Comments on: The Responsibility Of Being A Sports Coach

By: Histbuff

Histbuff — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:22:59 +0000

Let’s see now. You are in the process of gaining a certification as a high school teacher of Social Studies and History. How did you get so far in your education? I presume you at least have a Bachelor’s (Hopefully with a history major) and have had additional educational training. Where, in your career so far have you heard of a classroom teacher being fired for having a failed sports team? You say you have had "…numerous conversations…". How many of those conversations were with classroom teachers that had failing sports teams? I’m guessing most of those conversations were with other students who simply didn’t know what they were talking about. A good hist/ss teacher is hard to find, no one is going to let a good one go. Concentrate on your classroom skills, become a good teacher and don’t worry.
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By: Laura--music teacher

Laura--music teacher — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:20:59 +0000

There are lots of social studies teachers and not so many positions. They can get people who want the job enough to be willing to coach so that is what they ask for. You cannot legally be dismissed from a teaching position because of extra-curricular duty performance. You can only be dismissed from that extra duty.
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By: Clays mom

Clays mom — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:18:59 +0000

I knwo this is what I was wanting to teach in high school grades but of course I dont want to be involved in sports……
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By: bio mom

bio mom — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:16:59 +0000

Well, social studies teachers are not very much in demand, so being able or even willing to coach will just give you an advantage over other applicants. About getting fired for team performanc, I would hope that that just isnt the case, but a lot of people to put too much emphasis on high school sports.
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By: old lady

old lady — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:14:59 +0000

All teachers, regardless of which subject they are teaching, are expected to take part in extra-curricular activities. You’re absolutely right that in the first years of teaching, there isn’t a lot of time for this, as you don’t have the backlog of experience (or notes) to draw on. In some cases, the participation of the teacher is limited to supervisory activity, while the ‘real’ coaching is done by a parent or a professional coach who is not a teacher. In that case, you can mark papers, draft projects or whatever while the coaching is going on. The only requisite is that you be on site.
Your other option is to pick a sport you enjoy and know something about. Preferably one with a short seasonal life. Like coaching the school golf team or ski team.
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By: Mr. Splib

Mr. Splib — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:12:59 +0000

Based on the answers you have been getting, I see this varies widely by state and district, but I can tell you how my school handles new hires. If you want to be a secondary teacher in my district you had better be able to do something besides teach. We won't even interview someone who doesn't offer to lead an extracurricular program or coach. In fact, several middle school teachers have been moved to elementary positions because they stopped coaching. Schools are looking for people who understand that there is more to being an educator than just teaching. Why social studies has more of an expectation of coaching is easy to explain. Our government has stated quite clearly that it intends to measure progress in math and English. It also compares our science programs to those from around the world. Nobody gives a damn about social studies! Until the national government states that the social studies are just as important as other disciplines, teachers of these subjects are just a dime a dozen. Therefore, you must bring something else to the table besides an excellent educational record.
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By: Jen

Jen — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:10:59 +0000

Hi there– as a female English/social studies teacher, I hear what you’re saying. Most of the social studies faculty at my high school are also coaches. You won’t be hired or not hired based on whether you coach a sport, but in the social sciences which is flooded with a glut of teachers, it helps. I can only say that you should probably get certified in another subject, even if your love and passion is social studies. I got my English credential so I could teach and for the past three years I’ve been teaching English. The social studies faculty at my school is a good old boys network. Don’t worry about coaching and do an outstanding job in your interview and first three years. No one will blame you for not coaching your first three years.
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I’m a high school teacher.

By: whervel

whervel — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:08:59 +0000

Because when there is an opening for a social studies teacher, some schools receive over 100 applicants. School administrators will often look for the candidate with the most beneficial skills–coaching a sport. This does not mean that you will have to coach high visibility sports like football or basketball, they may ask you if you can coach golf, cross country, tennis, or an activity like scholar bowl. When there is an opening for a Calculus or Trigonometry teacher, fewer applicants apply. Therefore, administrators will focus more on the subject rather than the extracurriculars. It is just part of being a social studies teacher.

To discuss your second point, once you earn tenure in a district, you cannot be dismissed from your teaching job because of your sports team’s performance. You can be dismissed from coaching the team, but not your teaching position.
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By: phillipa_gordon

phillipa_gordon — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:06:59 +0000

Boy, I’m really wondering where you are interviewing because I’ve never heard of this problem in the 5 states I’ve lived in! Some of the really small districts often have teachers who also coach, but this is usually the exception rather than the rule. (I threw my head back and started laughing over any of my high school history teachers actually coaching a sport — what a riot! One was reaaly old (but great teacher), one was in a wheelchair, and one was so chubby he could barely walk….!)

Concentrate on your teaching abilities and focus on that in the interview. If you coach any sport, that’s up to you.
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By: Pip_sqweek

Pip_sqweek — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:04:59 +0000

ok well you came there to teach history/s.s not to coach a sport because were not interviewed to be a sports coach so thay cant like not hire you just because your not gonna coach a sport if they ask you just simply say well no i came here to be a history/s.s teacher not a sports teacher but if your dieing for one i could fill in until you find someone
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