My Experience as a Substitute Teacher
I have officially completed a full school year as a substitute teacher. I feel happy and proud that I was able to stick it out. There were multiple times where I had bad days and wanted nothing more than to quit on the spot. However, I persevered and made it to the end. Yet, right now I am at a crossroads. I will need to decide whether teaching is what I want to continue doing. Being a teacher can be very fulfilling, but it is also exhausting.
Let’s get one thing clear: teaching and education is no joke. It takes a lot to be a teacher today in the United States which is due to a variety of factors. Anyone who is a current teacher deserves all the respect and recognition for being in the occupation. Currently as a nation we are facing a teacher shortage that is making many school districts desperate to fill positions with either certified teachers, remote teachers, or permanent substitutes. For those unemployed or struggling, this can be a guaranteed stable job to grab. However, I am making this post to advise people not to enter the occupation with half-hearted intent, and to help reveal some of the reasons why you would not want to teach.
My experience and input stems from being a substitute teacher. I am still a fledgling with a year under my belt, but I have learned so much during this time. It has made me rethink my decision to pursue teaching as a career. However, I hope these points can shed light on the difficulties of teaching and help anyone decide whether being a teacher is right for them.
#5: Teaching is Not the Inspirational Job We Think It Is
Now this is a little controversial. Teaching is important, yes. It is definitely a profession we should hold a lot of respect and admiration for. Teachers have such an important role to play in a child’s development. However, it is also important to understand that you will not change every student’s life. You will not have these miraculous moments of inspiration that change a student’s direction or reinvent the profession.
As a teacher, you will often struggle with student apathy. Students yawn at the most stimulating plan you can create. You can try to build relationships, but not every student will want to let you in. For many students, you’ll find that they just view your class as something they need to graduate. And that isn’t a bad thing, but it could feel discouraging especially if you came into the job wanting to make a big impact. However, you will find small moments. You will find students who open themselves up to you. You will see the impact your effort and care can have. Those small moments are the best.
#4: Toxic Work Environment in Schools
Now this is universal for any job. Where there are people, there will be toxicity and unhealthy interactions. School faculty are no exception. There very much is cliques and hierarchies within teachers at any school. For the high school I was at, there were teachers who were cool with each other to the point where outsiders or new teachers may not feel welcome. There were older more experienced teachers who did not agree with how I ran my classes and did not hesitate to let me know. However, the degree of toxicity at a school can depend. Cliques are not inherently bad. Yet, I heard horror stories from other teachers who described being in schools where teachers put each other down, pushed work onto someone else, and actively worked to get someone fired.
Ultimately, a school’s culture will depend on administration. This is why if you want to get into teaching, pay attention to the principal’s vibes. It could save you stress later. And it is important to note that a school will not be 100% fun and always positive. It’ll just depend on what a person can be willing to deal with.
#3: The Behind-the-Scenes Work of a Teacher
As a substitute teacher, I did not have to do too much of the behind-the-scenes work that a teacher normally does. Yet, I still was aware of everything a teacher needs to do and had a little bit of work to do myself. Grading and creating lesson plans are the obvious work that a teacher must do behind the scenes. In addition to this, as a teacher, you will go to meetings on curriculum, IEP meetings, and parent-teacher meetings. This can all be very draining. Each one is necessary and important. Yet, it’s everything all at once on top of their regular teaching duties that can sour the joy one might have for the job. Bureaucracy is not fun.
#2: Being a Teacher means being On Overdrive Mode
This was my biggest source of stress. As a teacher, students will bombard you with a barrage of questions and statements. It does not matter if they are in 2nd grade, 7th, or a junior in high school. These kids always have something to say, stories to share, and a million questions to ask. Often, the questions and statements hit you all at once. In a typical class period, I’ll have 2 people ask to go to the bathroom, 1 to go to the Main Office, 3 asking for a pencil or paper, and more than half the class ask what they’re supposed to be doing.
There is also a physical aspect to this. Elementary teachers deal with both mental and physical exhaustion. These younger grades have more physical activities than upper grades. In addition, younger kids have much more energy and run around. Teachers will often be on their feet all day attending their classes. So, I advise you to prepare to be in overdrive mode.
#1: As a Teacher, Your Safety is Always at Risk
Safety will always be the obvious number one reason why people find it hard to get into teaching. As a country, we are seeing a rise in gun violence and poor mental health among young people. This is reflected in schools. However, it’s not always these most extreme cases. It’s much more common for students to throw tantrums or get physical. In those situations, it can be difficult to deescalate if you have no training. There were times when I was subbing where I would hear a student yell at the teacher and throw things. As a teacher you are expected to not be personally offended or emotional which can be hard. No one wants to be yelled at, berated, or physically hurt. Going into teaching means understanding that there will always be a looming threat of violence.
These were my top five reasons why someone might not want to become a teacher. As I continue to work as a substitute, I know I’ll probably find more reasons why teaching is difficult. Yet, I will not deny that there are positive aspects to the job. I would just point out that teaching is one of those occupations that people on the outside will have a rose-colored glasses perspective. However, the reality of teaching can be much more mundane and stressful. I hope this post will clear up any hesitancy one might have about become a teacher. It’s important to fully understand the job you are entering in order to do the best that you can.
