Teaching fellow career dilemma - help!

[Allyo]

So I have been applying and interviewing for jobs lately. I found an opportunity to become a bilingual Teaching Fellow. The program basically speeds up the teaching certification process for college graduates who have no experience teaching and then helps to place them in a high-needs school district. They want a commitment of at least 3 years, which is understandable, and you are required to get your teaching certificate during this time with the option of getting your Master's degree in education.

 

I have somewhat of an ethical problem with pursuing this. The program ideally wants to retain people who go into teaching long-term, although I can say from the start that I don't think I would want to teach for more than 3 years. I would certainly work to obtain the certification, but my plan at this moment in my life has been just to work for 2-3 years and then pursue a Master's degree (although not in education).

 

Having said that I do think I would be a good teacher, and I certainly feel passionate about the importance of a good education. I think I have a personality that would be well-suited to the classroom, and I love that I could be creative to a certain extent in delivering my lesson plans, as well as interacting with the kids. Growing up I really wanted to be a teacher for several periods in my lifetime - I just had so many interests that I was always changing my mind!

 

I feel like my intentions are certainly good going into this program. I don't expect it to be easy, and I know it will require a lot of hard work. Like anything else I imagine there will be a sharp learning curve, especially the first year. Yet I like that I could put to use a lot of my skills, like being fluent in Spanish, and the job certainly seems more appealing to me than a lot of what I am finding right now. It seems like a good fit "for now."

 

But I wonder - would it be unethical to pursue something like this even though I am not looking to become a long-term teacher beyond the minimum 3-year commitment?

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks a lot

[SayWhen]

Yes, I do think it's unethical because you might be taking a placement away from someone who is really passionate about a career in education. Education is truly a calling and public education right now is horrendous in this country. I worked for three years in one of the worst schools (public) in inner-city Philadelphia. You do not get to be creative because you have to essentially follow a script when you teach. Older students are immensely disrespectful and the parents are even worse. I worked in Kindergarten and First Grade and many of the parents could not help their students with homework because the parents didn't understand it!!! It's sad because many teachers cannot use their skills in their teaching. The district doesn't want creativity! Maybe it's different in other cities. Maybe you could job shadow?

[WhenWillILove]

I say in this economy where you do need money, go for it. Yeah, somebody could be more passionate about teaching than you....I'm sure they'll be passionate enough to apply to more districts than you. Go for this job. You might like in the end.

Plus, plenty of people who switch careers who initially were passionate about their jobs.

[Snny]

I teach in an urban school system (adolescent students) that is considered in "high need" based on low testing achievement and the demographs. I work with large student population of Black/Hispanic, low income households, ESL, below level literacy, and special needs. I am going to be dead honest with you... it is NOT an easy, relaxing work enviornment if you do not know what you are doing, cannot handle high stress levels, and if the school does not provide enough support for a first year teacher. There is a lot that goes into becoming a successful teacher that you would often find yourself making millions of decisions everyday.

 

A lot of urban schools who are under performing expect educators ot be top-notch in handling student behaviors and delivering good lessons that meet curicculum objectives. It can be extremely tough to balance the administration's expectations of what needs to be done and how you manage your classroom with low motivated students. For a first year teacher, it is a stressful experience and it will only get better if you reflect upon your own practices and improve your teaching craft that lets your students know that you are in charge and worthy of following. You have to command their respect by showing it (no matter how rude some might be toward you based on outside influences) and enforcing negative behaviors when they first arise (and not letting them slide). Not everyone is cut for teaching and some teachers burn out after their first or second year of teaching if they are not prepared or cannot develop a good rapport with the students, parents, and faculty.

 

I am not trying to be negative or scare anybody away from becoming a teacher. This has truly been based on my personal experience that I want people to be aware of before jumping into a program like this without realizing there are risks. I have heard stories of people regretting doing a program like this because they were not aware of the job expectations or prepared to handle the kind of environment. I was especially concerned about this statement as well:

 

I have somewhat of an ethical problem with pursuing this. The program ideally wants to retain people who go into teaching long-term, although I can say from the start that I don't think I would want to teach for more than 3 years.

If you aren't passionate about teaching... kids will sense it and will do ANYTHING to get you to leave. They will even push you further if they decide they don't like you (which is why building relationships with students is very critical in managing them). The career burnout rate for teachers is pretty high... some don't last for more than a year when teaching in an urban school. You can develop the best and most creative lesson plans in the world... but if you cannot get your classes under control, you will not be able to deliver the plans that you spent hours on. I learned this the hard way during my first year, but I eventually got better after reflecting.

 

My most critical advice to any first year teachers who plan to teach in an urban school environment is you got to have a tough skin to put up with behaviors that will throw your classes off or will try to shake you up/get a reaction from you.

Having structured classroom management routines will make your first year easier. Since you are creative... jot down ideas on your classroom routines. For example... When can students use the bathroom and how many times in a grading quarter? How can they ask for help on an assignment during class without disrupting the whole class (this can be a way to push students in becoming more indepedent with their learning than having to rely on you for all the answers)? What is the expected routine when students first enter your room? What is your grading/make-up policy? How can students earn incentive rewards? If you want, I can help you with that

 

If you are considering teaching, I recommend internships or volunteer before jumping in a 3 year contract that might not work out for you. That way you build experience AND ideas on managing your class and developing strong lesson plans. But if you are dead set on doing this program anyway... research the school you teach in. Ask questions about the administration's policies on handling discipline and giving new teachers support before signing any contract.

[Snny]

I worked for three years in one of the worst schools (public) in inner-city Philadelphia. You do not get to be creative because you have to essentially follow a script when you teach.

Oof! I feel you. Creativity... depends on the school. My school system only cares about getting our students to perform better on tests, raising their GPA, and meeting the curicculum They tell the teachers to do whatever it takes as long as they are meeting those annual objectives. My school particularly brought in a bunch of new teachers to bring in fresh ideas and asked the remaining teachers to re-evaluate their lessons based on student needs.

 

I worked in Kindergarten and First Grade and many of the parents could not help their students with homework because the parents didn't understand it!!!

Yep and this is very true when your school has a high percentage of ESL students unless you're teaching Math. I teach English... and the parents of ESL students who only understand their homeland's language struggle to help their children with writing or reading assignments. It's why my students do all the writing inside the classroom. I give a small amount of homework out largely for this reason.

 

It's sad because many teachers cannot use their skills in their teaching. The district doesn't want creativity! Maybe it's different in other cities.

In my school it's not that teacher's "can't use their skills," but a teacher is expected to readjust their teaching styles and management to fit the needs of every student. A lot of the stuff I learned from student teaching in rural areas... I had to throw most of it out the window and readjust it to fit the needs of my students. You got to be super flexible to be a successful teacher because every generation is different.