Got a tough choice to make...

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I got a tough choice to make in the next month or two...I teach night school for welding Adult education...It has become my passion!!  I work during the day for a mechanical contractor, which pays my bills and provides the life style for my family that we are very comfortable with...Here is my delema!!   The day school teacher is about to be let go. To be a votch teacher, you don't have to have a BS in Education...but you have requirements that you must take and you have 5 yrs to get your accreditation to continue teaching...this teacher didn't get the courses done in time...I had hoped that in 6 yrs or so, he would retire and I would be a shoe in for the job since I will have had 10 years in the system with Nites...my kids would be out of the house or in college and I should be old enough to have the patients to deal with children vs adults (right now If a 14 yr old brat told me to go F myself...I am still leaning toward throwing him through the wall istead of taking him to the office)  but with this position about to become open...if i don't apply for it...It may never be available again if someone my age gets in there now...Im 37...my last child is 18 when I'm 42...my other issue is that I am friends with the guy that I would replace...he has the summer to complete the courses and keep his job...but if someone that is better qualified or a better fit for the job...they would get the nod...He and I are very simulary qualified...which is why he and I work so well in associated programs...also when I called about the position, the Program Director got real excited about me appling!! (he doesn't get excited about anything!!!)   I'm really torn...I want the job...the pay cut will be tight at this point in time (30k less than what I make now)  I'd have summers off!!  I don't want to step on a friend!  Give me your thoughts...You all are unbiased...I'm curious of your opinionsThanksJonesy
Reply:I would say go for it! I know that you don't want to step on a friend but there has to be why there are letting him go. After all these years you probably deserve the job. Good Luck.Live each day to the fullest because tomorrow may never come.
Reply:If teaching is something that you really enjoy doing then grab the opportunity when it comes. say you don't and you miss out? you will be kicking your self for years.M Fed
Reply:Talk to your friend about it, he has known about this for sometime,unless he is stupid and if he is then he shouldn't be a teacher anyway. 30K is a huge loss, but maybe you could pick it back up in the summer."Nothing ventured, nothing gained"Tim Beeker.
Reply:The most rewarding job I ever had was also the lowest paying I've ever had. If I hadn't gotten hurt I would still be doing it.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:With summers off and a bit of "free time" on weekends you may be able to either pick up sidework or if you know someone who owns a welding shop/business you might work the Summer months and make some extra scratch. I know a cat out here who is still a member of the U/A and teaches welding during the school year and works out of the hall welding during the Summer to help add a bit of money to the kitty.'Mike
Reply:If you can live with a 30K pay cut, I say go for it, but that is a lot of money to try to make up in 2 -3 months during the summer. Make sure you can adjust your lifestyle before taking the jump.Fire!, Fire! Oh wait, that's my torch...Lincoln PT-225 TIGLincoln 175 MIG
Reply:I have spent most of my early life trying to get ahead. I am not the sharpest tool in the shed but I work hard and always learn something new. I am 42 now and the most important thing I have learn in my opinion is that happiness is worth more then money. Their are times I wished I made different choices that would have paid less but a lot more worth while in terms happiness. At this point I have started molding my future towards what I love rather than what pays the most. I know I am not going to retire early and rich unless I win the lotto so being happy is all thats left.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:I would talk it over with your friend. As the Pt instructor there's a lot that you don't do that he most likely does. Class room work on welding, grades, general school BS, material ordering, shop matainance and so on. You also will most likely have to quit teaching adult ed. Can you stand to work 7am til 9pm 2-3 days a week if you do both programs?This past term my nite instructor moved to days and nites due to a medical condition the FT instructor had. Those were the kind of days he had 4 days a week. He really loved us at nite because we cared about what we were learning. From his reports to us, most of the kids didn't. They were somewhat of a chore to him. He spent more time baby sitting than teaching sometimes he said. All the kids wanted to do was go home or chase the girls. I honestly think that the stress of running both programs at once led to his minor stroke at school. He was just not getting enough time for himself, you could see it as the term went on.Will what you enjoy turn into "work" and at a signifigantly lower pay scale? Maybe you will get lucky and things will stay the same for a while longer.
Reply:like every one els said talk to your friend,see what he is going to do.then think about weather you need the $ or would like to be happy at what you do.i bitch about were i work some times , but im not going any were soon because i likewhat i do and it is getting better there $ is ok but i spend most of my time there liking itmakes it a lot easer on me just my $0.02ChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:I took the low road most times when I had to make those choices.  I tend to do things the hard way but in the end, its worth it.  Teaching is what I hope to do when my body won't let me work anymore.  I prefer to be happy with my self than have big $s.I own my own shop and make less than I have most of my career and I love it!DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Thanks everyone...It will be a hard choice but in the end I'm sure the disicion will be made for me...If I get the offer, I will take it...if It doesn't work..I can return to the work force...The first 2 or 3 yrs will be the hardest...I'll have to work my a$$ off during the summer but I enjoy it...My wife supports me and will return to work if I get the job teaching...I will know in a few months either way...hopefully the day teacher will get his courses done and nothing will change...I'll let you all know when I know something!!Jonesy