Pros and Cons

I still haven't officially quit my job, and I am scared to, because the economy is so bad. But, I told my principal I would give her my "final answer" by tomorrow. Here goes:

Pros and Cons of saying a teacher

Pros: Conquering my demons about leadership, mastering the skill of classroom management, seeing myself really figure teaching out, refusing to quit until I have seen real growth in myself and my students. I am stressed out no matter what I do, and running from my problems doesn't help. I like my principal and vice principal. I will have my teaching license, maybe my own classroom, and possibly some more technology--so I will have a lot more to work with. I will know the curriculum I am teaching. I know not to do after school tutoring, and I know to plan on lunch tutoring--or detention. If I managed to teach for 5 years I could get a bunch of money in loan repayment programs. I am familiar with the population, the set-up at school, and the various expectations I will have on me.

Cons: I may lose my mind. I may be more stressed out than I already am. EVERY SINGLE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AT MY SCHOOL IS ON EITHER ANTI-ANXIETY OR ANTI-DEPRESSION MEDICATION. Next year will feel like starting over again anyway--I will be teaching with new teachers, the schedule will be totally different, and except for Sarah Pendlen and Sharon Pendleton, I dont have the desire to get to know any of the other teachers better. I can't stand feeling like I am always behind--that there is far more work to be done than will ever get done. I will continue to teach to students who do not want to learn. I will continue to fight all day long. I am most seventh graders arch-enemy.

Pros and Cons of going to school full time:

Pros: I will finish my course work in one year. I will be able to start my internship the following year (which I would have to quit teaching to do anyway). I will get a way better price per credit hour. My degree is currently costing $510 a credit hour. I have about 40 credit hours to go, so thats 20,000. If I went full-time, I would only have to pay $415 a credit hour, which is 16600...thats a big difference. Plus, I could make getting scholarship money and grant money my job. Also, I would have to get creative on money-making. I would try and make money writing, grant writing, scholarship application writing, math tutoring, etc. I have my teaching certificate at the end of this year--teaching longer won't make me any more marketable.

Cons: I didn't get that much money in substidized loans. That is scary to me. Loans are scary for me. Especially when I don't have a clue of how to pay them off. I only got approved for $8,000 in substidized loans, and the rest I would have to take out with unsubstidized loans and other types of loans...yikes!!! I know if I just go to school, I will lose my footing in reality, I will start getting all theoretical (on the other hand, I would be counseling clients, etc in my practicum next semester, so I guess thats not totally true.)

Well thats all I can think of for now.