Comments on The Blogger Is Dead: One of my professors said something interesting to...

Hey bud, Damn right is the system broken, and I k...

2010-10-21T20:36:17.292-07:00

Hey bud,

Damn right is the system broken, and I know it's unlikely that I'll be able to change much, but it's something that I really care about. It's the same education system that held me back all my life, and I'm working to be a teacher to fix these problems.

I feel like I know where you're coming from, and I question myself and my education degree all the time, but I'm so close to the end that I may as well stick with it. Even if I don't teach when I get done here. I know it's a tough decision, but I know that whatever happens with you, you will be awesome no matter what :-)

-Arthur

Raymond, Thanks for the reply and well-wishes. I ...

2010-10-21T18:07:36.989-07:00

Raymond,

Thanks for the reply and well-wishes. I agree with you, regarding relationships. A lot of my doubts come from not knowing where I'll find the rewarding and positive relationships that make a job attractive. Software can either be a cubicle farm or a code shop. The job title doesn't really set the environment. Teaching can either be a cooperative effort with administrators, students, and teachers, or it can be a battle with one or all of them. I just don't know which I'm more likely to be stuck with, in either situation.

As to whether or not I'm a "giver", I'm not really sure. Both jobs are a lot of work, and require a lot from their practitioners off the clock. But I'm ok with that, as long as I'm passionate about what I'm doing. I like to make cool things. Whether that's a student who sees the world in a new way or a piece of software that does something to make lives easier, I like doing it. But if I'm not passionate about what I'm doing, then God help whoever is supervising me, because there will be trouble.

Kate, Thanks for the comment, kind words, and ret...

2010-10-21T17:57:18.550-07:00

Kate,

Thanks for the comment, kind words, and retweet. :) I know it's never too late to change course, especially at twenty, but I'm hesitant to. First, I don't want to be the one to tell my parents I'm graduating in 2014 instead of 2012, because I'm switching majors at the last minute. Second, I cannot be legally hired as a teacher without a degree in education. I can, however, practice as a software engineer, even if my degree is in education. I'm still just trying to feel out where I want my life to go, so I can work on getting it there.

And as for your last point, that's what I'm afraid of. Part of the lure in teaching is knowing that somewhere out there, there's a supportive, helpful administration that will help me to be the best teacher I can be. But Google will do that with me, too, as a Software Engineer. And I figure my odds of finding and getting hired by that helpful administration are about equal to the odds of me getting hired by Google.

While I only found your blog about two minutes ago...

2010-10-21T17:56:55.811-07:00

While I only found your blog about two minutes ago (thanks, @k8nowak!), I'm left to wonder if you are the type of person who might lack motivation to do things solely for your own benefit, but happy and motivated to work for the good of others. I've had students like that - they won't turn in their homework but they'll volunteer to work the concession stand or do trash pickup.

I might be totally wrong, but this happens to describe you I wouldn't give up on the thoughts of being a teacher, either in the immediate or perhaps more distant future. Many teachers put in long hours every day (not just the five that you mentioned above) not because they really enjoy grading papers or planning lessons, but because they feel an immense (and satisfying) sense of responsibility to their students. Most of the work we have as teachers we create for ourselves, and within that structure you can find some of the freedom that Kate mentions in her comment above.

Whether this happens to describe you or not, there's more than one way to be a teacher. Lying beyond the research and rhetoric about education and your doubts in yourself and the system is the relationship you could have with your students. It's a powerful thing -- so important, in fact, that I hesitate to judge any teacher unless I have first-hand knowledge of that relationship. For that reason, I can't judge if you'll be a successful teacher or not, although many others will try.

Best of luck with whatever path you choose today, tomorrow, or beyond.

Matt, Thanks for the comment, and the support. I ...

2010-10-21T17:50:05.786-07:00

Matt,

Thanks for the comment, and the support. I appreciate it. :)

I'm sure the industry as a whole is not as bad as it sounds. I'm sure working for most companies isn't worthy of reporting to clientsfromhell.net, I worry that I'll be stuck somewhere that is. Or doing something I find distasteful. Or something of that nature. I also have a huge insecurity about being good enough to write software professionally, because I've held amateur status for so long.

I think you're the only one who can know what&...

2010-10-21T17:32:33.992-07:00

I think you're the only one who can know what's best for you. Even if you don't know, yet. Just, I'd caution against settling because you feel like it's too late to change your mind. It's never too late.

There are plenty of constraints on what teachers do, but honestly, there is also an amount of freedom that might surprise you, if you're in a supportive environment that respects you as a professional. Big "if" these days though.

While not an educator myself, I've been throug...

2010-10-21T17:32:33.544-07:00

While not an educator myself, I've been through the same system. I graduated high school, followed by college with a BS in computer science. I agree with all of your assessments of the system and, sadly, the most likely outcome if you pursued teaching. I don't want to drive you away from that because, truth be told, there aren't enough good teachers in the world. If they make it into the system to begin with, they probably don't stay because they're overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated. That's probably just an unavoidable consequence of the system that's in place, because they're mostly powerless to change it.

Just from what I've been able to see at this distance, I think you have an excellent command of the English language and that you'd be a great teacher. I also think you'd be a great software developer, if that's what you want to do. I don't think that industry is as bad an industry to work in as you make it out to be. It really depends on the company you work for. It can indeed be soulless, lifeless, and painful, but it can also be the reason you look forward to getting up in the morning.

Whatever choice you make, I wish you the best of luck and will support you in that decision however I can from where I am.

Best wishes,

Matt