While people who choose teaching as their career in college may be getting better, some of those that become certified under the 'Alternative Teacher Certification Program' (ATCP)in Texas would not be my choice for my child. Many of these people have quit their corporate jobs and come to teaching because they think it will be easier. The other group of people that we are getting have degrees in something else and can't find a job doing that so they come to teaching as a holding job until they find what they really want to do. I've been in public schools in Texas for 30 years as a teacher and diagnostician and I'm glad my own children are not being subjected to this trend.

I agree with the Teacher from Texas. We are having a similar situation in Ohio. I am currently a special education teacher(Intervention specialist) and we have hired several teachers who have held jobs in other profession, and have gone through an accelerated program to become a teacher, and it ia not going well. Basically the students have lost a years worth of learning because the classroom is a zoo. Numberous teachers, a mentor and others have tried to help with no luck. Yet there are highly qualified teachers out there that can't get jobs. I also am glad that my children did not have to be put through this experience. Sorry people, teaching is not a 9 to 3 job with evenings and summers free and long breaks during the year. A lot of teachers work at school until 6 or later at night, then take work home, do reports, IEP's and Alternate Assessments at home, along with taking classes.
Teaching is not as easy as some people think.

I'm a new teacher, that prior to retiring from the military went back to school for my certification as an elementary school teacher. I don’t believe second career teachers enter the field thinking it will be easy, but we also didn’t anticipate the administrative nightmare that comes along with being a classroom teacher. It is shocking to see the negative attitudes career teacher have toward second career teachers. I like many first and second careers teachers are shocked by the discipline and behavior issues that affect the classroom environment. So, maybe we don’t come to the career as prepared as the standing career teachers, but I believe most of us come with what matters. That is a chance to help a child learn and to make a difference in a young persons life.

I agree that professional and academic standards for new teachers have become more demanding. As a result, our higher education institutions have done an excellent job at preparing students academically; however, these institutions are still unable to teach them the human aspect of education. Teaching is not just preparing students academically; it is connecting with them as human beings and being able to “adapt” to their individual academic, emotional, and physical needs. As an experience teacher, I have seen many new teachers get overwhelmed with classroom management, student accountability, and the “politics” of education. Though, some enter this career thinking it’s an “easy” job, soon they discover is everything but easy and leave. Unfortunately, they have, whether they want to accept or not, impacted a child’s educational career.

Teachers at present may be more qualified than the past,but they lack personal touch of love and affection towards the students .They move mechanicaly with the students especially with kids.teaching is not only preparing them for exams but also coaching them for life.As an experienced teacher I feel that more importance should be given to the emotional feelings of the little buds