It’s everywhere you look these days — articles about teachers burning out, grumblings about the state of education in our country and conflicts between teachers and administration that make it hard to do the job. And all of those things may be true; teaching is taxing, school administration isn’t always supportive and there are troubling issues that need to be addressed systemically. However, it’s also true that teaching is still one of the best professions on earth. Here’s why.

1. The Chance to Make a Real Difference

Above all else, educators have the opportunity to change the world, something many professions boast but few deliver in meaningful ways. Teachers are there to foster a lifelong love for learning, inspire creativity in students and set an example for children. They get to inspire, they get to lead and they get to shape the young minds that will eventually be in charge of the world. All of these things can contribute to a generation that’s better than the one that came before it and that’s how the world changes — literally.

Being there to witness these transformations in students is indescribable and it’s something only teachers get to enjoy.

2. You Get to Flex Your Creative Muscles

Every day, the classroom, and its pint-sized denizens, present unique challenges. How do you touch the minds of dozens of children with different learning styles, degrees of intelligence and attention spans? You do it by using your creativity, coming up with fresh ideas, tailored lesson plans and new approaches that make a bigger impact with kids and let you continuously get better. Meeting those challenges and reaping the rewards are what make teaching such a satisfying profession.

3. Teachers Are Satisfied in Their Jobs

As tough as the job can be, teachers are some of the most satisfied professionals in any field. According to the National Center for Education Statistics  (NCES), 90% of public school teachers and 95% of private school teachers said they were satisfied with their jobs. These numbers have held fast through three consecutive reports from the NCES, dating back to 2003. Those numbers are astounding. Despite the low pay and all the difficulties associated with teaching, the rewards are so great that 9 out of 10 teachers are happy in their roles, which just reconfirms your decision to become a teacher.

4. The Small, Incalculable Joys

Even though the job is filled with challenges and frustrations, it’s also filled with little moments of exhilaration and unparalleled joy — moments you share with the children when they “get” something; the funny things they say; seeing them have fun with an activity; seeing them overcome adversity; watching their progress; sharing a smile. There’s also the fellowship, friendship and, yes, sometimes the solidarity, of other teachers.

5. The Job is Always in Demand

When it comes to recession-proof  jobs, it’s hard to beat teaching. It’s true that job growth for teachers keeps around the same pace as the national average. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2019 that 38,200 new high  school teaching positions will open up between 2018 and 2028, which represents 4% growth. Kindergarten , elementary and middle  school teaching jobs are expected to grow by 3%. However, it’s not necessarily the rate of growth, it’s the job security. Civilization will always need schools, so jobs in teaching will never drop precipitously like some other professions.

6. Getting Summers Off

We know. There’s a myth of teachers just checking out on the last day of school and kicking up their feet for 2-3 months on a sandy beach. In fact, summers for teachers can still include continuing education, lesson planning and administrative tasks. But compared to some other jobs, teachers do get a nice chunk of time to travel, spend time with family or just rest, recover and refresh themselves.

Here’s the bottom line. Teaching is tough, the pay can be disproportionate to the work and deadline with parents and administrators can be miserable. But for those who want to make a real, lasting difference in the world and find satisfaction in what they do, there are few professions that can match it.

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June 20, 2020