My sister wants to be an Art Teacher

Her and my dad are in an argument, I want to know what the job opportunities are like and if anyone here actually is perusing art as a career, or should she just turn to prostitution?
 
pretty sweet if you can get into a school system, especially in a wealthy area. The art teachers in my district make great money, get summers off, and by far have one of the easisest jobs at the high school. They do gigs on teh side and make more money. If shes alright with making teacher salaries thats a great look. Teachers at my school make pretty decent money as well. The highest paid teacher at the high school i went to makes $220,000 a year, for public school
 
It doesn't matter as long as she does what she loves. Obviously she won't do it for the money, so I reckno it'll be something she's passionate about. That's whats important.
 
i dont think the money is the issue, its how difficult it is to find an art teaching job. the market is really competitive for those teaching jobs right now because many schools are cutting arts programs, and there are more teachers than there is jobs. but if its what she loves to do and doesnt want to do anything else she should go for it
 
So much this. She should do whatever she loves because the joy that comes from working and doing what you love is worth more than the extra money you could get doing other jobs.
 
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.

I think all of the very talented art instructors I've had over the years treated teaching as a supplement to their career as an artist. They taught either because they also enjoyed teaching, or as a way to help pay the bills, but first and foremost they were artists.
 
your dad sounds kind of like a dick, my parents would be thrilled if i had any idea what the fuck i was doing with my life.
 
Everything everyone is saying about being passionate about your education and future occupation is true x10. I entered an oil and gas engineering program solely due to the prospect of getting a job right out of university and the big paycheck.

It was a terrible decision, I'm working my ass off in subjects I have no interest in and the only thing motivating me is the hope that the workforce will be much more interesting once I've graduated.
 
There's not a huge demand because the arts is the first thing to get cut out of school budgets but if she is really talented she could definitely get a job at a college or private school which is a much better job than being an art teacher at a public elementary school
 
i'm dying

"art teacher" is such a strange term lol. good luck teaching art. the entire point of art is that it can't be learned; it comes directly from you and if you learn from someone else, it might as well be coming from them.

but generally being a teacher is good
 
that's just not true in any way, shape or form. if art isn't learned there are about 10 artists in all of history. art is any creative effort that creates an aesthetic feeling in someone, that can certainly be taught in any number of ways.
 
Art is fucking awesome and art teachers are usually the most favored teachers. Tell her to be one if she's chill, good at art, hot or a combination of those.
 
ART

1. the quality, production, expression or realm, according to aesthetic principles of what is beautiful, appealing or of more than ordinary significance.

5.any field using the skills or techniques of art: advertising art;industrial art.

just quoting the two as they are the most important for this example, SKILLS are learned and art is entirely subjective, if I tell everyone that my shoe is art and I get some backing from higher ups in the field it will become art.

In terms of becoming an art teacher, I am pretty sure you must become a generic teacher, and have some sort of minor/ major in art? Which means that yes, she probably has to be some form of an artist. Also the amount of debt is crazy.

I would also like her to know what the fuck she is doing if she takes this route, I have disliked every art teacher I have ever had, either because I already know what they are teaching, occasionally more in-depth and because they play favorites/ completely mark by their own interests.

Tell her to know software (if need be), how to paint/ draw, and how to be as un-biased as possible while still being able to critique and give actual advice/ classroom critiques are where it is at for that sort of thing.

Oh and she actually has to like art, not just looking at it, but if she doesn't constantly take photos or draw or do anything then tell her not to do it.

 
I really like this thread. As a few people have mentioned make sure she goes for it! I'm taking classes for something I'm not totally interested in just because I was too scared to embrace what I really wanted due to money/job situations. Obviously, there are limits to some dreams and aspirations, but she should still try!
 
$222,000? Who in the hell are you talking to?

After a quick trip to google, the highest mean salary of 2011 (by state) is ct with 69k. Obviously that's an average but I find it hard to believe someone is making 300%+ those averages.
 
Dude my dad is a tenured college professor and he doesn't even make that much, no way can a public high school afford to pay that much for a teacher.
 
In middle school, there was art class. In high school, there's drawing, clay, paint, etc. What level does she want to teach at?

 
Where did you go to school child? And to answer your question, I too am looking into becoming an artist who teaches. Not an art teacher. If your sister is passionate about art or working with kids than I'd say go for it. But some of the best art teachers are the one's who love to make art and do it outside of the classroom.
 
Tenure? Tenure relates to job security, and has nothing to do with salary. Also, lol @ $220k. Highest paid high school teachers in the country make under half of that.
 
false.....kind of. It really is dependent upon the school district and public or private.

Most school districts pay you more each year. For example, I make more money now than I did last year. Tenured teachers will make more than non-tenured teachers.

 
True story. It's like a union here. It was depressing to see it mapped out in front of me how little I'd be progressing each coming year:/. Gotta coach them teams son. Do two sports a year, if you stick with it like say have been coaching for five ten years here, you're talking like an extra 5-6000 dollar stipend a season. Not insignificant. Rediculous time commitment for the money though but then again so is teaching.
 
i can see where the ol' man might be coming from. It's every parents wish that their kids do better, live more comfortably, make more, and are happier than they were.

But everyone then associates making more money with being happy, so if they see her going towards a career that likely doesn't pay much, they'll assume it's a foolish mistake.

I say go for it. Why do something you hate when there's so much out there that you might love? Too many people are miserable at work.
 
Your dad sound like an ass, and I have followed my dreams and got into Berkley for piano, however, in the coming of years I may just become a hobo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top