Why I do NOT Want to be a Teacher

Hannah Daniels

VTFT Final Essay

VTFT II

May 10, 2023

Yes, I do enjoy teaching. I would do anything in the world to help children get the

education they deserve and the attention they deserve. However, I unfortunately have explored

the industry and it is not my calling for the future. In order to be a teacher you need many traits

and one of the main traits is patience. Patience is the key to teaching. However, I need more

patience. Teachers are very amazing people. Most teachers do this out of love. They do this

for their students. I want to make a difference in my student's lives. Maybe one day I will

choose to be a teacher. Solely because I want to make a difference in that child's life.

Most teachers teach because they love teaching. Teaching only gives you many things

mentally but, physically, mainly nothing. Teachers do not get paid enough, they lack respect,

parents are mean, and children misbehave. The pay for teaching is very low. The average

hourly pay of a public school teacher in Virginia is $27.00. The average yearly pay is $31,707. If

I grew up with money and had a family to help me out financially of course I would be a teacher.

But, inflation is on a continuous rise. When I am 30 years old, inflation may be at its highest. I

would love to teach students because I love seeing them smile when they understand

something, and when they raise their hands to ask questions, I love that I know I can make a

difference in their lives. But, being a teacher, parents need to respect you. Parents send their

children off to school in hopes that the teacher will raise their kids. Yes, teachers help. But,

parents have to pay attention and help the kids out when they are home. One of the main

reasons why children are so misbehaved is because parents lack paying attention to their kids.

Parents do not sit down with them and go over word study or go through their addition,
 Why I do NOT Want to be a Teacher

multiplication, division, and subtraction equations. Children need their parents but, parents do

not give their children 100% effort. They expect the teachers to give their children 100% of the

teacher's effort.

Teaching in Virginia is focused on the Standards of Learning (SOL). A lot of the SOL tests are

ranked way too high for students. Not only that but we are on an even more slower track

because of COVID-19. Students completely lacked an education for a year and a half. This still

comes back to the parents. Education is a virtue for everyone. Especially elementary

education. It is the basics. The students right now do not understand any of the basics. Not only

SOL testing but book banning is outrageous. Parents are complaining about books and what

kids find in them but, they still buy their children brand-new phones where children can look up

explicit information. Books are not the issue for kids, phones are. The use of cell phones is on

the rise for each generation. Technology also affects the way that children socialize. Many kids

do not know how to socialize. They do not go outside and play with their friends, they don’t ride

bikes, they don’t go to the park, and they don’t play tag or Hide N Seek. These are normal

things children should be doing. Staying inside all day is not what a kid should be doing. I love

these kids but, the issues will gradually get worse and worse.

I want to help and make a difference in a child’s life but, in a way, I also want to think about

myself and my physical and mental safety. The most outrageous things occur in schools

nowadays and that is just something you have to think about. Children are amazing. One day I

may choose that teaching is calling me. But, as of right now, no, it is not.