What Not To Say to an Education Major

 

As an education major, I’m acutely aware of some of the stigma that comes with 

 

being a teacher. While most people are incredibly supportive of my aspirations, over 

 

the years I’ve heard some pretty insensitive stuff. While people usually aren’t trying 

 

to be hurtful, the things they say can come across as rather naïve. So before you start 

 

talking to an education major, make sure you know what might set them off. 

 

 

Nothing could be farther from the truth. While ed majors might not have to 

 

pull all-nighters pouring over textbooks, I promise we do just as much work 

 

as you do. We learn how to write lesson plans, rubrics, tests, and 

 

assignments. We get placed into classrooms so that we can learn by doing. 

 

We learn about the growth and psychology of school aged children. We learn 

 

about effective teaching methods. We do all of this, on top of learning the 

 

actual material we are going to teach.

 

 

 

I’m pretty confident when I say there has never been a teacher who is in it for 

 

the money. Ed majors are well aware going into school that teaching is not a 

 

job that allows a glamorous lifestyle. The salary is fairly small, plus teachers 

 

often spend a lot of their own money for their classrooms. Education majors 

 

are here because we love students and want to help them become better 

 

people. And if you love your job, it really doesn’t matter what your income is.

 

 

 

Yes, this has been said to me before, and I don’t think anything makes me 

 

angrier. Teachers are some of the smartest people I know. Just because we 

 

spend the majority of their time around young people does not mean we 

 

aren’t smart as hell. Teaching takes more knowledge than you might think. 

 

You have to be confident in your subject material as well as classroom 

 

management, social skills, and organization, to name a few. If you’re in doubt, 

 

see number one.

 

 

 

Then I guess it’s a good thing that I’m the one studying to be a teacher, isn’t 

 

it? I completely understand if you don’t want to work with adolescents all 

 

day. It’s not your cup of tea. But I don’t need you pushing your opinion about 

 

people I love (that’s right, I love kids) on me. It sort of makes me feel like 

 

you’re judging me, you know?

 

 

 

Thanks! I am pretty lucky. Actually, luck has nothing to do with it. I chose this 

 

profession knowing that I would get to take summers off. But that’s not why I 

 

chose it. I chose it because I love education, not because I want three months 

 

off per year. And whatever major you chose, I’m sure you were well aware 

 

that you would have to work all year round, and it didn’t affect your decision. 

 

Plus, if I do say so myself, teachers do a year’s worth of work in nine months. 

 

I think that break is pretty justified. 

 

 

 

No, I’m here to become a teacher. And if I happen to meet my future husband 

 

along the way, great! If not, that’s great too! I’m here to learn how to be the 

 

best teacher I can be, not to find someone to support me my whole life. 

 

Education majors are not constantly seeking out someone to be their spouse. 

 

The idea that teachers and housewives coincide is incredibly outdated. Many 

 

of us really are here because we want to teach and help the future of our 

 

society. So before you jump to that conclusion, think about how you would 

 

feel if someone asked you the same question.

 

 

People choose to be in education because it’s their passion, just like you chose to be 

 

in your field because it’s something you enjoy. So no matter whom you’re talking to, 

 

support their decisions and take a second to appreciate what they do.