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I was going to say that education does not seem to have age discrimination, but I'm thinking post-secondary, and on the teaching thread perhaps you heard from grade school teachers. In post-secondary, you may find opportunities in Teaching and Learning centers that value experience over youth.
There is a thread on the education forum on this topic. The responses are extremely discouraging, so much so that I feel it would be a mistake to pursue that direction. My dream, if I can dare to dream, would be to eventually teach in a community college. I dunno. I don't think time is really on my side at age 56.
I do have plenty of accounting classes with stunning grades. I always assumed this would be a field filled with ageism. Is it?
OP - Nobody cares about grades, except when you're in school. Employers are only interested in whether you can do the job or not. I've seen lots of book-smart students who fail miserably in the "real world".
I've read some of your older posts about botany, languages, etc. Unfortunately I don't think there are viable and realistic options in those fields, at your age.
If you want to supplement your income, look into keeping books and doing taxes for small businesses. There are lots of mom-and-pop businesses who have no idea on how to run their operations efficiently. It may require a bit of learning on your part (mainly about taxes) but it should provide you with a good side income eventually. It took me 7-8 years to get established, as I also had a day job. But now I can gross 15K-20K/yr from that side gig, depending on how hard I want to work. And I still have my day job.
There is a thread on the education forum on this topic. The responses are extremely discouraging, so much so that I feel it would be a mistake to pursue that direction. My dream, if I can dare to dream, would be to eventually teach in a community college. I dunno. I don't think time is really on my side at age 56.
I do have plenty of accounting classes with stunning grades. I always assumed this would be a field filled with ageism. Is it?
I don't think online really reflects the whole picture. I wouldn't just go by people complaining about it. 2 years ago I had Sciatica so bad I had to crawl to the bathroom in the morning. I waited many months in agony and spent a fortune on PT and chiro as well as credit card debt because I was in too much pain to work, because online people had terrifying stories about back surgery gone wrong. Reading made it seem like bad results were the norm. When I finally had the surgery, it worked so well I was mad at myself for waiting so many months needlessly.
Get certified as a sub, try it out. I'll ask my niece who is a teacher what she has seen though, but I would absolutely not base a life decision based only on online horror stories.
Age discrimination exists everywhere, but I think nursing, in general, has a lot more opportunities. It also tends to pay better.
"Tends to" pay better? Around here nursing salaries outpace teaching salaries by about double...more than double, if you're comparing it to a starting teacher's salary.
I think you have to have a "calling", so to speak, for both professions, though....who wants a teacher for their children, or a nurse caring for them in a hospital, who doesn't really love what they do and are good at it?
Think about this...nurses work 12-hour shifts and are on their feet a lot.
They are on their feet a lot, but 12 hour shifts are usually voluntary, you get to work only 3 days a week when you choose that. Also it's mainly in hospitals. In nursing homes the shifts are normally 7-3, 3-11 and 11-7. They are on their feet for much of it however.
I am 56 and need to return to school to complete a degree. I wanted to become a teacher. I posted on the education forum about wanting to do this. Judging from the responses, it seems that age discrimination is alive and well in that field.
Are there any careers that would have less age discrimination? A male pal went back to school at 50 to become a nurse. He had a career of about 20 years. He recommended nursing. Our local community college offers nursing as well as radiology.
Anyone have any idea what fields have the least age discrimination? Or are they all bad?
I'm confused. Why, at your age do you "need to return to school"? Would the degree help you in your current job?
What would be the cost/benefit of the degree?
Your outlook on "age discrimination" doesn't make the important distinction between starting a job at 56 versus being 56 in a job you've held for 30-years.
An airline pilot or top salesman would be an asset to a company at that age. Venturing into a totally new field of work at your age would be a gamble for you and an employer.
Age discrimination is a natural element of employment and life in general. There's many reasons why Air Traffic Controllers can't be hired after age 30.
There's many reasons why a father would disapprove of a 19-year old daughter dating a man 30-years her senior.
I would make the best of what you are currently doing, and do what you can to advance until you can retire in your sixties.
I'm confused. Why, at your age do you "need to return to school"? Would the degree help you in your current job?
What would be the cost/benefit of the degree?
Your outlook on "age discrimination" doesn't make the important distinction between starting a job at 56 versus being 56 in a job you've held for 30-years.
An airline pilot or top salesman would be an asset to a company at that age. Venturing into a totally new field of work at your age would be a gamble for you and an employer.
Age discrimination is a natural element of employment and life in general. There's many reasons why Air Traffic Controllers can't be hired after age 30.
There's many reasons why a father would disapprove of a 19-year old daughter dating a man 30-years her senior.
I would make the best of what you are currently doing, and do what you can to advance until you can retire in your sixties.
Engineering. An experienced engineer, during good times, can get hired through a temporary agency.
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