And even though they both love their jobs, neither one ever encouraged me to go into teaching. Obviously, people do not go into teaching for the money or enter the education field for respect. Some may go into teaching to get summers off, but they will get a whole lot more than they bargained for. Students depend on their teachers for more than just schoolwork. They often see teachers as less intimidating than parents because teachers are in touch with what is in vogue with students.
Teachers are in the same environment as the students and are often more compassionate.
I see that compassion the afternoons when my mom comes home early because she finds out again that one of her students committed suicide. Her parents didn't understand her, and they hadn't communicated for so long that it was beyond the point where they could understand her. My mom had stayed after school with the girl to try to counsel her and make her realize her special talents and self-worth. My mom called the girl's parents and the school counselor, but no one took enough interest and the girl stopped showing up for school. Then she killed herself.