It's not always the money or the work!

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Home : 2003 : June : 27

It's not always the money or the work!
By Cathy-Dee

I'm glad you have made peace with your decision. Teaching is definitely not for everyone and when the job gets you down that much you should get out.

As far as pay goes, it's not terrible everywhere. I actually dislike
everyone lumping all teacher's into the underpaid category all the time. I teach in Canada and I'm making $70,000 a year which is more than I could make at many other jobs I'd be qualified for.
As far as summers off, I'm no different than I was when I worked in another job that gave me 2 weeks paid vacation. All it meant was that they spread out my wages to cover those two weeks as

well. Yes there are some school districts that only pay for the 10 months which I would hate. However I do agree with everyone else in that most of us rarely have a full two months off. I'll be working on a number of things this summer plus taking a week long course in August. I know many who work on their masters degree during the summer and some who also do extra work (marking, tutoring) as well.

And I also really dislike the comments I get from those not in teaching about how I get to go home at 3:30 every day and have summers off, etc., It would be nice if more parents and government officials could really see the amount of work we do put in and often on hours out of actual school hours. So I just try to educate those around me whenever possible.

As far as the work and time spent working - I am thankful I'm in a good school division and school where I can have many of my evenings off for the most part and definitely my weekends off. There are not many jobs out there in today's world (that pay decent money) where overtime is not part of the equation. I often put in extra time in my old job and wasn't paid for it and I was not paid anywhere near the $70,000 I currently make.

Real Estate is a great job, but if you think you'll have more time to yourself...it may not be that way. I have several friends in real estate and they put in way more hours than I do. Their pay is dependant on how much they sell so they work weekends, evenings, whatever it takes to get that home sold. And while a few are independent, some do work for larger real estate companies so they are not truly their own bosses either.

But at least some of my friends really love the real estate business. I know I wouldn't, but then again I don't mind teaching and I can put up with the "bureacracy" for the most part. I think it is SO IMPORTANT for everyone to find a career that makes them happy and makes them feel like they are accomplishing something worthwhile in their lives.

I truly wish you the best in your future endeavors.