I’m becoming a school teacher.

So, quick back story for context:

After finishing up my Air Force career due to medical issues, I finished my degree in Kinesiology with the intent on working in the sports and fitness industry. I got a good start as a personal trainer/fitness manager for a local health network managing four fitness centers for one of their corporate partners. It was an ideal start to my second career.

Then COVID hit, gyms shutdown and the healthcare system I worked for cut 90% of their corporate health staff so they could allocate their funds to COVID response. 2020 completely wrecked my progression, and the outlook for the sports and fitness industry will be a difficult one to navigate going forward. People are investing in home gyms and online fitness programs. Sports programs were gutting their personnel and overhead to stay afloat. Market projections for that career field are bleak moving forward.

For 6 months I became a stay at home dad to an infant/toddler and a homeschooling teacher to a teenager while COVID displaced anything and everything. Being home with a two kids everyday was the hardest job I’ve ever had. I’m much more suited for deployments and week long military readiness training missions than I am changing diapers and entertaining children. But eventually, it grew on me. Maybe it’s cause it became all I knew for that time.

So, I went back to the drawing board once the daycare opened back up and my son went back to school. What next? Where do I go? I’m an almost 40 year old disabled vet. I can still get around but I have permanent aches and pains and some mild anxiety that pops up from time to time. I have leadership and managerial experience but more and more jobs don’t care about military leadership or experience.

I started thinking about what I’m passionate about. I love sports but there will always be a younger, smarter college grad with all the new age knowledge I don’t have, who will accept less salary than what I need. I can’t risk working in a fitness center if they’re just going to get shut down whenever people start getting sick. But my favorite job in the military was being an instructor and evaluator. So I started researching.

Locally, teachers were retiring from teaching at a rapid rate due to COVID. Just about anyone eligible to retire decided the risk wasn’t worth it. Jobs are opening up everywhere. The pay is a little “meh”, but there’s consistency there and a decent retirement program. I like mentoring and helping young people grow and develop into future leaders. I mean let’s face it....they are the generation that will be wiping my a$$ when I’m too old and broken to do it myself. So I may as well do what I can to make sure they wipe it with some competence in life.

Anyway, teaching looked to be a smart way to go. I finished my degree in 2019. I’m just about done meeting all the states requirements for the alternative resident educator licensure through the troops to teacher program, and I’ve been a substitute teacher for the past few months so I can get my bearings in a non-military classroom. Come this fall, I will be a full time teacher.

When I left the Air Force in 2017, I never would have imagined being a school teacher. Honestly, kids that have an attitude annoy the hell out of me. And a lot of kids these days not only have an attitude, but their “wokeness” about things they don’t understand can be insufferable. But that kind of adds value to this new venture. Way too many kids don’t have strong willed role models in life. Too many teachers teach opinion over fact and don’t have the strength to enforce character and moral standards in their classroom (I know there’s more too it than just a teachers ability or desire to maintain order and discipline in a classroom) . If I look at the future of America and see progressively weaker and weaker generations...then I suppose I ought to do my part to try to be the change I want to see in the world.

Anyway...that’s my non-political contribution to ATS for the day. I had some free time so I figured I could share that.

Cheers

a reply to: Assassin82

Teaching is good in some states and awful in others.
Around here they are paid pretty well based on the cost of living with great benefits.
You work 180ish days instead of 250 days for most people. You don't have to drive in bad weather.

Then there are the kids...ugh

a reply to: Assassin82

That seems very positive.

Definitely try and get a job in a rural area. Kids are less ‘woke’ out there. I couldn’t imagine teaching in a big city.

a reply to: Assassin82

Couldn't think of someone better to be a teacher.

But fan of how you look at things issue by issue. Kids need critical thinking, and I hope you help them with that.

a reply to: KKLOCO

Then it defeats the purpose of teaching. Inner city kids, need to be taught actual history and morals.
While providing them with the real-world tools they need to succeed; so as they grow older, they too can spread a positive and informed message.

To the OP; well done, best of luck on your endeavors and may the waters be calmed by your approach.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
Couldn't think of someone better to be a teacher.

*ahem*

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
Couldn't think of someone better to be a teacher.

*ahem*

If we're talking about the context of you and kids I'd say I couldn't think of a better chef.

Teaching is being phased to ALL online. Covid will never end. A friend of mine has been a teachers for many years, and he says online teaching is more like film production due to the permenance of the class archives. He's always stressed out now and no longer loves teaching. Not trying to be a wet blanket, just thought I'd share.

sorry double post

a reply to: Assassin82

Glad you found something you enjoy. Teaching is hard and very much an art to it.

We need more teachers with real world experience.

Teaching can actually be rewarding financially (at least around my parts). My kids 1st grade teacher makes $80k/yr. Golden pensions.

originally posted by: cointelpatrol
Teaching is being phased to ALL online. Covid will never end. A friend of mine has been a teachers for many years, and he says online teaching is more like film production due to the permenance of the class archives. He's always stressed out now and no longer loves teaching. Not trying to be a wet blanket, just thought I'd share.

I think there will always be some form of brick and mortar education. Parents rely on it so their kids are occupied while they are working. Obviously there will be a shift towards technology, but I fear educators will become terribly complacent if they rely on the online platform. Kids will also retain less if they’re expected to learn through zoom and google meets.

a reply to: Assassin82

That and one of the biggest parts of going to school is developing social skills and emotional intelligence. Those things can't be learned online.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: Assassin82

Couldn't think of someone better to be a teacher.

But fan of how you look at things issue by issue. Kids need critical thinking, and I hope you help them with that.

Thanks! Critical thinking is becoming a lost art. I just hope it’s not by design. I’ll do my best!

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: Assassin82

That and one of the biggest parts of going to school is developing social skills and emotional intelligence. Those things can't be learned online.

Absolutely! My sons social skills are worsening even though we encourage him to go out and try to do things with his friends. It’s almost like being boxed up for a year has degraded children’s social behaviors and given them all a high dose of social anxiety.

Congratulations! I wish you the best. I come from a family of teachers and I hope you make the best of it, and it gives you the direction you’re needing.

Way to take control of your life and sink your teeth into a profession that truly needs more gentle thinkers to illuminate the way.

Go get ‘em!

a reply to: Assassin82

The screens and the apps they run are made with the direct intent of hitting the dopamine receptors.

Even adults are susceptible to the reward mechanisms, to children it's detrimental.

Nothing can ever replace being surrounded by peers growing up, and using the engagement with them to find enrichment and symbiotic growing.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: Assassin82

That and one of the biggest parts of going to school is developing social skills and emotional intelligence. Those things can't be learned online.

I would argue that today's schools are not the best place for those either.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: Assassin82

That and one of the biggest parts of going to school is developing social skills and emotional intelligence. Those things can't be learned online.

One of my clients does home schooling in a co-op group type of thing.
I've been to his business when the kids were doing their thing. I would say around 30 kids of all grades.
From what I've seen, most of those kids are......odd..socially speaking.
Not sure if that's from home schooling or heavy religious influence...or both.

a reply to: Assassin82
As the son of two school-teachers and the grandson of another one, I have to applaud courage and dedication.
I couldn't do it, because I could not control modern classes.

I'd like to commend to you this little poem;

"The teacher stood at the Pearly Gates
Her face was worn and old
She stood before the Man of Fate
For admission to the fold.

"What have you done", St. Peter asked,
To gain admission here?"
"I've been a teacher, sir", she said,
"For many and many a year."

The Pearly Gates swung open wide,
St. Peter touched the bell.
"Come in" he said "and choose your harp.
You've had your share of Hell."

(From the Foreword of "Don't Do it!", by Jane Hope, 1947)

a reply to: Bluntone22

Even private schools seem to leave a different impression, so I can only imagine home school co-op.

Something about being raised in a bubble. There's something to be said about going to a public school and seeing the contrast between kids coming from different walks of life.