<p>Here’s the story: I loathe my current job, but stay in it because of the crappy economy. (It’s a job!) I am thinking about getting my teaching certification to teach high school chemistry and have been accepted into a certification program that I can complete part-time. I have wanted to teach for a long time.</p>
<p>I just turned 50, and the course work in the program will take me about 2 years to complete (before student teaching would begin.) Part of me is very excited about teaching, but the naggy worrying part of my brain tells me that I should just suck it up, stay with the crappy job forever, and forget about teaching. </p>
<p>Opinions? Am I too old to be thinking about this? And by the way - I really don’t want to hear about the pitfalls of teaching. I have talked candidly to several hs chemistry teachers and sat in on many classes. I think I’m pretty well versed in all the problems with kids, parents, administrators, etc. and I know about the job market. I know that no job is perfect (see that first sentence) and I’m going into this with a level head, or as level as I can be.</p>
<p>50 is the new 30. Go for it. If you are in a position to afford to do it, you would be crazy not to. Life is so darn short, why be unhappier for even a day longer than you absolutely have to?</p>
<p>Ummm…I am in exactly the same boat - except it is Math, not Chemistry. I do not think you are too old, b/c I am thinking of doing the same thing. Look at it this way - you probably have at least 15 years until retirement. That’s a long time to be stuck in a job you don’t like. And it sounds like you’ve researched this well, and thought about it a lot – I say go for it.</p>
<p>Scout, I, too, would say go for it! I think it’s admirable that you would make the effort to follow your passion at this stage of life. Teaching is a wonderful profession and needs more people who have a passion for it. One of my Ds is a teacher and there were several ‘mature’ individuals in her grad program who were going into teaching after being in other professions. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>I scope out the want-ads for teachers in my area (NY, NJ, PA, CT) and there are many openings for science or math teachers. I think it prudent to choose such a valuable career path and fill a great need. If not you guys, then who?</p>
<p>Perhaps you could try substitute teaching in private schools in your area. Certainly, subs are not the same as full-time class room teachers, but you might get a sense of how it goes. Also, most private schools do not need their teachers to be certified. So, depending on your experience and knowledge base, maybe you could get a job without going through the whole ed courses, student teaching, etc. route. Private school teachers do make less money than public schools teachers, for sure, but it is a great job. I am a language teacher in a private school, and I never took a single ed course in my life. I also didn’t ever student teach. I love my job! :)</p>
<p>I had an econ teacher (well, once for econ and once for US History) who was a banker until 55, then he switched to teaching. He was fine (if not a little annoying, but that was his personality).</p>
<p>Chemistry is one subject area that is desperately short of teachers. AND since chemistry classes are largely populated with students headed to college, student interest and decorum are generally not issues. </p>
<p>As franglish points out, private school gigs might be available now … albeit at lower salary.</p>
<p>In my state (Florida) you can get a temporary teaching certificate if you have certain coursework and a bachelor’s degree and pass certain tests, and then you have 2 or 3 years to earn your professional certificate, either through traditional education courses or an alternative certification program.</p>
<p>That is the route I took when a teaching opportunity presented itself when I was 43. With bachelors degrees in math and French I was able to get my temporary certifications in those subject areas and start teaching right away, and then through training and our district’s alternative certification program I now have my professional certification.</p>
<p>Go for it. One drawback of a lot of career changes is that new employees usually very little vacation time. That wouldn’t be a problem with teaching, however.</p>
<p>One issue might be lack of peers your age. Would it bother you to be the “old person” on campus? Because teachers tend to start work at 22 or so, many have their 30 years in by their early 50s and retire.</p>
<p>My sister was a school district classified employee and went back to school in her mid-40s, first for a BA, then a credential. She went full time and the family lived on less than $2000/mo, but she was diligent and it all worked out well for her. She has been teaching for several years now and does not regret it at all.</p>
<p>The only down side to consider is that starting late affects your retirement package, but you may not even have a retirement package at most jobs these days!</p>
<p>Absolutely, do it. Many school districts really value “second career” people. They have more “real life” education than the kids just out of college. </p>
<p>I am also a second career teacher, although I took on the task in my mid-thirties. Honestly, I can’t recommend the job and the profession highly enough. </p>
<p>Hey, you’re going to be 52 years old regardless of what you do. Why not give it a try? You won’t regret doing it, and you’re sure to regret not trying.</p>
<p>Wow - thanks for all the quick (and enthusiastic) responses!</p>
<p>I live in Michigan, which does not have a big alternative-teaching-track (and which also has a glut of teachers, although there are more options with chemistry…) However, there’s a chance H and I could leave the state in a few years and other options may open up. Thanks for the suggestions.</p>
<p>I really do appreciate the support. I was a bench chemist for 20+ years and did do a lot of science-outreach activities. I know that’s not the same as teaching, but I really loved it and I miss it now. I have no illusions about teenagers (especially en masse); that being said, I still like being around them. i know my own shortcomings… and I still think I’d like teaching.</p>
<p>Thanks again! “50 is the new 30”? We’ll see!</p>
<p>scout - go for it. Good chemistry teachers are hard to find. Your bench experience will be an asset.</p>
<p>One of my friends told me this story. Years ago, a big pharmaceutical company closed its division in his town. A few of the laid off folks started a new biotech company which he joined. One day, he got invited to their “reunion” party and was very surprised to see his kid’s science teacher at that party! Turns out, the science teacher used to work at the pharma division, too, but decided that the lay off was the perfect kick-in-the-pants opportunity for him to pursue something that he always wanted to do - teach HS science.</p>
<p>scout59, teaching is a calling, IMHO, and you sound like its calling out to you! </p>
<p>I’m a SAHM right now but have a teaching cred. I plan on returning to work in a few yrs (after 10 yrs. off) and I’ll be pretty much in the same boat as you - starting over. </p>
<p>My uncle retired from the military and went back to school for his teaching cred. He’s been teaching math for 15 yrs. now. </p>
<p>Do you want to spend the next 10 - 15 years in your crappy job that you hate, or doing something you think you’ll enjoy? Age has nothing to do with it. Good luck!</p>
<p>I went back to school at age 37 and got my teaching certificate through a one-year master’s program. I taught HS chemistry mostly part-time for about ten years. Right now I am not teaching–I work at our bike business instead. </p>
<p>The hardest part was the requirement to spend all day on my feet. I ended up with chronic plantar fasciitis. </p>
<p>I also ran into difficulty switching into the current all-calculators-all-the-time mode of math and science teaching. A lot of labs are done with simulations these days. I wanted to do hands-on stuff and it was considered too dangerous, too polluting, etc. </p>
<p>Frankly, I think you should contact your local school district and see if you can get what’s called an “emergency” credential, which is generally given to people with a BS in a subject area who lack the teaching credential and are willing to go back to school while they are teaching. Teaching for a year with a emergency credential would tell you if you want to spend the two years getting a better one. </p>
<p>You could also contact private schools and see if they’re hiring.</p>
<p>Most hiring for next year has already been done, but the sciences often have late openings. And those are the ones where an emergency credential might work.</p>
<p>There are numerous colleges that have part-time master’s programs in teaching, depending on where you’re located. </p>
<p>Another possibility is to talk to your company about setting up a chemistry in the community liaison between your company and a local school, so that you could work with high school students as part of your present job. In other words, don’t leave your job, change it.</p>
<p>I retired from the Federal Government at 60, moved half way across the country, and began a very enjoyable second career as a college administrator in the Midwest.</p>