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Many holders of education degrees end up entering teaching
professions. The old image of a middle-aged, underpaid, overworked
teacher who received little appreciate has recently begun
to be replaced by a younger generation of often well-paid,
highly appreciated educators. These teachers are beginning
to recognize the benefits of a degree in education in a number
of ways. From better benefits to the ability to balance work
and family through shortened yearly work schedules not available
in most professions, work in the education field is becoming
an increasingly attractive career option to many.
Time Off
One of the best aspects as work as a teacher might be the
schedule. It’s hard to find a profession these days
that will offer its employees weekends, holidays, spring,
winter, and possibly fall breaks, as well as extended time
off during the summer. This benefit of working in education
can allow more time to focus upon hobbies and other interests,
take part-time jobs, visit family and travel, or just relax.
Family Life
Time off leads to another significant advantage of being a
teacher -- the ability to better balance work and family.
Some teachers choose to work at a school in which their child
or children attend, making for easier commuting. Even if a
teacher doesn’t work at the same school as their child,
the profession often lends itself to less stressful family
conditions since at least one parent may not be working during
many of the same days that their child is off from school.
The relatively consistent hours of a school teacher also makes
it easier for a parent to be available to drop off or pick
up a child from school as well as be available for after school
activities or spending time at home.
Staying Mentally Fit
By constantly being around a learning environment, many teachers
are likely to utilize their mental capacities more than those
not working in academia or education related fields. By teaching
others and having to keep up with new modes and forms of learning,
you may in turn be keeping your own mind active and healthy.
Rewards of Helping Others
One of the less hedonistic benefits of work as an educator
is the ability to help others. While you might not work in
education your entire life, your background may enable you
to your teach and educate a number of people in various roles,
situations and professions.
As a parent, you might find yourself better able to help
your children as they grow and learn. Within a profession
unrelated directly to education, you could find that you are
better able to train and assist peers with learning new processes
or skills. And your education degree may also help you better
learn and continue educating yourself on your own initiative.
Your ability to teach others can also be quite rewarding
and may leave you feeling as though your work has contributed
to society. There will certainly be ups and downs, successes
and failures, but many days you will likely come home from
a teaching job with a sense of accomplishment that is often
lacking in other professions.
Salary/Advancement
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and their May
2008 National Occupation Employment and Wage Estimates report,
the overall average annual income for “Education, Training,
and Library Occupations” was at $48,460. Educators may
stand to make well over this amount by working in more specialized
or postsecondary roles, or by moving into administrative levels
within a particular school or school district.
Freedom to Move
Having a degree in education might better allow you to move
and travel if that is something in which you are interested.
Being able to find jobs within a school system or university
or even online can open a number of career options compared
to those without a degree in education. Depending on your
degree and focus, you might find yourself teaching in another
country, working from home as a tutor, or teaching online.
This freedom to move, travel, or work from home can be a great
motivator for getting a degree in education.
If this sounds interesting, take a look at all the schools
that offer an Online
Education Degree
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