Being an elementary school teacher is a rewarding career for many, even if it can be stressful from time to time. But generally, are all elementary school teachers happy with their jobs?
Most elementary school teachers are happy with their jobs, but there will always be some who aren’t. Elementary school teachers enjoy working with children and find the work rewarding and challenging. Teachers who aren’t happy may have chosen the wrong profession.
This article will discuss why most elementary school teachers are happy with their jobs in greater detail. It’ll also discuss why some may not be happy with their jobs, so keep reading to learn more.
Why Are Elementary School Teachers Happy With Their Jobs?
Elementary school teachers are happy with their jobs because they enjoy teaching children and having an impact on their lives. A good teacher can positively affect a child for the rest of their lives, so many teachers enjoy having such a strong impact.
Being an elementary school teacher is certainly a fast-paced job, so you’d need to be okay with that environment to enjoy it. Even some teachers who feel underpaid enjoy their jobs because the work itself is rewarding and enjoyable.
So now, let’s take a closer look at why most elementary school teachers are happy with their jobs.
Having an Impact
For many people, it’s gratifying to impact people’s lives.
As an excellent elementary school teacher, you have the opportunity to make a difference in your students’ lives beyond the classroom. This is why so many people enjoy their jobs. Seeing your students do well in their education because of your teaching skills is highly rewarding, and it can often help them outside of school.
As a teacher of young kids, you are helping them with the basic skills they’ll need to grow further and develop.
This includes math and spelling, which seem basic to some people. But this is a huge responsibility, and it’s an excellent opportunity to have a positive impact on children.
Working With Kids
There’s no question that to enjoy your job as an elementary school teacher, you need to enjoy working with kids.
So, people who enjoy working with kids generally enjoy elementary teaching.
Team-building is a big part of an elementary teaching job, and it can be fun to teach children the importance of working as a team. Not only that but teaching your students the importance of teamwork will also make your job easier because they learn to help each other through many of their struggles.
Other than team-building, there are other reasons why working with kids is enjoyable and rewarding. Children look up to adults, so you have the opportunity to show your students the importance of fair and kind leadership.
Hope and Sincerity
Children are always the most hopeful and sincere in our society, so many people find joy in working with them. Because of their innocence and lack of life experience, children have no problem displaying emotions and being hopeful about everything.
This can help brighten your days and give you some hope for the future.
Keeping Busy
As an elementary school teacher, you’re always going to be busy.
Many people enjoy this side of the job because it keeps things exciting and upbeat. The teachers who enjoy their jobs the most are the ones who enjoy being busy during the workday and always having something to do.
Those who prefer sitting down and not being as active on their feet tend not to enjoy the job so much.
Some Elementary School Teachers Are Unhappy In Their Jobs
Although most elementary school teachers are happy with their jobs, some aren’t as thrilled about them.
There are many reasons for this, and it happens in every career path. Generally, it happens because people realize that they’ve chosen the wrong career path, and some teachers may feel burned out from the stress of the job, which makes them unhappy.
Below is a video that talks about the effects of stress on teachers:
Now, let’s look at some of the main reasons elementary teachers aren’t happy with their jobs.
Don’t Enjoy Working With Kids
Some people may like kids and assume that they’ll enjoy working with them, but it’s not always the case. Working with kids can be highly stressful, especially if you’re teaching an unruly class.
Many people don’t enjoy the pressure of controlling a classroom full of young kids, making them unhappy with their job.
Additionally, some people may realize that they don’t like the responsibility of teaching kids. After all, when you’re responsible for their education, it is something that needs to be taken quite seriously.
More Hours Than Expected
Many people go into teaching thinking they’ll only need to work during class hours, but there’s a lot more to it than that. As an elementary school teacher, you need to prepare for your classes and correct many class tests in your spare time.
Although some new teachers expect only to work 20-30 hours per week, it is a full-time job, and a lot of work needs to get done outside of class time. The average teacher works approximately 40 hours per week, just like many other full-time jobs.
Since class time doesn’t take up 40 hours a week, many people are surprised by this and subsequently become unhappy with the job.
Low Pay
Although many teachers are happy with their pay, others aren’t. Since they’re not satisfied with that, it could make them unhappy with the rest of the job.
The median salary for elementary school teachers is approximately $60,000 per year. But this varies greatly depending on which part of the country you’re in. Many teachers earn less than this, which is considered too low for some, especially when you consider inflation rates.
Too Fast-Paced
Some elementary teachers aren’t happy with their jobs because they find them too fast-paced. They might prefer to sit at a desk rather than having to control a classroom and stay on their feet constantly.
This ultimately makes some people unhappy with their elementary teaching jobs.
Conclusion
Generally, elementary school teachers are happy with their jobs. However, like with any career path, some people are unhappy with their teaching jobs. The main reason for this is that the job expectations are different from reality.
Here are the main reasons elementary teachers enjoy their jobs:
- They can have an impact.
- They enjoy working with kids.
- Children are hopeful and sincere, making them a joy to work with for many.
Sources
- Western Governors University: Top qualities and skills of a good teacher
- St. Thomas University: 9 Reasons Why You Should Earn Your B.A. in Elementary Education
- Pennsylvania State University Extension: Better Kid Care
- Brookings Institution: Do teachers work long hours?
- US News: How Much Does an Elementary School Teacher Make?