Expert: James J. Kovalcin - 6/14/2008

Question
Hi James,

I wondered how you would make the following decision about changing a career into teaching? I am just finding it difficult to make a decision. The following will hopefully provide the background.

I am 49 working as a senior analytical chemist in a small pharmaceutical company involved in chemical synthesis where I support the research by providing an analytical service. I have worked in similar roles in my career in different chemical organizations. I have 3 degrees: BSc Applied Chemistry. MSc Chemistry and MSc Strategic Management.

I am very successful in my current role providing a valuable service and discovering new approaches to analysis. I enjoy the role and working with the people in the company. However the job is very demanding and often after work and at the weekends I am very tired. I want to feel and look good after my work but this is not often the case because of the long hours, physical tasks and short time scales to complete projects.

I have always had an interest in teaching and have been thinking about trying to move into this area or a related post connected with education. The concerns I have are that I would need in the first year to train as a teacher to accept approximately £12 000 salary drop decrease. The salary for a graduate trainee teacher is £14700 per year.
I am told that after the first year this rises to £20 000.
Then there is the concern about whether I would actually get a teaching job after the training.

I am really interested in teaching and many people feel I have a natural flair for this role.

I am pulled in two directions. I enjoy my current role but know it is leaving me tired and drained in the evenings and weekends. This has happened to the point that I don' t enjoy myself when I go out. When I am off work for only 3 days I feel refreshed again.
I want to move into teaching but feel I risk a lot. It may lead to financial worries if I struggle on the low salary in the first year and especially if I do not get a job. I have been advised that there is no age barrier into teaching and there are many jobs in the north west area of England. However I completed a MSc Strategic Management course recently which I paid for only to find that I cannot get easily into management. The situation is similar where I would have to start on a very relatively low salary because of lack of experience.

Please can you offer some advise?

Brent

Answer
     What is it that makes you think that you will have more time as a teacher than as an analytical chemist? By coincidence my wife is also an analytical chemist while I am a high school physics teacher and she would NEVER dream of moving into teaching - she likes having evenings and weekends to herself. My evenings and part of every weekend are taken over by grading papers, preparing for my classes, determining grades etc. Why would you think that teaching would take LESS time than a normal 9-5 job? Yes, it is true that you may have summers free [although that is doubtful if you are taking a 12000 pound cut]. In fact, you may need to take on a part time job to make ends meet.
     Does all of this mean that I am suggesting that you not consider moving into teaching? Not at all! But you have to be moving for the right reasons. Teaching is a draining, emotionally challenging career that requires a dedicated practitioner to be done successfully. But there are compensations: the look in a student's eyes when he/she finally understands, the student who excels in a field for whom you have opened the door, the relationships that you will develop with budding future scientists and researchers. I love teaching! I have been doing it for 37 years and I dread that last day - it will ultimately come - when I will be unable to continue.
    But don't do it because you somehow think it is easy! May I suggest that you get hold of a movie about this very idea, "Mr. Holland's Opus" and watch it several times. Mr. Holland assumed that it would be easy as well.