Being a teacher is one of the most nobiliest professions one can take. It certainly takes a special personality to teach at any level, from kindergarten to the university level. It takes someone with a love of knowledge and people to be a teacher. Teaching could be difficult; putting up with snobby kids and parents is no doubt a pain, but ultimately this job is really important. Providing good educations for our kids will guarantee that America will remain a bright beacon to the rest of the world well into the future.

I have taught first grade for 6 years. There is no better job. At what other job are you greeted with hugs, cards, pictures and little presents? I am in charge of 25 amazing children, each with a different personality and something new to love. At recess and when school is over at the end of the day, I have to literally PEEL children off of me. At any holiday, I am loaded with presents. Parents can be a pain but they can also be absolutely wonderful. As far as the pay goes, it isn't NEARLY as bad as people say it is. Think about it: you're done by 3:00 every day, you never work weekends, you get all holidays off guarenteed (1 week at Thanksgiving, 2 weeks at Christmas, another week in the Spring), I get an hour break every day while the kids are at music, computers, art, P.E., Spanish and library and I get 3 months off! What other job has all this? PLUS 15 sick/free days. I get paid more than most of my friends and work much less (definitely work much harder but a lot less time). Most of my work I do in the comfort of my home when I please. Teaching can be great or horrible depaending on your outlook and how much work and energy you're willing to put into it.

It's too bad they have the dubious distinction of being underpaid. It is a very meticulous profession. They're molding kids of today into the world leaders and icons of tomorrow, that takes on a huge amount of responsibility.

I don't think I would have the patience required for this job - especially if you are a high school teacher. Remember what you were like as a teenager? I also think teachers have more of a harder task now as well with kids bringing guns and knives - and they aren't afraid to use them as well. I admire teachers, they really are people to look up to and respect. After all, where would we be without them?

Speaking as a past student I can say that I’ve had a few very good teachers and more than a few who should have seriously considered other professions (such as one that might continually beg the question “do you want fries with that”). They tend to be like any other group though – a mixed bag of abilities, styles, and personality types. Unlike a lot of other professions though, they are also in a position to affect people’s lives in a big way. I remember hearing (but thankfully never experiencing) horror stories about the actions of some teachers back in high school. Things like teachers making fun of kids who lived in poorer neighborhoods and favoring the ones from the wealthier areas. I’ve worked in technology and television production within educational environments for the last 10 years and I’ve seen some pretty dedicated teachers and professors who are making a positive difference. But, I’ve also seen many that have way more arrogance than ability. The thing that occasionally gives me a chuckle is when I hear people say that teachers are so pitifully underpaid. Well, maybe in some cases I might concede that this would be true. I also honestly feel for the ones who are trying hard to impart knowledge and are prevented by parents who never think their children are wrong. Based on the output of the school systems over the past several years though there appear to be many teachers who are simply over paid baby sitters and a few who are not even fit to set foot on a school campus. Pay-wise I find it very hard to feel much pity for teachers considering that they also have many aspects to their jobs that are not available to thousands of other workers – such as unions, which help regulate their working conditions and pay. Their salaries may not make them millionaires (join the club) but the money they make is far from being bad. Many people with just as much education would be willing to accept those "horrible" conditions in a heartbeat. My advice – for what it’s worth as an average citizen – is that if you want to be a teacher try to make sure you are actually suited to this profession. Once you take your place behind the big desk try to remember you are no longer a student – you don’t have to win a popularity contest or blend in with the student population. I think that it is a tendency of some teachers to forget that which may be the cause of many of the major problems within schools today.

Molding young easily corrupted impressionable minds. You have infinite power a6t your fingertips. Do you use it? Do you decay the moral fibers of your country? OR do you do the right thing.....your job. This job never ceases to amaze me.

Most teachers take their job seriously and they find satisfaction in helping kids on their way to having good careers. However, there are a few teachers that couldn't care less and are teaching because they are financially forced to or are just mean people. So overall, I know some excellent teachers and I know some horrid ones, too.

I don't know what can be attractive in teaching other than 2 month vacation. The only time I'd consider to be a teacher would be in a post-secondary education, where you're truly indepth in your subject of like, and could more likely produce interesting discussions with students who are obviouslly in the same field as you, and therefore hold similar interests.

Without teachers, where would we be?

it's an important job. but you have to meet exacting standards to handle it. your personality has to comprise entirely of patience, understanding, cleverness(for disciplining), love of fun and love of kids. qualities americans continue to increasingly lack. i must admit i myself am guilty of being such an american.

One word:SPITBALLSATTHETEACHER!!!!!! get it?

After teaching elementary school for 13 years, I have ambivalent feelings about the profession. In many ways, it's a terrific job. There's nothing more rewarding than knowing that you've inspired a young mind or provided help to a family in need. There are boundless opportunities for research, creativity, and self-expression, and teachers generally have a lot of freedom to determine what happens in their classrooms. There's no doubt that the schedule is great, too. Now that I'm working another job, I really miss the big breaks I had when I was a teacher. On the down side, teaching is ruthless in the way that it sucks you dry, physically and mentally, on a daily basis. Being "on" for eight hours a day, five days a week, is tough. I can remember days when I never sat down at all. You have to be (or pretend to be!) almost saint-like in your behavior at all times. Bathroom breaks must be planned in advance. There's very little time for adult interaction, socially or professionally, so it's easy to feel isolated. Perhaps the most troubling aspect of teaching today is the combination of increasing responsibilities with a lack of support from parents, administrators, and communities. From my experience, that's one of the most common reasons why teachers leave the profession. All in all, teaching has some very positive aspects. It has a shelf life, though, and I suggest that teachers keep an open mind about other careers when they feel the inevitable symptoms of burnout.

It's tough to rate these occupations, because I'm not sure if I should rate them on how valuable I think they are to society, or how personally appealing I think they sound as a potential job. If we're talking about value to society, I'd give "Teacher" a 5. If we're talking about personal appeal, I'd give "Teacher" a 3. I think great teachers are the foundation of our entire educational system, but I have very little desire to be one. The pay stinks, students can be a big pain in the ass, and students' parents can be an even bigger pain in the ass. I can't even teach my dog to roll over, let alone teach a room of kids to read and write.