TeachedUp Comics: Duly Warned
From Collection 6 - Year Two, "Summer Help and Some Aren't"
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It's completely natural (and expected) for certified educators to continue to pursue their Master's Degree in Education (or Educational Technology, or Educational Leadership, or any other related term that goes along with the profession). It is almost unthinkable for teachers to pursue anything else (and typically anything that encourages exploration outside of the classroom is not going to meet the requirements for "Plus"-credits (i.e., how you advance in the payscale beyond just Years of Experience / Step progressions).
I remember when I first started teaching, a veteran teacher planted this seed in my head very early on. He said, "The only way to make a decent salary as a teacher is to get a Master's Degree." And looking at the salary scales, he was 100% correct (glad I got my Doctoral Degree, or else my already measly pension prospects would be even more measly)! Another concerning trend that's come up in recent years? Whereas many school districts will offer some type of tuition reimbursement assistance, many are no longer even offering this. Maybe they got wise to the fact that their more experienced teachers are so far down the salary scale that they reach the point where they're dependent on State-raises (which are typically about 1/5-1/2 the inflation rate...) to see any type of increase. In other words, they're asking teachers to have more skin in the game (as if what they lay out in the classroom wasn't enough) in order to get further along in the educational-attainment column of the pay scale. Gotta keep that carrot out in front, ya know. I've heard from a lot of educators that they feel there's a point after which they're no longer wanted just because they represent a drain on funds. I'm not particularly well-versed on the cost-per-teacher vs. teacher-units balance (well, moreso than the average person, I suppose...don't get me started on the "hidden benefits" of hiring part-time educators), but the morale hit is almost more important than the reality. School culture (as we've discussed a lot here in the TeachedUp Comics series) is everything. Well, I've gotten a bit off the path with the Master's discussion, but the message is that the barriers to bettering yourself as an educator are growing. What do you think? Did you get a Master's degree in Education or Teaching and find yourself thinking you should have earned it in something else (or not at all)? Share your experience in the TeachedUp Comics Fan Club! P.S. - Now look, don't get me wrong: there are some awesome careers in Education where a Master's Degree is going to be your vehicle (or at least the license to drive). I learned a TON from my Master's program (and my Doctoral program). Just make sure when you jump in, you're doing it for the right reasons, that it's what's needed to get you where you really want to be, and remember: as with everything, a degree is only worth what YOU put into it. |