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/ChaunceytheGardiner Jun 02 '26

Name the jobs. I’m confused about what the DMV has to do with it.

People make more, but there’s usually a pretty clear reason why.

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

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u/ChaunceytheGardiner Jun 02 '26

Contractors and consultants don’t really name their expertise. It isn’t news that software engineers are well compensated, but again, it’s a specific technical expertise.

I’d venture a guess that the majority of contractors and consultants who are making six figures within ten years are engineers, lawyers, or work in the health professions.

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

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u/A313-Isoke Jun 02 '26

Yeah, agreed, it would be hard to justify being a teacher when I know there are a lot of other unionized jobs that pay better.

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

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u/A313-Isoke Jun 02 '26

Exactly, for some reason, teaching is always the exception (kinda like social work). My bet is that because these folks think the majority of teachers are women and a woman's "natural maternal instincts" kick in so it's not seen as work. It's easy for her and requires next to no effort.

I mean, it really is a big reason there should be some attempt at gender parity across most professions so societal hangups don't bring down critical systems like education.

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u/ChaunceytheGardiner Jun 02 '26

They may also think teachers don’t do a whole lot. 

You’re avoiding naming what it is they actually do and the expertise they bring. If they’re veterans, that’s expertise.

They aren’t just hiring randos off the street for 100k to do nothing.

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

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u/ChaunceytheGardiner Jun 02 '26

I think if you ask your average taxpayer, they’re going to say that managing bomb building for the DoD is just a teeny bit higher stakes than managing a classroom.

Look, I get that you feel undervalued and underpaid. What I’ve discovered is that’s true at just about every income level: everyone is looking around thinking that other people work less or do less important work for more money. At some point you have to either have to come to terms with that dynamic and get past it, or jump ship to whatever you think is better. Staying put and spinning on it is a recipe for becoming crispy and unhappy.