What are the pros and cons of being a PE teacher?

Pros:

• Helping students

  PE teachers have the privilege of helping insecure or less confident students break out of their physical shells and limitations. PE coaches can show sometimes unlikely students the joys of exercise and fitness. This can be fulfilling because many of their students will remain health-conscious for the rest of their lives. PE teachers can have a profound impact on pupils.

• Physical fitness

  Part of a PE teacher's job is to exercise with their students. This means that most PE teachers can stay physically fit just by performing their jobs. A PE teacher might teach several PE classes per day, meaning they are likely to get a lot of exercise for themselves.

• Fun

  Being a PE teacher can be a lot of fun. Many students are happy and enthusiastic when attending PE class, making the role of a PE teacher usually less challenging, in terms of engagement with their students, than that of traditional classroom teachers. PE teachers get to play sports with their students and create different games to get students exercising.

• Dress code

  Unlike most teachers, PE teacher gets to dress in really comfortable athletic wear when they come to work. This typically consists of running pants, sweat pants, shorts, and top items like t-shirts, hoodies, and windbreakers. PE teachers also get to wear sneakers all day, which helps since they are constantly doing different exercises and physical activities.

• Vacation time

  Just like most teachers, a PE teacher gets to take the entire summer off along with their students, if they choose. Most PE teachers also get off for the majority of holidays that their students do as well.

Cons:

• Outdoor work

  Many PE teachers work outdoors for a lot of their days. This requires them to adequately protect their skin from the sun, and can also be challenging in other weather conditions. For those that like to work outdoors, this isn't much of a drawback, however, some PE teachers must still conduct lessons in the rain or snow.

• PE teacher educational requirements

  To become a PE teacher you must obtain a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as kinesiology or exercise science. Some universities also have specialized physical education programs. This process usually takes around four years and most acceptable degrees can cover some complex topics and materials.

• Challenging pupils

  While PE teachers can find joy in helping students, some students can be exceedingly difficult to teach. They might encounter students who refuse to exercise or simply have a negative attitude throughout the class. This can be frustrating, but a PE teacher must always act with professionalism and try their best to reach more challenging students.

• PE curriculum

  Some of the curricula that PE teachers must instruct can be difficult for certain students to understand.