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eledoremassis02 t1_iu5icde wrote

Also left NJ but wanted to be a teacher and every teacher I talked to said not to do it, even when I was on vacation in Florida. I ran into teachers in the theme parks who taught in Florida and told me not to become a teacher. So now I'm with a history degree and no teachering degree (the way NJ handles it's certification) and working a job where I don't get paid enough to even cover my student loans. But I'm still glad I'm not teaching as bad as that sounds.

It's a shame but I'm holding out till conditions and culture improve.

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daedalus_was_right t1_iu5lfnx wrote

Just to clarify, you don't need a full "education degree" (bachelor's or masters) to teach in NJ, you need something called a state certificate. It's a program that typically takes an extra 1.5-2 years of college, sometimes some of it is done concurrently with your BA degree, but much of the time teachers spend 5+ years in undergrad to get their BA + State Teaching Certificate.

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eledoremassis02 t1_iu5mb46 wrote

So, when I went to college I was told that I had to get a BA in a subject. Then Id have to come back to get the education portion and I'd get my masters. That was the only option I knew about :/ this was around 2010

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daedalus_was_right t1_iu5mk8k wrote

Someone misinformed you. NY I believe is the only state that requires you to get a MA to teach, and that's only within your first 5 years in the profession. NJ is just a BA, plus some extra classes, and your student teaching.

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eledoremassis02 t1_iu5q63z wrote

Wow. I wish I knew that :( thank you for clearing that up

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daedalus_was_right t1_iu5r5fo wrote

For sure. Going back to get your cert later on isn't the worst thing, but with the state of the profession, there are far lower stress jobs out there for comparable pay.

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eledoremassis02 t1_iu5t3i4 wrote

That's how I feel now. I'm in guest service and get yelled out, but because I work for a big company, people think my job is cool and respects what I do (even tho it's of no importance). It's sad but it's just not worth it for me to be a teacher right now.

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bros402 t1_iu63yok wrote

That isn't how it worked then at all - unless you went to Rutgers, who did/does not have an undergrad education program.

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