Going back to school at age 30 to become a elem. school teacher, is it to late?
607994
This is a subjective question with too many variables that we're not priivy to. A generic answer would be, no one is never too late to teach elementary school. The only prerequisites for a goood teacher arethat you be caring, creative, and patient.
990123
There's two routes.  You can either do a B Ed degree or, if you have a degree already, do the PGCE (1 year long).  \n\nThe days of being able to enter the profession without a degree are gone - although, frankly, why on earth one needs to have studied Beowulf to teach kids to read is beyond me.\n\nSupplementary - Yep although you may be well advised to check on the current level of demand for teachers in that age group - a couple of years ago alot of people were coming out of training only to find it difficult to find jobs.
391556
your never too old to want to try and better your life, just keep in mind that if you've been outta the education game for a while, you'll have to readjust to a scheduled life around school.
1176850
I think that teachers (of whatever age) should retire when they no longer have enthusiasm for their job. The kids deserve someone who is caring, innovative, and who loves their job. It sounds like you fit that bill. Plus, you can draw on your years of experience and you can be a mentor to younger teachers. A lot of the teachers in the private school where I work are 50+ (including me), and none are anywhere near to thinking about giving it up. The kids keep us young. (I teach advanced math and calculus, which I regard as a good hedge against senility.)
470366
It's not too late!  Lots of people come back to enter the health care field later in life.  Visit www.studentdoctor.net and click on forums, then look especially at the forum for 'non-traditional' (i.e. not coming straight out of undergraduate degree) students.  There is LOTS of helpful information.\n\nI am also planning to take a non-traditional route, going a few years after I get a Masters degree in public health.  For starters, make sure you've taken all the science pre-requisities to get into med school (bio, chem, physics, etc.).  Look on specific school websites to see the requirements.  You can take classes at a local community college.\n\nGood luck, and I hope you find lots of helpful info on studentdoctor.net --I know it's helped me a lot!
14087
It's not too late to get out of a field that you don't like and get into one you do like!  Your grant seems like a great way to get back into school and find something that you'd like to do.  Try meeting with an advisor at the school(s) you'd like to go to and discussing with that person how much would be involved in studying for different degrees -- you might find that you can transfer some of your previous work.  Also, don't worry about being too old or whatever; lots of people do this all the time.  Your life experience and maturity will help you to be more diligent and give you a good perspective on your studies.\n\nI hope you find something you really enjoy!
366197
be willing to learn. I have taught childern as young as 16 months old and people as old at 80. You have to be willing to learn and take the time to practice. If you are not willing to learn and work at it, it is not worth it. Get lessons.
34730
I would definitely do it.  It is never too late to start a new carrer and it might prove to be even more interesting than you thought.  Good Luck.
280872
I'm 24... I wish I can go back to being 16 - not because life was cool at 16 but so I can retake my GCSEs, do my A Levels and have gone to university already. By now I could be in the early stages of a prosperous career...\n\nNever mind! Its never too late I guess!!!
45520
It depends on what makes you happy. I went back to school at age 38 and finished both a bachelors and masters degree. It is a little tougher getting an entry level job as an older worker, but your extra life experience will always give you advantages over the younger competition. I say start out easy, perhaps at a junior college, build your confidence and then go for it at a full four-year institution. I was inspired by a female friend who became a new lawyer at age 48. It's never too late to do what you want.
519668
Going back to school is always a wise choice.  It is far easier to get the experience when you have a good education.  You admit you are in a dead end job so going back to school would definitely be a step up and a step in the right direction.  Good luck!
880957
We never get too old to learn.  The adults in your life have taught you the most important things in your life.  To walk--to talk--to communicate, and the list goes on.  Do you feel like you know everything you need to know to go out into the world and function and make a living for yourself??  I don't think so.  The teacher is one of the adults in your life to assist you in this learning.  So, please, take advantage of her assistance, and listen.  Good luck  :)
733460
I am a retired school teacher who continues to do what I loved to do for 30 years--I am a substitute teacher. As a substitute teacher, I can choose the days I work and the grades and subjects I want to teach. My assignments range from kindergarten through highschool. I will probably always be a teacher.
561111
you are never too old to go back to school.  If you are going for the intent of making more money, you will need to do a cost/benefit analysis including the estimated cost of going to school, including the wages lost while you are in school, offset by the incremental wages you anticipate making based upon having the additional schooling throughout the remainder of your career.  This should not, however, be the only reason for going to school.  If you have a passion that you are interested in, you should consider pursuing it.  I have many friends who have made huge career changes, and who have gone back to school in their 40's and 50's.  Many have taken pay cuts when they first go back into the workforce, but all have been pleased that they made this change.  Remember, if you do what you have a passion for, you will be more happy with less money than if you do what you don't enjoy just to make money.
538817
I also have a Master's in Education.  I don't want to discourage you, but I will start with the bad news.  Most people in this country believe it is very, very easy to teach and as a result those of us who have a teaching background are pretty unemployable in most fields even though we all know we have great skills.  I went into temping for a while because I found it nearly impossible to find anyone willing to take a chance on me.  I learned from Human Resources professionals who would be honest with me that they would rather take a chance on someone without a degree than a teacher because teachers can't think for themselves and cannot take direction.  This is a bizarre stereotype and I have no idea where it comes from, but it made me HAVE to temp so that employers could see how very capable I was.\n\nSome people DO make the leap from teaching into other professions.  Usually this leap is done over time and is hard to do while unemployed.  There are many fields that love the kinds of skills teachers bring, but first you have to analyze what it is you want to do.\n\nThis is what I finally did: After temping and being offered many full-time jobs that were not right for me, I took some advice from my aunt who is a teacher that she had from her principal: Go back to where you last felt comfortable, and move forward from there.  This was what led me to law school, and I am finally, for the first time, really feeling like I'm in the right place.  I was actually a really good teacher, but I was never completely happy when I taught, and now I finally know I'm in the place that's right for my skills AND interests.  I don't necessarily recommend this for you, but I do recommend going back to what you last felt was "right" and use that to guide you in your move forward.  As it turns out, for me, where it was last completely right was HIGH SCHOOL, where I had considered becoming an attorney, but just didn't for whatever reason.  My teaching experience and degrees were not a waste of time and money (I have to keep reminding myself), but experience.  In my case, I am very different from most of my classmates in law school because I have lived another life and have consciously chosen this path.  I also have found a field in which my teaching background is NOT considered a detriment at all (lawyers, weirdly, "get" teachers...they use the same skills and aren't overly critical of a past in teaching).\n\nSo, don't get discouraged.  If you're not sure what to do, I highly recommend temping.  You may fall into the right job, but even if you don't, you will gain a LOT from being out in the business world.  I happened to get one assignment in particular that was on Sarbanes-Oxley in the insurance field (of all things), and I liked it quite a bit, and considered staying.  I never had such exposure to the business world in my classroom, and temping is a lot like subbing: you get the experience and can try things out until you find something that works.  While you temp, you might be able to find for yourself where you last felt comfortable and move forward.  At the same time, you won't be "just a former teacher" or "just a person with an Education degree," but you'll be someone with experience and a working knowledge of business who happens to also have a B.A. and an M.A.\n\nGood luck.  This was a painful experience for me (teaching is tied up with your entire life...you can't even watch a movie without thinking of how you could possibly use it in your classroom), and it was hard to find my path since it is a "vocation" career tied up with your whole identity.  This will not be an easy switch, but it will be worthwhile.
637597
Are you sure that's what you want to do?  Don't grow up too fast cuz it's too late to turn back afterwards
847741
Basically, the answer to your question is:\n\nA curious and open mind.  Then, schedule and discipline.\n\nIf you have none of these you will probably not succeed in any of your endeavors to further your education.\n\nThis, from a high school drop-out to one that entered college at 38, ended with a Masters Degree and served as a school administrator until retirement.\n\nGood luck.