An Honest Look at the Cons of Becoming a Teacher

Negative and Challenging Aspects of Teaching Not Often Considered

Aug 18, 2008

The field of education can be rewarding. But teaching is demanding, with downsides not always fully explored or understood by those considering it as a career.

When asked why a person becomes a teacher, among the most oft-cited reasons are loving children and wanting to make a difference in the lives of students. While these are good and noble reasons, there are aspects to teaching that many people do not consider in advance and that might not necessarily show up on personality profiles and testing.

Here are six frank questions prospective teachers should ask themselves before committing to a career in education.

One Building All Day

Is it enjoyable being in one place all day? Many jobs offer a great deal of freedom in terms of being able to come and go to meetings with clients, set your own work schedule, etc. Teaching is not one of them. Teachers are in one building and one classroom all day with very little adult interaction. A teaching job definitely brings with it a significant lack of personal freedom.

Is Loving Children the Right Motivation?

What is the motivation for working with children? Is it a desire to have children someday and teaching will suffice until then? Or does this love of children transcend even putting up with and loving poorly parented ones with many issues? Many women love children and look forward to having their own family. They see teaching as a way to enjoy children in the meantime. This is fine when working with nice, well-behaved children. But will the teacher feel the same way when the children are demanding, poorly behaved children whose parents won’t do anything about it and she has to deal with them all day, every day for nine months?

Unrelenting and Unrealistic Demands

Is the potential teacher able to function in a situation where he can never meet the demands before him and yet will be judged by whether or not he does? Teachers are expected to do everything and be everything to every one of their students. The educational demands placed on teachers today are simply not attainable. Can the potential teacher cope with the relentless expectations, knowing he/she can never meet them? For a perfectionist, this may be especially challenging and overwhelming.

Introvert or Extrovert

Is the potential teacher an introvert or an extrovert? For someone who isn't sure the answer to this question, ask this: From where does the potential teacher draw renewed energy? From being alone or from being with people? Introverts need time alone every day in order to function well. Extroverts thrive on being with people and draw energy from others. Introverts may find teaching very challenging when it means very little time alone to recharge.

Love Teaching or School

Does the potential teacher love teaching and school? Many people enjoy the teaching and learning aspect of being a teacher. But it also invovles school School is all of the other “stuff” with which a teacher must contend each day such as management issues, student behavior modification plans, helicopter parents, etc. A love of learning and subject matter isn’t enough. Teaching is only a small portion of the job.

Giving Up Personal Freedom

Is the potential teacher willing to give up a great deal of freedom? Teachers do very little of their own scheduling. Schedules are generally dictated by school-wide specials schedules (art, music, physical education, languages) as well as the school recess and lunch schedule. Teachers literally cannot use the bathroom unless they have an open time in their schedule when the students are elsewhere.

While it is true that teachers get a few longer vacations, the reality is that teachers have very little freedom when it comes to their schedule. They get their vacations when the school says they do. Teachers get personal days and sick days, but planning for a substitute teacher is almost as bad as just going to school sick so teachers often do not take days off even when necessary.

Teachers have almost no freedom in planning any kind of vacation outside of the normal school schedule. This especially includes vacations or getaways in the fall when it is especially critical the teacher is in the classroom every day in order to lay the groundwork for the year’s procedures and educational practices. Personal time away from school is almost non-existent during the school year.

Teaching can be a rewarding career for the right person. But honestly examining the negative aspects of teaching will help future teachers be better prepared for them professionally.

The copyright of the article An Honest Look at the Cons of Becoming a Teacher in New Teacher Support is owned by Sallie Schaaf Borrink. Permission to republish An Honest Look at the Cons of Becoming a Teacher in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Aug 25, 2008 11:12 AM

Guest :

Good teachers are extroverts!

Unless you live in a shell and can't socialize or communicate do not become a teacher! The best teachers are outgoing and can entertain while making learning fun for any age!

Aug 25, 2008 7:04 PM

Sallie Schaaf Borrink :

Thanks for your comment!

I believe introverts can be good teachers. I am an introvert and I was a very good and successful teacher. However, I don't think introverts often realize how draining teaching may be for them. So that was the point I was making. Not to discourage introverts from becoming teachers, but to recognize that teaching is much more draining for introverts than it is for extroverts.

Aug 30, 2008 6:05 PM

Guest :

I agree with Sallie. I'm an introvert and a great teacher. I appreciate what you say though because I think that I need to make sure I take time to myself during the day in order to recharge a little bit. Much obliged for the thought.

Sep 14, 2008 9:35 AM

Guest :

Being a good teacher has nothing to do with being introverted or extroverted. Introverts are awesome teachers.

Dec 8, 2008 2:24 PM

Guest :

Guest/teacher:

I think this is an excellent article. These may be some of the reasons why many teachers leave within the first 5 years of teaching. If we value teachers and their contributions, we need to improve their working conditions. I find not having bathroom breaks and lunch breaks somewhat inhumane!

Feb 23, 2009 8:29 AM

Guest :

Thank you for this article! I am seriously thinking of making a career change to become a teacher, but am worried that there are important aspects of the job of which I may not be aware that I need to know about. I am an introvert and I already know it will be a very demanding and draining job. I'm very glad several introverts commented to say that even if you are an introvert you can still be an effective teacher and enjoy it!

Mar 9, 2009 6:58 PM

Guest :

I'm honestly a little confused about whether I'm an "introvert" or an "extrovert" per se, because I think I fall in between both descriptions. I really need a balance to recharge, meaning that I need SOME time alone (which would suggest I'm an introvert), yet to some extent I need to be with others to recharge. Too much of being alone makes me feel like I'm isolated and separated from society (thereby being a negative), yet being with others can be draining if there is no break to be alone, at least a little bit of time. Thus, where do I fall? I love teaching. Yet I don't know if I would love teaching kids, but to teach older people (i.e., college-aged students and beyond) requires a doctorate, and I don't have the option to pursue that route at this time.