Easiest Teaching Job In Public School
By DW Davis
@DWDavis (25809)
United States
June 13, 2017 8:29pm CST
In under 18 hours I will no longer be a public school teacher. Most of y'all know why. Today I stopped by my new school and picked up my keys and the signed copy of my contract. I also had a chance to visit my classroom. When I saw the size of the chairs my students will sit in, I was amazed. Being used to middle schoolers, I wasn't prepared for how small 4th graders are.
I found out today about another teacher who is leaving my school. He is staying in public school, but transferring to an elementary school to teach Physical Education. He is the second teacher to do so from my soon-to-be former school in the last few years.
When I got to thinking about it, considering PE teachers get the same pay as core curriculum teachers, being an elementary school PE teacher has got to be about the easiest job for the money in public education.
Can you think of a teaching position in the public school system that would be easier than teaching PE?
10 people like this
12 responses
@DWDavis (25809)
• United States
14 Jun 17
Our Chorus Teacher works very hard with his students to teach them to read music, understand rhythm, pitch, melody, harmony, and he throws in a little choreography, too. Not to mention having to prepare for three concerts a year as well as county and state competitions. Our PE teachers watch kids run laps or play ball. They are not even required to coach any of the athletic teams.
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
14 Jun 17
No, not really. Probably a lot of fun, though.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25809)
• United States
14 Jun 17
@teamfreak16 Now that we're on work days, I get to dress that way, too. Never during the school year when students are in class.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
14 Jun 17
@DWDavis - Exactly. That's my kind of dress code!
1 person likes this
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
14 Jun 17
wouldn't a music teacher be the easiest paying job in a school system ? I hope you will like your new school & you enjoy your summer vacation.
1 person likes this
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
14 Jun 17
@DWDavis true. Maybe a teacher assistant or aide would be easier. I guess there really is no easy job out there.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (64529)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
14 Jun 17
I think the easiness of the job depends how much one likes the subject they are teaching . Art would be mine, or English
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25809)
• United States
14 Jun 17
I wasn't thinking so much of easiness in terms of how pleasant the subject would be too teach. I was more of a mind of how little actual effort has to go into teaching the subject. Art and English teachers both have to do a lot of preparation before class, and a lot of evaluation of student product after class. PE teachers just have to make sure the balls have enough air in them.
@DWDavis (25809)
• United States
14 Jun 17
@thislittlepennyearns
Monday: kids run around the field
Tuesday: kids play kickball
Wednesday: more kickball
Thursday: kickball finals
Friday: free day to celebrate being done with kickball
You're right, that was a lot of work. 
@thislittlepennyearns (64529)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
14 Jun 17
@DWDavis I'm pretty sure that gym teachers have to have lesson plans too . But they're lesson plans aren't bad ,, do maybe you are right
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (164323)
• United States
14 Jun 17
The expectations of the PE teacher where I have been is to teach "health" along with her PE activities. She does not have para educators and often has forty or more students at a time.. She must have activities suitable for all levels, special ed or other wise, from Kindergarten through 5th grade. She is responsible for field days and for before school activity and monthly challenges and quarterly assessments. I do not think it is easier, it is just different.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25809)
• United States
14 Jun 17
I've sat in on the Health lessons our PE teachers give. I could do a better job teaching Russian, and I don't know Russian. They treat it as a big waste of their time, and the kids think so, too.
As for Special Ed and PE, our self-contained do their own PE with their own teachers and with very little input from the PE teachers.
I realize anytime a teacher, no matter what the subject is, is dealing with children, it is not easy compared to most jobs outside public education, but I do believe that within public education, being an elementary school PE teacher, or any level of PE teacher, is easier than teaching most any other subject. Why else would so many core subject teachers work to get Phys Ed added to their certification and then jump ship when the first PE Teacher opening comes along?
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
14 Jun 17
No, I am not into teaching field. But some of my cousins are in teaching. One of my cousins is the principal of one government high school, and other cousin have a school of his own..I lack those teaching skills
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25809)
• United States
14 Jun 17
The Art teachers I've worked with do more preparation and more work with the students than any PE teacher I've worked with. Our current Art teacher meticulously plans out each project and differentiates carefully so that students at every level of talent can succeed.
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
14 Jun 17
In the UK you have one teacher for all subjects at primary {elementary} school. PE teachers at secondary still have to plan, show differentiation, teach physical health related things, keep records, etc. They also are often expected to work evenings, lunchtimes and occasional weekends for sport related events. It is taught to exam level here for students who want a qualification in it at 16, so PE teachers will still be judged on their exam pass rates.
However, yes. I can see that solely teaching PE in a primary school might possibly be the easiest teaching role!
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25809)
• United States
14 Jun 17
We have no exams in Physical Education here in my state. Nor do our PE teachers do lunch duty. After school coaching duty is on a volunteer basis and they are not required to volunteer, and none of our school sports, at middle school level, take place on weekends. It sounds like your secondary level PE teachers are expected to do much more than ours.
@JohnRoberts (109845)
• Los Angeles, California
14 Jun 17
No papers to grade. PE teacher doesn't coach teams also?
1 person likes this
@elmer0421 (449)
•
10 Oct 21
In my country particularly in teaching MAPEH, it composes of Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health...I feel the burden of those teachers teaching MAPEH in my country...They need to prepare lessons for each component and provide grades for each component in every grading period.Well, every country has its own context.
Well teaching PE maybe easier for some especially for those who really major in that subject but for sure some may have difficulties especially those teaching the subject who doesn't major in PE.
