The hostile and belittling attitudes coming from people outside of the profession on this board are exactly why so many qualified and intelligent teachers leave their jobs after the first year. There is an absolute lack of respect and credit of achievment. I don't know how anyone could possibly think that teachers, especially new teachers, are underqualified or underachieving morons. I majored in music and education. I definitely did not make it through college getting C's in all my classes, and neither did any of my peers. I had to pass a content knowledge test that covered music theory, pedagogy, history, ear training, conducting and error identification before I was even placed in my unpaid and full time internship. I have to retake and pass that test every 5 years to remain certified. I don't get to sit on my ass, relying on bare minimum content knowledge. I am 2 weeks away from graduating, and 2 weeks away from finishing my student teaching practicum at an audition only public art school. I already know that I will not be going into anything education related after I graduate. My host teachers are constantly hounded and belittled by parents and administration. Parents beg for their failing student's grades to be raised without reason. When a teacher defends their documented grading for that student, the parents go over their head and demand it from the administration. Administration bends to the parent's whim everytime, and as a result teachers feel they have no control over their own classes. They have no authority and parents know it, and they take advantage of it. They expect their children to be coddled, and to not have to help their own kids with homework. As a result teachers are forced to falsify grades, and stupid children, who simply don't have the work ethic or intelligence to go on and succeed in college, end up undeservedly graduating. Teachers are often required to work well beyond the school day hours. "Most teachers don't work 8 hours a day" my ass. My host teachers are up here every night until 10:30 pm planning lessons, organizing field trips, grading work, and collaborating because they don't have time to do it during the day. I'm not even employed here and I stay to help well after 5 pm. It's not a 9 to 5 pm job. For those who care about their quality of work it's more like a 7 to 10. The public doesn't value quality educators. That's why there are so few. Who would put up with a job where you aren't paid overtime, can't be truly successful without overtime, aren't appreciated, people assume you are stupid and unqualified despite a college degree and high gpa, and you are constantly berated and disempowered? Anyone with intelligence and the skills to move out of education do so as soon as they are able to. Parents and shitty public attitudes about educators...that's why you hate teaching OP.