Question for STEM high school teachers — What do you like and dislike?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the experiences of STEM teachers in public high schools, focusing on their likes and dislikes about the job. It explores perspectives from both teachers and recent students, aiming to understand the dynamics within STEM education in high school settings.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express a desire to hear from teachers about their experiences, emphasizing the importance of the teacher's perspective in understanding the challenges and rewards of teaching STEM subjects.
  • One participant notes that the type of school (public vs. private) significantly influences the teaching experience, suggesting that public schools may present more challenges due to student disinterest and disrespect.
  • There is a suggestion that the discussion could benefit from insights from recent students about their experiences in STEM classes, although some participants prefer to focus on the teacher's viewpoint first.
  • A participant mentions that they have experiences to share but prefers to wait for others to contribute their thoughts first.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus, as there are differing views on whether to focus on teacher experiences or student perspectives. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific likes and dislikes of STEM teachers.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects varying experiences based on school type and does not resolve the complexities of teaching environments or the specific challenges faced by teachers in public versus private schools.

Who May Find This Useful

STEM educators, educational administrators, and individuals interested in the dynamics of high school STEM education may find this discussion relevant.

Josh0768
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As a STEM teacher at a public high school, what are some things you like and dislike about your job?
 
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Josh0768 said:
As a STEM teacher at a public high school, what are some things you like and dislike about your job?
Since you recently completed high school, maybe you can relate some of your experiences being a student in a public high school in STEM classes?
 
berkeman said:
Since you recently completed high school, maybe you can relate some of your experiences being a student in a public high school in STEM classes?
Maybe if someone creates their own question inquiring about what it’s like to be a student in a high school STEM class, I will. But for now, I would like answers from the teacher’s perspective.
 
It would have been better if you had answered my question, IMO. There is a reason behind it.

Thread locked for a bit until you send me a PM to let me know that you are willing to post your thoughts first. I do have some experiences I would like to share, but not until you go first.
 
Last edited:
After a PM discussion with the OP, the thread is re-opened. I'm not able to tell what he wants, but hopefully within a few replies we'll be able to tell.

@Josh0768 -- The point I was going to make is that it depends a lot on the type of school where you are teaching. There is a large difference between teaching in the public school system and in private schools in the US, in my experience. From an earlier thread:

berkeman said:
What grade levels do you want to teach? I'm assuming that you want to teach at the high school level? I'm not of any help on the certification requirements, but on the issue of challenging environments, I do know that teaching math or science in public high schools can be a frustrating endeavor. In my experience (as a parent watching some HS classes in recent years), the level of disinterest and disrespect of many public school students right now is pretty hard to deal with. Teaching in a private school would probably provide you a better set of students...
 

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