Pros
The pay per hour was amazing, the most I've ever had in my professional career to date. The manager I had was very friendly, understanding, and easy to get along with. With the exception of some meetings and special events, the job provided a lot of autonomy. You are in a position to provide valuable service to the community. Classes enable struggling students a supportive environment in which they can learn through alternative methods. Internship opportunities are provided to students. Metrocards and snacks are provided to students. Class sizes are very small--usually half the size of a public school classroom. Very little micromanagement. A lot less politics compared to working in the public education sector. Short work week and short hours.
Cons
There were no benefits for part-time workers, but to me, the pay per hour more than made up for it. I don't personally care about these things, but for someone looking for paid days off, medical, etc., this part-time position did not provide those. However, there was some sort of retirement account if you so choose to open one. The partnership the library has with outside organizations are totally useless in terms of developing effective lessons plans or curriculum. These bureaucratic relations stifle creativity and effectiveness in the classroom when it comes to teaching students. You sometimes have to follow the rules of how to create and present a lesson so that it fits the standards of the agency you are working with, even though the model didn't necessarily make much sense. Having to create lesson plans every semester is akin to reinventing the wheel, a highly annoying part of teaching.
