The College Fix

As a quarter-century-plus veteran educator who’s retiring from the field in a couple of weeks, I had to react to this Buzzfeed article which my wife (also a teacher) had forwarded me: 23 Things People Always Get Completely Wrong About Teachers.

Always and completely? Welllll … not quite. Some of the following are spot-on, but others (unfortunately for the relevant parties) prove some of the stereotypes correct.

Buzzfeed’s original list is in bold; my reaction is in italics, followed by commentary by yours truly.

1. For some unknown reason, people tend to think you have it easy.
Reaction: Get real.
If it’s so easy, why do many studies show that a large percentage of new teachers leave the profession within the first five years?

2. Maybe it’s because they assume you work ONLY from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Reaction: Seriously??
This one always gets me. Even phys. ed. teachers have to grade stuff for the health classes they teach. Then there’s entering grades online, contacting parents and/or students, lesson planning …

3. …and that you have the ENTIRE summer off, during which you do absolutely NOTHING.
Reaction: Partially true.
First, summer runs from June 21 to September 21. Many schools don’t even let out until after the former date, and virtually all begin before the latter. Many (most) newer teachers will be working over the summer revising lessons, creating activities, taking classes, and attending workshops. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful amount of time off compared to other professions.

4. Contrary to popular belief, you actually don’t get paid much, considering how much time you put in.
Reaction: Partially true.
Again, this depends a lot on how many years a teacher has put in. Newer teachers will generally put in more hours than older ones (because the latter have already developed their lessons and activities, natch). In addition, a lot depends on where you live/teach. Further, coaching positions generally pay a pittance compared to the amount of time teachers spend with practices and games.

5. If you teach younger kids, people think all you do is sit around and color all day.
Reaction: C’mahn.
Many folks today know the insane amount of standardized testing kids have to endure, and who else will prepare them? Nevertheless, remember, play is a legitimate part of young children’s education.

6. …and they suggest you’re actually just a glorified babysitter.
Reaction: Partially true.
In some of the worst schools where discipline is basically a pipe dream, teachers — despite their best efforts, mind you — are, unfortunately, glorified babysitters.

7 & 8. If you teach older kids, the assumption goes that you merely feed information to students … and that you teach ONLY your subject matter and nothing more.
Reaction: Ridiculous.
Of course, parents want teachers to know, and then teach, the subject matter, but a teacher has to be much more than that. They have to be psychologists, counselors, mediators, cops, and many other professions all at once. They routinely deal with 30+ individuals in a classroom all with their own set of needs, worries, and desires.

9 & 10. As a result, people think that ANYONE can do your job — and do it better, and some believe they know how to teach just because they themselves went to school.
Reaction: No way.
Teachers typically hear two things from the general public: “I wouldn’t want your job for all the tea in China,” and “What a cake job you have there.” There’s little in between. Those who say the former usually know how discipline has deteriorated over the decades, while those in the latter camp think all you have to do is regurgitate the subject matter and voilà.

11. No matter what level you teach, you’re often regarded as a one-dimensional character with almost no skill.
Reaction: Nope.
Make no mistake — good teachers know their subject matter inside and out and know how to get it across and know how to maintain classroom order.

12. Then there’s the assumption that you don’t know what you’re doing, despite the fact that you STUDIED education.
Reaction: Latter part has a point.
Unfortunately, way too many schools of education at colleges across the country are too concerned about churning out social justice warriors instead of teachers that can competently deliver information — all the while dealing with the everyday myriad issues with which children come to school.

13. And your major, by the way, was NOT an easy one, as many of your non-education friends suggested.
Reaction: Actually, it was pretty easy.
Sorry, but an education major is an easy one compared to almost any other field of college study, especially at the graduate level. Here’s a tip: If you’re interested in becoming a teacher, especially a secondary-level one, first choose a non-education major (say, like biology) and, if possible, fill your free electives with education courses. Or, upon graduation, go back to school and take the requisite education classes your state requires.

14. Sadly, some people actually believe the saying, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.”
Reaction: Partially true. It depends on the field of study. It’s highly likely teachers in the fields of math, the sciences, computers, and shop could “do” elsewhere; humanities teachers less so. But hey — someone’s gotta teach those subjects!

15. And you’ve actually heard people say, “But you’re so smart. You could have been so much more,” as if teaching weren’t a worthy profession.
Reaction: Too subjective.
Who is anybody to tell you that what you do is “worthy?”

16. While many parents are incredibly supportive, some blame you for the fact that their children are misbehaving or doing poorly in school.
Reaction: Unfortunately VERY true.
When I was in school, I’d be petrified to tell my folks I got into trouble at school that day. These days, way too many parents take their kids’ word at face value, and lambaste the teacher/administrator for “picking on” their child. As for poor academic performance, that used to be on the kid and parents. Nowadays, despite way better methods of communication (like email and online grade reporting), too many teachers hear things like “Why wasn’t I notified immediately about this (poor test grade)?” or “What do you mean he can’t retake it??”

“@thegooglefact: 1969 vs Today pic.twitter.com/c1ivMMcxoT” @beckybarnhill08 you might be teaching in the wrong era! Haha

— Lance McMahon (@lmcmahon7) September 25, 2014

17. …and, not believing you to be a professional, they feel qualified to tell you how to do your job.
Reaction: Partially true.
While many not in the teaching profession may feel they would know how to do things better, teachers have to keep in mind that they are paid by the taxpayers. Even if you, a teacher, find yourself shanghaied by a district constituent offering all sorts of unsolicited advice, put a smile on your face and nod appreciatively. This person helps to financially support you, after all.

18. Despite spending hours each day together, students also make a fair number of assumptions about teachers: for example, that you’re out to get them.
Reaction: True.
But this is not unlike parenting: Kids won’t really “get it” until they’re adults, for the most part. No matter how much you try to explain your motivations, true understanding and acceptance won’t occur until kids are in the real world.

19. Or that you give students their grades.
Reaction: Spot on.
My brief retort when I hear “Why did you give me a (fill in a letter grade)??”: “Don’t you mean what I put down for the grade you earned?”

20. Or, hilariously, that you don’t have a life outside of school.
Reaction: Yep.
“Hey Mr. Huber, was that you I saw running yesterday? You run?? Or, “You hang out with other teachers sometimes — outside of school??”

21. Even more hilariously, some students expect you to know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING.
Reaction: Partially true.
It’s often an either-or situation — either a teacher knows everything, or he/she knows nothing outside of the subject area.

22 & 23. At the end of the day, though, you know that teaching is actually an incredible gift …and you ARE indeed making a difference, one student at a time.
Reaction: Mostly true.
Good and great teachers make differences in kids’ lives … and are indeed gifts to them. But like any other profession, the lemons can give everyone else a bad rep. Always keep that in mind.

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