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

Pros:

• Paid time off. Teachers typically work between 180 and 185 days per year. Compare this with the typical full-time employee at 260 days and there is a considerable difference. Aside from the 10 weeks that teachers of all levels get off during the Summer months, most teachers also enjoy holiday breaks in the Winter and another week-long break in the Spring. Most teachers also accrue paid sick days throughout the year. These days accumulate if not used and are paid out as a lump sum at the time of retirement.

• Teaching young people that are just finding their academic interests. Middle school students are typically taught by subject-specific teachers. This means that teachers of these disciplines can go into more depth and detail in their academic subjects. Middle school-aged students,11-14 years old, are often excited to delve deeper into subjects such as literature, biology, or history.

• Work suited to your personal interests. Teachers at the middle school level usually specialize in the academic subject that they have chosen to teach. These teachers have earned a minimum of a bachelor's degree in the subject with many continuing to complete post-graduate work. Teachers are therefore able to work every day on a topic that they are passionate about.

Cons:

• Salary. Nationally, teachers earn an average of 24% less than others with similar education. Many states have made it mandatory that teachers of all levels earn a master's degree in their specific discipline in order to be considered highly qualified. This is an additional expense for someone already earning less than peers in other professions. Teacher salaries do not recognize the grade level or subject that you teach. An elementary gym teacher earns the same as a high school calculus teacher.

• Work hours. While the teaching day is roughly eight hours and ends between 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm, teachers at the middle school level work much longer hours. Between planning daily lessons and grading student papers, teachers often work into the early evening and during the weekend. Teachers must respond to emails and call parents at inconvenient times. Parent/teacher conferences are typically held in the evenings as a convenience for parents.

• Work environment. Working in a middle school is a unique environment. With hundreds of early teens filtering through hallways and into your classroom throughout the day, it can be loud and chaotic. Middle school students, for the first time in their education careers, change rooms every 45 to 55 minutes. The physical school environment can sometimes be challenging. Older schools may not have updated technology or even air conditioning. Teachers spend their workdays with kids and seldom interact with adults. Anyone transitioning from any other profession to teaching may find this aspect of the job difficult.