this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2024
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i hate my cushy bullshit job where i make obscene amounts of money. should i quit my job and become a teacher? here's what i'm thinking so far:

pros:

  • i won't hate my job anymore
  • my job is a real job where i actually contribute to society
  • summer vacation sounds dope

cons:

  • maybe i still hate my job
  • my job would be a real job where i do work
  • i won't make obscene amounts of money
  • wtf grad school is expensive

alternatively, are there other jobs i should try to do instead? mind you i have no skills and would probably need to go back to school.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

So again are you proposing anything as an alternative to public schools, damaged and corrupted as they have been in the present status quo that also likes to preach about how worthless public schools are while also stripping the remaining metaphorical copper from the walls?

My proposed alternative to public school in general is I'm old I don't have kids so I don't really know and not really sure my input matters.

Cute, but stating what you would do on an individual basis with a "don't care, whatever" clause isn't a basis for a plan for millions of school-age children that would otherwise have nothing but the tender mercies of whatever their parents could (or couldn't) come up with to educate them.

Maybe the OP really shouldn't get into teaching because it is thanklessly hard work with diminishing rewards and less and less chance to make a positive difference for students. Even so, the attitude that it has always been worthless and that nothing can ever be done to improve it is just fatalistic bullshit.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I think you two are talking past each other. I think that hamid gave their advice to OP specifically and you are turning around and asking "What is your systemic solution to the problems you believe are present in public school" which is interesting but doesn't necessarily follow "is this a good idea Y/N?"

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

Maybe, but to me, even the opener came loaded with the implication that public school was worthless in general, not just as a career choice.

Why would be teaching propaganda to kids for poverty wages make you feel better? This is not the way.

What IS "the way" then? If it's all "teaching propaganda to kids" what else is there? The implications of that statement went beyond individual career choice.

I left teaching recently, myself. I know very well how bullshit it is right now.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

As a kid I was raised believing teaching was a respected job (along with being a nurse, doctor etc) but I now perceive it to be somewhere along the spectrum of frustrating, demeaning and unsatisfying. Not because of the purpose but the compensation, institutional disregard and public scorn.

One of my best friends from school is a teacher & he commented to me that he is the only person he knows from when he majored who still teaches.

I am curious how much of this is consistent with your experience?

edit: I guess I only read the first half, my bad. The propaganda part is off putting to me as well. I struggle with this in general because often I feel there are assumptions that are more pervasive and more damaging than explicit propaganda (ex US won WWII) but people aren't typically consciously teaching that it just gets communicated somehow.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I edited the above comment too late so I'll put it here, starting with the quote I first responded to.

Why would be teaching propaganda to kids for poverty wages make you feel better? This is not the way.

What IS "the way" then? If it's all "teaching propaganda to kids" what else is there? The implications of that statement, particularly that teaching was "teaching propaganda to kids" went beyond individual career choice.

I left teaching recently, myself. I know very well how bullshit it is right now. Yes, it is terrible and it'd take some public will and government-level forced uprooting against the privatized rot to make a positive difference. I actually agree that it isn't a good career to get into, right now, for someone that just wants to make a positive difference, but it's still necessary work, just like nursing and picking up garbage. The workers deserve better, including better means to do their necessary work.