Expert: James J. Kovalcin - 11/23/2004

Question
hi there,I am in the U.K ,and have been a Teaching Assistant at Secondary School level,for two years working with kids with emotional and behaviour problems,it is the most mentally demanding job i have ever had, but I love it,all my students say that I should be teaching,wich is my dream ambition but I lack the qualifications,can someone like me ever become a teacher, is what i do of any help in this career.Any advice as some teachers can be loathe to talk to us, but we work extremely hard for little reward financially,I think we are overlooked, as we have to know so much.

Answer
Since you are in the UK it is difficult for me to advise you about career prospects. I am in the US and in the US we have 50 states and 50 different sets of rules. In any case, in the US you would need, at a minimum, a bachelors degree. In some states you eventually need to acquire a masters as well.
Personally, I have been teaching for 33 years and I cannot imagine anything else. I think that if you really think you will love teaching, then I say go for it. The truth is that you really do only live once and you should make the most of it.