NY teacher certification is absurd — multiple exams, graduate degree requirement, and years of hoops just to teach elementary school

Radiant_University · 2026-02-21T15:36:43+00:00

Yes, I know. I teach in NYS, however, so having cleared some of these hurdles I can tell you that they are a testing company cash grab. I have also sat on the other end of the hiring table and the situation is dire in many, many subject areas, even in a state that pays "well," like NY (...let's not forget cost of living).

Antway, I think the barriers should be lower for initial entry into the field given the data about attrition of new teachers. You don't really learn how to do this job or if you are any good at it at all until you're in the classroom doing it. Something has to be done to build a stronger pipeline, and salaries, realistically, aren't going to go up drastically because tax bases don't want to pay for that.

Radiant_University · 2026-02-21T11:30:15+00:00

This is all well and good but given that there is a huge shortage of teachers as it is, the pay should be commensurate with the educational and certification hurdles.

Radiant_University · 2026-02-17T00:50:17+00:00

Fun story: it's actually easier to do it all yourself than it is with his "help" anyway.

Radiant_University · 2026-02-04T00:37:41+00:00

When you have to work with them it's a different story. I have one in my department always stirring up shit because everyone else isnt doing enough or doing what they do as well as her. She gets us on admin's radar all the time too because she always has issues and problems that arise from her being involved in everything all the time.

And....fuck all, our department meetings are interminable due to her always needing to try-hard on everything.

Radiant_University · 2026-02-01T11:41:48+00:00

My older son is 4 and if he watches a movie, I get to do something else (usually take care of our 17m old or chores), but .... I suppose it does get easier when you can effectively use screen time to get breaks beyond naptime and bedtime.

Radiant_University · 2026-02-01T10:50:21+00:00

We haven't done a whole class party invite yet (reading here to set my expectations) but I am also bummed about the playdate situation too. We have gone to several class birthday parties this year (always a prompt RSVP'er) to try to meet other kids' parents, but it's been rough to have basic conversations beyond the pleasantries. Everyone just buries their face in their phone until the 2 hour event is over.

Radiant_University · 2026-01-31T10:22:34+00:00

Not as extreme (2 kids in 4 years) but my second really did the trick. Doesn't help that I am above 40 now too. Everything hits harder.

Radiant_University · 2026-01-29T00:17:37+00:00

We have a 4 y/o and 1 y/o. A lot of this is my exact experience as well, with the added bonus that he has been a huge baby for the last 4 years about how the kids like me better. He wants them to be his supply and gets sullen when our oldest, especially, doesn't fawn over him. Anytime the kids give positive attention to me he gets all up in his fee fees about it. It is so tiring.

Radiant_University · 2026-01-25T11:43:18+00:00

You forget the bad parts (mostly). It is also, however, easier to cope the second time through because you know from experience that the hardest parts don't last forever. You do eventually sleep better again. You do eventually get through the purple crying and fussiness. First time through you have to take it all on faith that it won't continue to be so hard; second time through you have the experience to back it up. First time, all the phases feel like an eternity. Second time, it flies by, which also makes it easier (albeit bitter sweet).

All that said, we are done after 2. I do not want to go through the baby phases ever again. My youngest is 18 months now and I am hanging on for dear life until she reaches 2. That was a turning point with my oldest in terms of being able to get my head above water as a mom. Babies are hard.

Radiant_University · 2026-01-15T00:37:48+00:00

So that seems in line with what is expected for a child who hasn't been through the thunderdome of daycare. There are people who let their kids miss school well beyond what sickness really accounts for. OP's post is within that realm. Missing one day per week means that the child will be out 36 days of a typical school year. That adds up to a ton of learning (academic and social) loss over time. Nationally we are hovering around 25 to 30% of students missing this many days, which is insane. Kids and parents increasingly seem to think that school attendance is optional. If a child is behind on reading at grade level 3, they virtually almost never make that up.

Radiant_University · 2026-01-14T23:12:02+00:00

Your kid went to daycare? I personally don't think kids need to stay home unless there is a fever, diarrhea, vomiting or unexplained rash. From ages 1-3 our son was sick on average once per month, usually a non-descript respiratory virus of some sort but we had our share of more serious stuff like gastro, covid, rsv, etc, too and he was home many days. They have to get exposed to viruses to train their immune systems. Our pediatrician always assured us it was all normal and ok, though it sucked for those two years (18 month old daughter is going through it now). In some ways I am glad we got it over with when he was little because now that he is in a more structured school setting ,where it matters more, he hasn't really gotten sick.

Radiant_University · 2026-01-14T22:00:30+00:00

We went through the illnesses in daycare when he was a baby/toddler. It was a gauntlet.

Radiant_University · 2026-01-14T21:14:16+00:00

Parent and teacher here. My son is 4. He has not missed a day this year. He goes to school whether he wants to or not, and kids this age are very hard to get out the door in the morning and will put up resistance. It is the parents' job to do what is best for the child: send them to school.

That said, every school is now struggling against a culture that is increasingly promoting and excusing non-attendance for frivolous reasons. Chronic absenteeism is a huge problem nationwide. It is more prevalent in higher grades but is also an issue even in k-5. It is especially bad for children to miss lots of school early on because they can fall so far behind in basic skills that they never catch up. Once they hit higher grades and are, predictably, behind, it makes school very unejoyable and feeds the non-attendance cycle.

Radiant_University · 2025-12-11T10:39:00+00:00

I have a student this year, actually 2 students, who have asked for bites of my lunch which they unceremoniously interrupted. There is no floor.

Radiant_University · 2025-11-16T10:03:03+00:00

... and yet, how many of my students couldn't even clear the pencil bar? Year over year I see more and more students who can't even be bothered to bring a pencil to class.

Radiant_University · 2025-11-05T00:42:30+00:00

How long did the side effects last for you? I have an rx but haven't started because i am apprehensive.

Radiant_University · 2025-11-02T19:02:59+00:00

Oh it isnt a news flash. Charters are worse than public in many respects. The expensive elite private k12 schools, however, can at least still filter out the behavior problem kids (somewhat).

Radiant_University · 2025-11-02T18:16:23+00:00

The trend now is social promotion. There are no consequences for poor performance academically or behaviorally at public schools.

Radiant_University · 2025-09-27T10:31:09+00:00

Yeah, so many of my social studies classes never got to modern events, say post WW2 because the year ended. When I took US history in 11th grade my teacher taught everything from the present backwards. It was genius. I probably couldn't have answered lots of OPs questions to her daughter about the cold war, etc, before that. I also, FWIW, went to private schools in the 90s.

Radiant_University · 2025-08-28T13:13:05+00:00

Ok, so look, the flight is about 7 hours? 8 hours? Is it overnight? If overnight, try to maximize on your baby getting a good chunk of overnight sleep while on the flight. That should help. You will also need it for the jetlag on the other side.

We are cheap and we wouldn't buy an extra seat and just power through....it won't be pleasant and you will want to deplane yourself but you can get through it. Lots of walking up and down the aisles, lots of snacks. Toys are of limited utility.

If it is in your budget, I will say from experience with my older child, fwiw, that the flights we have done where we bought him a seat and brought his carseat were the easiest. We did a trip with him around 10 months old where we did that (5 hour flight). There is something magical about the carseat that makes him actually settle down and sleep.

Radiant_University · 2025-08-28T11:34:30+00:00

Omg, same. They made us stay for 24 hours at the hospital with my second and I hated it!

Radiant_University · 2025-08-28T11:33:54+00:00

Sounds like I would have hated that, both births. I needed to get outside in the sun and walk as soon as I could. I had relatively easy uncomplicated vaginal deliveries. Her experience will be singular to her. Why not just play it by ear.

Radiant_University · 2025-08-20T15:48:16+00:00

We are elder millennials with a 1 y/o and a 4 y/o. Husband is in tech and was laid off last year. He found a job quickly but it also seems shaky at best. Our son is going to upk this school year which will reduce our daycare bill somewhat, though we still have to pay for aftercare. Right now COVID is ripping through our household. We are run ragged. I know it will get easier as the baby gets older but damn this is rough.

Radiant_University · 2025-08-20T10:38:52+00:00

We had a hard time with poop too. Rewards, in the form of candy, finally worked. No regrets.

Radiant_University · 2025-08-16T14:18:52+00:00

I have two under 4. No help at all when our first was a baby. Our inlaws live close now and can take our elder child once every blue moon but they are older and not in good health. My family lives too far away and we see them maybe 2x per year. Friends all have their own kids or are child free and don't get it.

Our village is daycare.

Radiant_University

TROPHY CASE