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Transitioning to high school teaching

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by FPH, Jan 10, 2014.

  1. BillyT

    BillyT Active Member

    I did an MAT in two years back in the early 90s and worked full-time at the paper the first year and part-time the second year (student-teaching is practically full-time).

    I was lucky to have a supportive paper that really needed someone to pick up auto racing coverage, which was one of the main things I did.

    Taught for 16 years and loved it.

    Back in newspapers now, because we had to move.

    A lot of whether you can get a job depends on where you are.
     
  2. LanceyHoward

    LanceyHoward Well-Known Member

    Back in the day it could be difficult for a male teacher to land a history job unless they could also coach. The history and P.E. jobs were basically saved for coaches. I don't know if that is still true where you live but I would check.
     
  3. Corky Ramirez up on 94th St.

    Corky Ramirez up on 94th St. Well-Known Member

    I'm in my first year of teaching high school sophomore English. I'm lucky ... I'm in a good school with respectful students. It's actually where I student taught. This was after a 14-year career at a newspaper. The transition, for me, was fine. I like working with students, so I'm glad I made the move. Whether this is the final stop for me is yet to be seen; I could see myself trying to get back into writing at the college communications level in a couple of years, but I also could see myself staying here for a long time (so long as the B of E doesn't decide to hack and slash). It's a good move and I'm glad I did it. It all depends on where you are, if you have a supportive staff and the kids aren't off the wall. All three worked in my favor, so far.
     
  4. TopSpin

    TopSpin Member

    A friend who is a TV producer and director temporarily left the business a few years ago to teach broadcast journalism at a high school. He lasted less than two years teaching before returning to media. He told me the hardest thing he dealt with was connecting with the students and he was in his late 20s when he taught.
     
  5. Guy_Incognito

    Guy_Incognito Well-Known Member

    I transitioned from a non-journalism career into HS teaching & have been doing it now 8 1/2 years. Somewhat different than your situation because it's a private school, but if I can be helpful PM me.
     
  6. Did an MAT program four years ago and it was a great decision. Make more money (though I switched schools and took a cut to do that), actually see my wife, enjoy the students.

    It is a major change and I do miss the deadlines/writing on occasion, but don't miss scrambling for story ideas and the toxic newsroom environment I left behind. I did the journalism/yearbook thing at a decent sized high school and you get a great crew of kids doing that. Now I'm handling college dual credit English and speech classes. So, outside of my student teaching, I haven't had to deal with jerkish kids.

    I'd answer anything about the transition. It is a major change, but I had a great support system including a wife who teaches.
     
  7. expendable

    expendable Well-Known Member

    I agree. My students do, too, as I will quickly call BS on some of the things we run across in our out-of-date textbook. I've ditched the damn book.
     
  8. Bradley Guire

    Bradley Guire Well-Known Member

    Definitely something I'd look into if I could find the money. I've applied for loans, grants, scholarships, all denied. Still owe too much on my worthless BA.
     
  9. Paynendearse

    Paynendearse Member

    That's the equivalent of a very cheap house or an expensive car. In 1980, an expensive car cost about $10,000 and that made sense. $57,500? Not so much. When a four-year degree now can run you six figures, and then you charge into (for journalists) a lousy industry with little future and if something else, a race to keep yourself relevant while corporate board reward themselves with bonuses for profits derived not from increased sales but layoffs and other staff reduction, is a degree the best option? I've been in four industries and was running from two of them. I have a brother on the other hand who got into the used car trade industry and makes six figures but travels a lot. Never spent a dime on a college.
     
  10. Mark2010

    Mark2010 Active Member

    For those who currently teach or have taught..... how would you rate the students? Were they interested in the subject matter and what you were trying to teach? Or did you feel more like a prison guard trying to keep them from killing one another until the bell rang?

    I've heard some horror stories from friends who are teachers (mostly elementary, granted), so that gives me some pause. It's been so darn long since I was in high school. I have nightmares of me standing there trying to teach something to a room full of teenagers, all of whom are busy texting away on their phones and not hearing I word I said.
     
  11. Shoeless Joe

    Shoeless Joe Active Member

    I deal pretty well with my kids. The apathy does grind on me. I have a bit of an advantage in that I teach senior English, and they have to pass it to graduate.
     
  12. Paynendearse

    Paynendearse Member

    Discipline is totally different from even 10 years ago, so I have learned. A friend's kid takes HS journalism and I asked her what they do. "It's fourth period and lunch hour and no one does anything except eat in class and text." What? No student paper? "We've had one this year. Principal cuts the print costs?" No online paper either? "No cause he's too concerned about being able to approve stories before they go up so nothing would be instant news." Case 544,329 for journalism being on life support.
     
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