Scott Robinson
English 111-17
December 7, 1999
Teaching: The World's Most Important Job
When asked what job is the most important on the planet, most people would probably first think about doctors, scientists, or even being the President of the United States of America. While all of those jobs are extremely important, the answer is something completely overlooked. The early steps of education are the foundation for achieving all of those positions, and the responsibility of providing these steps falls on the shoulders of elementary school teachers.
Becoming an elementary school educator is not as easy as it may seem to some people. First of all, you are required to have a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts studies. Most school districts also require a Multiple Subject Preliminary Teaching Credential. There are also not that many jobs available in Virginia or the United States. There are 32,500 jobs available in this state, and 1,490,700 jobs in the entire United States. However, on a good note, there are 1,180 new jobs in Virginia becoming available annually and 43,810 new jobs opening yearly in the country. This means there will be 54,350 jobs in Virginia and almost two million in the country ten years from now, when I will be entering the field.
Elementary educators do not make as much money as they probably should for the duties they perform. Among the fifty states, Virginia is in the lower percentile of salaries for elementary educators. Teachers are supposed to teach children the school boards assigned curriculum and provide proper training in the basics such as math, science, social studies, and english( reading, writing, and literature). They are also to create daily lesson plans as well as take care of up to thirty children. The base pay for these tasks is $30,000 a year in Virginia, with the national average being around $35,000 a year.
In an interview I conducted with Cathryn Robinson, a first grade school teacher, I found out that communication is a necessity in teaching and learning. Communication in a classroom can be detailed and technical, when a lesson is being taught , and also casual, mainly because of the age of the target audience. Teachers use oral communication not only in the actual explanation of lessons, but also in conferences between teachers and parents. Computers help teachers communicate to parents by E-mail and they also keep teachers up-to-date on the newest teaching trends and techniques. Written communication is used when the teacher assigns work, gives exams, and even in quarterly progress reports.
Despite the hard work and little pay, I would someday like to become an elementary school teacher. I believe it is an unappreciated, yet highly rewarding career. Elementary education is undoubtedly the most important step in every person's life, and in my opinion, it is also the most important career. I would also eventually like to move into the school administration, even becoming an elementary school principal.
Elementary school principals hold a lot of responsibility. Their duties are to plan and set the educational goals of the school in line with what the school board requires. They must also coordinate and direct all teachers and administrators under them. They must provide adequate counseling and activities helpful for school development, and evaluate all educational programs.
While located only minutes from any classroom in the building, a principal's job differs from the job of teaching in three main facets: responsibilities, prerequisites, and earnings. Principals have less direct contact with the children, but more work as far as planning and developing their school as a whole, not just an individual classroom. Elementary school principals earn around $74,000 in Virginia, again lower than the national average at $78,000. Also, you are required to have classroom experience as well as having all requirements necessary to become an elementary educator.
Choosing this career field was a decision I made a long time ago. It is something I have always wanted to do. I would be proud to be a teacher, and I know I would be working on the most important job in the world.
Works Cited
"Elementary Education." America's Career Infonet Occupation Report.1996. Accessed on 11 Nov. 1999. <http://www.acinet.org/acinet/>.
"Elementary Education." America's Job Bank1996. Accessed on 11 Nov. 1999. <http://www.ajb.dni.us/>.
Robinson, Cathryn. Personal Interview. 11/6/99.
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