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Profile: baidaho
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User Name: baidaho
Forum Rank: Newbie
Real Name:
Location Idaho
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Gender: None Specified
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Joined: Friday, February 27, 2009
Last Visit: Monday, March 2, 2009 5:31:27 PM
Number of Posts: 0
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Last 10 Posts
Topic: I'm new and have some questions for you please.
Posted: Monday, March 2, 2009 1:43:03 PM
Quote:
But hey! your young and can take a beating.


I assume you're joking - I'm forty-seven. And as far as taking a beating, I believe I've already done that with my retirement investments.

After reading through what most of you had to say, I am going to do more exploring into the idea of teaching somewhere outside of secondary ed. I still believe being qualified to teach high school could turn out to be very valuable.

It sounds like plenty of are unhappy with your jobs. I just laid of my help, and have more or less, no orders right now. Does anyone else see the irony?

Topic: I'm new and have some questions for you please.
Posted: Monday, March 2, 2009 1:30:40 PM
You guys are depressing. How many here honestly believe he went into the wrong profession?
Topic: I'm new and have some questions for you please.
Posted: Monday, March 2, 2009 11:52:38 AM
creighta wrote:
if you can afford try to double major in something else. It may add a year to your school, but if you like to teach it will give you more security after you get some seniority.


I believe my future plans have plenty of back-up and security. I will always take small furniture orders as part of my income, and hopefully someday land an enjoyable teaching job showing others how to build chairs. The back-up and security part is the degree in Technology Education. I was told there is a very high demand for qualified teachers in this area.

So if the economy continues in the same direction, I will get a job teaching secondary education. If things turn around, I'll be getting furniture orders and will have the training and education to teach at a private school or possibly adult education.

I believe I am covering all my bases. And I hear what a lot of you are saying that teaching junior high and high school kids can be "tough, tough, tough", but if no one is buying furniture or willing to pay to take classes making furniture, I'll gladly take the job.
Topic: I'm new and have some questions for you please.
Posted: Sunday, March 1, 2009 8:10:41 PM
All of the advice and stories here are incredible and a lot to think about. Thank you very much.
Topic: I'm new and have some questions for you please.
Posted: Sunday, March 1, 2009 1:46:07 PM
I understand what you guys are talking about. I have had long talks with my sister who thought she wanted to teach and like 50% of teachers she quit within her second year. She Hated it.

Maybe this isn't the right thing; I'm going to keep talking with people and ask questions.

I'm looking at it this way, not is this a good job for me, I'm asking if this a good job for my son's father?

Right now building chairs has a real sketchy future. I am looking at a job that that will use some of my skills and and has a secure future. The only other job I can think of that has real guarantees will be hiring is nursing. That's out of the question.

Quote:

Due to no child left behind (NCLB) you will be testing and doing a great many things, many many things that have NOTHING to do with wood or anything relating to it.


I was already made well aware of that and that is why I would be ultimately be teaching Technology Education, not just woodshop. That actually appeals to me more. I do have a lot more to offer than just my building skills.


Quote:
...get a Designated Vocational Credential specific to what you want to teach and not waste your time with classes that you don't need in the long term.



I think I already may be doing that with the Occupational Speculation Certificate. I don't know maybe the Designated Vocational Credential is something different in Cal. In Idaho, once I get the OSC I can teach woodshop, if I was lucky enough to find a school district that had was looking for a shop teacher. I'm not holding breath.

Quote:

I admired your altruism but my friend it's not worth it.


I think you're mistaking my making a practical decision and being positive as altruism. I have spent the last thirty years screwing off with my two main objectives as having a good time and not paying taxes. I did really really well at both.

It's time for me to join mainstream life and get a secure job for the sake of my son and my future (as I mentioned I am forty-seven). I am open to ideas on a better, more secure job than teaching if anyone has it.

Quote:

Also the idea of going ROP is a good one due to the fact that their funding stream is separate from the categorical funding distributed to the rest of the state school funds.


What is ROP?

Quote:
Lastly consider a private school or community college or even adult night school as a forum to share your skills.
(PS, I have moved onto teaching at the university level and love it!!)


Absolutely! Something like that would be my first choice. I have a friend who teaches cooking at a college level and he only has a four year degree. I know someday I may fall into something nicer than teaching thirteen-year-olds Technology Education. My thought is train for the job that you know will be there, and keep my eye open for something better.

I also think the good jobs like you mentioned might be hard to come by; I assume having experience teaching and the education will be what it takes to get those jobs.

I am at the stage of going back to school and taking core classes right now, I have plenty of time to make changes if necessary. My plan is get the education for a job (possibly a lousy job) that I know will be there, and be on the look out for better job (private schools, community college etc..)


Topic: I'm new and have some questions for you please.
Posted: Saturday, February 28, 2009 1:30:20 PM
"besides the difference between your school days and the kids of today is like going to Mars and being stuck there. It's tough tough tough."

I have heard some real horror stories and how hard it can be. Hopefully we'll hear from some people here who find the job rewarding.

I've been busy since I posted that yesterday morning. I applied to College of Southern Idaho where I can earn a four year degree all online (I have about a year-and-half more to go). I also applied to University of Idaho where I plan to get my Occupational Specialist Certificate (this only requires a few credit hours of work).

My long term goal is to earn a Bachelors of Science degree in Education with Technology Education as my curriculum at University of Idaho. I'm hoping to have this done in about three-and-a-half to four years.

In the mean time, I'm putting my business on hold. Meaning I'm laying off my help, I'm dropping my workman's compensation insurance, I'm canceling my business insurance on my shop, and firing my bookkeeper. I have to - it's costing me hundreds of dollars each month to be in business, and if the orders are not coming in, it's taking food out my child's mouth.

I'll still take furniture orders, but I don't expect many, and I'll build the chairs without help.

This summer and for the next few years, I am going to be working full-time on my education, and maybe next year, I can pick up some part-time work at the high school teaching the kids how to make furniture.

I'm actually pretty excited. I've been building for a long time; it feels right to move onto teaching now. I'll keep you all posted.
Topic: I'm new and have some questions for you please.
Posted: Friday, February 27, 2009 3:30:52 PM
Regardless to what happens, I've started the process to go back to school. Maybe someday the economy will turn around and I'll have more furniture orders than I can handle. But for now, I've enrolled to start college courses online this summer.....
Topic: I'm new and have some questions for you please.
Posted: Friday, February 27, 2009 10:34:08 AM
I'm hoping I can find some help here that will steer me towards eventually finding a job teaching jr. high wood shop. Without putting too much into my first post, I'd like to give a little background.

I'm forty-seven-years old.

I have about two and a half to three years of college education.

For the last twelve years I've owned and operated a business where I designed, built and sold chairs.

I was widowed two years ago and I'm now raising my three-year-old son alone.

I believe becoming a jr. high shop teacher is the next chapter in my life. One of the main reasons is twelve and thirteen-years-old were some of the best years of my life - I can still relate very well with kids this age. I believe I have what it takes to unleash the hidden skills and creativity in these kids.

I am looking for input about where to find schools that may not require teaching credentials. Possibly private schools or school districts with lower requirements for shop teachers.

Right before my wife passed away she finished her masters degree. We had our lives built around the security of her education and job. With the resent downturns in the economy, my furniture business is not doing well. I am hoping to find a more traditional job and this one fits.

I live in Idaho, but would be willing to relocate for the right opportunity.



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