Secondary Science Teacher Career Analyis Essays - Educational Stages

Secondary Science Teacher Career Analyis Secondary Science Teacher Career Analysis Introduction After obtaining a bachelors degree in science, most people begin to scour the job market. Many people may find difficulty obtaining a job pertaining to science without a master's degree. Rather than give up people tend to explore their options. Some people continue their education to ensure their success in the science industry. Others explore alternative careers which interest them. Another option is to share the knowledge obtained in four years of college by teaching in a middle or high school setting. Each option is better suited for different individuals. Many people cannot go to graduate school for one reason or another. Maybe they do not have the financial means, or they lack the time needed to complete the program. Others choose not to change career fields because science is their main interest and prefer to stick with it. Some choose not to teach because it does not interest them or because they do not know enough about it. Due to the high demand of secondary education teachers, often people choose this option. In the late 1990's, the majority of high school students were not taught science by science teachers. The students were instead taught science by teachers who normally taught other subjects (?20 Hot?). That has not changed much in the new millennium. The need for secondary school teachers continues to rise and is not expected to decline in the near future. It is currently listed in the top five for occupations with the most job openings. Many states are also expecting a significant rise in the number of teachers they are going to employ. The average salary for a secondary educator ranges from $19,700 to $70,030 a year (United States). $35,750 is the customary income for first year secondary teachers according to the Economic Research Institute. However, the Bureau of Labor statistics claims that the usual starting salary is $36,600 (?Secondary?). Conversely, $25,700 is the national standard for beginning secondary teachers according to the American Federation of Teachers (United States). And the income for private school secondary educators varies greatly. Some private schools offer free room and board and other offers included as the salary so a comparison is often difficult. Teachers are more likely to receive raises after they have been teaching at the same school district for more than a year. Coaching athletic teams and teaching extracurricular activities also increases pay. Obtaining a master's degree or Ph.D also increase a secondary school science teacher's salary. On average, a public school teacher with a master's degree earns $44,525, and with a Ph.D it is increased even more to $49,125 for a beginning teacher (?Secondary?). But those are not the only reasons science majors decide to teach secondary education. Through the exploration of the definition of a science teacher and the job description, the skills needed to be successful, interests and values desired, future trends, advantages, and drawbacks of the profession you will see why teaching science is a feasible possibility many people majoring in science are beginning to choose. COLLECTED DATA DEFINITION OF A SECONDARY SCIENCE TEACHER The first aspect of a teaching profession a person interested in teaching science in a middle or high school setting must do is examine the definition of not only a science teacher but also secondary teacher in general. It is also necessary to assess the daily tasks and duties involved in secondary teaching. Job Description A secondary school teacher can teach seventh through twelfth grades. Many educators teach either middle or high school but it is not limited to a specific grade level. Secondary teachers must present course materials by providing a lecture, using audio-visual aids, and assigning homework. In addition to actually teaching material, a secondary teacher must also evaluate students through observation and discuss the findings with the student, the student's parents, and other involved teachers or administrators. Teachers must also supervise the students at all times and maintain proper behavior in the classroom through the use of guidance and discipline (?Secondary?). Most states also require teachers to hold a certification from the state. Daily Tasks and Duties There are a variety of tasks and duties that must be performed by a secondary teacher. Some