Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

[Artman22]

Which one would you guys choose? I Would like to hear what some of you guys think. Adolecent teacher or NYPD cop. I have 1 year and a half left to get my BA. I'm in the process of becoming a cop as well, I'm on the waiting list, and I need to make a decision. My heart wants to be a teacher, since I love working with teens, but there's a freeze in NYC for teaching thanks to bloomberg(Hate him). I don't like the idea of being a cop one bit, but I now have a son, and that changes things. My wife doesn't want me to be a cop, but I need something to pay the bills and make a decent salary. As a cop i'll be like a bird on a corner all day or night, crappy schedule, work weekends and it's dangerous. Teacher: Doing what I love, great schedule, off the entire summer and more time with my family. I need to decide soon. I'm scheduled to start the cop academy next month.

Salaries:
Cop: $44,000 starting max out at $76,000 in 5 years..
Adolecent teacher in Political science/Social studies: $45,000 Max out at $90,000 after 15 years or $100,000 after 20 years with a masters degree.

I'm not doing it for the money, but just wanted to drow that out there.

[NYJets]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

Teacher. Don't think being a cop is a job you can do if it's just something to pay the bills, it needs to be what you really want, and it doesn't sound like you really want to do it. I'm trying to be a social studies teacher too, and even though it's a lot of work with getting your BA, Masters, getting certified, and then actually finding a job, I think in the long run it will be worth it if its really what you want to do.

[Cusefan]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

Go Join the Army and be a MP. Do 4 Years and you will either love being a cop or love teaching soldiers how to do their job. And they will pay for you go pursue what you really want to do.

Just a thought...

[NDAlum]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

If you expect any person to say "be a cop" after your paragraph you need to get some help

[SPTO]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

Teacher.

Lord knows the world needs more dedicated teachers entering the field.

[AUChase]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

I don't know why you're even considering being a cop, it sounds like you really don't want to do it. I say pursue your' goal of becoming a teacher.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

Be a teacher, but I'd consider doing something in the summer just in case. I know my mother-in-law-to-be does test prep/tutoring over the summer to bring in some more dough. It might be something to look into.

[Artman22]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

If you expect any person to say "be a cop" after your paragraph you need to get some help

I just thought there might be some cops here who might give me a positive look or view of being a cop.

[Bullit]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

In all brutal honesty if you DONT like the idea of being a cop then don't even think about it. You are either going to get yourself or your partner killed. If you havea wife and children who don't want you to be a cop and this is not your "calling" then DO NOT go thru the motions. All it will lead to is heart ache for you and your family.

[Artman22]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

I don't know why you're even considering being a cop, it sounds like you really don't want to do it. I say pursue your' goal of becoming a teacher.

You're right I don't want to be a cop, but like I said, there's a freeze on the teachers hiring right now. Bloomberg is trying to lay off 5,000 teachers right now in NYC, So that's why I was considering it, and I'm thinking about my family as well.

[Cusefan]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

In all brutal honesty if you like the idea of being a cop then don't even think about it. You are either going to get yourself or your partner killed. If you have children and this is not your "calling" then DO NOT go thru the motions. All it will lead to is heart ache for you and your family.

So the only people that should be cops are the people who hate the job, have no children, and are single?

[Knight165]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

Okay...then you've come to the right place.

First off....POLICE OFFICER...
I would say right off the bat, it's not for you. You describe the job as sitting on the corner like a bird. Sure...if that's what you want out of the job...you can do your 20(is it 22 now?...I think there is a new Tier for new hires)...just getting by. But there is A LOT more to being a police officer if you are really interested in that line of work.
That is one job that what you put in...you will get out in spades.
However....and this is a big one...you really need to be in the mindset for police work. Doing your shift in Douglaston and doing your shift in the Bush(Bushwick) are two very different animals. You have to be ready to do either(unless you got a crane for a hook and can get put anywhere...and if you did...you'd choose the Bush!)
On to the money...You will BY FAR...and I mean BY FAR make more money as a Police Officer than as a teacher. If you decide on promotions....it's even a larger gap. If money is your motivating factor....N.Y.P.D. NO QUESTION.
As a fireman...we are in line with P.D. salaries....without even trying with overtime...I earned over $100,000.00 last year. You want Oscar Tango...?...you'll be pushing $115,000.00 - $120,000(easy to make O.T. as a police officer with arrests)..
There is also a ton of room for advancement on P.D. as opposed to being a teacher. Sarge....Lt.....Capt....plainclothes....detective. .....mounted.....Emergency Service....all open for any officer...the first three through straight up exam. No special services required.

M.K.
Knight165

[NDAlum]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

By the way OP, I am an officer.

Sounds like NYPD pays well. Down here we get a very moderate salary and have no union. I enjoy my job and the people I work with.

If you become an officer you will never look at the world the same.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

I think you just have to be true to yourself. You seem like you don't really want to be a cop... you're just feeling like you're being forced into it for money. I don't think that's the right way to go into any field, let alone one where you can be in danger.

Do what you love, and then make decisions from there. That's been my policy, and it's served me well so far.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Choice: Be a Cop or Teacher..

Be a teacher.....

Don't be a cop unless your heart is really into it. Nothing worse then a cop who is just there collecting a pay check and really don't care. I seen way too many cops like that in Chicago growing up.

Besides if you really want to be a teacher, nobody said you got to stay in New York. If you really want to be a teacher, you would move or be a teacher outside of NYC.