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> Teachers, social workers, public defenders, armed service people. I don't agree with that in all cases. I have a friend who is a teacher and admits teaching

> Teachers, social workers, public defenders, armed service people. I don't agree with that in all cases. I have a friend who is a teacher and admits teaching is a great job for him (2nd grade) and he doesn't know what he would do otherwise. Probably some type of physical work. He is a great guy, but just isn't that sharp. He is punctual and dependable, but not real good at thinking on his feet. He makes about $82k teaching (20+ years experience in a reasonably affordable area) and I can't think of another job that would pay him that well, give him the summer off, great healthcare and a pension. I know a few more teachers and perhaps it is the group of people I hang out with, but they all are closer to him than to some person making a sacrifice for the good of society.

jimhefferon 5y ago
There are something like 3.5 or 4 million teachers in the US, so for sure they are not all self-sacrificing saints and there will be a broad mix of motivations. But FWIW my experience is not like yours. I am a college professor and have seen many students over the years go into teaching, either at the secondary or elementary level (specifically, math teaching). When I meet with them to discuss what they want to do, almost all express that when they think about careers, their interest in teaching is because it is a reasonable career with reasonable pay, yes, but just as important to them is the sense of doing good, of directly helping people. (I have less experience with people in the services but what experience I do have is in the same direction.)
cudgy 5y ago
“He is punctual and dependable, but not real good at thinking on his feet.” Doesn’t this describe most people that do well in large organizations?
- jjj123 5y ago
  Yep. I can think of a few people that meet this description (myself included?) that worked at a ycombinator-backed unicorn startup making wayyy more than 85k.

jimhefferon 5y ago

There are something like 3.5 or 4 million teachers in the US, so for sure they are not all self-sacrificing saints and there will be a broad mix of motivations. But FWIW my experience is not like yours. I am a college professor and have seen many students over the years go into teaching, either at the secondary or elementary level (specifically, math teaching). When I meet with them to discuss what they want to do, almost all express that when they think about careers, their interest in teaching is because it is a reasonable career with reasonable pay, yes, but just as important to them is the sense of doing good, of directly helping people. (I have less experience with people in the services but what experience I do have is in the same direction.)

cudgy 5y ago

“He is punctual and dependable, but not real good at thinking on his feet.” Doesn’t this describe most people that do well in large organizations?

jjj123 5y ago
Yep. I can think of a few people that meet this description (myself included?) that worked at a ycombinator-backed unicorn startup making wayyy more than 85k.