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I am a high school band director who has taught a couple different places. I am fed up with the attitude of high school administrators toward the arts (because music is not on the state test), how this view is passed to parents and it creates a sense of apathy in the students in ensembles and in General Music classes, and the idea to coddle kids who perform poorly in the classes or ensembles. I was wondering is it better to teach on the College level or am I going to deal with the same thing?

Juggernaut04 wrote:I am a high school band director who has taught a couple different places. I am fed up with the attitude of high school administrators toward the arts (because music is not on the state test), how this view is passed to parents and it creates a sense of apathy in the students in ensembles and in General Music classes, and the idea to coddle kids who perform poorly in the classes or ensembles. I was wondering is it better to teach on the College level or am I going to deal with the same thing?

The short answer: If you find a college that as good financial support (ie. alumni donation, fund-raising activities, etc...) and the faculty gets along very (ie. they all have the same "goal" in mind) then you are likely to have a nice experience. Also, one thing that is usually quite different is that you will be expected to sit o some of the administrative meetings yourself. (The number that you sit on really depends on where you teach and what the mandate of that school is)

As with a high school situation - depends where you teach.

Arts have been HIGHLY HIGHLY supported at 2 or my 3 teaching jobs.

Like any job, it's about getting the right gig.

I have known of full-time college teachers who go back to high school because the pay and benefits are often better.
If it is just something part time/supplemental, then college is often the best (or even only) way to go.