Monday, January 30, 2012

Topic of the Week: Where Do You Want to Teach?


As future educators, we are faced with the task of choosing where we want to apply for teaching jobs. There are a variety of schools where we can work, each one having different positives and negatives. Some find suburban public schools particularly appealing, while others envision themselves at a private urban school. It is important to analyze your preferences when choosing a school; for example, some districts offer teachers little say in curriculum development while others allow teachers a significant amount of lesson planning freedom. What school system do you think will work best for you?

Where do you see yourself teaching: 
a Public School, Private School, or Charter School? 
Do you prefer the New York City Public school system or do you wish to teach in a suburban neighborhood? 
Why?

12 comments:

  1. At first I was deathly afraid of public schools here and thought that I should aim somewhere higher, for better lack of a term, at least to start off - but now I want experience everywhere! I want to work in neighbourhoods like Ms. Toliver did, such as East Harlem, as well as at a charter school, which I did not know existed until I arrived, all the way to at schools internationally, maybe even back in Hong Kong, so I can see what all sorts of schools are like. I don't yet have a fleshed out plan as to how this will work, but I figure that starting out somewhere where I really have to challenge myself is a good idea as it will prepare me very well for schools that are not as difficult to teach at. Anna told me about Teach America, a program that recruits prospective teachers and places them in neighbourhoods like East Harlem, and how difficult it actually is to get a job with them, which surprised me, and how it might be a good idea to start there. To conclude, I don't yet know for sure what I'm going to do, but at least in the beginning of my career, I'm going to try not to let myself get stuck anywhere for too long! Should be quite the adventure!

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    1. This is definitely a tough question and it's understandable that you are undecided! Starting off in a challenging area is a great idea and will certainly help you grow and mature as a teacher. Of course, it's most important to choose a school where you'll be the happiest. We look forward to hearing more about your field experiences during your time at St. John's; it will allow you to better familiarize yourself with various schools and be able to select your preferences.

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  2. I recently thought about possibly trying to work in a Boarding School. They are not the most common throughout the United States but I am attracted to the idea of a small community that works together and lives together getting their work done. It was just a recent thought after I met a friend of a friend who went to a very prestigious boarding school in the North East. If not that then I would really like to work in a public school on the East Coast. As long as I have the opportunity to coach a team I will be a happy camper - Michael Fallon

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  3. I definitely want to teach in a New York City public school. Ideally, I would love to teach at the school at which I completed my student teaching. In a perfect world, that is where I would be. If not, I would still love to stay in the city for a while. I prefer this because I have experience in teaching there and I am familiar with the standards, schools, etc.

    My educational background is private school. I attended Catholic school all my life. I wouldn't mind teaching in my old high school, or one similar. It was a private all-girls college prep school.

    I would not want to leave New York. Because I live in Nassau and plan on having a family there, Nassau might be where I end up. First I want to build up my experience within the city.

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    1. It is great to hear that your student teaching experience combined with your Education classes have enabled you to make a confident decision about where you want to teach. Best of luck with your job search in New York!

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  4. I want to teach at either a city school or a suburban school on Long Island. I know it will be hard to get a job but that's okay. I'll settle for what I can get. :)

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    1. It may be tough, but it is not impossible! As long as there are kids to teach, there will always be a need for teachers :)

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  5. I have attended both Public school as well as Catholic school and there are significant differences in each. I think Catholic school gives teachers some more freedom to teach to the course as opposed to teaching to the test (at least schools like Kellenberg Memorial High School and Chaminade High School are like that), but with Public schools there are unions and better pay, although this is not a job about the pay. Since I have received the TEACH Grant, I must start out in Public schools in areas of high need, so I may end up staying in the Public school system. If that is the case, I would eventually like to teach in Manhattan or in Nassau County.

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    1. Thank you for your reply! It is wonderful to hear you state, "this is not a job about the pay." You are absolutely right, teaching should never be about the pay. Although it is important to be able to live comfortably, teachers should ultimately WANT to teach and love their job (and the kids!)

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  6. I have been in Public school my entire life. I had a great experience with all my teachers and loved every school I attended. Now, I'm student teaching in the elementary school I went to and I love it. I was very nervous I would find a different school, but now I'm simply excited to be there! This would be my ideal school to teach. It's so much more than just desks and chairs. It is truly a tight knit community where children learn, grow, and inspire. It has changed a little bit due to retiring teachers and new ones coming in, as well as new standards and expectations of the DOE and state. Although city schools are very crowded and overflowing with students, I find that NYC teachers are able to tailor their teaching styles to the needs of their students.
    I can only hope I can be half the teacher that some of mine were. This student teaching experience means a lot to me because I get to learn from those that taught me!

    Good Luck to everyone.

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  7. I prefer the New York City public school system because I've gone to public schools my whole life until college and I am very comfortable and happy around this kind of environment. It almost feels like home to me since I've gone to NY public schools my whole life. I also love how the students are very care-free, fun and sweet and I love to have fun with kids. If kids are too serious and not have fun learning, I won't have fun, either! So far, I am still liking the NY public school system and would love to work at a public school as a future educator!

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  8. I grew up on Long Island, so when I came to St. John's the schools were different than I was used too. However, I quickly fell in love with the diversity in these schools. I especially love the Fresh Meadows, Flushing area since it is slightly suburban, but with a urban feel. Also, I believe working in a New York city school district has a lot to offer myself and my teaching career.

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