All of these school threads

[WebmasterAlex]

Ditto to what Dznypal said about police. My son is about to graduate with a 4 year degree (double major in criminal justice and psych). He has to complete an internship and will then go to law enforcement academy - then he starts work and plans to go to the Citadel at the same time to get his masters. Many police forces now require a 4 year degree.In Charleston, SC, if you don't have a masters, it is strongly suggested that you get one.

By the way, I am a former teacher who left the field (which I loved) because I could not support my family that way. Our current superintendent in Charleston County makes $185,000+ (only because her request for a raise that would put her over $200,000+ was voted down). She has a car allowance on top of that of $800 per month and drives a Jag. My real estate taxes are going through the roof, and most of my taxes go to the school board, which does not answer to the SC legislature for budget and spending. The money is not going to the teachers and is not allocated to the schools based on need (according to one of the school board members). It's going to the administrators and their expenses (I believe a recent conference was to Hawaii).

That's a local thing though. I don't think it's true in the majority of PD's across the country. Teachers almost universally have to have a Bachelor's degree
It is also a little different to say they have to earn a degree while they are working versus having to have one for an entry level job

 

[CPM]

Why do all you people that are teachers do it then? You all seem so unhappy. You have to have known what it was like when you went into it.

I think it's a great job for a mother or wife that isn't a bread winner. I am our school a lot. I know many teachers in our school that think it's a great job with good pay.
Our teachers do get the 25 minute lunch break, the lunch lady walks them to back to class. They also get time when the kids are at their specials.

Personally I'm glad I never went into teaching, just because I lack the patience. I started out going for it and ended up in hospitality.

I can give you a huge list of bad things about that field too!! Once our events start, there is no bathroom break or food break or anything and it could be hours! I'm sure everyone can give a list of negatives for their job. But what about the good stuff?

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Why do all you people that are teachers do it then? You all seem so unhappy. You have to have known what it was like when you went into it.

I think it's a great job for a mother or wife that isn't a bread winner. I am our school a lot. I know many teachers in our school that think it's a great job with good pay.
Our teachers do get the 25 minute lunch break, the lunch lady walks them to back to class. They also get time when the kids are at their specials.

Personally I'm glad I never went into teaching, just because I lack the patience. I started out going for it and ended up in hospitality.

I can give you a huge list of bad things about that field too!! Once our events start, there is no bathroom break or food break or anything and it could be hours! I'm sure everyone can give a list of negatives for their job. But what about the good stuff?

So we want great schools with great teachers but we have to find people that aren't "bread winners" to do it?? Sort of like volunteers?

 

[CPM]

So we want great schools with great teachers but we have to find people that aren't "bread winners" to do it?? Sort of like volunteers?

Not true. Most teachers are married women. Or young women that don't have to support a family. In my son's school there is one male teacher. In my daughter's high school, there are two. These are both very large schools.

I'm just saying people have a choice, they don't have to go into teaching.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

But that's the point. The reason people that "don't have to support a family" go into teaching is because they can't support a family teaching!

Why should teaching our children be a second class job? Shouldn't a teacher be able to support a family?

And nobody "has" to go into anything. But by keeping teaching a second class job are we attracting the quality of teacher we want for our children?

I'm thinking no

 

[CPM]

Alex,
I just looked up the average teacher's salary for where you live. It's 52,859, I just don't think that's all that bad.

I agree, they should be higher. So should a lot of other people's jobs.

 

[Pineapple Princess]

Why do all you people that are teachers do it then? You all seem so unhappy. You have to have known what it was like when you went into it.

Actually I had no idea it was as stressful as it is till I actually was the one in charge of the class. I am sure that there are many others that feel the same way, since the typical beginning teacher does not last past 5 years.

 

[JPN4265]

Why won't this work? Money... we all talk about wanting great schools but face reality, we are not willing to pay for it.[/QUOTE]

Throwing money at a problem is not the answer. Why does everyone think that if you just increase the amount of money spent on education that will solve the problem. In Atlanta the average amount of money spent per child is between $12,000 and $13,000 a year. You could afford to send your child to a very good private school for that amount of money. It still comes down to parent involvement and keeping the federal and state government out of the classroom as much as possible. As for being a teacher in todays world, not a chance.

 

[CPM]

Actually I had no idea it was as stressful as it is till I actually was the one in charge of the class. I am sure that there are many others that feel the same way, since the typical beginning teacher does not last past 5 years.

Don't they have student teachers any more?

 

[chobie]

Don't they have student teachers any more?

Yes, most states require student teaching. Which is part of their earning their Bachelor's degree and teaching certificate. Which means that they pay for that year of student teaching. It only gives teachers a glimpse of what the job is actually like. Usaully more of the good stuff--the actual teaching.

What burns people out is the never ending stream of paperwork, hoops to jump through, children who have obstacles to learning because of a myriad of reasons, little control on what they teach with everything now being dictated through NCLB, constant teacher bashing in the media and in RL and of course irate parents who think their child is the ONLY child that teacher has.

Oh, and not only do most state's require a BA, most states also require that teachers continue to recieve education (at their own expense) throughout their careers to maintain their teaching certificates.

The good stuff, is the kids of course. Most teachers I know love their students and love the art of teaching. But there is only so far that can take a person and eventually all the other stuff beats them down to where it is no longer worth the sacrifice.

 

[chobie]

Why won't this work? Money... we all talk about wanting great schools but face reality, we are not willing to pay for it.

Throwing money at a problem is not the answer. Why does everyone think that if you just increase the amount of money spent on education that will solve the problem. In Atlanta the average amount of money spent per child is between $12,000 and $13,000 a year. You could afford to send your child to a very good private school for that amount of money. It still comes down to parent involvement and keeping the federal and state government out of the classroom as much as possible. As for being a teacher in todays world, not a chance. [/QUOTE]

Yes, you can send your child to a private school for that --provided your child does not have any disabilties.

Yes, alot of does come down to parental involvement, but not every kid has that. Do we punish those children for the sins of their parents? Do we not want these kids to grow up to be productive memebers of society?

And parental involvement does not mean parental micromanagement of the classroom.

 

[chobie]

But that's the point. The reason people that "don't have to support a family" go into teaching is because they can't support a family teaching!

Why should teaching our children be a second class job? Shouldn't a teacher be able to support a family?

And nobody "has" to go into anything. But by keeping teaching a second class job are we attracting the quality of teacher we want for our children?

I'm thinking no

No, we are not and furthermore, with that attitude we are burning out the good teachers that are already there.

This brings up a good point though. I think that one of the reasons that there is no real push to raise the salaries of teachers is because its still viewed culturally as "women's work".

 

[JPN4265]

Yes, you can send your child to a private school for that --provided your child does not have any disabilties.

Yes, alot of does come down to parental involvement, but not every kid has that. Do we punish those children for the sins of their parents? Do we not want these kids to grow up to be productive memebers of society?

And parental involvement does not mean parental micromanagement of the classroom.[/QUOTE]


There is always an excuse for everything, how about personnel responsibility? That would be an original idea.

 

[disney junky]

 

[Galahad]

And parental involvement does not mean parental micromanagement of the classroom.

Out of curiosity, who defines that?

 

[chobie]

There is always an excuse for everything, how about personnel responsibility? That would be an original idea.

So we should hold the children personally responsible for having uninvolved parents?

Or we should hold parents personally responsible for having children with disabilties that bar them from being accepted at private schools?

 

[chobie]

Out of curiosity, who defines that?

The teacher!

 

[Galahad]

The teacher!

Ok. What is a possible definition of this?

 

[chobie]

Ok. What is a possible definition of this?

Hmmm, trying to dictate to the teacher what, or how they should teach? Or what special priveleges one's child should get over the other children?

Yes, I'm sure you would never do this. But some volunteers do cross the line and try to take over. Parents should be welcome and invited in into the class to "assist" but there should be boundaries.

My DD was in a montessori style classroom within the public schools for 1-3 grade and the parents had to volunteer so many hours each month. I saw many parents cross the line into demanding special favors for their kids, trying to tell the teacher how she should teach, etc. That is my definition of micromanaging.

Satisified?

 

[ead79]

I have mixed feelings on this issue.

First of all, I think that teachers do have to put up with a lot of flack. My favorite teach in high school was criticized for going into teaching because he was extremely intelligent. It seems people thought that he should do something else since he was so smart. Sheesh! I also know that teachers have to deal with parents, not all of whom are easy to deal with, and students as well of course.

That being said, I think that teachers are only underpaid in certain situations, specifically with the salary caps. For instance, I graduated magna cum laude from college and my first marketing job paid $28,000 per year. A teacher with a college degree would make about $32,000 per year in my area as a starting salary. This does not include any stipends for clubs or coaching. So essentially I was making $28,000 for working an entire year (with 2 weeks paid vacation) and the teacher makes $32,000 for working 9 months of the year. That hardly seems unfair to me. What is unfair is how limited the salary potential is for teachers in our area. A teacher with years and years of experience might top out around $55,000, whereas my potential would be much higher in the private sector.

I agree that teachers have to put up with a lot, but so do people in professional positions. I don’t think that it’s fair for certain teachers to complain about how bad it is when it can be just as bad in the private sector. There are certainly some things that need to be addressed so teachers can have the pay they deserve after years of experience, but teaching has definite pros that some people seem to ignore.