I'm in my senior year at Salem State College and I will be graduating in the Spring with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a minor in Educational Studies. Coming to Salem State was almost a mistake on my part, but I fell in love with the new program, teachers, and amazing music courses. I've always wanted to become a music teacher since I was young and share the knowledge I learn. I feel there's nothing better you can do in life than help others to live. I heard Salem State was one of the best education colleges in the state and decided it would be where I would get my education. The problem you ask? Salem State supports every department in the school to go through a Secondary Ed program and recieve licensure at the end......except for music. If you're a music major, student teaching AND the secondary ed minor are not an option. This means that when I leave here...there is no possible way for me to apply for licensure. I will need to either A) Transfer schools and spend another two years persuing another degree to recieve licensure or B) Go to Graduate School for my Masters degree and finish my student teaching there.
However, with many of my fellow music majors exploring these two options...many forget Private Schools. Private Schools look like a dream to many teacher. Private Schools offer teachers
- A job without the binding of state licensure procedures (Bachelors Only required)
- Freedom from state testing restrictions (MCAS etc..)
- Curriculum Freedom... (More private schools allow teachers to design their own course
- Smaller Class Sizes
- Better funding (not state funded, but student funded)
- There are no special education programs, which would result in not putting teachers
in a situation where they would teach an inclusion class with no prior training.
-Easier discipline programs (Students can be kicked out of school for any reason)
So where's the problem? Sounds awesome to me.
The downfall in public schools comes down to three major cons.
1. Less Pay
2. Less Benefits
3. Less Stability
Educators.com states that teachers can expect to earn between 10 and 15,000 dollars less at private schools than in public schools. The retirement isn't considered a "state job" or "public service" therefore there's less money matched in 401K plans and future investments. When i say "less stability" most people probably laugh because public schools, especially in the arts program, have hardly any stability as is...unless tenure. However, Private Schools offer jobs to teachers without licensure and sometimes without topic-specific degrees. Because of this, there are more people available for the jobs and willing to work for less money than others. With hardly any support from the teachers union,,,it's a scary thought. A final con is that many private schools are religious based and this could make private schools more difficult for some teachers who may have different views.
The ultimate debate...public or private.
As someone not getting my licensure with my bachelors...it's easy to see the attraction to private schools. However, many don't have music programs and teachers with higher degrees make more money. Therefore...I choose neither. I choose to continue into higher ed and maybe teach public, maybe teach private, maybe teach college. So many choices. It's a beautiful thing.
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