hey, so i posted a similar question in the teaching thread, but i'm wondering what FPHettes might have to say.
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i'm really interested in elementary education in the inner city (inner city boston, specifically). do you think it makes more sense to start out working in under-performing schools while i'm still young/idealistic/energetic and then move up to schools in more privileged areas later in life when i have a family to support and the income is more of an issue? because then i'd have seen the worst case scenarios and hopefully learned how to maintain discipline and properly work with children with problems going on at home/recognize warning signs and whatnot.
or could this burn me out? and could it look bad on my resume if i started off in a school that has a bad reputation?
might it be a better idea to get some experience in higher-performing schools first, and then apply what i've learned to maintain those high expectations? i'm just afraid that with that option, i'd just melt in with the status quo and forget about how badly good teachers are needed in less wealthy areas.
i guess it's a tradeoff between following what i feel strongly about and looking ahead to having a reasonable salary when i really need one (God knows teachers don't get paid enough already, even in wealthier areas)
jazaks