Teaching: the profession everyone thinks they could do better

My professor said I should publish my rant about teaching in America, so here it is. I will begin by saying my rant may ruffle some feathers or cause some to clutch their pearls. To that, I say GOOD.

Where do I begin?

Teaching is one of the most misunderstood and disrespected professions in America. During my 9 years in education, I’ve encountered some of the most frustrating, downright rude, and flat-out incorrect assumptions about my job. From people who have never stepped foot in a classroom to those who taught long before I was born, these misconceptions are a constant weight on educators’ shoulders. Here are some of the most common ones I've heard. If you are also a teacher, I'm sure you could help me add to this list.

• "Teaching is easy."

• "Your day is done at 3:00."

• "You get too many breaks and vacations."

• "You’re overpaid for working just 10 months a year."

• "If you’re not sacrificing your personal time to work, you don't care about your job or your students."

• "Technology has made teaching effortless. 'When I was a teacher, we didn’t have that!'"

• "If you’re good with kids, you can teach."

• "Anyone can do it."

• "Teachers are glorified babysitters."

• "If students aren’t learning, it’s the teacher’s fault."

• "All teachers do is hand out worksheets."

• "Teaching's just "reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic.”

• And last, but certainly not least, being called JUST A TEACHER.

🤮🤬🙄

These assumptions often originate from a lack of understanding of the full scope of the profession. Teachers get summers off, but that break is a much-needed recovery period after months of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. The same goes for holidays and long weekends. While students may be enjoying time off, many teachers are still lesson planning, grading, and attending professional development, almost always without compensation.

Evening and weekend work has also somehow become the norm. We’re expected to throw ourselves into the fire to keep others warm, as if we’re not already doing enough. And if we don’t, it’s as though we don’t care. If teachers set boundaries or prioritize work/life balance, like choosing not to keep work email on our phones or refusing to work after contractual hours, it’s seen as a lack of dedication and "not caring about the kids."

What’s even more frustrating is the belief that teaching is somehow “easy” or “effortless” now because of technology. Technology can be a useful tool, but it hasn’t replaced the need for thoughtful lesson planning, classroom management, or the emotional strain of supporting students. Being “good with kids” or even just enjoying them doesn’t automatically make someone a good teacher. Teaching requires years of training, continuous professional growth, and the ability to connect with individual students in meaningful ways.

These misconceptions persist because most people have only seen the “front-facing” part of the job: a teacher standing in front of a classroom. They don’t see the behind-the-scenes hours of preparation, the mental and emotional toll, or the often unrealistic expectations placed on us. When the public doesn’t truly understand the depth of what it takes to teach well, it becomes harder to advocate for fair compensation, adequate resources, or policies that truly support both educators and students. Some think we’re asking for too much, when in reality, their willful ignorance and unwillingness to listen prevent them from understanding.

The result is a country that undervalues its teachers and an ever-growing burnout crisis that drives passionate, talented educators out of the profession. I was one of them—transitioning from a middle school ELA teacher to a school librarian after being burned out by the very misconceptions and unrealistic expectations I’ve described. Teachers deserve better than the misconceptions that surround the profession. They deserve respect, support, and understanding from their communities.

End rant. Don't @ me.