What are the pros and cons of being a high school teacher?

• The work schedule for all teachers, not only those at the high school level is attractive. The average full-time worker, with two weeks of vacation and holidays off, reports to work approximately 245 days a year. A full-time teacher is contracted to work between 180 and 185 days per year. The summer break allows teachers to spend time with family, go on extended vacations or even work a summer job. The teaching schedule is also attractive in that the hours worked Monday through Friday typically end by 3:30 pm. Again, this appeals to those with family obligations and younger children.

• Subject specialization also makes the teaching profession attractive to some. Those with a passion or specific interest in a subject may find teaching a way to explore that interest while fulfilling a career. Subjects from math and science to English all have specialized subsets at the high school level. Those teaching English at the secondary level are able to choose subjects such as British literature or poetry, while science teachers can choose biology, earth science, or chemistry.

Cons:

• Salary can often be considered a drawback of a teaching career. Teachers are required to constantly continue their education, earning master's degrees and beyond, and are not compensated as are those working in the private sector. Some school districts help teachers defer the cost of this ongoing education through reimbursement, but many teachers are responsible for finding the time and money to pursue advanced degrees on their own.

• Hours spent outside of the classroom at the high school level are considerable. Teachers may be given some time during the school day to plan lessons or create curriculum, but 90% of their time at work is spent teaching students. Therefore, lesson planning, grading, and communicating with parents must be done on their own time. Evenings and weekends can be consumed with these tasks and take away time from family.