5 Things Elementary Ed Majors Are Tired Of Hearing

I'm going into elementary education (and special ed), and in a little over a year will be completing my student teaching. I've got friends both in and outside my major, but I also go to a school where a large portion of the student body go into business. We've got a pretty boss business program, I can't even lie. My best friend is in that program now. But because of that, we education majors tend to get thought of as being easy. People tell me things all the time about how easy it must be and let me tell you, it's not easy.

So here are just a few of the things people have said to me over the years that I'm sure myself and other fellow teacher/teachers in training are sick and tired of hearing.

1. You're just a glorified babysitter, right?

For a long time I wanted to teach K-3. I'm much more open about possible grades now, but almost every time I told people this they would just be like, "Oh, so you're kinda like a babysitter.". No. I'm not a babysitter, because if I was my job would be a lot easier. Not only am I teaching these kids proper manners, I'm showing them how to learn, teaching them to read, etc. I love it, but it's way different than just making sure kids get fed and don't hurt themselves.

2. You must have it so easy with that major!

Sure, I may not be doing intense math or science problems, and I don't write a ton of 40 page papers, but that doesn't make this major easy. I have a lot of reading to do. And when I say a lot, I mean hundreds of pages. And then there's coming up with lesson plans, reviewing them, learning different teaching theories and practices, classroom management, knowing all the core content areas along with the special areas. And group projects. Lots of group projects. No, we're not business majors, or math majors, but we're difficult in different ways. There aren't really any "easy" majors in my opinion.

3. That makes sense, since you're a girl.

Not only is this sexist, it's a bit rude. I'm not going into teaching because I'm female, but because I love to teach and help kids understand things. Also, I seriously encourage any guys thinking about going into education to do it because it can be so rewarding and there's always a need for adult males in the schools, especially elementary!

4. Have fun being broke the rest of your life.

Surprise! Teachers don't get paid very much, especially when first starting. We all know this. You don't go into education for the money. You go into teaching because you love it.

5. You must be so crafty!

Yeah, I'm fairly crafty, I won't lie. But I would not call myself artistic, unless you would consider putting a dress on girl stick figures and pants on boy stick figures artistic. I'm also good at just throwing paint on a canvas and calling it modern art. That's about as far as my artistic abilities go. But I can be very crafty when I want to be. But there are plenty of ed majors I know with not a lot of artistic/art creative abilities. And that is okay!



So, there's just a few of the things I'm tired of hearing as an elementary ed major. Do you have any if you're an ed major? Any annoying things people say to you in other majors? Let me know!