AboutJames J. Kovalcin Expertise I am teaching or have taught AP physics B and C [calculus based mechanics & electricity and magnetism] as well as Lab Physics for college bound students. I have a BS in Physics from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Arts in Teaching from same. I have been teaching physics for 27 years.
Question Hi! I was going through some of your answers and was quite impressed by your approach, I guess your physics background helps you.
Coming to the point I am a physics teacher in India. I completed my masters in Physics and also did an M.tech in Energy Management.
I have been giving private tutions to students since I was in my XI grade. The teaching bug really cought on and after my M.Tech I went on to join 'The Doon School, Dehradun' which is probably considered the best public school in India. I taught there for 2 years and came back to my home town and started an institute training student s for various Engineering and Medical Entrance Examinations like the IIT-JEE, AIEEE, AIIMs etc.
Now I wish to come to the US and explore my possibilities of becoming a High School teacher, regarding which I need clarifications to the following questions
1. Do I need a separate degree in Education to teach in US?
2. If yes can I do an equivalent course in India before coming there?
3. What are the average remunerations prevalant in this field?
4. Is there any part time teaching jobs also available if I wish to slog?
Regards and Thanks!!
Answer One thing you will immediately find different in the US is that each of the 50 states has its own teaching requirements. You can find links to these different requirements at http://www.uky.edu/Education/TEP/usacert.html.
1. That said, what will generally be required is that you have a bachelors [4 year college] degree in the subject matter plus coursework in teaching skills. A specific degree in teaching is generally not required.
2. Difficult for me to answer since I am totally unfamiliar with the educational system in India. I would, however, suspect that what would be taught in schools in India would be very different [not better or worse!] from what is taught in the US. Unlike many other parts of the world, in the US training our best and brightest is NOT a high educational priority. Most American education is geared towards "leveling the playing field" - there are significant exceptions, but they are relatively rare.
3. Again, a VERY difficult question since teacher remuneration varies enormously. For example, my sister teaching in rural Colorado was making 25-30 thousand dollars a year while I was making 70-80 thousand dollars a year teaching in suburban New Jersey. However, it is also worth noting that living costs can also vary dramatically.
4. Part time teaching is not generally available in most public school systems. However, private schools [and there are plenty of them is certain areas of the country] are more willing to accommodate flexible arrangements.
If you go to my web site at www.jimthx.vze.com you would be able to see many of my teaching materials including lesson plans for the last several years at three different levels: regular, honors and calculus based physics. Likewise, I have published much of my work at www.teaching-point.org under the title "Honors Physics".
Finally, I know this might not be as encouraging as you would like, but high academic achievement is NOT prized very highly in America. The US, from its foundation, has always had somewhat of an anti-intellectual bias. Teachers in the US are NOT held in high regard! Teaching is NOT a high status occupation here by any stretch of the imagination!
