Prospective high school social studies teacher seeking advice

[T-Bird]

Hello to all. I'm new here and have a question or two. (I should mention that if this isn't the best site to ask these questions, I would appreciate it if somebody could refer me to a better one.

I'm almost 27 years old, am a male, and have been out of college for about 3 or 4 years. I currently hold a degree in Criminal Justice. This has to be the most worthless degree ever!!! I haven't been able to acquire a decent job since I graduated..nor do I care to pursue that field.

After much dilemma, I've decided (and it's been an extremely long and well thought out decision) that I really want to go into teaching. I desperately wanted to make a positive change in my career as well as in myself. I stand committed to that. Right now, I'm taking the initial certification as well as some graduate classes. I plan on going for a masters in either history or US social studies. I'm gonna be taking all the neccessary exams next semester.

I plan on completing my initial cert in about a year from now. My question is: are there any jobs in the education field that I qualify for right now???

Every teachers aide job, and (to my amazement) even some substitue teaching jobs require certification and experience. My second question is, what exactly is the best way to go about getting my foot in the door?

Thanks

[Unregistered]

I don't know what state you are in however where I am, one can get a designated subject credential in a few short weeks. A designated subjects credential could then authorize you to teach Career Technical Ed., for example Careers in Criminal Justice. There are a lot of career technical options, so what ever your most recent work experience is, look for that field of teaching.
P.S. A degree is never worthless, so don't get discouraged.

[Unregistered]

I was in the exact same boat you are in only a few weeks ago: I have 3 college degrees including History. Let me say this slow: THERE IS NO TEACHER SHORTAGE in this field, at least here in Arkansas. I have been trying and trying but my advice is that you need to complete your graduate work for sure, but try a private school. This is what I did. They do not have near the problems and the school are usually so much better. They are not held to the same weird public standards. With affirmative action alive and well these days, regardless of your race, it's like you are playing an unfair hand in the public school arena. This is criminal in my opinion, but try the private school approach, such as the local Catholic school, ect. I sure hop ethis helps you out, because I hate seeing people like you and I in this sinking boat! Let me know how you fair!

[DZannu]

I would suggest that you pair up with a career-change program that will help with your certification and professional training.
One of the challenges that is going on with educators is that people are saying - "oh, I can't get a job SO I guess I'll teach!" If your commitment to education and the profession is sincere, then I wish you all the luck.

As a mentor of 6 years with career-changing teachers, I would say that if you are doing this until "something better/else comes along" (not saying you are), then wait for that "something better/else." I've always wanted to be a teacher. For me there has been nothing else. What some people forget is that while you are using teaching to find " a real job, a better job" or to "just pay the bills" you are doing it at the expense of the students and possibly a generation.

Statistics show that there is a low retention (less than 5 years) for career changers because of several reasons;
1) this is the "only" job they could get and they need to pay bills
2) they thought it was a great schedule and that teaching was "easy"
3) they realize the band-aid program/training (unfortunately Teach 4 America is always mentioned with this one) does not adequately prepare you for the classroom as a professional and has unrealistic, idealistic views of students and behavioral management - placing middle class optomistic business professionals into an innercity socially and/or economicly homogeneous and say "go for it!" And once they are (as the other teachers in the building) over worked, stressed and maybe even discouraged - they leave at the end of the year or worse, in the middle of the school year leaving students without a teacher at all. (yes, this happens)
4) or they get to a school and do not get the support from the parents, coworkers and/or administrators they need to make it thru the rough spots.

Personally, I had none of those negative experiences but they are too many to ignore.
The low retention of early teachers then effects the salaries of us all and you will find that some school systems only start paying well after 3-5 years for that very reason.

Also according to some administrators male teachers are ....difficult. Some ways to actually get into the schools is to coach, however schools have realized they cannot pay coaches full teaching salaries and not have them actually teaching classes - so they do assign them to the classes where they (administrators) feel the coach will do the least amount of "damage." i.e. P.E., Computers, electives, social studies. I am not a proponenet of this either, again becasue you are sacrficing some child's education.

What ever you choose, please don't fall into the void of being defined as a male educator who really "can't/won't/doesn't" teach. Be a good coach and a great teacher. Support your academic collegues and they will support your program.

Finally you will find some programs where you can work, receive a teacher's salary and get certified at the same time. Contact your state department of ed. The programs usually have a waiting list. If your geographics permit, spread out to the rural areas/school systems - they may not have as strigent requirements for subs. I would suggest to be a long-term sub there. The pay is not salary but is more than a day-to-day sub and the experience is priceless. Nothing will teach you how to be a GREAT teacher quicker than experience.
If you take the bumps and lower pay now to have a better financial reward later (starting salary for certified Masters IS higher than bachelor's with cert.) then all should work out.

I wish you luck.

*** "I change the world BECAUSE I teach." ****