What type of people choose to be elementary school teachers?

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SUMMARY

Teaching in elementary schools presents unique challenges, including managing diverse learning abilities and addressing emotional issues among students. Experienced teachers report that the stress level is higher than in university settings but lower than in high schools. The discussion highlights the controversial topic of corporal punishment, with some arguing for its role in discipline, while others emphasize the legal and ethical implications against such practices in regions like New York. Ultimately, the conversation seeks to understand the personal qualities and characteristics that attract individuals to pursue a career in elementary education.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of emotional and behavioral challenges in children, including ADD/ADHD.
  • Knowledge of educational discipline methods, including corporal punishment and its legal implications.
  • Familiarity with the role of teachers in managing classroom dynamics.
  • Awareness of the differences in stress levels across educational settings (elementary, high school, university).
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the legal framework surrounding corporal punishment in schools in various states.
  • Explore effective classroom management strategies for diverse learning abilities.
  • Investigate the psychological impact of emotional issues on student behavior.
  • Examine the personal characteristics that contribute to successful teaching in elementary education.
USEFUL FOR

Elementary school teachers, educational administrators, child psychologists, and individuals considering a career in education will benefit from this discussion.

ILEW
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What's it like teaching in an elementary or primary school? How streesful is it? Probably not as much as teaching in a high school but more so than a University?
 
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Whats with these questions, are you doing a report?

I taught elementary school for 10 years and hit my students all 10 years when they misbehaved.
 
ILEW said:
What's it like teaching in an elementary or primary school? How streesful is it? Probably not as much as teaching in a high school but more so than a University?
My wife is a teaching assistant at a local elementary school. It can be very stressful, especially when there is a mix of children with different learning abilities, or when one or more children act disruptively. Teachers have to deal with children and their emotional problems, which result things like ADD/ADHD, disrupted families (e.g. husband and/or wife act violently to each other or the children), child abuse (i.e. children who are violently or sexually abused by a parent, sibling or other family member), . . . .

Occasionally one encounters a child who lashes out violently against other students or the teacher. The teacher is expected to calmly deal with it.
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
Whats with these questions, are you doing a report?

I taught elementary school for 10 years and hit my students all 10 years when they misbehaved.

Why are you asking? It's just for curioisty sake. You should have been prosecuted long ago for doing that.
 
ILEW said:
You should have been prosecuted long ago for doing that.

If you mean hitting the children, I disagree. Part of teaching in school should be discipline and morals. That will no doubt vary from teacher to teacher, but I think giving a child who shouted out a bad word a small spanking would do him/her some good.
 
ILEW said:
Why are you asking? It's just for curioisty sake. You should have been prosecuted long ago for doing that.

Because those are odd questions to be asking. Why, kids need to be disciplined.
 


And the teacher of the year goes to...(its the maestro from seinfeld!).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
My wife made the point that 'hitting' is punishment (usually referred to as corporal punishment), not discipline. In NY, and perhaps the NE US, a teacher would be suspended for striking or hitting a child. A child who acts out will be sent to the principal and the parents will be summoned to the school.
 
Even though it's streeful, some people still do it. I wonder what kind or type of people (as in what type of personal qualities, characteristics etc) choose to teach in elementary school and have it as their career?
 

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