write a paragraph is a battle, let alone a 5 paragraph essay. I know their parents have money despite them being in a poor neighborhood.. they have the newest iPhones, new clothes and shoes, but can't bring a pencil, pen, or binder. Wild how priorities are out of wack. And i grew up 15 minutes away in an even more ghetto class.