Career Description:
Educators make huge contributions to the minds and the lives
of millions of students of all ages throughout the world.
The education
profession offers many rewards, from the smile of a child
who has just
learned to read, to the intellectually stimulating and
dynamic
atmosphere of the classroom, to summers off. The field of
education is
constantly evolving, and U.S. schools are looking for
energetic teachers
with innovative ideas to help guide our youth, as well as
the
profession, into the next century.
Labor Trends:
According to the National Commission on Teaching and
America’s Future, more than two million new elementary,
middle and high
school teachers will be needed in the next 10 years, so
educators will
be in demand.
Personal Attributes:
Individuals who choose a career in education and
training must have a love of learning and the desire
and ability to
convey their enthusiasm to students. They need to be
patient in order to
teach students who have difficulty understanding.
Careers in education
and training require individuals who can relate to
students of various
cultural, economic and religious backgrounds.
Required Experience:
There are several courses of study that would help
make someone successful in this career field. Some
suggested courses
are:
- business math
- algebra
- geometry
- English
- world geography
- American government
- American history
- world history
- science
- keyboarding
- word processing
- personal finance/business economic
- business systems and procedures
- computer information management Each career in education and training will have areas of specialties.
Working Conditions:
Many teachers work more than 40 hours per week if you
include their responsibility outside the classroom.
Most teachers work a
10-month school year with a 2-month vacation in the
summer. In states
that have tenure laws, teachers cannot be fired
without just cause.
Although seeing individuals develop new skills can be
very rewarding,
teaching can be frustrating when dealing with
unmotivated and
disrespectful students. Teachers may experience stress
when dealing with
large classes, violence in the classroom and heavy
workloads.