While there would be an uproar if working people were asked to work unpaid, this is the unfortunate reality for many college students pursuing teaching. Though some may argue that the experience should be payment enough, students are contributing meaningfully to public schools and care centers in their community. When students are working what are basically full-time jobs, they should be paid for their labor.
Though most know that student teachers are often unpaid, a lesser-known reality is that college students are actually paying to student teach. In order to stay full-time, student teachers are often paid twelve credit hours in order to work. These students are not just teaching, but also meeting the expectations of their instructors at their respective colleges.
While students often follow a curriculum while teaching in public schools, other students are writing lesson plans at places like Ruth Staples. This isn’t where this work ends, either; students are working tirelessly to update portfolios on children, go on home visits and conduct assessments. Early childhood educators are required to delegate, manage the needs of children who are still in diapers and serve as a kind of manager in the classroom…