Anther school vent...............

[HsvTeacher]

Can you clarify for me?
Are you saying that the 37 days off for Holidays (our 08-09 school cal., Not the summer off days ) are UNPAID in your state/district?
You said you do not get paid for summer off, but you're off, or are you saying you are REQUIRED to work and then NOT get paid? I am just trying to understand your post.

Honestly, there is not a single month on OUR schedule where a teacher is working the full month, I think it averages to 17 days.

I come from a FAMILY of teachers, elementary, Middle and HS, One is a college professor as well. The salaries here are not low, 2 nieces started at/ABOVE 6oK without their masters and will certainly increase ( I am talking Right out of college!)
I think teachers are absolutely VITAL and Good teachers are AMAZING, and I have seen and know plenty!!
I hope you ARE getting paid well for your very important job, but really don't understand why the comparison of vacation days when each day, each month is not worked as most outside jobs.

I think ALL jobs should be paid well, I also think that sometimes having Over qualified teachers that have advanced degrees in areas that it is not needed, ie, our GYM teachers average 85K, it really makes me wonder!
No slamming on gym teachers, really, just happen to know the stats.

Anyway, teachers are the first major link to the full educational system, making that all important impression as to "what school is like". Thank Goodness for dedicated teachers who want our kids, for the school year! My personal experiences have actually been quite good!

As far as OP, think that if I were that unhappy, I'd take the leap and make a change! Best of luck to her.

In my school system, teachers are paid for 187 days per school year. We do not get paid for Fall Break, Spring Break, Christmas Break, and other federal holidays. We also do not get paid on days that we attend required workshops during the summer months.

As far as how many days we work a month, this month I worked every day except for the weekends. (And today, but I'm on sick leave because I have strep throat.) We didn't have Presidents Day off, because we were attending workshops. Of course, we also don't get paid for attending after-hours PTA meetings, grading papers, making lesson plans, and all the other duties that cannot be performed when the students are in the classroom.

Our starting teachers make nowhere near $60K a year. Heck, I've been teaching for almost 12 years, and I'm not even to that level. Your nieces should count their blessings!

As for the OP, I am really having a hard time understanding how you could have seven years worth of bad experiences in the same school. By all means, if you are that unhappy with your child's school, pull him out and homeschool him. However, if he's excelling and likes going to school, I have a funny feeling that the problem lies with you and not the school.

 

[jemgumby]

Well I feel that the original posters' point was how unfair the public school system is and I will totally agree. One thing we all need to remember is that these are PUBLIC schoolsa and that being the case they should be willing to listen to, work with and treat fair the PUBLIC i.e. the parents and students. My DD is in the 3rd grade and I am EXTREMELY disappointed by our school. First off, they just want our kids to attend all days of school so they can get their money from the government so that is just point blank greed. However, I am angry that most of the time they are just wasting time to be honest. For example, you can pretty much forget the kids getting any real school work done during the months of November and December. All they do is play and do holiday crafts, etc. Well, we don't celebrate Christmas and we have to go all through the trouble of getting up everyday, packing a lunch and send our DD to school knowing she is going to set there and color all day or do something else while everybody else in the class is doing their little Christmas projects. Is that fair? Heaven forbid we pull her out, they would be all over our case. Heaven forbid we say something, like the original poster said it wouldn't matter. So from my perspective it seems like the schools make all the rules but only follow the rules that are convenient to them. My point is if public schools want parents to be cooperative and follow their rules then they BEST be following our governemnt's rules and keep the schools a neutral place where ALL can feel comfortable, where every child is treated fairly and please leave the snottier holier than thou I am a college educated person and I know more than you attitude at the door. Can I get an AMEN!!!! Ok I'm done.

 

[Scurvy]

And teachers are well aware of this when they decide to pursue this career. They are also well aware that most are underpaid and overworked. They chose to be teachers, no one is forcing them. I can't feel pity for someone who is out of work by 3-4 p.m. each day, has off numerous weeks throughout the school year and has summers off. There are many benefits they enjoy for having a career in teaching, such as being with their families more than some of us who work other full-time jobs and only get 2-4 weeks off a year, not having to worry about finding a sitter for those odd-teacher professional days peppered throughout the year, or being off one week for spring or Easter break. Guess it's all how you look at it and from which side you're looking.

Though I agree with much of what you said, I disagree with the bolded portion. Teachers who have kids still have to get sitters for days when they have meetings or other in-service activities.

Also, what I think many people don't consider is that most teachers do quite a bit of school work during time when they are supposedly off the clock. They have papers to grade and lesson plans to do, as well as meetings and other activities. I think many people who plan to be teachers don't realize how much work they are going to have to do during the time when they aren't at work. Teaching is definitely not an 8:00 to 3:00, Monday through Friday, August through June kind of job. So even though those who choose teaching as their career know many of the issues involved - both the benefits and the disadvantages - they are often unprepared for the reality of it.

 

[luvsJack]

Well I feel that the original posters' point was how unfair the public school system is and I will totally agree. One thing we all need to remember is that these are PUBLIC schoolsa and that being the case they should be willing to listen to, work with and treat fair the PUBLIC i.e. the parents and students. My DD is in the 3rd grade and I am EXTREMELY disappointed by our school. First off, they just want our kids to attend all days of school so they can get their money from the government so that is just point blank greed. However, I am angry that most of the time they are just wasting time to be honest. For example, you can pretty much forget the kids getting any real school work done during the months of November and December. All they do is play and do holiday crafts, etc. Well, we don't celebrate Christmas and we have to go all through the trouble of getting up everyday, packing a lunch and send our DD to school knowing she is going to set there and color all day or do something else while everybody else in the class is doing their little Christmas projects. Is that fair? Heaven forbid we pull her out, they would be all over our case. Heaven forbid we say something, like the original poster said it wouldn't matter. So from my perspective it seems like the schools make all the rules but only follow the rules that are convenient to them. My point is if public schools want parents to be cooperative and follow their rules then they BEST be following our governemnt's rules and keep the schools a neutral place where ALL can feel comfortable, where every child is treated fairly and please leave the snottier holier than thou I am a college educated person and I know more than you attitude at the door. Can I get an AMEN!!!! Ok I'm done.

What???!!!??? Greed? Its happens to be the law that children must attend so many of days of school a year. Yes, the schools get money for the students. HELLO!! It takes money for the school to operate.

As for the months of November and December?? Every school in our area has all but cut out any holiday crafts etc. #1: everyone doesn't particpate and #2 it takes away from instructional time. In fact some of the teachers have gone to some really creative measures to incoporate the holidays into their curriculum. (studying the way the holidays are celebrated in different countries for example)

I have never even heard of a public school that did not follow the "rules of our government". They can lose all kinds of funding etc. if they don't.

Someone needs to check their attitude at the door, but I don't think its the teacher.

 

[Scurvy]

First off, they just want our kids to attend all days of school so they can get their money from the government so that is just point blank greed.

Most school systems are woefully underfunded. It isn't about greed - they need the funds in order to provide the services that they are supposed to provide. If a child is in school then they are benefiting form those services, and if they are absent often enough that the school loses their portion of those funds it can cause a hardship for the school. And honestly most teachers do not like those sorts of rules, but they have no control over it.

And I can't say I've ever noticed the "holier than thou" attitude at any school that I have dealt with, but if the schools in your area are like that I can certainly see why you would be unhappy about it. It might be more a matter of your perception rather than something that they actually feel, though.

 

[luvsJack]

And teachers are well aware of this when they decide to pursue this career. They are also well aware that most are underpaid and overworked. They chose to be teachers, no one is forcing them. I can't feel pity for someone who is out of work by 3-4 p.m. each day, has off numerous weeks throughout the school year and has summers off. There are many benefits they enjoy for having a career in teaching, such as being with their families more than some of us who work other full-time jobs and only get 2-4 weeks off a year, not having to worry about finding a sitter for those odd-teacher professional days peppered throughout the year, or being off one week for spring or Easter break. Guess it's all how you look at it and from which side you're looking.

Kinda like "the grass is always greener"? You are probably right.

I don't feel pity for them; most love what they do. Teachers do not choose to be teachers because of the time off; believe me, if they did, the first day would chase them screaming to their cars!!

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

My MIL is a retired public school teacher and I get tired of listening to her continued gripes about low funding, low teacher salaries (hello you DO NOT WORK FULLTIME) and all the pressure on the teachers (what job doesn't have pressure?) suck it up.

Not working full time...are you kidding me?! Please tell me you are joking. My dad is a teacher and he was at school on Wednesday from before 8 am until 7:30 pm. He stopped working to eat dinner and then worked until 9:30 pm. To me those are not part time hours.

It's funny how if people don't like teachers, they always say they only work part time. It makes me laugh because I see how many hours my dad puts into his job and part time work doesn't even begin to cover what he does.

 

[jemgumby]

Believe me, it is more than perception. I am not from my town in Mississippi that I live in right now. I am from Florida originally and I have never seen the kind of stuff that goes on here. Teachers leading prayers. Putting up scriptures in a PUBLIC school supporting their religious beliefs. Case in point, I have ACLU on speed dial in my cell phone and I have talked with a lawyer over there and they are VERY interested in my case personally. So where I live, it is that they make the rules but don't follow the rules set forth by our own governement. Actually, the lawyer from ACLU said she sees this kind of attitude in small towns where these PUBLIC schools think they are above the law. So if they are to receive GOVERNMENT funding then yes they had best be following the rules to receive their GOVERNEMENT funding. I have talked with various parents while out on field trips, etc. and they pretty much hate the school as well. Unfortunately, it is such a small town nobody hasn't done anything about it. Also, at my particular public school there is a snotty attitude by the faculty. It was worse at the school last year and the upper elementary where my DD attends now is better. To give you an idea of how bad it is here, my DD's current teacher has a child at the other school (lower elem.) and she told me herself she will not step foot onto that school because she can't stand the attitude. So believe me folks, it does exist. Just because you may have a great public school experience where you live (and I actually had a great experience at my schools in Florida) doesn't mean everybody does. The snottiness, greed, political incorrectness/ignorance is out there and does exist and is in our public school system believe it or not. That is why it outrages me when they try to enforce their petty little rules when they themselves cannot even abide by the law.

 

[horseshowmom]

And teachers are well aware of this when they decide to pursue this career. They are also well aware that most are underpaid and overworked. They chose to be teachers, no one is forcing them. I can't feel pity for someone who is out of work by 3-4 p.m. each day, has off numerous weeks throughout the school year and has summers off. There are many benefits they enjoy for having a career in teaching, such as being with their families more than some of us who work other full-time jobs and only get 2-4 weeks off a year, not having to worry about finding a sitter for those odd-teacher professional days peppered throughout the year, or being off one week for spring or Easter break. Guess it's all how you look at it and from which side you're looking.

I absolutely do not mean this in a hostile way, but I don't know of any teachers who are lookong for any pity. However, I also don't know why people always bring up "all that time off teachers have". We don't get paid for it so how does that pertain to anything?


(P.S. I have to add that we generally go in at 7:15 and don't even have lunch off - somebody has to be with the kids at all times, but that's just part of the job.)

 

[luvsJack]

Believe me, it is more than perception. I am not from my town in Mississippi that I live in right now. I am from Florida originally and I have never seen the kind of stuff that goes on here. Teachers leading prayers. Putting up scriptures in a PUBLIC school supporting their religious beliefs. Case in point, I have ACLU on speed dial in my cell phone and I have talked with a lawyer over there and they are VERY interested in my case personally. So where I live, it is that they make the rules but don't follow the rules set forth by our own governement. Actually, the lawyer from ACLU said she sees this kind of attitude in small towns where these PUBLIC schools think they are above the law. So if they are to receive GOVERNMENT funding then yes they had best be following the rules to receive their GOVERNEMENT funding. I have talked with various parents while out on field trips, etc. and they pretty much hate the school as well. Unfortunately, it is such a small town nobody hasn't done anything about it. Also, at my particular public school there is a snotty attitude by the faculty. It was worse at the school last year and the upper elementary where my DD attends now is better. To give you an idea of how bad it is here, my DD's current teacher has a child at the other school (lower elem.) and she told me herself she will not step foot onto that school because she can't stand the attitude. So believe me folks, it does exist. Just because you may have a great public school experience where you live (and I actually had a great experience at my schools in Florida) doesn't mean everybody does. The snottiness, greed, political incorrectness/ignorance is out there and does exist and is in our public school system believe it or not. That is why it outrages me when they try to enforce their petty little rules when they themselves cannot even abide by the law.

Have you tried talking to someone with a bit more power than other parents? The principal, superintendent of education or the school board?

I cannot imagine "greed" in the school system as there is no money there to be had. And wanting your child in school all day is a long way from "greed"--that is in fact following the law.

If that many teachers have that kind of attitude then there must be an employee/employer problem. And should also be addressed to the school superintendent and school board.

Most school rules are not "petty", most are in place for the safety of the students. And I just don't understand so much concern for "political correctness"; as long as my child is learning all the skills necessary and is kept safe throughout the school day--I am a happy lady.

I hope you are not thinking that all Mississippi schools are like the one you are describing; because they are most certainly not. I am always upset to hear some of these things about places in my great state because I am afraid it makes us all look bad.

 

[leighe]

This statement, quite frankly, ticks me off. I DO work FULL TIME. Most professionals get 4-6 weeks paid vacation a year. Do you know how many teachers get? None. I guess our summer break is supposed to take the place of that, but then it's UNPAID vacation.

Thank you!!!! (And I am typing this as I am sitting my lazy, parent-hating butt on my couch with the 3 sets of tests, 2 sets of on-demand writings, and 3 sets of study guides that I will be spending at least a good 5 or 6 hours grading and recording online this weekend so that my kids parents will be able to keep up with their child's progress. ) Sheesh.

Threads like this are when I think there is no way I am coming back next year.

 

[leighe]

First off, they just want our kids to attend all days of school so they can get their money from the government so that is just point blank greed.

What in the heck do you think schools are doing with the money they recieve. Buying margarita machines for the teacher's lounge so we can all get a good buzz while discussing how to ruin Snowflake's school experience?

THAT MONEY IS SPENT TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN.

Good lord.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I think it is SCARY crazy that teachers are getting paid some of the lower salaries that have been listed here.
It is sad to me to rationalize how some industries pay so much for such trivial things (thinking sports here) when teachers have a direct impact on our children. So, THANK YOU for caring enough to educate our children to be the NEXT BEST generation of individuals! Just thinking about being a teacher gives me the willies! :

 

[a1tinkfans]

What in the heck do you think schools are doing with the money they recieve. Buying margarita machines for the teacher's lounge so we can all get a good buzz while discussing how to ruin Snowflake's school experience?

THAT MONEY IS SPENT TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN.

Good lord.

The margarita comment was too funny!

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

What in the heck do you think schools are doing with the money they recieve. Buying margarita machines for the teacher's lounge so we can all get a good buzz while discussing how to ruin Snowflake's school experience?

THAT MONEY IS SPENT TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN.

Good lord.

That is great!!!! (I've had one of the those days at work so I'll laugh at anything, but that statement is one I'm going to share with my dad and sister who are teachers!)

 

[hentob]

Teachers do not choose to be teachers because of the time off; believe me, if they did, the first day would chase them screaming to their cars!!

Well said

 

[hentob]

.....you can pretty much forget the kids getting any real school work done during the months of November and December. All they do is play and do holiday crafts, etc. .....

I highly doubt this.

 

[Cor44432]

After reading some of the comments on this thread..........thank goodness
in my class this year I have a majority of parents who are down to earth,
appreciate what we do at school for their kids, and have taken ownership
of their OWN child's education.........instead of playing whine and blame games.

It's understandable to not know how school funding works, but to claim that school systems are "greedy" because they expect students to be at school during the state "count week" is just ignorant.

 

[Magic Mom]

God, I feel so bad for teachers in our country.

 

[leighe]

Oh - and I'd also like to point out that our lawsuit-happy society where everyone is a victim and has "the ACLU on speed dial" is often why schools are forced to have so many "petty" policies.