Debunking the Myths
The Truth about Teaching
In choosing an area of study, many college students look to emerging majors, such as criminal justice and Web design because of the expected job growth that comes with up-and-coming areas. You may be surprised to know, though, that while teaching is one of the oldest professions, teachers in Georgia have a great future!
In total, 14,979 new teachers were hired in Georgia in 2004-2005, and the demand continues to rise thanks to an increase in births, population migration into the state and an effort to reduce class size. In fact, of the top 100 fastest growing occupations in Georgia, as reported by the Georgia Department of Labor, a total of 40 are in education, and from 2002 to 2012, elementary and secondary school positions are projected to increase by over 27%, nearly ten percentage points greater than the overall projected job growth of the entire state.
Debunking the Myths
So what do all these statistics mean? Translation: teachers are in demand because the number of students is growing, not because, as some people think, teachers are getting out of the profession because of low pay or a lack of support. In fact, those misconceptions are two of the more common myths about a career in education, so allow us to set the record straight:
Teaching Myth #1: "There’s No Pay." Word on the street may be that a teacher’s salary is nothing to write home about, but teachers in Georgia are, in fact, paid very well by statewide standards. If you were to graduate from a four-year teacher education program today and immediately start working in the Georgia public school system, your starting salary would be at least $30,000 annually, almost twice as much as the statewide entry level annual salary of $16,420. The average teacher salary of $45,000 per year means many teachers make more than that.
Teaching Myth #2: "You’ll Have No Support." In Georgia, nothing could be less true. Our teachers have the full support of the Board of Education and the state. The Georgia Framework for Teaching exists to help new teachers during their transition across the career continuum, from pre-service learning through the early years of teaching. Additionally, teachers have access to the Teacher Career Center, which provides information about University System of Georgia teacher preparation programs, pathways to teaching, certification routes and teachers' professional development. Furthermore, the University of Georgia Colleges of Education are committed to supporting their graduates, even going as far as providing additional post-graduation teacher training at no extra cost, if necessary.
Teaching Myth #3: "It's Not a Profession." No matter what you've heard, being a teacher isn’t about easy six hour days and long, lazy summers. Being a teacher is one of the hardest – and also one of the most rewarding – professions you can choose. A teacher's day-to-day job description includes creating lesson plans; modifying, organizing and developing materials to go along with those plans; communicating with parents, administrators and fellow teachers and overseeing extracurricular activities. Factor into that motivating students and providing an academically stimulating environment to a classroom full of young people, and you’ll see why teachers are doing some of the most important work out there today.
Teaching Myth #4: "The Bar is Low – Anyone Can Be a Teacher." No matter what you’ve heard about teachers, graduates of a University System of Georgia Teacher Preparation Program are consistently setting the highest standards in their profession. Our teachers demonstrate depth in all content fields, set high learning standards for all students and customize instruction for students in the classroom. Our teachers are proficient using data on student learning and achievement in the classroom to set benchmarks and to monitor student progress. They can effectively use technology as a tool for learning. And our teachers can manage school classrooms and show evidence of their students' academic accomplishments. All in all, Georgia's teachers aren’t just "anyone" – they are the cream of the crop.