Going back to school advice/help

[noblemountain]

I am thinking about going back to school to be a history teacher. I do not have my GI Bill anymore (my ex-wife used it for nursing school), so I'll have to pay for it myself which will be tough. I know a few of you guys have gone back to school later in life and was hoping to get some advice on grants/loans and the like.

I know I won't make much money as a teacher. That really isn't a concern of mine. Thanks in advance for the help guys, this is a really big decision for me as I'm 32 now and finding myself unemployed for the first time in my life. I know I'll have to work as well as go to school, but I'm hoping to minimize how much I have to work as much as possible.

[Dimmauk]

I am also interested in becoming a teacher. Seriously looking at a career field change.

Do you have a degree of any kind?

[Cleverness]

Why haven't you killed your ex-wife yet

[Cleverness]

I'm not even saying this jokingly, after reading the other thread plus your comment here on wasting your GI Bill she just sounds like a total bitch

[Tyche]

I pursued a social science secondary ed degree for about a year before I realized how much I hated high school kids.

What happened to the elephant sanctuary? Also, Pell grant. TEACH grant as well, but it comes with criteria that must be met.

[noblemountain]

I would be the only suspect. lol For real though, she's the mother of my daughter. I have forgiven her for everything honestly. We haven't spoken in 5 years...but I hold no hatred in me towards her. She was dumb, I was gullible, lesson learned.

I don't have a degree of any kind. I had a soccer scholarship, but hurt my knee and lost it...which I then used as an excuse to say fuck high school. I quit school early, got my GED, and joined the Army before my classmates even graduated.

[Churchill]

I feel like I would have had a field day as your team leader.

[archibaldcrane]

If you got fired for fucking an elephant I'm going to be very disappoint yo.

[Cleverness]

I know a guy if you are interested.

Also if you are starting this fresh, start at a community college. At least the one I went to after dropping out of college at 18 was a great choice. They move at a decent pace which is nice for someone who is getting back into education, and it's also really affordable and they might even have a program designed for education in some cases. If you're an official resident of the state you live in it's REALLY affordable, with Pell and TAP I was actually getting paid to go to school, it covered my engineering books and everything with a lot leftover.

[noblemountain]

What happened to the elephant sanctuary?

Without saying too much, the lead at my barn and I have been disagreeing on a lot of things lately. Three people have quit and two people have transferred to other barns due to it. I was the second longest tenured person at my barn and felt like I needed to make a stand for all these people leaving since management wasn't acting. I may work there again (I still live on property as my girlfriend is the lead of the other barn) but I felt I needed to step away from the situation. This was an extremely tough decision for me as I love these elephants like my own children, but if I am unhappy at work every day, I am not doing them any favors either. I am hoping that upper management sees what is going on and makes a change due to this...but I'm not holding my breath.

I have always wanted to teach though, and I know I can't do this job forever...my body already screams at me every day. After the time I put in the Army, my knees and back are sad every time I lift a shovel full of elephant shit. lol

High school kids don't bother me much, I enjoy trying to get through to them. I have done a bit of mentoring/tutoring over the years with inner city kids when I lived in bigger cities and loved every moment of it.

[Dizzy's]

I would suggest starting at a local community college as well. Its affordable, as well as being pretty laid back.

[noblemountain]

I feel like I would have had a field day as your team leader.

Oh believe me I heard about it. I haven't even covered the fun parts. When I am asked about my past, my first answer is usually "Mistakes were made."

[Dizzy's]

After dealing with kids for a prolonged period of time, you will learn to hate them. I coach football and track at a middle school. It was ok at first, after a bit you learn to have nothing but contempt toward them.

[AoE]

Go into pro wrestling and have Kurt Angle train you.

[AidenCarby]

You're a much better man than I'll ever be, I would have killed that bitch by now.

[Ksandra]

I just completed the teaching program in California so I can help with a lot of info on it.

1. You need a bachelor's in order to get into a teaching program. You can do as others said and start at a community college, BUT I would also recommend looking into some state colleges that offer accelerated programs. Some schools get you into the teaching classes by the time you are in your 4th year, and can shave a year off of getting your certification. Bachelor's degree needs to be related to the field you want to teach (except elementary though they like something related to the core subject areas).

2. I actually recommend against doing history. In my program we have 40 students in our block. 14 English, 11 history, 4 math, 3 science, etc. Out of the English and history, only one of each got a job, and they're in buttfucking nowhere. All the math and science people got jobs right away. Unless things turn around you are going to have a really hard time getting a teaching job for history.

Now, you may say, "but I love history!" Sometimes, however, you gotta do what you gotta do in the beginning. Most states (do your research) make it a lot easier to get a second certification after you've gotten your first. For example, I did English because I had a BA in English, and the only job I managed to get was working Saturdays at a SAT Prep school. I am now working towards getting my Math certification, which requires me to pass two state tests. I couldn't do math right away or I would have had to go back to a 4-year school. But it would have been nicer if I could have done math first, gotten a job right away, and use that time and money to get the English if I really wanted it.

If you go get a certificate in science or math (or even better, special education), you are almost guaranteed a job, and then you can work on getting the history certification while still making money and getting experience to put you ahead of the game when applying for history teacher jobs.

To go along with this, most states have loan forgiveness programs for those going into the teaching field. But they are limited usually to areas where they need teachers badly (Math, Science, Special ED) or if they get a job in a low-income school district. (The program in Cali is called APLE.)

And honestly, if you enjoy kids, you enjoy kids. You will find it is very easy to teach any subject as long as you enjoy teaching. And Math is a LOT less paperwork lmao.

[noblemountain]

Thanks for all the replies guys...been really helpful. I've been researching some of the colleges near me as well. MTSU is the closest "real" school to me, but there are several community colleges. I would definitely be going to a community college first, it has been a looooooong time since I sat in a classroom. lol

I see what you're saying Ksandra, I am open to teaching something else for awhile...I had thought about special education before and that seems to be a needed area.

[Rhyis.]

If you got fired for fucking an elephant I'm going to be very disappoint yo.

Trunk love, best love.

[BorkBorkBork]

Went back to school myself and it isn't too bad. I agree with checking into your community colleges but also check what accreditation you need in your state to teach and that will be a starting point. If your looking at taking out a loan, check into completing your FAFSA and hopefully you can score some Pell grants on top of it. Best of luck.

[Ksandra]

I see what you're saying Ksandra, I am open to teaching something else for awhile...I had thought about special education before and that seems to be a needed area.

No ifs, ands, or buts if you do special education you will get a job within the month. Be prepared though as it can require dealing with helping kids go to the bathroom et. al., but considering you've been working with elephant poops for awhile, I'm sure you can handle it.

It can also be extremely frustrating, but very rewarding. My mother was a Special Ed teacher (now teaches math), and even won teacher of the year for her state, so she's the real deal. I will say if you do go into special ed HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR. Never let the kids' walls get to you because in reality, they are doing the best they can. I think you can relate because of your previous job, so it may actually be a good fit for you.

Because they are so desperate you can find out what previous degrees you need. I imagine still a bachelor's, but possibly you could get a bachelor's in anything for that, which means you can shoot for a field that can give you a back up if by the end of it you are like "fuck kids!"