Teachers vs Physician

[listener23]

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This thread stems from an argument I had with a high school biology education major.

Question: Which career path requires a person to have the most desire to help people, teaching or medicine?

 

[MrLogan13]

Both professions help people in their own unique way. Service to others should not be a pissing contest, IMO.

 

[Ismet]

Both professions help people in their own unique way. Service to others should not be a pissing contest, IMO.

+1. This is a rather meaningless argument with no real purpose, IMO.

 

[listener23]

I will kick it off with an argument for both sides


Teacher: teachers on average make a fraction of a physician salary while working just as hard. The only thing that can drive a person to do that is love for humanity


Physician: everybody thats comes to the doctors office wants to be helped by the doctor. It is state law that children under 17 must go to school even if they don't want to be there...

 

[2Pints]

I will kick it off with an argument for both sides


Teacher: teachers on average make a fraction of a physician salary while working just as hard. The only thing that can drive a person to do that is love for humanity


Physician: everybody thats comes to the doctors office wants to be helped by the doctor. It is state law that children under 17 must to go to school even if they don't want to be there...

I agree with the other posters that this isn't a valid argument. Both professions have merit and shouldn't be compared.

Having been a teacher and made less than the average teacher salary I can say that yes teachers are underpaid but the job is not tougher than being a physician. I got hired with a bachelors in biology with no teaching experience. I worked hard on my lesson plans and felt a lot of emotional stress but I had every night off and every weekend off. Let's not forget about having summers off or the fact that I can reuse lesson plans the next school year. This is not to put the profession down. I loved teaching. I've had some great teachers that made a huge difference in my life. But you cannot compare teaching to practicing medicine.

Yes physicians make a lot more but they also paid a lot more for their education in money and time. The schedule is grueling. The amount of knowledge required to practice is intimidating. Oh and doctors can get sued if they make a mistake for a lot of money. A teacher sucks and they get to keep their job without getting sued. I can go on but I won't.

Anyways your points don't really play out. Both roles have the capacity to do a lot of good in our society and help people. Why try to decide which one is better?

 

[goft20]

Oh get off your high horses everyone. A smart person who genuinely wants to be a teacher but can become a doctor shows that that person has a higher desire to help people. They get paid a lot less and are not as respected.


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[listener23]

Oh get off your high horses everyone. A smart person who genuinely wants to be a teacher but can become a doctor shows that that person has a higher desire to help people. They get paid a lot less and are not as respected.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

True but think of all the 2.0 gpa having pre-med, pre-dent, pre-pharm kids who couldn't get in anywhere and just become come angry mediocre high school biology teachers. These kind of people make kids hate science at an early age

 

[mcloaf]

everybody thats comes to the doctors office wants to be helped by the doctor.

🤣

 

[listener23]

🤣

?

 

[theseeker4]

Oh get off your high horses everyone. A smart person who genuinely wants to be a teacher but can become a doctor shows that that person has a higher desire to help people. They get paid a lot less and are not as respected.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

OR.... maybe they don't actually WANT to be a physician, and would rather be a teacher? It might be foreign to some people, but finding a career that is best at "helping people" isn't exactly the sole, the most important, or even AN important reason most people choose their jobs, and teachers and physicians are included in "most people." The person who chooses to be a teacher when they could have been a doctor is choosing to do the job they preffer.....not sure how you can assume they MUST have a higher desire to help people. Enjoyment of your job is a good reason to many people to accept less pay and less "respect."

 

[Mad Jack]

I say we put one of each in a ring and make them fight to the death to decide.

 

[listener23]

I say we put one of each in a ring and make them fight to the death to decide.

Teachers are more likely to smoke and be overweight so in that case a doctor might win

 

[Mad Jack]

Teachers are more likely to smoke and be overweight so in that case a doctor might win

But maybe their burning desire to keep teaching those poor children will give them the will they need to beat their competitor to death in the ring. We'll never know unless we try.

 

[listener23]

But maybe their burning desire to keep teaching those poor children will give them the will they need to beat their competitor to death in the ring. We'll never know unless we try.

Surgeon spend hours developing there hand eye coordination so when it comes down to hand to hand combat the doctors have the advantage

 

[Mad Jack]

Surgeon spend hours developing there hand eye coordination so when it comes down to hand to hand combat the doctors have the advantage

The surgeon also just worked 70 hours last week and it's summer time, so your teacher's on vacation and back on the advantage.

 

[chillinillinkillin007]

This thread stems from an argument I had with a high school biology education major.

Question: Which career path requires a person to have the most desire to help people, teaching or medicine?

medicine>>>>>>>>teaching

Teachers hardly sacrifice anything for their career.

 

[medicalmnt]

?

You need more clinical experience.

 

[Narmerguy]

But maybe their burning desire to keep teaching those poor children will give them the will they need to beat their competitor to death in the ring. We'll never know unless we try.

It's been tried. Apparently teachers turn into MMA champions when helping their students is at stake.

 

[Ace-Co-A]

This came up when I googled teachers vs. doctors. I'm curious as to how that debate even started? Did the conversation ever become:

'We help people more!'
'No! We do!'

 

[allantois]

I don't think that people are really faced with a decision to either be a teacher or a doctor. Most teachers wouldn't be able to make it to medical school but any doctor can be a teacher and many doctors do function as teachers to medical students or residents. Both professions are admirable and without a teacher, there wouldn't be a doctor. I was personally more influenced by my teachers than doctors.

 

[Lamel]

medicine>>>>>>>>teaching

Teachers hardly sacrifice anything for their career.

Very presumptuous.

Teachers work beyond the allotted school hours, and it isn't an easy job. Of course there are teachers who take it easy, and they end up being bad, but same for physicians.

I do agree that physicians give up many years of their life to education, but to say that teachers (or other careers) don't make any sacrifice is a bit much.

 

[Lamel]

I don't think that people are really faced with a decision to either be a teacher or a doctor. Most teachers wouldn't be able to make it to medical school but any doctor can be a teacher and many doctors do function as teachers to medical students or residents. Both professions are admirable and without a teacher, there wouldn't be a doctor. I was personally more influenced by my teachers than doctors.

Eh I wouldn't say that, particularly for elementary school/middle school.

 

[ace12345]

medicine>>>>>>>>teaching

Teachers hardly sacrifice anything for their career.

This is one of the most ignorant statements in one of the most ignorant threads I've ever seen on SDN.

Being a teacher is an absolutely absurd time commitment for an absurdly low salary. There is simply no comparison between these two professions aside from the desire to help others. You don't see the top, top students clamoring to become science teachers, and there are real reasons for that. Being a teacher is really, really hard, with financial sacrifices few other professions require.

 

[allantois]

Eh I wouldn't say that, particularly for elementary school/middle school.

True, I was thinking that it's not a good idea to put all teachers under one umbrella. There are obviously teachers who sacrifice much more by working in impoverished areas with disadvantaged kids which is not the same as working in a prestigious private school. So while doctors can't function as elementary/middle school teachers, neither can high school teachers.

On the other hand, I do not believe that most doctors could make it as PhDs.

 

[chillinillinkillin007]

This is one of the most ignorant statements in one of the most ignorant threads I've ever seen on SDN.

Being a teacher is an absolutely absurd time commitment for an absurdly low salary. There is simply no comparison between these two professions aside from the desire to help others. You don't see the top, top students clamoring to become science teachers, and there are real reasons for that. Being a teacher is really, really hard, with financial sacrifices few other professions require.

OP is talking about a high school biology teacher, not a college professor. Some high school teachers don't do jack. The sacrifices of becoming a high school teacher are NOTHING compared to become a physician. Wait till you hit residency and realize you're 20s are gone and then tell me high school teachers have it hard.

 

[allantois]

OP is talking about a high school biology teacher, not a college professor. Some high school teachers don't do jack. The sacrifices of becoming a high school teacher are NOTHING compared to become a physician. Wait till you hit residency and realize you're 20s are gone and then tell me high school teachers have it hard.

I didn't realize you already hit the residency

 

[Lamel]

OP is talking about a high school biology teacher, not a college professor. Some high school teachers don't do jack. The sacrifices of becoming a high school teacher are NOTHING compared to become a physician. Wait till you hit residency and realize you're 20s are gone and then tell me high school teachers have it hard.

On the other hand, my high school teachers were amazing (some had PhDs and were established researchers prior), wanted to dedicate their lives to us students, and really changed the course of our educational careers.


Yes some teachers don't do jack, but some physicians don't do jack. Don't cast a blanket statement over everyone.

 

[chillinillinkillin007]

I didn't realize you already hit the residency

My brother is currently a neurology resident. And you don't hit the residency...

 

[chillinillinkillin007]

On the other hand, my high school teachers were amazing (some had PhDs and were established researchers prior), wanted to dedicate their lives to us students, and really changed the course of our educational careers.


Yes some teachers don't do jack, but some physicians don't do jack. Don't cast a blanket statement over everyone.

What physicians don't do jack? Getting license itself means you did something with your life. You sacrificed several years of your life, when it debt, gutted through some painful nights to accomplish a goal. I can't believe some premed students are so stupid. Becoming a high school teacher means just graduating with an education degree from college which is not difficult at all. Sure, some had PhDs and other past experience which i respect but you got to be joking me if you think high school teachers and physicians are on the same level.

 

[allantois]

I don't believe in belittling teachers simply because they did not achieve the same advanced degrees. While you are there sacrificing your nights out studying, there are people from many career paths including police and paramedics among many others helping those in need. The original post involved the desire to help people and many professions do fulfill that role in different capacities, but that's not to say that some are superior to others.

 

[Lamel]

What physicians don't do jack? Getting license itself means you did something with your life. You sacrificed several years of your life, when it debt, gutted through some painful nights to accomplish a goal. I can't believe some premed students are so stupid. Becoming a high school teacher means just graduating with an education degree from college which is not difficult at all. Sure, some had PhDs and other past experience which i respect but you got to be joking me if you think high school teachers and physicians are on the same level.

Who cares about this if you are a bad, inattentive physician? That's what I mean by don't do jack; just because you've been educated out the wazoo doesn't entitle you to more respect or signal that you want to help people more.

You're still stuck on the degree and education aspects of the matter, while I have already admitted that physicians obviously spend more years on their education. I'm speaking more towards the actual career.

And take it easy with the "premeds are stupid" tripe that you have been exhibiting all over this forum. If you hate them THAT much, then why are you even on here? Your blood pressure is going to be through the roof if you keep getting pissed at stuff you see on SDN.

 

[ace12345]

What physicians don't do jack? Getting license itself means you did something with your life. You sacrificed several years of your life, when it debt, gutted through some painful nights to accomplish a goal. I can't believe some premed students are so stupid. Becoming a high school teacher means just graduating with an education degree from college which is not difficult at all. Sure, some had PhDs and other past experience which i respect but you got to be joking me if you think high school teachers and physicians are on the same level.

Okay you have no idea what you're talking about and have clearly never "only" been a high school biology teacher or understand the rigors - mental, physical, social, and financial - associated with that. I am only responding in the hopes that others will not get lost in this tailspin of ignorance.

Teachers have it hard. Really hard. You make almost no money. You get almost no respect. What do you sacrifice? How about the opportunity of ever making a significant living? How about the way other people look at you when you say, "I'm a high school teacher?" Have you ever felt that "Oh, so you must have messed up at some point or not been smart" look? How about not being able to eat, use the bathroom, make a call, make an appointment, etc. when you need to because you're in front of 30 students in class? How about the countless hours outside of the classroom, with full saturdays and sundays spent grading?

It's hilarious the way teachers, one of the most important influences in our children's lives, are treated by others. Stop perpetuating that.

 

[basketcase0a0]

 

[deleted407021]

medicine>>>>>>>>teaching

Teachers hardly sacrifice anything for their career.

My God I hope you were kidding. If not, that's one of the most ignorant and offensive statements I have ever had the displeasure of reading.

I just brought your statement to the attention of my mother, a special education teacher of 23 years. She said this: "He doesn't know what he's talking about. I've sacrificed my hands, my back, my knees, my elbows, my mental stability, my time with my family. Many things. All for my teaching career."

I have seen people crushed by the teaching profession. That almost happened to my mother. The system treats them like garbage but begs them to stay when they quit. They want them to not only be teachers, but also social workers, family therapists, volunteer laborers (solo many unpaid weekends) and stand in parents. She says she wouldn't wish it on her worst enemy.

You should think a bit before posting stupid **** like that.

 

[listener23]

My God I hope you were kidding. If not, that's one of the most ignorant and offensive statements I have ever had the displeasure of reading.

I just brought your statement to the attention of my mother, a special education teacher of 23 years. She said this: "He doesn't know what he's talking about. I've sacrificed my hands, my back, my knees, my elbows, my mental stability, my time with my family. Many things. All for my teaching career."

I have seen people crushed by the teaching profession. That almost happened to my mother. The system treats them like garbage but begs them to stay when they quit. They want them to not only be teachers, but also social workers, family therapists, volunteer laborers (solo many unpaid weekends) and stand in parents. She says she wouldn't wish it on her worst enemy.

You should think a bit before posting stupid **** like that.

You are completely ignoring the fact that some high school teachers are just teachers because they cant get any other job. There are no doctors who are doctors just because there biology degree wasn't marketable

 

[deleted407021]

You are completely ignoring the fact that some high school teachers are just teachers because they cant get any other job. There are no doctors who are doctors just because there biology degree wasn't marketable

My mother has been a police investigator and an EMT. She chose teaching because she felt she had the talent and the passion to really do a great job and make a difference. And so she did; she has changed the lives of dozens of kids who had no hope, otherwise. She became a teacher because that is what she wanted to do. She holds a master's in behavioral disorders and worked her self to the bone to get it. She graduated summa cum laude in the top 3 of a class of about 300. She could have done anything she wanted. I'm ignoring nothing. But then again, neither are you. You are just ignorant and so you don't even know there are things to ignore. Listen to me when I say most teachers are worked to death and do it because they love it, not because they had no other skills.

 

[chillinillinkillin007]

Okay you have no idea what you're talking about and have clearly never "only" been a high school biology teacher or understand the rigors - mental, physical, social, and financial - associated with that. I am only responding in the hopes that others will not get lost in this tailspin of ignorance.

Teachers have it hard. Really hard. You make almost no money. You get almost no respect. What do you sacrifice? How about the opportunity of ever making a significant living? How about the way other people look at you when you say, "I'm a high school teacher?" Have you ever felt that "Oh, so you must have messed up at some point or not been smart" look? How about not being able to eat, use the bathroom, make a call, make an appointment, etc. when you need to because you're in front of 30 students in class? How about the countless hours outside of the classroom, with full saturdays and sundays spent grading?

It's hilarious the way teachers, one of the most important influences in our children's lives, are treated by others. Stop perpetuating that.

That sounds pretty rough bro. Tell that to a neurosurgeon and I'm sure he'll agree. Or even a construction worker doing physical labor. Or a police officer in the inner city. Or a soldier in the military sacrificing their life for the country. Or hardly any other legitimate profession.

Compare the divorce rates of physicians to high school teachers and look at what you see. The sacrifices many individuals do for their career far out weighs the sacrifices high school teachers did for theirs. High school teachers just go back to the bubble of the educational system and escape the real world. You could follow your dream and become a high school teacher if you want but don't act like you deserve more respect than other citizens in society busting their asses much more.

 

[deleted407021]

Someone please get @chillinillinkillin007 some exposure to reality. He desperately needs it.

 

[Lamel]

That sounds pretty rough bro. Tell that to a neurosurgeon and I'm sure he'll agree. Or even a construction worker doing physical labor. Or a police officer in the inner city. Or a soldier in the military sacrificing their life for the country. Or hardly any other legitimate profession.

Compare the divorce rates of physicians to high school teachers and look at what you see. The sacrifices many individuals do for their career far out weighs the sacrifices high school teachers did for theirs. High school teachers just go back to the bubble of the educational system and escape the real world. You could follow your dream and become a high school teacher if you want but don't act like you deserve more respect than other citizens in society busting their asses much more.

 

[listener23]

My mother has been a police investigator and an EMT. She chose teaching because she felt she had the talent and the passion to really do a great job and make a difference. And so she did; she has changed the lives of dozens of kids who had no hope, otherwise. She became a teacher because that is what she wanted to do. She holds a master's in behavioral disorders and worked her self to the bone to get it. She graduated summa cum laude in the top 3 of a class of about 300. She could have done anything she wanted. I'm ignoring nothing. But then again, neither are you. You are just ignorant and so you don't even know there are things to ignore. Listen to me when I say most teachers are worked to death and do it because they love it, not because they had no other skills.

That a cute story and all but.... My highschool chemistry teacher was an AxxHole who told me and i quote: If I cant make it to medical its no way in hell you can. Mind you i went to an inner city public school with a 98% AA student population and a 16 ACT avg. Trust me, the stories you hear of amazing people going into teaching none of those people are coming down here.

 

[allantois]

That sounds pretty rough bro. Tell that to a neurosurgeon and I'm sure he'll agree. Or even a construction worker doing physical labor. Or a police officer in the inner city. Or a soldier in the military sacrificing their life for the country. Or hardly any other legitimate profession.

Please do tell that to a neurosurgeon, especially if that neurosurgeon would happen to be someone interviewing you for medical school.

That a cute story and all but.... My highschool chemistry teacher was an AxxHole who told me and i quote: If I cant make it to medical its no way in hell you can. Mind you i went to an inner city public school with a 98% AA student population and a 16 ACT avg. Trust me, the stories you hear of amazing people going into teacher none of those people are coming down here.

Dare I say it, but anyone regardless of the letters behind their name or lack thereof can be an axxhole.

 

[deleted407021]

That a cute story and all but.... My highschool chemistry teacher was an AxxHole who told me and i quote: If I cant make it to medical its no way in hell you can. Mind you i went to an inner city public school with a 98% AA student population and a 16 ACT avg. Trust me, the stories you hear of amazing people going into teacher none of those people are coming down here.

What does one's knowledge of the premed requirements have to do with one's career sacrifices and work ethic?

 

[chillinillinkillin007]

Someone please get @chillinillinkillin007 some exposure to reality. He desperately needs it.

Lol it's not like your bias right? I respect your mom for what she does but she was a special education teacher! That is nothing compared to a high school teacher and stop comparing the two. You're mom sounds like a great individual which I 100% respect but high school teachers are not mostly like your mom. They discourage many students from accomplishing their goals due to problems they encountered during their life.

Please do tell that to a neurosurgeon, especially if that neurosurgeon would happen to be someone interviewing you for medical school.

And I will tell that to the neurosurgeon. I guarantee you he will agree with me that he sacrificed more in his life than a high school teacher. No question. I can't believe you even try to compare the sacrifices of a neurosurgeon and a high school biology teacher.

 

[listener23]

What does one's knowledge of the premed requirements have to do with one's career sacrifices and work ethic?

Lol he was saying he lacked the capacity to make it to medical school and that means I most certainly lacked it. Mind you he said those harsh things to a 15 year old

 

[EsotericAlchemy]

 

[deleted407021]

It seems like y'all are awful proud of accomplishing something you haven't even accomplished yet. @chillinillinkillin007 What allenlchs meant was that the neurosurgeon would instantly see that you were a complete arsehole who belittles the accomplishments of others. You need to learn that "neurosurgeon" probably isn't that hardest, most sacrifice laden job in the world.

 

[KanyeWes]

medicine>>>>>>>>teaching

Teachers hardly sacrifice anything for their career.

that is true. but I will say that many people make the commitment without knowing the sacrifice until it is time to pay the piper.

 

[ace12345]

Lol it's not like your bias right? I respect your mom for what she does but she was a special education teacher! That is nothing compared to a high school teacher and stop comparing the two. You're mom sounds like a great individual which I 100% respect but high school teachers are not mostly like your mom. They discourage many students from accomplishing their goals due to problems they encountered during their life.



And I will tell that to the neurosurgeon. I guarantee you he will agree with me that he sacrificed more in his life than a high school teacher. No question. I can't believe you even try to compare the sacrifices of a neurosurgeon and a high school biology teacher.

I guarantee you he/she will not entertain a childish question like that. Who sacrificed more? You've got to be kidding me.

 

[listener23]

that is true. but I will say that many people make the commitment without knowing the sacrifice until it is time to pay the piper.

People who make it to medical school are not idiots....they have a general understanding of the road ahead of them

 

[Ruby109]

OP is talking about a high school biology teacher, not a college professor. Some high school teachers don't do jack. The sacrifices of becoming a high school teacher are NOTHING compared to become a physician. Wait till you hit residency and realize you're 20s are gone and then tell me high school teachers have it hard.

Troll. When you've actually been a high school teacher, then you can talk. Perhaps I'm unhappy with your comments because you belittle the work of others. Who cares which is better or which is harder? Put simply, without either, you would not be where you are today. I suggest you get your head out of your butt and start respecting all people for the sacrifices they make to help others.