What is it like being a primary school teacher?

Question

I am thinking of enrolling into university to do a bachelor in education - primary and I would really like to find out first what it is actually like to be a primary school teacher in Australia in particular (or anywhere).

I have heard so many mixed reviews and don't know what is correct. People who hate their jobs and work 60 hours a week compared to people who love it and work 40 hours.

What about the holidays? Do you get all the term/christmas breaks off and work from home or do you still come into the school?

I love children and I love the idea of being able to make a difference. I work in administration and have done so for six years and it annoys the crap out of me when I feel I am not contributing to anything worthwhile. I hate my job and want a change. I loved primary school and think it would be a very exciting and worthwhile job.

I would be doing part time university studies over six years. I have heard there are very limited jobs in primary teaching and nobody can find work, is this true?

I understand the hours would be long but some people state it is 7am - 11pm.... I have also heard the pay is really, really awful.

I would love to hear anybodys opinion of what this career is actually like...

Thank you :)

? · Accepted Answer

To be a primary school teacher, you should do, as you are doing, work toward a bachelor's degree in elementary education and focus on primary school teaching.  However, find the counselor in your college that can give you tips on also being prepared for teaching at all elementary school levels.  The reason for this that added preparation may be needed so that you will have a any kind of a job somewhere in teaching elementary school.

Primary school teaching is very popular and although there may be openings, there are not a lot of placements because many people ahead of you get those jobs before you would be considered.  So, it is a matter of trying to prepare you to teach at all levels of elementary school so that if the early childhood education classes do not have openings, you still could do substitute work at the school of your choice,  Unfortunately, you may have to stay in an area where teachers just take a day or two off without leaving their positions open for starting primary school teaching jobs.

Teaching is a stable job with a fixed salary and yearly increments and they are very valuable positions because of that stability and that sustainability,   Good luck.

I was a college professor of education at four universities.

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What is it like being a primary school teacher?

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