Some of us just found out that they liked teaching their subject. My job prospects were: 1. working at my uncle's law firm and passing the bar (uh, no; I loved my uncle; he was a great lawyer...but I didn't want to work for him); 2. working at an alphabet agency (again, no; other relatives have worked for those..and, no); 3. keep working at the newspaper (oh, hell no); 4. teaching -- and I really liked it because I got to delve into and share the intellectual things I love the most -- grammar/language formation and literature/writing.
Because I've worked both public and private schools and the college, I never got summers off; and while the pay was decent, because I was always adjunct faculty it was never great...but, I got to do what I like to do and had access to resources about the intellectual topic I loved the most, so it was worth it for me. We all have our own motivations in life that we're willing to trade off other things to get. Just allow me to study the origins and evolution of Indo-European languages, and I'm a happy camper.
This comment really spoke to me. I have a linguistics degree (and similar passions as yourself) but a hesitation of teaching because of the political atmosphere. I had wanted to keep going in university and eventually get a doctorate but since becoming more conservative I find i want to stick around my home, have a family, and be a part of my community and teaching seems to be an ideal choice for that (just as long as we can maintain our hobbies). But it is hard to stomach these changes to official school policy as if they're fact that we have all agrees upon. And i know where i live teachers can lose their jobs for wrongthink.
It's a problem -- and yes, teachers can lose their jobs for wrongthink (me, for one). However, there are still some schools that are not completely psychotic; I'd advise finding one in which to teach. When one of the "liberal" teachers is telling the kids to "freedom is important, thank a veteran" (my kids' school), you know you've found a fairly promising school.
And, if you just cede the field (that has happened far too much and for far too long), then you've just given up -- I would tell you that yes, it can be hard in this climate, but you should at least try; give it a go. Teaching isn't for everyone (and some people are just no good at it), but it may be for you -- and it is a valuable, though often difficult, service.
Some of us just found out that they liked teaching their subject. My job prospects were: 1. working at my uncle's law firm and passing the bar (uh, no; I loved my uncle; he was a great lawyer...but I didn't want to work for him); 2. working at an alphabet agency (again, no; other relatives have worked for those..and, no); 3. keep working at the newspaper (oh, hell no); 4. teaching -- and I really liked it because I got to delve into and share the intellectual things I love the most -- grammar/language formation and literature/writing.
Because I've worked both public and private schools and the college, I never got summers off; and while the pay was decent, because I was always adjunct faculty it was never great...but, I got to do what I like to do and had access to resources about the intellectual topic I loved the most, so it was worth it for me. We all have our own motivations in life that we're willing to trade off other things to get. Just allow me to study the origins and evolution of Indo-European languages, and I'm a happy camper.
This comment really spoke to me. I have a linguistics degree (and similar passions as yourself) but a hesitation of teaching because of the political atmosphere. I had wanted to keep going in university and eventually get a doctorate but since becoming more conservative I find i want to stick around my home, have a family, and be a part of my community and teaching seems to be an ideal choice for that (just as long as we can maintain our hobbies). But it is hard to stomach these changes to official school policy as if they're fact that we have all agrees upon. And i know where i live teachers can lose their jobs for wrongthink.
It's a problem -- and yes, teachers can lose their jobs for wrongthink (me, for one). However, there are still some schools that are not completely psychotic; I'd advise finding one in which to teach. When one of the "liberal" teachers is telling the kids to "freedom is important, thank a veteran" (my kids' school), you know you've found a fairly promising school.
And, if you just cede the field (that has happened far too much and for far too long), then you've just given up -- I would tell you that yes, it can be hard in this climate, but you should at least try; give it a go. Teaching isn't for everyone (and some people are just no good at it), but it may be for you -- and it is a valuable, though often difficult, service.