Why should you start a career in education in 2023?
In today’s job market, teaching careers offer a wealth of incentives and opportunities to youngsters. These educators influence our youngsters and reshape their worldviews by instilling critical thinking skills in children. As we look ahead to 2023, there has never been a better time to consider a career in academia.
Whether you’re switching to education from another vocation or just starting your career advancement endeavors — a teaching career will be a fulfilling and rewarding choice. In this blog, you can learn exactly why starting a career in teaching in 2023 is a wonderful idea! So, if your favorite teacher inspired you in your childhood, it’s time to return the favor and implant a love of learning in some of your students.
In 2022, a survey showed that 1 in 5 Americans would recommend someone become a teacher. What’s the reason for people not choosing a career in teaching? Some oft-cited arguments involve the workload being intolerable, resources being insufficient, and workplaces being stressful. But that’s not the whole picture!
When older adults disapprove of a teaching vocation, it’s because they don’t realize the many benefits associated with this job. Here are some major reasons why youngsters should now pursue a career in an academic setting:
1. Many educational opportunities
There are many pathways into teaching and numerous routes to help you become an educator. You can leverage distance learning options to hone your teaching expertise easily. If you already have an academic qualification in education e.g. a bachelor’s degree then you can pursue a master’s degree remotely.
Pursue an online Masters in Curriculum and Instruction to learn the practical skills needed to design the curriculum and connect the coursework with practical application. An M.Ed. online makes you a better instructor. So, online learning options are another reason to become a teacher.
2. A meaningful profession
Recently, a Gallup survey shows many workers are distracted at work. An HBR study claims that 90% of people are willing to do meaningful work even if it pays less. What work is more meaningful than teaching (probably nursing!)?
Instructing a classroom is also a self-learning opportunity and the relationships you create with the kids and their parents can teach you lessons you never forget. It’s heart-warming to know that these kids will cherish the life lessons you’ve taught them and use their education to become productive members of society.
3. Making education effective
As a teacher, it’s your job to deal with a bunch of info-hungry kids and answer myriads of questions they’ve asked. Some unfortunate surveys show that children don’t remember a lot of info they have learned in school. They forget most of the information you tell them after a few days.
So, as their teacher, you can ensure they retain this information for a long time. Students remember 90% of the information after putting it into practice. You can keep students informed, engaged, and interested in their lessons by showing them practical applications of their knowledge.
4. Reasonable work hours
Every school and college has its unique work hours for teachers based on their duties and how long the curriculum is; a WeForum survey says that teachers spend 3 to 6 hours in the classroom.
However, teachers generally have reasonable hours and, while the workload may vary from time to time, they work fewer hours in the summer. Unless you have to take hours’ worth of work home, the workload isn’t that intolerable.
5. Handsome average salaries
It’s a well-known argument that American teachers are overworked. But are they underpaid too? A survey shows that an average teacher’s starting (“entry-level”) salary lies around $40,000. In most cases, it starts at $35,000 and then gradually rises with time.
So, the BLS states that kindergarten teachers make over $60,000 a year on average. But high school educators make $10,000 more than them!
Also, teachers’ salaries can vary from state to state; some states pay teachers more on average than others. For instance, in Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming, and Connecticut, a teacher’s starting salary lies at over $45,000 a year at least!
6. Higher job security
In 2016, UNESCO predicted the world would need 69 million additional teachers by 2030. Also, the BLS sees a 5% rise in the demand for high school teachers in the United States this decade. All these stats show that teaching vocations have become much sought-after nowadays. And that’s the kind of job security many students are looking for in America.
Even though many jobs are slowly being replaced by modern technology, there shall always be the need for more teachers in our educational institutes. However, with the rise of YouTube and online educational platforms that offer free courses, teachers should revamp their educational strategies. Other than that, it’s a secure job that has a lot of growth potential i.e., leadership.
7. Become a leader
Your teaching expertise won’t just make you every student’s favorite educator but also lead to some wonderful leadership opportunities. After spending years in teaching, you amass enough experience to apply for higher positions within your organization with more authority and influence. That’s how you can implement new policies to make academic resources more accessible to students.
For example, senior teachers with years of experience in this field can apply to become school and college administrators, curriculum creators, academic coaches, specialty instructors, mentors, and a lot of other prestigious positions.
8. Continued professional development
Continued education is important for all professionals and teaching isn’t an exception. However, the teaching vocation can be more flexible when it comes to your professional development and career advancement.
You can undergo training courses to hone your expertise and all the new teaching methods to make your lessons more effective. Again, you may leverage online courses to expand your knowledge and become a better educator.
Obtaining the Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) certification demonstrates a level of expertise and dedication to the field of education, which can lead to opportunities for career advancement such as promotions or leadership roles.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, a teaching career offers many wonderful perks and benefits. It’s an exciting career in which you get a good salary package, a secure employment opportunity, and a chance to spend your time with information-hungry kids. You can rekindle a love of learning in them and help them become productive members of society.
Also, a career in teaching can serve as an excuse for your continued professional development. Also, you may apply for leadership positions within your organization to improve children’s education.
So, pursue an online degree in education and become eligible for a teaching career in 2023.
