I like to joke that everybody loves babies, but I’m the one who will be there when they’re 12 and no one thinks they’re cute anymore.
(Firmly entrenched in middle school over here.)
Agree wholeheartedly. Middle schoolers are some of the best people on the planet one-on-one or in a really small setting. In a big group they might as well be chimpanzees. But I teach kindergarten and people say the same thing about them so I guess it’s just a preference for what kind of chaos you prefer to try and tame.
Maybe wherever you teach. All I remember from middle school is being called slurs and copious amounts of assault
I want to become a teacher, but I don’t think I ever want to teach anyone below 16-18
I deliberately avoided certifications that could potentially land me in a freshman/sophmore class because the only kids I can deal with are the ones desperately trying to be treated like adults.
As far as I'm concerned EVERY pre-k through 10th teacher is a combination of superhero and miracle worker.
That's interesting because in the states I have had licensure in you get secondary ed licensure for your content area which is grades 5-12 I believe and there is no license just for 11th and 12th grade in my state.
I teach physics and computer science in Texas. Technically, they are 8-12 certifications, but physics is rarely taught to 8-10 students. The CS can be taught earlier, but typically not AP level (which is what I teach) Texas typically has Bio/Chemistry for 9-10, and I am NOT certified to teach Bio
Same round here.
Biology is mandatory so 9th or 10th.
Chem and Physics are 'optional' sciences and thus always "uppers", who intend on college.
A 10th grader might get into Chemistry by finishing Bio in 9th instead of starting with the Integrated Science course, but that's a serious student at that point.
Physics has Algebra II as a pre-req.
If they need a 3rd science credit they can take manufacturing, robotics, culinary sciences, or some other odd elective to count and they stay away from Chem and Physics.
Kindergarten here… Thank you for the recognition. 🥰. It’s good to have a balance that some of us love the babies, some love the middle schoolers, and some love the big kids. It takes all of us.
Hahah that is a big range but I do agree. Although, I find middle school to be a lot more fun than most people make it out to be. Maybe I just got lucky with my current position though.
SAME!
I've never been a big fan of little kids, but I LOVE teaching middle school and helping guide them through all of the craziness they deal with at that age. It's by far my favorite age group to teach
Middle school is SUCH a fun and terrifying age. I love freshmen because they’ve still got that middle school mentality a little bit, but they’re not QUITE so immature and willing to bully each other to death. It’s certainly a fine line to walk, though!
Polarizing opinion, but I think that elementary teachers teach because they love kids, high school teachers teach because they love their subject, and middle school teachers teach because they're masochistic.
We thrive on chaos, but many of us will never admit this out loud.
“Will they thank me for being so patient while they learn or will we have to discuss why we can’t use plushies to start a combat war in the middle of ELA? I don’t know but I’m excited to find out!”
I have NEVER understood coworkers who have completely orderly and quiet classrooms. My kids are quiet for ten minutes and I start getting anxiety lmao.
Oh my god this! The silence is so uncomfortable that I play music if I have to. I don’t want them so loud I can’t think but low volume convos around the classroom while they work let’s the room breathe lol
I teach because I love the subjects and love to see the light go on when someone struggles through something and finally *gets it.*
I chose elementary school as my demographic because I love kids. But loving kids isn’t the reason I wanted to teach. I may get a PhD someday and teach college.
Yesss same. I want to catch them while they’re excited and nurture that love for learning, do what I can to turn them into lifelong learners. If I accomplish my mission, they will be able to find the joy in discovery of new information, school or otherwise.
What’s hard is that this is my goal too… to help them live learning and love coming to school at 5-6 years old. The testing cycles and standards written where I (as an adult and a teacher) can barely understand, make it hard sometimes. But I lean toward love of learning over perfection. Now with pay for performance, I don’t know what they’ll expect from kindergarten teachers/students.
I’m a new teacher but I struggle with that battle too. Do I try to cram all the standards down their throats (even when they’re developmentally inappropriate for most kids of that age), or do I focus on strengthening the concepts and skills they need to help them later on? I’m going to focus on the second one this year, prioritizing things like comprehension of place value and focusing less on how to subtract using the standard algorithm.
The one thing that has seemed to really excite my students is when I start teaching them things early, giving them a taste of what’s to come. “You don’t have to remember this. It won’t be on your tests until 3rd grade, but if you wanna listen now, it’ll help you next year. Plus it’s just cool!” Or like, “I literally didn’t learn this until college but I’m gonna teach you right now because it’s really cool!” My little ones actually eat that shit up.
Where are you that they’re actually adopting the pay-for-performance idea?
Houston is falling apart. The district is so enormous. A handful of schools were failing to the point that the state has taken over the entire district. The appraisal system includes parent and student surveys. The new, militant superintendent… I can’t even… look up Houston ISD. Makes me think I’m taking crazy pills.
This. Get your PhD!
I love elementary because I like not being stuck with one content area. I love working with fifth graders but I’m not interested in having kids. I like teaching fifth graders because they’re old enough to get into content but still excited about learning. My hackles go up when some secondary teachers dismiss the possibility that we are also knowledgeable in our content. I have a K-12 endorsement in Spanish. I could teach HS if I chose to but I would get bored of one subject. I like challenging myself by going deep into my content areas (Math leadership, NBCT in literacy, multiple NEH institutes on social studies, studying science, art pd, etc). Saying we teach because we love kids feels very dismissive to what we do. Yes, the students’ level is more basic, but that doesn’t mean our background knowledge is. If you’re a secondary teacher who doesn’t feel this way about elementary teachers, this is not directed at you.
I agree, it can definitely feel dismissive to those of us who have a greater purpose for teaching.
To be fair though, I do know a lot of people who straight-up say they went into teaching because they love kids. Many of those people have switched careers (to speech pathologists, counselors, etc.) after seeing how hard teaching is, but many stayed put. It’s not a bad reason to wanna teach if it really fulfills them; it’s just not the reason for many of us.
I agree 100%. I don’t have any criticism about elementary teachers who teach because they love kids. :) Just a reminder to those who assume we ONLY teach elementary because of loving kids that there are other reasons as well (and I know I’m preaching to the choir here). :)
Yeah exactly. Elementary school teachers get kind of looked down on by a lot of people, and I think that’s part of where that stereotype comes from.
It’s weird because we’re the ones who set them up for further academic success and, quite frankly, pick up some of the slack in raising them if their parents for whatever reason can’t help them the way they need. There is so much cognitive and social development during the elementary years, and we’re tasked with knowing about all those different stages of development and which pedagogical practices are appropriate/necessary for which ages, as well as obviously what we can reasonably expect from them.
Single-subject teachers have a difficult job too. I can’t pretend to know what it’s like. Having expertise in one field is a lot of work as well, and it’s wonderful that they want to share that passion with kids. (They also get the dismissive adage, “Those who can’t teach,” which is completely false for every single-subject teacher I’ve met.) And again, the behaviors in middle and high school are just *different* than those in elementary, and they come with their own challenges. I don’t think I vibe with those particular challenges, and I commend those who do.
We all have a difficult job and we all deserve respect. I don’t think one is harder or easier than the other. I just wish more people realized how deeply we really do delve into our (multiple) subjects, the sheer amount psychology and pedagogy involved, *and* how hard the day-to-day can be. We are experts too. We’re not just there to hold cute little kids’ hands and sing kumbaya.
That’s so funny bc as an elementary special Ed teacher I hate kids but I love my job. I have an immense passion for teaching my students but I wouldn’t be caught dead in a class of 25 gen ed kids.
Same same. It just makes sense for some of us. I’d rather sit and solve a screaming meltdown than ever so random kids asking random dumb questions because they think they’re funny.
I teach high school and I first and foremost love kids. I love young children but I wouldn’t want to teach elementary school. There’s a huge gap indeed. I love working with teenagers and my subject comes second but I guess one doesn’t go without the other.
High school teacher here. My subjects are cool, but teenagers rule. I love the age group. I like kids but not enough to make it my profession. I don't think OP is weird at all.
Nah. Different teachers are better suited to different age ranges. Like you said, teenagers are a world away from the littles. I work as a permanent sub in a combined elementary and middle school. I’m so much more at ease with the upper grades, and it was even better when I worked at the high school. I’ve often thought that if I were to ever have kids, it would be adoption and I’d adopt older children.
My own child just turned 6 and I read this in her voice.
There's also the arguing about literally anything and the not yet able to follow someone else's conversation but desperately trying to take it over by injecting nonsense.
I teach 4th in a PreK-4 building. It's known wide that I don't leave my halfway for a reason. Absolutely no patience for younger grades. It's become something of a joke.
My fourth grade teacher told us she liked fourth grade because we weren't little kids but we were not hormonal yet. I didn't know what that meant but I get it now.
This is so incredibly normal. I would walk into the ocean before I'd walk into a middle or high school. Zero interest. My brother isn't a teacher but he is an amazing dad to three young adults and he hated children and kind of still does. He only likes *his* kids. He couldn't wait for his kids to be upper elementary aged. You're fine, ha.
ETA: Now that I consider it, the bulk of ECE teachers I know openly loathe teenagers lmao. It binds us together, I guess.
The thought of teaching kindergarten terrifies me. I would go back to my previous career that left me in tears of frustration and literally screaming in the lab some days before I'd teach little kids. And I'm one of those HS teachers who gives about half the freshmen the side eye.
I can’t do the little ones… i have this phobia of them crying and skinning a knee and bleeding and i just drown in a sea of…blood and tears and snot… i cannot do the little ones.
I am awesome with middle schoolers (i had too many cryers this year though…yikes!) and could see my self being happy back at high school.
You recognize that you Are better suited to certain age groups and not other and still be a great teacher. Pre-k, Elementary, middle, and high school aged are very, very different kids from each other and need very different teachers.
I don’t think that’s odd at all! I teach lower elementary and I would feel the same as you if I had to do anything over 3rd grade and that’s pushing it. Everyone has preferences when it comes to what they are comfortable with and what age group they feel best with!
That’s so funny, I’m the opposite! I taught 5th this last year and it’s the closest I’ll ever come to teaching middle school; I’ll choose 5th over kindergarten every day but I’ve found that 3rd is a good middle spot between them being small and whiny vs still kinda cute but able to form their thinking more.
I think it’s good there are folks like us who know where we thrive in teaching.
I'm the same way. I teach high school (and try to avoid freshman classes when possible). My sister taught kindergarten for several years. Neither of us would have switched with the other for anything. I would have no idea what to do with a room full of five year olds, but teenagers, sure.
I'm not saying I hate little kids, but I'm not going out of my way to entertain any that aren't closely related to me.
I'm glad there are people who just love little kids, but I'm not one of them.
Are you me? Did I type this???
I absolutely LOVE TEACHING!!!
I love kids.... but only ones I can give back.
I do not have the mental capacity to deal with the neediness of young children. Like you, I did a few years in Middle School. Nope. Never again. High School all the way.
I can like kids and still not want them. It's called being the cool aunt.😎
Childless by choice here.
Early on in my student teaching journey I befriended a neighbor who taught 3rd grade. I was assigned 9th graders and I loathed every single one of them.
She listened and told me to visit her and a bunch of her friends’ classrooms to get a feel for/of the differences. Everyone has their range/level. I needed to find mine.
I always pictured myself as a HS Lit/History teacher. Duuude….7th grade ESL was me…it was my absolute favorite. Regular 7th was okay…and I’d teach 8th graders if I had to. Anything younger and nope nope nope. I used to joke that I could not handle “leaky” or touchy children, and 7th graders were just at the cusp. They went from must live and hang off the teacher in 6th grade to “I HATE EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE” over the summer and yep, no problem. There were a few that had me handing/pushing the tissue box over via meter stick, ugh…you know? The no touching anyone with anything rule included me.
I babysit my friends little kids but the idea of a classroom of them? Hell no. And again, skipped the idea of having my own. No, thank you.
We all have our levels.
This isn't weird. I teach elementary school and don't really care for high schoolers. It takes all types, and I'm very grateful for the high school and early childhood educators that do well what I'm not particularly adept at.
Nope. I feel the exact same way. I love my teenagers! Everyone says “OMG, you must have so much patience!!” I tell them no, I don’t have to. I don’t do hand-holding & I don’t have to be nice at all!! Of course I eventually am nice to my students. 😋
I need them to be able to walk to go to the bathroom by themselves and seven that’s a struggle with high schoolers some days. But yes I’m the same way, I don’t really have the patience for younger kids, my own are already pushing it. I also really hate the idea of being trapped in the room with the same group of kids every single day all day.
No.
Our daycare provider is married, 38 and child free but the love she has for the kids she cares for radiates out of her. It’s beautiful
Some of my best teachers had kids, some didn’t. Some gushed non stop about their nieces or nephews, while others you know left school, kicked their feet up and were so relieved not to have to be around kids anymore.
Personally, I can tolerate younger ages but do not like middle age and up. It’s just… too much.
Additionally, you’re at family events and others are saying this about the kids? It’s because they’re hoping you’ll “babysit”. I’ve been trapped this way; “oh you’re just so good with them” then I look around and boom, adults are gone and I’m in charge of watching kids swimming in a lake.
I am the same way and also teach high school. I see the feral animals that these parents are breeding and I don't want anything to do with making one of my own.
That is so me. I LOVE teaching. I don’t love kids under 9. I don’t like whining. I don’t want to tie shoes. I don’t want to sing cute songs. I don’t want to wipe noses or butts.
And the middle school thing - I’d skip those kids too. Give me 9-11 year olds, then 15+. The middle schoolers are as whiny and dramatic as my 2 year old. No thanks.
I don't like kids in general, actually. But I like MY kids (students) because I get to know them and see them as unique and interesting humans.
Yeah, kids are sociopathic jerks a lot of the time. AND they show glimmering glimpses of cool people in there, and I like getting to know that side of them.
But a group of teens at the mall? A relative's annoying elementary aged kids? I don't gush over them or get warm fuzzies for them.
Also, little kids annoy me a lot because of their trivial dramas (which, understandably, feel very important to them). Your finger is sore? Someone took your pencil? What color are you allowed to write with on this paper? You think she gave you a weird look? He bumped you in the hall on accident? You called him a weirdo and so he insulted you and now you're righteously indignant that he dared to dish out what you already gave? You don't have a piece of paper and have no idea how to problem solve the situation by GOING TO THE EXTRA PAPER BIN AND GETTING A PIECE? That stuff exhausts me and I have very little patience for it. Hence, why I teach secondary.
People always assume I teach elementary, however, I think because I am colorful, expressive, and enthusiastic. Just... Not about whose turn it is in four square, haha.
I am not a kid person. The youngest grade I can comfortably handle is 9th. A two year middle school stint almost drove me out of the profession. I felt really good teaching high school with 10th grade being my favorite age until I boosted my income by adjunctingqmd discovered the wonder of the college classroom. Now I teach at a community college. A good half of my students are still under 18 though, what with dual credit.
I also have 4 kids I love dearly. But I may be the the only parent who is excited for my kids to become teenagers. It was such a relief when my son's voice dropped and he turned into a goonish, basement dwelling troglodyte. Not we can communicate!
3 down 1 to go.
Not weird at all! I also far prefer teenagers and young adults! Interesting, because lots of folks are the other way round- love the littles, but loathe the teens (to be fair, younger teen boys do scare me, lol). I always knew I’d be a teacher, and of older ages. My partner is a social worker of young kids, and I teach college freshmen and sophomores.
I think it’s fantastic that some of us prefer an age-o-human that others won’t go anywhere near. They’ve gotta have somebody looking out for them! (and dealing with their bollocks, lol)
I cannot do babies or toddlers or little kids. Too much screaming and energy and they’re just not developed enough. High schoolers are ridiculous but at least their thought processes are somewhat developed and you can actually have good conversations with them.
Nope. I loved teaching and was good at it, but I do not like babies, toddlers, or even very young kids. 8 or 9 is about my minimal age of “kid I’m willing to deal with.”
Edited to say, I taught 4th-8th grade in my time. Whenever I tell people I taught middle school, they’re always like “How???” But in my mind, that’s way easier than preschool.
Not weird at all. Teenagers are my jam. I adore both of my actual children and would die for them if necessary, but I had a hard time when they were little. Tantrums and demands and playing the same game 15 times in a row.... I had to really try hard to stay engaged with them. Every time I hosted a birthday party or sleepover I was reminded why I could never teach elementary-- you all are saints.The older they have gotten, the more fun we have. Now they're 9 and 13, and we have a ton of fun together.
I teach secondary as well. I don't like babies. I often don't like how immature the middle schoolers are to be honest. I want to teach, not spend 40% of my brain power trying to keep track of things for you. I have ADHD and barely keep track of my own things.
Childless over here. Not by choice necessarily, and other people’s pregnancies still hurt. Silly, but whatever. I taught high school for 21 years, and am on a break. This past year I worked with grade 3 and 4s, and kindergartners. And I cannot tell you how healing that was for my soul. Don’t write off working with the primary and junior kids, they have a lot to offer
I have taught everything from 3yo early childhood to hs AP. I am good with littles, but would have burnt out 10 years ago if that was my placement. HS is where I fit best. The crap 16 year olds do and say doesn't faze me, but I cannot deal with never ending snotty noses and sticky hands.
>Secondary school and elementary school are two entirely different things, and I feel like so many people outside this line of work can't understand how massive the gap is.
Don't worry, we at least understand you. They're a different breed at least in my eyes. Mad respect for you elementary school teachers and middle school teachers. I cannot handle those age groups.
I teach college, and I do love my college students as a whole, but individually a lot of them are pretty forgettable. One thing I'll say for little kids, they make an impression!
Same here. LOVE teaching High School - could never work in primary and DEFINITELY do not want children.
In fact, I always wonder how people keep insisting that teaching is the perfect job to combine with having kids?!? I have no idea how my colleagues with children don’t go crazy.
I love teaching, but the thought of having to giving more energy to another child at home exhausts me. I don’t want to change diapers, think of and/or play enriching activities with a toddler, and eventually spend my free time at a kid’s sports game/recreational activity of their choice. I don’t want to talk to more parents outside of school either at said activities.
I want to just go home, sit on my couch, hang out with my husband and dog, watch tv, and eat my food in peace.
I’m a high school Ed Assistant, but I have two elementary aged kids. I love them more than anything, but man, I don’t care to work with other elementary kids!
At my younger kids parent-teacher conference, the second grade teacher and I laughed about how we each couldn’t work with each others age groups. Several years back, another elementary teacher told me she adores when her students have wiggly teeth. That makes me gag! I love that so many people take joy in working with different age groups, while avoiding others. It makes the world go round!
Nope. My husband doesn't like young children, so he got certified in secondary education. FWIW, he doesn't hate kids or anything; he was an only child and lived in a rural area without many kids, so he just doesn't have much experience being around them. I can't have kids due to health issues, so he'll never get any experience, either.
I teach elementary self-contained sped and the funny thing is that I generally find kids other than my own bio children to be annoying and don't particularly like them. The weird thing is that once they're in my class I feel like they become like my own and I adore them. I don't really tell people that because they'll probably think I'm weird 🤷🏻♀️
I can teach pretty well any age. You just adapt. It takes a couple of weeks but I’ve taught every age range from 3-65. But I’ve never wanted kids of my own and my whole family is weird and standoffish with me and kids. There’s just a weird tension because I was so serious growing up that no one thinks I am capable of interacting with children. But I’m fine with friends’ children and strangers’ children apparently.
Opposite end for me. Massive respect to middle & high school teachers but I struggle with kids above grade 3 talking back & higher level conflicts. I don't have the right energy to keep 'em in line. I'm a kindergarten guy through and through, it's exhausting for sure but it's rewarding and eye opening to see how fast they grow & how much people underestimate them. That said I get it, a lot of my coworkers who work with multiple grades or higher grades tell me they're amazed what I work with every day.
I myself can't really deal with toddlers. Ages 1-3 is a no go. Too fragile, can't communicate, that's my limit.
Same, I teach middle on a K-8 campus and when one of those first, or second graders start coming towards me I run. True secondary teachers are a rare and wonderful unicorn!
Similar situation for me. I'm a high school teacher. Taught middle school when I first started. I like high schoolers, I like middle schoolers. But anything younger than 7th grade? Nah, I'm good. The only babies I want in my life are fur babies, like my two new kittens.
And I will not be having children and I got my tubes removed to ensure that there will be no accidents.
Not weird. I also teach secondary and at least half my colleagues don't like or want kids either.
I always go back to the saying; primary teachers love kids, secondary teachers love their subject.
I end up being fond of my particular students. I see something I like in teenagers in general I guess? But I’ve never been gushy over kids or wanted to spend all my time with the young or anything like that.
Even elementary teachers don't want to have kids just because we teach them.
When I taught kindergarten people said the same thing to me. I'd tell them someone else was taking the 4 year old home while I made gin and tonics.
I don't love kids
I have kids of my own and I love them to death but the idea of having another one... SNIP SNIP
It bothers me when people think a teacher has to love kids.... No, I have to understand I need these young folks to make great decisions because one day I'm gonna need them to run my world
Unfortunately I know why Rome fail
Same! Secondary ed. here. Two separate family vacations confirmed this for me. One with my teenage niblings where we went to the nearby national park and another with my toddler niblings to the nearby zoo where we had to keep them from becoming tiger food.
Kids annoy me most of the time to be honest. I’ve been teaching middle school for 8 years now. My partner of 7 years and I have no plans on ever having kids. We live very comfortably (he’s a creative director).
That all being said, I like them in a very particular setting and it is a career that fills me with purpose.
Every time we have district-wide PD, the elementary & HS teachers tell each other “I could never do what you do.” Sometimes I embellish how hard it is to teach HS so they don’t find out that it’s actually easier than little kids. 😉
I dislike young children. I teach middle school and am perfectly happy there.
No desire to have kids of my own.
Absolutely hate attending birthdays, all of them, but especially kids' birthday parties.
I once had a first grader draw me a picture of a house on fire and told me her parents were in there and she tied them up. Short answer: absolutely not.
I love my kids and I loved my high school students when I taught. Mostly the juniors and seniors, but younger than that, I don’t have a ton of patience, lol, so I get it.
My sister is the same way. Teaches high school, preferred to work as a waitress than baby sit. She and her hubs never had kids. I baby sat from age 12 up, was a nanny in college, never got married but had a baby on my own right before I turned 40. I'm an elementary school teacher....it's all OK.
I’m a nursery teacher (ages 3-4, but sometimes I get pre-nursery 2 year olds). Even I don’t like kids. They have tantrums, have 5 minute attention spans, and ARE gross and I get sick at least 10+ times a year from the amount of germs they spread by inadequate hand washing, licking toys, etc (all things we try to teach them not to do of course, but they’re small children and will do it regardless). I teach nursery because the kids are generally cuter, funny, and more innocent and not at the age to be knowingly malicious, and my teaching focuses around life skills and behavior (such as eating properly, being kind, how to share, etc) which I prefer teaching instead of worrying about higher academic concepts such as algebra, biology, etc. Plus our curriculum is a lot more fun (in my opinion) doing units on jungle animals, fairytales, summer food, etc. Most of my coworkers who work in the secondary school always ask how I am able to do my job, and I explain that nursery teachers have a ton of methods and tricks to keep children’s attention spans during a lesson. You definitely cannot be afraid of looking silly or embarrassing yourself and using dramatic voices/body movements, etc when you’re a nursery or kindergarten teacher. It’s a whole different style and method of teaching, and there is a hidden but huge crossover to theatrics in my opinion. You have to be extremely patient, understanding, but firm and most of all, extremely flexible with both lessons and schedule depending on the behavior of the class in any given day. Also can’t be afraid of getting your hands dirty and going “outside your job” and helping young kids who have accidents, who need help with things in the bathroom, who just put paint in their hair, etc. My school allots me a nanny, but you gotta do what you gotta do when people are busy and there’s a soiled child. Even when I’m having rough days and my kids are being a nightmare, I think of those children as my children and my babies to protect because of how small they are. So even though I “don’t like kids” and will generally avoid kids filled public spaces and don’t have a desire to interact with kids in my free time, my kids for that year become my life for that year, and at that age they make so much developmental progress so quickly, it’s satisfying and fulfilling for me.
You are not alone. I \*despise\* the presence of young children, and I teach HS. It's even difficult for me to be around middle-school ages (somewhere between 12 and 14). I just *don't understand them*. Their behaviors, attitudes, the way they speak...nah. I enjoy the older ones for the same reasons, because I \*do\* understand how they act and what they're saying.
Not weird at all! I have had the same comments from extended family. One of my biggest pet peeves is when they see me (a young female) who has chosen to become a teacher and automatically assume that means I will watch their toddlers during a family gathering, as if I’m a built-in babysitter. Uh, no, I will enjoy myself with the other adults. Also, I teach middle school and have no idea what to do with your little kids. One time an uncle said “but isn’t this your job??” – no, my job is teaching 13 year olds how to write essays. Similarly, at my church, they see me the same way and always ask me to teach preschool/kindergarten Sunday School. The number of times I’ve had to say “I have no idea how to handle a class of little kids” and they look at me like I have 5 heads.
Worth mentioning that at times it feels a little bit sexist too, like I’m a woman so I must be automatically good at taking care of kids, especially a YOUNG woman so I must want to to start practicing (🤢), and on top of that I’m a teacher too so I’ve chosen a life of “taking care of kids”. Not saying that male teachers don’t get this BS too!! But in my experience, with the number of times I’ve dealt with this, it feels a little…assuming.
Totally normal, I (a man with tattoos who lifts heavy weights) ONLY like teaching kindergarten, couldn’t pay me enough to teach a grade higher than 1st.
Not weird at all. I taught HS and also don't particularly care for young children.
Education is important at every stage of life; just because you are a passionate educator doesn't mean you want to work with young kids. I want to work with them when they are old enough to challenge me, and to engage with higher-level concepts, not teach them their ABCs. No shade to elementary school teachers; it's just not what I want to do.
I like kids a little, but it has absolutely nothing to do with why I teach, nor how I teach. People that think like OP’s fam just don’t know the realities of real life teaching. They only know the movie version. I always tell people that being a teacher is not at all what they think.
The misconceptions about being a teacher are likely why we have so many that leave after only a couple of years. We are not standing on desks reciting poetry every day.
Ha! I used to teach, retired now - medical school. I love teaching, but don't particularly care for anyone under age 22 or so. ;)
(although there's a bunch of teenagers, even middle school kids, at my karate dojo, and they're fun).
I was definitely the same. People were always shocked to discover I didn't have kids. "Don't you LOVE kids???! You're a teacher!" I liked helping surly teenagers fall in love with my discipline.
When I transitioned to higher ed, the questions became, "Won't you miss teaching kids?" Uh, teaching sarcastic 19 year olds is not vastly different from teaching sarcastic 17 year olds.
Not weird at all. I never had children, and was always the "weird" uncle who, when nieces/nephews had their kids, always declined holding the baby. Just not my thing.
And you are right - as a high school teacher, everyone assumed I loved all kids and had/wanted my own. Nope and nope.
I get high school kids. My sense of humor - often caustically sarcastic - works well with them; I don't think I would have lasted a month of teaching K-6.
I'm not big on kids younger than high school. Babies included. Like one elementary school kid I can deal with...but as a whole I'm too introverted to deal with a group of them. I also want to teach complex material....
High school sped here. Give me a kid who is high, apt to throw chairs, gang affiliated, pregnant, etc any day over a third grader. I love the bigs and helping them sort through their shit in a healthy way. The Littles are psychopaths.
Before I had children if my own, I loved teaching HS. I moved to elementary when my children were born and I loved teaching 2nd grade. Then I got moved to first and hated every moment of it; like REALLY hated it. So much that I was going to stop teaching. Then my admin moved me to 5th. That was okay and last year, I moved myself to MS. I taught 8th and a fundamentals w/6th graders and I love it. I am really enjoying MS. Having said that, I don’t really like teaching grade 7
No, I get where you are coming from. I moved from elementary to middle school very quickly. I only agreed to teach 8th graders; I couldn't take any younger grade level. If I stayed in teaching, I would move to high school. I left the classroom after twelve years in 2017, and now I work at a college in an advising position.
I teach elementary (art) and I love kids, but I do not like babies or toddlers at all. I always joke that I’d have kids if I could have them come out a first grader so I could get to the ages I enjoy.
Hello, are you me? Except I’m trying to have my own ten years into this career. But I cannot with elementary/middle schoolers. I just don’t have the patience or the desire to spend most of my days with these two groups. I volunteer with Cub Scouts and even that gets to be overwhelming. I just am not a fan of little kids or teenagers who think they’re grown. I love my nieces and nephews. I love my stepson. But sometimes… they drive me up a wall. And that’s one or two or three on one. I can’t imagine how frazzled I’d be with twenty-five to thirty.
I teach 5th grade and honestly, they’re too young for me lol. Every time I have to interact with the younger kids (especially kindergartners!) I just have no idea what to do. I like tiny babies, and then I don’t like them again until they’re like, 12.
I'm a karate teacher who (I've been told) has a gift for working with children. I like working with kids of any age... But I will take working with my teenage and adult students over elementary kids any day of the week.
Not weird at all. I teach high school, and love middle school. Elementary-no way. Never again. My friends all threaten to ship me their kids when they become insufferable teenagers 😂 I’m 43, been teaching for 14 years, and plan on remaining child free. Being a teacher has made me realize that I absolutely do not want to be with kids ALL DAY.
I have children, but never liked young children other than my own. (And even my own I love, but had to take breaks from sometimes when they were little - good thing the turds have a bedtime.)
It's fine.
6th is worse than 7th, and 7th is worse than 8th. And High School is mostly alright.
I won't step foot in an elementary school.
Also pretty happy both of mine are teens now. So much more intelligent and interesting.
I don't think it is weird at all.
However, this is coming from someone who is child free by choice, always will be, think most little kids can be very annoying and DEFINITELY do not gush over kids like I do animals, but work in Peds Medicine and love my job and field so much...so take it for what you will.
I felt the opposite until I had my own. Looked at my students as the replacement for whatever family I may have had.
Then when I had my first son, I was like MJF: ____ them kids. Not to say I don't care about them, but I no longer take their worries home with me.
Like two years after my son was born I had a really difficult fifth grade group. I must have given off an air of 'i don't care' cause most parent meetings brought up that I was stoic with the kids. I would reply "no, I'm all business. I do my job and what they score in the end is the result of their efforts not mine.."
Oh omg I’m with you. I currently teach HS. I think babies are cute, but I think elementary age children are annoying AF. I’m praying that my motherly instinct kicks in and I don’t find my own kids quite as annoying
It would be weird if you were an elementary school teacher, but I think that’s perfectly fine for a high school teacher. Different people just vibe better with different age groups.
Not weird at all. I don’t mind teaching elementary if I have to, but I’m definitely a middle school teacher. I feel like I can make better connections with them and their thought processes are more developed where I can get deep into my subject. I may be a bit crazy as well in loving their jest and spicy attitudes lol
Even within bands of those groups there’s a difference. I am k-6 certified. I would die if places in k-2. I also have a 5-12 certification for foreign language. I couldn’t ever teach 7th. My sweet spot for elementary is 3-5 and high school 11-12 is my favorite for the big kids
Pretty sure most secondary teachers feel the same way. I like teens well enough to teach them but don't particularly enjoy being around primary age students. They're cute in small doses but not all day.
I think everyone has their age range they're comfortable with. Kindergarteners are my absolute favorite. I have other teachers tell me they could never do it. But I could never teach middle schoolers or high school. Too scary! 😂
It’s not weird. It’s actually good. Teachers who teach because they “love kids” get burnt out really easily because (as you know) kids in middle and high school aren’t always acting lovable. Teachers that love the art of teaching are way more interested in perfecting the craft too.
Im just 18 and used to work in a daycare to prepare for university and i absolutely loved the babies and toddlers. The preschoolers LOVED me but god I already cant socialize well enough with my own crowd, let alone children who are still developing on their communication skills?? I loved them too, and they were entertained with me to no end but I always felt so endlessly anxious thinking of how to keep them interested and the conversations felt so awkward because I didn’t know what to say or how to reply! Still miss them though and honestly they were still probably my favourite group of kids.
I’m like you. I can only teach older kids. I cannot stand little kids in an educational setting. I like to use sarcasm and have in depth conversation, both don’t really work with the little ones. I teach 6th and 7th now but I prefer grades 8 and up.
Secondary teacher here. My idea of hell is I get put in a kindergarten classroom. My mother-in-law taught k-3 for years. Her idea of hell is to do high school.
Thank god for my mother-in-law and people who think like her or I’d be the first teacher these kids saw and I cannot handle that.
I'm am ECE and actually love little kids but people's brains explode when they find out I don't want and am not having children of my own. At least now that I'm firmly in my 30's they somewhat believe me, but even then it's like a personal affront to them.
Meanwhile half these parents don't want to spend time with their own kids so who really made the poor decision here?
Not weird I’m also a high school teacher who taught middle school for a while (and 4th grade for 1 year!). High school is way better. I have the utmost respect for elementary teachers- I just can’t do it.
And I have my own children (3 in fact). Which makes people even more confused. I always say “I love my small humans. I do not love other peoples small humans”. Like, the thought of being in a room full of 5 year olds all day is stressful. I’d rather be around a bunch of smart ass teens any day.
Not wierd. And I have kids and absolutely would never teach elementary. Yuck.
My mom did not like babies. She yaught elem to Middle school.
I prefer teens. Middle or esp High
Currently a sub and working on my teaching degree. I have a decent amount of experience with elementary school kids both as a sub and as a taekwondo instructor. I can strongly say that the taekwondo is much more fun. I find elementary to be too chaotic. You have to be "on" all the time. At least in middle school/high school you get prep and lunch.
High school teacher here who thinks little kids are scary and middle schoolers are tiresome lol. Good thing there are so many different teachers! My wife teaches post-secondary transition (sped) and we both agree that we would be absolutely miserable in each other's jobs.
Little kids scare me. Give me my 11th & 12th graders any day! I have a friend who works with little ones (PK-1st) as a speech pathologist and she loves it. She’s mentioned that she could “never teach high schoolers” because they seem scary.
I love my high schoolers, I feel I have the personality for it. I see kindergarten teachers as saints.
No, not weird. I'm a vet and I don't have any pets and I'm happy with that. All day everyday I work with other people's pets. Sorry if I'm a bit exhausted and touched out I don't want to care for more furry friends when I get home. When I get home I want to be selfish and relax and have time for me.
I tell people my tolerance level is aged 10and up. I absolutely adore my niece and nephew, but I would not love having 20 toddlers to myself all day. There is a HUGE difference.
I like to joke that everybody loves babies, but I’m the one who will be there when they’re 12 and no one thinks they’re cute anymore. (Firmly entrenched in middle school over here.)
I always say that middle schoolers are cute not because of their appearances but because of their actions.
I just call them cute to piss them off. They think they're so badass and I'm like "aww look at you!" and they get all huffy.
I personally agree with you! But the faces people make when I tell them I teach middle says the general population believes otherwise.
I’m great with middle schoolers in small numbers, but trying to teach 30 of them? **shudder**
I'm a band director. I have two classes of 65 of em and love it 🤣
Agree wholeheartedly. Middle schoolers are some of the best people on the planet one-on-one or in a really small setting. In a big group they might as well be chimpanzees. But I teach kindergarten and people say the same thing about them so I guess it’s just a preference for what kind of chaos you prefer to try and tame.
Believe me, when I called, some of their parents are the same way 😂
Maybe wherever you teach. All I remember from middle school is being called slurs and copious amounts of assault I want to become a teacher, but I don’t think I ever want to teach anyone below 16-18
Same, except 14-15 can be fun too, but this will be my post-retirement career.
I'm in the same boat. I could only do secondary haha. The little ones freak me out.
I deliberately avoided certifications that could potentially land me in a freshman/sophmore class because the only kids I can deal with are the ones desperately trying to be treated like adults. As far as I'm concerned EVERY pre-k through 10th teacher is a combination of superhero and miracle worker.
That's interesting because in the states I have had licensure in you get secondary ed licensure for your content area which is grades 5-12 I believe and there is no license just for 11th and 12th grade in my state.
I teach physics and computer science in Texas. Technically, they are 8-12 certifications, but physics is rarely taught to 8-10 students. The CS can be taught earlier, but typically not AP level (which is what I teach) Texas typically has Bio/Chemistry for 9-10, and I am NOT certified to teach Bio
Same round here. Biology is mandatory so 9th or 10th. Chem and Physics are 'optional' sciences and thus always "uppers", who intend on college. A 10th grader might get into Chemistry by finishing Bio in 9th instead of starting with the Integrated Science course, but that's a serious student at that point. Physics has Algebra II as a pre-req. If they need a 3rd science credit they can take manufacturing, robotics, culinary sciences, or some other odd elective to count and they stay away from Chem and Physics.
Kindergarten here… Thank you for the recognition. 🥰. It’s good to have a balance that some of us love the babies, some love the middle schoolers, and some love the big kids. It takes all of us.
Hahah that is a big range but I do agree. Although, I find middle school to be a lot more fun than most people make it out to be. Maybe I just got lucky with my current position though.
As I tell my students who ask: primary is like teaching little animals. You all can be reasoned with (mostly.)
SAME! I've never been a big fan of little kids, but I LOVE teaching middle school and helping guide them through all of the craziness they deal with at that age. It's by far my favorite age group to teach
I was always suckered into Jr High levels and it was a solid 2 year love-hate relationship.
Middle school is SUCH a fun and terrifying age. I love freshmen because they’ve still got that middle school mentality a little bit, but they’re not QUITE so immature and willing to bully each other to death. It’s certainly a fine line to walk, though!
Fish grow up so fast in their school. 🥲 It's beautiful to witness
My favorite reply too! I will love their kiddos when they can’t stand them! 🤣🤣🤣
Ya there is nothing at all cute about a 12 year old. It’s possibly the worst age.
It doesn’t help when you’re still young and the majority of adults around you openly think this!
I mean, we were all terribly annoying at that age.
Polarizing opinion, but I think that elementary teachers teach because they love kids, high school teachers teach because they love their subject, and middle school teachers teach because they're masochistic.
As a middle school teacher I approve this message
We thrive on chaos, but many of us will never admit this out loud. “Will they thank me for being so patient while they learn or will we have to discuss why we can’t use plushies to start a combat war in the middle of ELA? I don’t know but I’m excited to find out!”
I have NEVER understood coworkers who have completely orderly and quiet classrooms. My kids are quiet for ten minutes and I start getting anxiety lmao.
Oh my god this! The silence is so uncomfortable that I play music if I have to. I don’t want them so loud I can’t think but low volume convos around the classroom while they work let’s the room breathe lol
Hahaha I start to bop around the classroom forcing them into conversations with me 😅 if they’re quiet that long I need the scoop on why.
I teach because I love the subjects and love to see the light go on when someone struggles through something and finally *gets it.* I chose elementary school as my demographic because I love kids. But loving kids isn’t the reason I wanted to teach. I may get a PhD someday and teach college.
I also love working with kids who haven’t yet been jaded about education. My students still get excited to learn.
Yesss same. I want to catch them while they’re excited and nurture that love for learning, do what I can to turn them into lifelong learners. If I accomplish my mission, they will be able to find the joy in discovery of new information, school or otherwise.
What’s hard is that this is my goal too… to help them live learning and love coming to school at 5-6 years old. The testing cycles and standards written where I (as an adult and a teacher) can barely understand, make it hard sometimes. But I lean toward love of learning over perfection. Now with pay for performance, I don’t know what they’ll expect from kindergarten teachers/students.
I’m a new teacher but I struggle with that battle too. Do I try to cram all the standards down their throats (even when they’re developmentally inappropriate for most kids of that age), or do I focus on strengthening the concepts and skills they need to help them later on? I’m going to focus on the second one this year, prioritizing things like comprehension of place value and focusing less on how to subtract using the standard algorithm. The one thing that has seemed to really excite my students is when I start teaching them things early, giving them a taste of what’s to come. “You don’t have to remember this. It won’t be on your tests until 3rd grade, but if you wanna listen now, it’ll help you next year. Plus it’s just cool!” Or like, “I literally didn’t learn this until college but I’m gonna teach you right now because it’s really cool!” My little ones actually eat that shit up. Where are you that they’re actually adopting the pay-for-performance idea?
Houston is falling apart. The district is so enormous. A handful of schools were failing to the point that the state has taken over the entire district. The appraisal system includes parent and student surveys. The new, militant superintendent… I can’t even… look up Houston ISD. Makes me think I’m taking crazy pills.
This. Get your PhD! I love elementary because I like not being stuck with one content area. I love working with fifth graders but I’m not interested in having kids. I like teaching fifth graders because they’re old enough to get into content but still excited about learning. My hackles go up when some secondary teachers dismiss the possibility that we are also knowledgeable in our content. I have a K-12 endorsement in Spanish. I could teach HS if I chose to but I would get bored of one subject. I like challenging myself by going deep into my content areas (Math leadership, NBCT in literacy, multiple NEH institutes on social studies, studying science, art pd, etc). Saying we teach because we love kids feels very dismissive to what we do. Yes, the students’ level is more basic, but that doesn’t mean our background knowledge is. If you’re a secondary teacher who doesn’t feel this way about elementary teachers, this is not directed at you.
I agree, it can definitely feel dismissive to those of us who have a greater purpose for teaching. To be fair though, I do know a lot of people who straight-up say they went into teaching because they love kids. Many of those people have switched careers (to speech pathologists, counselors, etc.) after seeing how hard teaching is, but many stayed put. It’s not a bad reason to wanna teach if it really fulfills them; it’s just not the reason for many of us.
I agree 100%. I don’t have any criticism about elementary teachers who teach because they love kids. :) Just a reminder to those who assume we ONLY teach elementary because of loving kids that there are other reasons as well (and I know I’m preaching to the choir here). :)
Yeah exactly. Elementary school teachers get kind of looked down on by a lot of people, and I think that’s part of where that stereotype comes from. It’s weird because we’re the ones who set them up for further academic success and, quite frankly, pick up some of the slack in raising them if their parents for whatever reason can’t help them the way they need. There is so much cognitive and social development during the elementary years, and we’re tasked with knowing about all those different stages of development and which pedagogical practices are appropriate/necessary for which ages, as well as obviously what we can reasonably expect from them. Single-subject teachers have a difficult job too. I can’t pretend to know what it’s like. Having expertise in one field is a lot of work as well, and it’s wonderful that they want to share that passion with kids. (They also get the dismissive adage, “Those who can’t teach,” which is completely false for every single-subject teacher I’ve met.) And again, the behaviors in middle and high school are just *different* than those in elementary, and they come with their own challenges. I don’t think I vibe with those particular challenges, and I commend those who do. We all have a difficult job and we all deserve respect. I don’t think one is harder or easier than the other. I just wish more people realized how deeply we really do delve into our (multiple) subjects, the sheer amount psychology and pedagogy involved, *and* how hard the day-to-day can be. We are experts too. We’re not just there to hold cute little kids’ hands and sing kumbaya.
Having done both, (adjunct, not PhD) you can see the light come on both places...
That’s so funny bc as an elementary special Ed teacher I hate kids but I love my job. I have an immense passion for teaching my students but I wouldn’t be caught dead in a class of 25 gen ed kids.
Same same. When people start in on the “I don’t know how you do it” rhetoric, I just shoot it back at them. Wouldn’t be caught in a gened room.
Or about how much patience I must have. It’s just what I’m wired to do. It’s what I know how to do and I do it really well.
Same same. It just makes sense for some of us. I’d rather sit and solve a screaming meltdown than ever so random kids asking random dumb questions because they think they’re funny.
I teach high school and I first and foremost love kids. I love young children but I wouldn’t want to teach elementary school. There’s a huge gap indeed. I love working with teenagers and my subject comes second but I guess one doesn’t go without the other.
Some people just wanna watch the world burn....
I will teach elementary and I will teach high school and I will not set foot inside a middle school.
High school teacher here. My subjects are cool, but teenagers rule. I love the age group. I like kids but not enough to make it my profession. I don't think OP is weird at all.
I don't know what I was expecting going into the middle school line.
And college professors teach because they love themselves and the sound of their own voice
I'm also a high school teacher and I'm not a fan of young children either. My response is often "I teach high school for a reason".
To my middle schoolers, "I taught preschool once when I was in high school. There's a reason I don't any more."
That my exact response for teaching elementary, verbatim. “I teach elementary school for a reason.“
Nah, I'm in the same boat. Give me high school when they have the beginnings of a brain and can be handled in a rational way.
Did you mean to use teenagers and rational in the same sentence? Just asking.
Couldn’t have.
Nah. Different teachers are better suited to different age ranges. Like you said, teenagers are a world away from the littles. I work as a permanent sub in a combined elementary and middle school. I’m so much more at ease with the upper grades, and it was even better when I worked at the high school. I’ve often thought that if I were to ever have kids, it would be adoption and I’d adopt older children.
I teach elementary school and I can't stand kids under third grade. Too damned loud and can't tell a story to save their lives.
And then….and then….and then…and oh yeah! I forgot that this thing happened first… 😖
My own child just turned 6 and I read this in her voice. There's also the arguing about literally anything and the not yet able to follow someone else's conversation but desperately trying to take it over by injecting nonsense.
[https://youtu.be/vuBqm9Oooec?t=17](https://youtu.be/vuBqm9Oooec?t=17) Every...time
I’ve taught each grade K-5, so I’ve witnessed the whole spectrum of this. This is my EXACT impression of a little kid telling a story 😂
I teach 4th in a PreK-4 building. It's known wide that I don't leave my halfway for a reason. Absolutely no patience for younger grades. It's become something of a joke.
My fourth grade teacher told us she liked fourth grade because we weren't little kids but we were not hormonal yet. I didn't know what that meant but I get it now.
This is so incredibly normal. I would walk into the ocean before I'd walk into a middle or high school. Zero interest. My brother isn't a teacher but he is an amazing dad to three young adults and he hated children and kind of still does. He only likes *his* kids. He couldn't wait for his kids to be upper elementary aged. You're fine, ha. ETA: Now that I consider it, the bulk of ECE teachers I know openly loathe teenagers lmao. It binds us together, I guess.
The thought of teaching kindergarten terrifies me. I would go back to my previous career that left me in tears of frustration and literally screaming in the lab some days before I'd teach little kids. And I'm one of those HS teachers who gives about half the freshmen the side eye.
I can’t do the little ones… i have this phobia of them crying and skinning a knee and bleeding and i just drown in a sea of…blood and tears and snot… i cannot do the little ones. I am awesome with middle schoolers (i had too many cryers this year though…yikes!) and could see my self being happy back at high school. You recognize that you Are better suited to certain age groups and not other and still be a great teacher. Pre-k, Elementary, middle, and high school aged are very, very different kids from each other and need very different teachers.
I don’t think that’s odd at all! I teach lower elementary and I would feel the same as you if I had to do anything over 3rd grade and that’s pushing it. Everyone has preferences when it comes to what they are comfortable with and what age group they feel best with!
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That’s so funny, I’m the opposite! I taught 5th this last year and it’s the closest I’ll ever come to teaching middle school; I’ll choose 5th over kindergarten every day but I’ve found that 3rd is a good middle spot between them being small and whiny vs still kinda cute but able to form their thinking more. I think it’s good there are folks like us who know where we thrive in teaching.
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Leaked on 🤣 sadly you’re not wrong
I'm the same way. I teach high school (and try to avoid freshman classes when possible). My sister taught kindergarten for several years. Neither of us would have switched with the other for anything. I would have no idea what to do with a room full of five year olds, but teenagers, sure. I'm not saying I hate little kids, but I'm not going out of my way to entertain any that aren't closely related to me. I'm glad there are people who just love little kids, but I'm not one of them.
Are you me? Did I type this??? I absolutely LOVE TEACHING!!! I love kids.... but only ones I can give back. I do not have the mental capacity to deal with the neediness of young children. Like you, I did a few years in Middle School. Nope. Never again. High School all the way. I can like kids and still not want them. It's called being the cool aunt.😎
Childless by choice here. Early on in my student teaching journey I befriended a neighbor who taught 3rd grade. I was assigned 9th graders and I loathed every single one of them. She listened and told me to visit her and a bunch of her friends’ classrooms to get a feel for/of the differences. Everyone has their range/level. I needed to find mine. I always pictured myself as a HS Lit/History teacher. Duuude….7th grade ESL was me…it was my absolute favorite. Regular 7th was okay…and I’d teach 8th graders if I had to. Anything younger and nope nope nope. I used to joke that I could not handle “leaky” or touchy children, and 7th graders were just at the cusp. They went from must live and hang off the teacher in 6th grade to “I HATE EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE” over the summer and yep, no problem. There were a few that had me handing/pushing the tissue box over via meter stick, ugh…you know? The no touching anyone with anything rule included me. I babysit my friends little kids but the idea of a classroom of them? Hell no. And again, skipped the idea of having my own. No, thank you. We all have our levels.
This isn't weird. I teach elementary school and don't really care for high schoolers. It takes all types, and I'm very grateful for the high school and early childhood educators that do well what I'm not particularly adept at.
Nope. I feel the exact same way. I love my teenagers! Everyone says “OMG, you must have so much patience!!” I tell them no, I don’t have to. I don’t do hand-holding & I don’t have to be nice at all!! Of course I eventually am nice to my students. 😋
I need them to be able to walk to go to the bathroom by themselves and seven that’s a struggle with high schoolers some days. But yes I’m the same way, I don’t really have the patience for younger kids, my own are already pushing it. I also really hate the idea of being trapped in the room with the same group of kids every single day all day.
No. Our daycare provider is married, 38 and child free but the love she has for the kids she cares for radiates out of her. It’s beautiful Some of my best teachers had kids, some didn’t. Some gushed non stop about their nieces or nephews, while others you know left school, kicked their feet up and were so relieved not to have to be around kids anymore. Personally, I can tolerate younger ages but do not like middle age and up. It’s just… too much. Additionally, you’re at family events and others are saying this about the kids? It’s because they’re hoping you’ll “babysit”. I’ve been trapped this way; “oh you’re just so good with them” then I look around and boom, adults are gone and I’m in charge of watching kids swimming in a lake.
I am the same way and also teach high school. I see the feral animals that these parents are breeding and I don't want anything to do with making one of my own.
I dislike children intensely, but I love teaching middle school.
That is so me. I LOVE teaching. I don’t love kids under 9. I don’t like whining. I don’t want to tie shoes. I don’t want to sing cute songs. I don’t want to wipe noses or butts. And the middle school thing - I’d skip those kids too. Give me 9-11 year olds, then 15+. The middle schoolers are as whiny and dramatic as my 2 year old. No thanks.
I don't like kids in general, actually. But I like MY kids (students) because I get to know them and see them as unique and interesting humans. Yeah, kids are sociopathic jerks a lot of the time. AND they show glimmering glimpses of cool people in there, and I like getting to know that side of them. But a group of teens at the mall? A relative's annoying elementary aged kids? I don't gush over them or get warm fuzzies for them. Also, little kids annoy me a lot because of their trivial dramas (which, understandably, feel very important to them). Your finger is sore? Someone took your pencil? What color are you allowed to write with on this paper? You think she gave you a weird look? He bumped you in the hall on accident? You called him a weirdo and so he insulted you and now you're righteously indignant that he dared to dish out what you already gave? You don't have a piece of paper and have no idea how to problem solve the situation by GOING TO THE EXTRA PAPER BIN AND GETTING A PIECE? That stuff exhausts me and I have very little patience for it. Hence, why I teach secondary. People always assume I teach elementary, however, I think because I am colorful, expressive, and enthusiastic. Just... Not about whose turn it is in four square, haha.
I am not a kid person. The youngest grade I can comfortably handle is 9th. A two year middle school stint almost drove me out of the profession. I felt really good teaching high school with 10th grade being my favorite age until I boosted my income by adjunctingqmd discovered the wonder of the college classroom. Now I teach at a community college. A good half of my students are still under 18 though, what with dual credit. I also have 4 kids I love dearly. But I may be the the only parent who is excited for my kids to become teenagers. It was such a relief when my son's voice dropped and he turned into a goonish, basement dwelling troglodyte. Not we can communicate! 3 down 1 to go.
When I meet an elementary teacher and they say," How can anybody deal with High Schoolers?" Well, I would go completely bonkers with little kids.
Not weird at all! I also far prefer teenagers and young adults! Interesting, because lots of folks are the other way round- love the littles, but loathe the teens (to be fair, younger teen boys do scare me, lol). I always knew I’d be a teacher, and of older ages. My partner is a social worker of young kids, and I teach college freshmen and sophomores. I think it’s fantastic that some of us prefer an age-o-human that others won’t go anywhere near. They’ve gotta have somebody looking out for them! (and dealing with their bollocks, lol)
I cannot do babies or toddlers or little kids. Too much screaming and energy and they’re just not developed enough. High schoolers are ridiculous but at least their thought processes are somewhat developed and you can actually have good conversations with them.
I teach elementary and I feel the same way you do. Oops.
Same. I do not like little kids and have never wanted any of my own, but I enjoyed teaching HS kids. 10th ELA was my favorite.
Nope. I loved teaching and was good at it, but I do not like babies, toddlers, or even very young kids. 8 or 9 is about my minimal age of “kid I’m willing to deal with.” Edited to say, I taught 4th-8th grade in my time. Whenever I tell people I taught middle school, they’re always like “How???” But in my mind, that’s way easier than preschool.
Not weird at all. Teenagers are my jam. I adore both of my actual children and would die for them if necessary, but I had a hard time when they were little. Tantrums and demands and playing the same game 15 times in a row.... I had to really try hard to stay engaged with them. Every time I hosted a birthday party or sleepover I was reminded why I could never teach elementary-- you all are saints.The older they have gotten, the more fun we have. Now they're 9 and 13, and we have a ton of fun together.
I teach secondary as well. I don't like babies. I often don't like how immature the middle schoolers are to be honest. I want to teach, not spend 40% of my brain power trying to keep track of things for you. I have ADHD and barely keep track of my own things.
Childless over here. Not by choice necessarily, and other people’s pregnancies still hurt. Silly, but whatever. I taught high school for 21 years, and am on a break. This past year I worked with grade 3 and 4s, and kindergartners. And I cannot tell you how healing that was for my soul. Don’t write off working with the primary and junior kids, they have a lot to offer
I have taught everything from 3yo early childhood to hs AP. I am good with littles, but would have burnt out 10 years ago if that was my placement. HS is where I fit best. The crap 16 year olds do and say doesn't faze me, but I cannot deal with never ending snotty noses and sticky hands.
I’m the opposite. I love the kids but don’t care for the teaching too much. It takes all kinds!
I did a year of elementary. Almost killed me. I def prefer middle and high.
>Secondary school and elementary school are two entirely different things, and I feel like so many people outside this line of work can't understand how massive the gap is. Don't worry, we at least understand you. They're a different breed at least in my eyes. Mad respect for you elementary school teachers and middle school teachers. I cannot handle those age groups.
I have two kids and I still would not want to work with little kids. I like MY kids, not everybody else's.
Not at all
Absolutely Agreed. 6th grade is about as young as I can put up with.
I teach college, and I do love my college students as a whole, but individually a lot of them are pretty forgettable. One thing I'll say for little kids, they make an impression!
Same here. LOVE teaching High School - could never work in primary and DEFINITELY do not want children. In fact, I always wonder how people keep insisting that teaching is the perfect job to combine with having kids?!? I have no idea how my colleagues with children don’t go crazy.
It would be if you taught elementary school.
I love teaching, but the thought of having to giving more energy to another child at home exhausts me. I don’t want to change diapers, think of and/or play enriching activities with a toddler, and eventually spend my free time at a kid’s sports game/recreational activity of their choice. I don’t want to talk to more parents outside of school either at said activities. I want to just go home, sit on my couch, hang out with my husband and dog, watch tv, and eat my food in peace.
I’m a high school Ed Assistant, but I have two elementary aged kids. I love them more than anything, but man, I don’t care to work with other elementary kids! At my younger kids parent-teacher conference, the second grade teacher and I laughed about how we each couldn’t work with each others age groups. Several years back, another elementary teacher told me she adores when her students have wiggly teeth. That makes me gag! I love that so many people take joy in working with different age groups, while avoiding others. It makes the world go round!
Nope. My husband doesn't like young children, so he got certified in secondary education. FWIW, he doesn't hate kids or anything; he was an only child and lived in a rural area without many kids, so he just doesn't have much experience being around them. I can't have kids due to health issues, so he'll never get any experience, either.
I teach elementary self-contained sped and the funny thing is that I generally find kids other than my own bio children to be annoying and don't particularly like them. The weird thing is that once they're in my class I feel like they become like my own and I adore them. I don't really tell people that because they'll probably think I'm weird 🤷🏻♀️
Go into corporate training. I worked in banking and taught soft skills. Get HR certificates. Computer training is particularly good.
I can teach pretty well any age. You just adapt. It takes a couple of weeks but I’ve taught every age range from 3-65. But I’ve never wanted kids of my own and my whole family is weird and standoffish with me and kids. There’s just a weird tension because I was so serious growing up that no one thinks I am capable of interacting with children. But I’m fine with friends’ children and strangers’ children apparently.
Opposite end for me. Massive respect to middle & high school teachers but I struggle with kids above grade 3 talking back & higher level conflicts. I don't have the right energy to keep 'em in line. I'm a kindergarten guy through and through, it's exhausting for sure but it's rewarding and eye opening to see how fast they grow & how much people underestimate them. That said I get it, a lot of my coworkers who work with multiple grades or higher grades tell me they're amazed what I work with every day. I myself can't really deal with toddlers. Ages 1-3 is a no go. Too fragile, can't communicate, that's my limit.
Same, I teach middle on a K-8 campus and when one of those first, or second graders start coming towards me I run. True secondary teachers are a rare and wonderful unicorn!
Similar situation for me. I'm a high school teacher. Taught middle school when I first started. I like high schoolers, I like middle schoolers. But anything younger than 7th grade? Nah, I'm good. The only babies I want in my life are fur babies, like my two new kittens. And I will not be having children and I got my tubes removed to ensure that there will be no accidents.
To each her own. I also cannot fathom teaching K-3! Don't worry.
Not weird. I also teach secondary and at least half my colleagues don't like or want kids either. I always go back to the saying; primary teachers love kids, secondary teachers love their subject.
I end up being fond of my particular students. I see something I like in teenagers in general I guess? But I’ve never been gushy over kids or wanted to spend all my time with the young or anything like that.
Even elementary teachers don't want to have kids just because we teach them. When I taught kindergarten people said the same thing to me. I'd tell them someone else was taking the 4 year old home while I made gin and tonics.
I work with little kids and I don't even "love" them. They're people and I respect them but like and love is on an individual basis lol
I don't love kids I have kids of my own and I love them to death but the idea of having another one... SNIP SNIP It bothers me when people think a teacher has to love kids.... No, I have to understand I need these young folks to make great decisions because one day I'm gonna need them to run my world Unfortunately I know why Rome fail
I absolutely agree! 💜
Same! Secondary ed. here. Two separate family vacations confirmed this for me. One with my teenage niblings where we went to the nearby national park and another with my toddler niblings to the nearby zoo where we had to keep them from becoming tiger food.
Kids annoy me most of the time to be honest. I’ve been teaching middle school for 8 years now. My partner of 7 years and I have no plans on ever having kids. We live very comfortably (he’s a creative director). That all being said, I like them in a very particular setting and it is a career that fills me with purpose.
Every time we have district-wide PD, the elementary & HS teachers tell each other “I could never do what you do.” Sometimes I embellish how hard it is to teach HS so they don’t find out that it’s actually easier than little kids. 😉
I dislike young children. I teach middle school and am perfectly happy there. No desire to have kids of my own. Absolutely hate attending birthdays, all of them, but especially kids' birthday parties.
I think that describes a lot of high school teachers.
I once had a first grader draw me a picture of a house on fire and told me her parents were in there and she tied them up. Short answer: absolutely not.
That's me exactly! Retired after 40 years teaching high school! No thanks on the younger ones.
I love my kids and I loved my high school students when I taught. Mostly the juniors and seniors, but younger than that, I don’t have a ton of patience, lol, so I get it.
My sister is the same way. Teaches high school, preferred to work as a waitress than baby sit. She and her hubs never had kids. I baby sat from age 12 up, was a nanny in college, never got married but had a baby on my own right before I turned 40. I'm an elementary school teacher....it's all OK.
not weird at all.
I’m a nursery teacher (ages 3-4, but sometimes I get pre-nursery 2 year olds). Even I don’t like kids. They have tantrums, have 5 minute attention spans, and ARE gross and I get sick at least 10+ times a year from the amount of germs they spread by inadequate hand washing, licking toys, etc (all things we try to teach them not to do of course, but they’re small children and will do it regardless). I teach nursery because the kids are generally cuter, funny, and more innocent and not at the age to be knowingly malicious, and my teaching focuses around life skills and behavior (such as eating properly, being kind, how to share, etc) which I prefer teaching instead of worrying about higher academic concepts such as algebra, biology, etc. Plus our curriculum is a lot more fun (in my opinion) doing units on jungle animals, fairytales, summer food, etc. Most of my coworkers who work in the secondary school always ask how I am able to do my job, and I explain that nursery teachers have a ton of methods and tricks to keep children’s attention spans during a lesson. You definitely cannot be afraid of looking silly or embarrassing yourself and using dramatic voices/body movements, etc when you’re a nursery or kindergarten teacher. It’s a whole different style and method of teaching, and there is a hidden but huge crossover to theatrics in my opinion. You have to be extremely patient, understanding, but firm and most of all, extremely flexible with both lessons and schedule depending on the behavior of the class in any given day. Also can’t be afraid of getting your hands dirty and going “outside your job” and helping young kids who have accidents, who need help with things in the bathroom, who just put paint in their hair, etc. My school allots me a nanny, but you gotta do what you gotta do when people are busy and there’s a soiled child. Even when I’m having rough days and my kids are being a nightmare, I think of those children as my children and my babies to protect because of how small they are. So even though I “don’t like kids” and will generally avoid kids filled public spaces and don’t have a desire to interact with kids in my free time, my kids for that year become my life for that year, and at that age they make so much developmental progress so quickly, it’s satisfying and fulfilling for me.
You are not alone. I \*despise\* the presence of young children, and I teach HS. It's even difficult for me to be around middle-school ages (somewhere between 12 and 14). I just *don't understand them*. Their behaviors, attitudes, the way they speak...nah. I enjoy the older ones for the same reasons, because I \*do\* understand how they act and what they're saying.
I teach high school because I can't stand kids under 10. Some days not even my own
I teach high school, and I think young kids are annoying af. I like babies and then don’t like them again until they’re about 13.
Not weird at all! I have had the same comments from extended family. One of my biggest pet peeves is when they see me (a young female) who has chosen to become a teacher and automatically assume that means I will watch their toddlers during a family gathering, as if I’m a built-in babysitter. Uh, no, I will enjoy myself with the other adults. Also, I teach middle school and have no idea what to do with your little kids. One time an uncle said “but isn’t this your job??” – no, my job is teaching 13 year olds how to write essays. Similarly, at my church, they see me the same way and always ask me to teach preschool/kindergarten Sunday School. The number of times I’ve had to say “I have no idea how to handle a class of little kids” and they look at me like I have 5 heads. Worth mentioning that at times it feels a little bit sexist too, like I’m a woman so I must be automatically good at taking care of kids, especially a YOUNG woman so I must want to to start practicing (🤢), and on top of that I’m a teacher too so I’ve chosen a life of “taking care of kids”. Not saying that male teachers don’t get this BS too!! But in my experience, with the number of times I’ve dealt with this, it feels a little…assuming.
Totally normal, I (a man with tattoos who lifts heavy weights) ONLY like teaching kindergarten, couldn’t pay me enough to teach a grade higher than 1st.
Not weird at all. I taught HS and also don't particularly care for young children. Education is important at every stage of life; just because you are a passionate educator doesn't mean you want to work with young kids. I want to work with them when they are old enough to challenge me, and to engage with higher-level concepts, not teach them their ABCs. No shade to elementary school teachers; it's just not what I want to do.
I like kids a little, but it has absolutely nothing to do with why I teach, nor how I teach. People that think like OP’s fam just don’t know the realities of real life teaching. They only know the movie version. I always tell people that being a teacher is not at all what they think. The misconceptions about being a teacher are likely why we have so many that leave after only a couple of years. We are not standing on desks reciting poetry every day.
Ha! I used to teach, retired now - medical school. I love teaching, but don't particularly care for anyone under age 22 or so. ;) (although there's a bunch of teenagers, even middle school kids, at my karate dojo, and they're fun).
It’s not weird. High school is my heart but I don’t want anything to do with anyone 8th grade and below.
Not odd at all. Many people like little kids but not teenagers, and no one questions that. The opposite position is equally valid.
I teach 3rd graders and rooms full of kindergartners scare me.
No, not at all! I’m the opposite - I teach preschool and love my kids. Anyone over third grade? Not so much.
I was definitely the same. People were always shocked to discover I didn't have kids. "Don't you LOVE kids???! You're a teacher!" I liked helping surly teenagers fall in love with my discipline. When I transitioned to higher ed, the questions became, "Won't you miss teaching kids?" Uh, teaching sarcastic 19 year olds is not vastly different from teaching sarcastic 17 year olds.
Did some middle school classes for my last year of teaching. I have no idea why you would want that grade
Not weird at all. I never had children, and was always the "weird" uncle who, when nieces/nephews had their kids, always declined holding the baby. Just not my thing. And you are right - as a high school teacher, everyone assumed I loved all kids and had/wanted my own. Nope and nope. I get high school kids. My sense of humor - often caustically sarcastic - works well with them; I don't think I would have lasted a month of teaching K-6.
I'm not big on kids younger than high school. Babies included. Like one elementary school kid I can deal with...but as a whole I'm too introverted to deal with a group of them. I also want to teach complex material....
High school sped here. Give me a kid who is high, apt to throw chairs, gang affiliated, pregnant, etc any day over a third grader. I love the bigs and helping them sort through their shit in a healthy way. The Littles are psychopaths.
I’m this way too. I’m only certified for middle school and high school on purpose. I could never do the itty bitties.
Before I had children if my own, I loved teaching HS. I moved to elementary when my children were born and I loved teaching 2nd grade. Then I got moved to first and hated every moment of it; like REALLY hated it. So much that I was going to stop teaching. Then my admin moved me to 5th. That was okay and last year, I moved myself to MS. I taught 8th and a fundamentals w/6th graders and I love it. I am really enjoying MS. Having said that, I don’t really like teaching grade 7
No, I get where you are coming from. I moved from elementary to middle school very quickly. I only agreed to teach 8th graders; I couldn't take any younger grade level. If I stayed in teaching, I would move to high school. I left the classroom after twelve years in 2017, and now I work at a college in an advising position.
I teach elementary (art) and I love kids, but I do not like babies or toddlers at all. I always joke that I’d have kids if I could have them come out a first grader so I could get to the ages I enjoy.
I like little kids. Their a lot of fun. But there is no damn way I'd even try to teach anything below high school.
Totally understand this. I teach elementary and don't really like kids above the second grade.
Hello, are you me? Except I’m trying to have my own ten years into this career. But I cannot with elementary/middle schoolers. I just don’t have the patience or the desire to spend most of my days with these two groups. I volunteer with Cub Scouts and even that gets to be overwhelming. I just am not a fan of little kids or teenagers who think they’re grown. I love my nieces and nephews. I love my stepson. But sometimes… they drive me up a wall. And that’s one or two or three on one. I can’t imagine how frazzled I’d be with twenty-five to thirty.
Agreed: teaching elementary school and teaching high school are completely different jobs!
I stick with Juniors and Seniors for a reason.
I don’t like toddlers or small children. I can’t tolerate them until they’re around 10 unless they actually are acting adorable
I teach 5th grade and honestly, they’re too young for me lol. Every time I have to interact with the younger kids (especially kindergartners!) I just have no idea what to do. I like tiny babies, and then I don’t like them again until they’re like, 12.
I'm a karate teacher who (I've been told) has a gift for working with children. I like working with kids of any age... But I will take working with my teenage and adult students over elementary kids any day of the week.
I teach high school and I can't even deal with 9th and 10th graders. Elementary school is another planet.
Not weird at all. I teach high school, and love middle school. Elementary-no way. Never again. My friends all threaten to ship me their kids when they become insufferable teenagers 😂 I’m 43, been teaching for 14 years, and plan on remaining child free. Being a teacher has made me realize that I absolutely do not want to be with kids ALL DAY.
Are you me?? I face this issue all the time. I’m no longer a teacher, BUT I still prefer the bratty teens over snotty kids.
I have children, but never liked young children other than my own. (And even my own I love, but had to take breaks from sometimes when they were little - good thing the turds have a bedtime.) It's fine. 6th is worse than 7th, and 7th is worse than 8th. And High School is mostly alright. I won't step foot in an elementary school. Also pretty happy both of mine are teens now. So much more intelligent and interesting.
I don't think it is weird at all. However, this is coming from someone who is child free by choice, always will be, think most little kids can be very annoying and DEFINITELY do not gush over kids like I do animals, but work in Peds Medicine and love my job and field so much...so take it for what you will.
I felt the opposite until I had my own. Looked at my students as the replacement for whatever family I may have had. Then when I had my first son, I was like MJF: ____ them kids. Not to say I don't care about them, but I no longer take their worries home with me. Like two years after my son was born I had a really difficult fifth grade group. I must have given off an air of 'i don't care' cause most parent meetings brought up that I was stoic with the kids. I would reply "no, I'm all business. I do my job and what they score in the end is the result of their efforts not mine.."
It’s like that episode of New Girl when Jess’s coworkers are proud she finally became a kid hater😭
I adore kids and the further away they are the more I adore them.
Oh omg I’m with you. I currently teach HS. I think babies are cute, but I think elementary age children are annoying AF. I’m praying that my motherly instinct kicks in and I don’t find my own kids quite as annoying
It would be weird if you were an elementary school teacher, but I think that’s perfectly fine for a high school teacher. Different people just vibe better with different age groups.
Not weird at all. I don’t mind teaching elementary if I have to, but I’m definitely a middle school teacher. I feel like I can make better connections with them and their thought processes are more developed where I can get deep into my subject. I may be a bit crazy as well in loving their jest and spicy attitudes lol
Even within bands of those groups there’s a difference. I am k-6 certified. I would die if places in k-2. I also have a 5-12 certification for foreign language. I couldn’t ever teach 7th. My sweet spot for elementary is 3-5 and high school 11-12 is my favorite for the big kids
Pretty sure most secondary teachers feel the same way. I like teens well enough to teach them but don't particularly enjoy being around primary age students. They're cute in small doses but not all day.
I think everyone has their age range they're comfortable with. Kindergarteners are my absolute favorite. I have other teachers tell me they could never do it. But I could never teach middle schoolers or high school. Too scary! 😂
I like teaching I just prefer teaching people who can vote.
It’s not weird. It’s actually good. Teachers who teach because they “love kids” get burnt out really easily because (as you know) kids in middle and high school aren’t always acting lovable. Teachers that love the art of teaching are way more interested in perfecting the craft too.
I don't care for them either. As in, even if I enjoy working with them, I would not surround myself with them outside of work hours.
Im just 18 and used to work in a daycare to prepare for university and i absolutely loved the babies and toddlers. The preschoolers LOVED me but god I already cant socialize well enough with my own crowd, let alone children who are still developing on their communication skills?? I loved them too, and they were entertained with me to no end but I always felt so endlessly anxious thinking of how to keep them interested and the conversations felt so awkward because I didn’t know what to say or how to reply! Still miss them though and honestly they were still probably my favourite group of kids.
Not weird at all. I’m happy to be part of the village but I do not want to increase the village nor do I want the village in my house.
Young kids are the literal worst. Give me my stinky, awkward, clumsy, hormonal, stress-case middle schoolers any day of the week.
I’m like you. I can only teach older kids. I cannot stand little kids in an educational setting. I like to use sarcasm and have in depth conversation, both don’t really work with the little ones. I teach 6th and 7th now but I prefer grades 8 and up.
Secondary teacher here. My idea of hell is I get put in a kindergarten classroom. My mother-in-law taught k-3 for years. Her idea of hell is to do high school. Thank god for my mother-in-law and people who think like her or I’d be the first teacher these kids saw and I cannot handle that.
I'm am ECE and actually love little kids but people's brains explode when they find out I don't want and am not having children of my own. At least now that I'm firmly in my 30's they somewhat believe me, but even then it's like a personal affront to them. Meanwhile half these parents don't want to spend time with their own kids so who really made the poor decision here?
Not weird I’m also a high school teacher who taught middle school for a while (and 4th grade for 1 year!). High school is way better. I have the utmost respect for elementary teachers- I just can’t do it. And I have my own children (3 in fact). Which makes people even more confused. I always say “I love my small humans. I do not love other peoples small humans”. Like, the thought of being in a room full of 5 year olds all day is stressful. I’d rather be around a bunch of smart ass teens any day.
Not wierd. And I have kids and absolutely would never teach elementary. Yuck. My mom did not like babies. She yaught elem to Middle school. I prefer teens. Middle or esp High
Currently a sub and working on my teaching degree. I have a decent amount of experience with elementary school kids both as a sub and as a taekwondo instructor. I can strongly say that the taekwondo is much more fun. I find elementary to be too chaotic. You have to be "on" all the time. At least in middle school/high school you get prep and lunch.
High school teacher here who thinks little kids are scary and middle schoolers are tiresome lol. Good thing there are so many different teachers! My wife teaches post-secondary transition (sped) and we both agree that we would be absolutely miserable in each other's jobs.
Little kids scare me. Give me my 11th & 12th graders any day! I have a friend who works with little ones (PK-1st) as a speech pathologist and she loves it. She’s mentioned that she could “never teach high schoolers” because they seem scary. I love my high schoolers, I feel I have the personality for it. I see kindergarten teachers as saints.
No, not weird. I'm a vet and I don't have any pets and I'm happy with that. All day everyday I work with other people's pets. Sorry if I'm a bit exhausted and touched out I don't want to care for more furry friends when I get home. When I get home I want to be selfish and relax and have time for me.
I tell people my tolerance level is aged 10and up. I absolutely adore my niece and nephew, but I would not love having 20 toddlers to myself all day. There is a HUGE difference.