To feel a bit cross and upset by this conversation

[lovelyjubilly]

I met a student the other day and was making small talk.

Me: What are you hoping to do once you graduate?
Him: I'm not sure really. If all else fails I can always enter the dead-end job that is teaching.
Me: Right. [Awkward pause]
Him: No offence if you're a teacher.
Me: I am a teacher actually you dipstick

I found it quite funny at the time and especially enjoyed watching him trying to dig himself out of the hole, but it has been bothering me ever since for several reasons.

1. I'm cross with myself for not standing up for the profession. Instead I immediately started to justify myself. Why did I even do that?
2. I'm cross at the arrogant naivety of youth. I woul quite like to bump into him in five years just so I can ask him how his dazzling career is going.
3. I'm upset that this is how some people view me and that I haven't made more of myself. I never wanted to be a teacher. I was on a path to become an Ed Psych when I had my first baby. Ten years and three children later they have changed the requirements so that I would now have to do a phd which we can't afford. I'm very intelligent and very driven, and yet feel like I'm stuck in a 'dead-end job'. And this has now been confirmed to me by some 20 year-old guy with his head up his own arse and I'm annoyed that it's bothered me so much.

The reason you’re annoyed is because that’s what you believe about yourself, though

Yanbu
However when I went to uni (about a decade ago) teaching really was marketed as a thing to do if you didn’t know what else to do. And they wonder why so many people leave the profession...

Ah, the folly of youth. Laugh it off, OP, it won't be long before he's desperate to have a job at all - any job.

That was a common conception as a student in the 90s too.

I think it’s more about how you perceive teaching then rather than what he said. There’s nothing wrong with teaching, I admire anyone who can do it well. It’s certainly not dead end either, surely there is loads of opportunities, head of department, senior leadership team? It doesn’t pay as well as other industries though.

I suspect most of the reason you are annoyed is because he has hit a raw nerve.

You need to examine that more than get annoyed at his rudeness. He was rude though.

It wasn't your first choice and it isn't his. He didn't intend to be rude to you.

Could you retrain in something you consider less “dead end”? Something that requires a masters instead of a PhD? I think teaching is a very worthwhile profession btw, I just think for someone really ambitious (like you seem to be) it probably won’t give you the satisfaction you need.

"those that can, do...those that can't, teach"

Rubbish saying that COMPLETELY ignores the fact that the ability to teach is an important skill in its own right!

I can do, what I do very well...would be bloody rubbish at teaching it to someone else tho

I think it’s more about how you perceive teaching then rather than what he said. There’s nothing wrong with teaching, I admire anyone who can do it well. It’s certainly not dead end either,

And even if it IS dead-end, teaching (in my opinion) is an amazingly sacrificial job that fulfils one of the most important job of society - to raise the next generation.

I'm not down on teaching at all, but the pp who said the guy touched a nerve was probably right.

Shame he called it "dead end", but he basically said he would do what you have done, didn't he?

I work in a school and I wouldn't teach for a gold clock. Teachers hardly ever get the chance to actually just teach.

Pisses me off. I think part of it is that there ARE some people who teach because they can't do anything else, which drags down the image of the whole profession.

Entry requirements should be rigorous. I wouldn't want some waster who drifted into it teaching any child of mine.

On your PhD, OP, is there ANY way you might do it in the future? You sound like you still want to do the Ed Psych thing. Sorry if that question is infuriating, but how about a loan, doing it very part-time, any other way round it...?

I've actually never heard teaching referred to as a dead-end job before. It's many things, but dead-end? Hardly. There are loads of opportunities for promotion if that's what you want.
I think his comment was symptomatic of the contempt with which teachers, and state education in general, is held by many people. Until we fix that, our education system will always struggle and teachers will continue to leave the profession in droves.

I teach. So I get it.

I also have a PhD - and I would ABSOLULTELY do the Ed Psych PhD in your shoes. Get a loan for the fees. Your post qualification earnings should be higher and you will pay that fee back eventually. It would be a good move for you and your family.
And (bitter experience) it is a sensible move for if your marriage should falter (I hope it doesn't obviously, but keeping an eye on your future career prospects outside of a relationship is ALWAYS a good idea!)

On your PhD, OP, is there ANY way you might do it in the future?
It's definitely a possibility, but not in the immediate future. I have only just gone back to work after being off on maternity leave which is what I think is making me feel a bit meh about the whole thing too.

he basically said he would do what you have done, didn't he?
I didn't go into teaching because I couldn't think what else to do. It was in order to become an Ed Psych. The irony is that since they changed the requirement to phd, I would no longer be required to have any teaching experience at all. Bloody waste of time all of that was then!

Young people think they know everything but know sod all. I cringe now when I remember my attitude towards the lecturers at my law school 20 years ago (we were all fresh out of uni, headed for big law firms and glittering careers, and those lecturers were people who we all thought just couldn't hack it in the City). Now, most of the senior lawyers I know would love to get out of the job and into something that doesn't suck the soul out of them on a daily basis. I remember the law school lecturers and the work-life balance they were able to maintain, and see that they were the wise ones.

Your student has a bad attitude, but nothing that growing up won't cure. (Also, learning that you don't say rude things about professions, political views, children's names etc until you know that these things don't apply to the person you're talking to - that comes with experience too. I've certainly made my share of those faux pas.) Forget about it and try to appreciate all the good things you have in life. Maybe in the future you'll be able to realise your dream and get that PhD and Ed Psych job.

inkydinky tell me about your PhD. I've never met a teacher with a PhD...

That’s ridiculous OP. I know people in SLT on 70k at the age of 30. Lots of opportunities in teaching.

Your student has a bad attitude, but nothing that growing up won't cure

He also took one look at my 10mo and said "I'm not really that keen on babies"

Well, I hope you find a way to do your PhD, OP.

Bloody waste of time all of that was then! No it wasn't. Even if it's not a requirement, your teaching experience will surely help your studies and add to your expertise.

He’s hit a raw nerve, but in all fairness, what is wrong with being a teacher?

in all fairness, what is wrong with being a teacher?
I actually quite enjoy it but if you want another perspective, just head on over the staffroom chat!

My DS is 24 and is a NQT maths teacher. He got a first class degree and made a choice to do his PGCE and go into teaching, he's great at it and really enjoys it.

I am very proud of him for going into teaching he would have hated the graduate business corporate thing, it's not for him.

He also took one look at my 10mo and said "I'm not really that keen on babies" confused

I imagine many students feel this way!