I am a teacher, not a "glorified babysitter"!!!!(more info and a thank you post # 52)

[Blondy876]

Some background real quick: I have an AA in Liberal Arts, a BA in Psychology and a P-3 teacher license, and 6 classes left to go before I get my Masters in Teaching.

I went to Staples yesterday to get somethings for my classroom. As I was standing in line there were two women behind me and we struck up a conversation. Turns out they are teachers too and we were talking about getting ready for the new school year. Then comes the question "What grade do you teach?" When I say "pre-k" I almost always get the "Oh" But yesterday I also got "Well, that's not really teaching is it? That's just babysitting." And they giggled and stopped talking to me. I have more education than many teachers that are currently in the classrooms (in this area), I have more experience than some (9 years). Why does my choosing to teach preschoolers make me less of a teacher than someone who teaches 1st grade (which I could do if I wanted)?

I have to follow a district curriculum, I go to the same workshops, I do the same amount of assessing (probably more because of our curriculum), I have to follow all state decrees. I have stringent lesson plan guidelines to follow. I am not a babysitter, I am a teacher laying a strong foundation for a my students.

I don't work at a daycare center. I'm not keeping kids safe and occupied until their parents come and get them. (Which IMHO is very important, but not what I do)

I just don't understand why I am often meet with disdain from fellow teachers when they find out what grade I teach. I and many of my fellow preschool teachers receive very little respect in our field and it drives me nuts. It's bad enough our district doesn't give the same respect (unlike K-12 teachers we don't get tenure, or substitutes etc) , but does everyone else have to do it too.


Ok, I'm stepping down off my soapbox.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That was rude and petty of them.

Just say that what you do is provide a positive foundation for the children so that these morons can teach.

 

[mickman1962]

I'm sure your great at your job and very dedicated, however I have always felt that "Pre-K" is just state funded daycare.

 

[golfgal]

I have to agree that Pre-K isn't the same as teaching the older grades, sorry. First, it isn't a required "grade" to attend and while you have lesson plans, etc, it just isn't the same. 9 years of teaching and almost a masters isn't all that unusual in the teaching world, at least around here. Most teachers in our high school have 20+ years of experience and masters +60 ore better. We have two teachers at our Catholic k-8 school with PhD's. It is all relative. Try teaching middle school, especially 7-8th grades, that is the ULTIMATE teaching test. Bless you if you teach middle school!

 

[MinnieM21]

I'm sorry they were so rude to you. The teachers I remember most were my preschool and kindergarten teachers. They inspired me so much and because of them I'm working on my Masters in Education (I hope to teach Kindergarten). Keep up the great work.

 

[CEDmom]

I can tell you that it's because of the work my DD's pre-k teacher did with her class that most the kids (including my DD) were reading on their own early into their kindergarten year and doing 1st grade math work. My DD blossomed so much while in pre-k (she'll be in 1st grade in Sept). Part of that was natural maturing but a lot of credit goes to her pre-k teacher for drawing her out by fostering a sense of independence and pride in each accomplishment. She has a special relationship with my DD and has been able to get through to her when DH and I couldn't. You know how kids will listen to other adults when they won't listen to their parents.

Keep up the good work you're doing. I bet the parent's of your students appreciate all that you do. But even if they don't please know that you are making a big difference in a child's life.

 

[Deafmedic]

I feel the flames starting to rise. We respect your position. Even if our kids come home with drawings, it's still stimulating their imagination and getting them ready for the higher grades.

 

[OceanAnnie]

It was rude and petty of them. And they are our children's role models. Sad.

I hope this doesn't degenerate into a worthiness debate.

 

[Blondy876]

I'm sure your great at your job and very dedicated, however I have always felt that "Pre-K" is just state funded daycare.

I use to be, but now, it is no different than Kindergarten or 1st grade. My students are expected to know how to read,(simple books)write (their names and friends names along with a lot of other simple words) and count (along with some simple computation). The state comes in and observes my teaching as does the district. They also do their own evaluations. If my students go off to Kindergarten, and the Kindergarten teacher finds that they are unable to write their names, or count high enough, she can turn me in, and I get a call from the district asking for an explanation.

When I started in pre-k it was babysitting. Then the state got more involved and required certified teachers in the classrooms and for those teachers to do the same things that are expected of teachers of older grades.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm sure your great at your job and very dedicated, however I have always felt that "Pre-K" is just state funded daycare.

regardless of opinion--what the ladies did in the store was downright RUDE!!!

Would you ever in your life go up to someone who you feel has a less worthy job than you and then actually tell it to their face?

 

[chrissyk]

Don't worry about those losers in line behind you at Staples More and more states are recognizing the importance of quality preschool as an educational foundation. I know that my state (FL) just started offering universal free preschool if your child is age 4 in September (I think that that's the requirement).

I have a friend who is a preschool teacher (certified Preschool-3 I think), and her job is just as demanding curriculum-wise as if she taught K-3 (which she could do if she so chose). I would never think of respecting her any less because she teaches preschool. If anything, I respect her MORE because she has the young-kid issues to deal with on top of her teaching curriculum

 

[LBAK]

I hate when people say that. Pre-K teachers have an extremely important role in the education community. They are often the first person that will assess the chilren. It is here that children are evaluated for possible speech and learning diabilities and I want the very best educated teachers for that position. I always make sure that my pre-K teachers have their masters and very often they are starting their over 30 credits. We are fortunate here in NY that teachers must get their masters within 5 years of when they start teaching.

It's sad that they don't get the respect they deserve because they choose to teach Pre-school. All pre-K teachers have my utmost respect. Now I will get off my soapbox, sorry.

 

[Blondy876]

I have to agree that Pre-K isn't the same as teaching the older grades, sorry. First, it isn't a required "grade" to attend and while you have lesson plans, etc, it just isn't the same. 9 years of teaching and almost a masters isn't all that unusual in the teaching world, at least around here. Most teachers in our high school have 20+ years of experience and masters +60 ore better. We have two teachers at our Catholic k-8 school with PhD's. It is all relative. Try teaching middle school, especially 7-8th grades, that is the ULTIMATE teaching test. Bless you if you teach middle school!

I did a 3 month long term sub position in middle school, and a 6 week long term sub in high school that's why I went to younger grades. It doesn't mean that preschoolers are easier, just different and a lot less jaded than older kids.

Plus, I am only 30 years old. I will eventually have my PhD but it takes a while.

 

[Pin Wizard]

All depends on the teacher and what they're doing. DS had a FANTASTIC teacher in pre-K. She was licensed to teach up to 6th grade and had in the past. She TAUGHT those kids! They learned their numbers through 100, had them reading beginner books and some of them above that level. When kinder rolled around, it was all "review" for him...just like the teacher said it would be. I think he learned more in her class than k. The kinder books just made me laugh...the big 12 x 12 books with an entire page showing just one letter on it. I actually thought kinder was a step backwards.

 

[Byrd]

Bless you! You have the same problems that we have in the classroom: not appreciated by the grade levels above the one that you teach.

I have found that in 31 years of teaching that some (hopefully only a few) teachers are just rude snobs.

Keep doing what you love.

 

[CharlesTD]

I agree what they did was rude but I am in the opinion that pre K is just a daycare that our tax money pays for yes they do some reading and basic counting etc but they learn that at home so I guess we are all teachers at that point. Sorry this isn't to sound condecending it is just how I view that grade and Kindergarten isn't much better once you get to teaching the higher grades that is when you are teaching mind you there is still babysitting involved in grade 7-12 they are just older and talk back more LOL.

 

[mickman1962]

regardless of opinion--what the ladies did in the store was downright RUDE!!!

Would you ever in your life go up to someone who you feel has a less worthy job than you and then actually tell it to their face?

agreed and I did not mean to imply otherwise

 

[cinmell]

It's sad that they don't get the respect they deserve because they choose to teach Pre-school. All pre-K teachers have my utmost respect.

 

[pumba]

person for these children. You can either make a child love school (yes this early on) or hate everyone that wants to teach them.
I am a daycare provider and I have heard the comment.......oh you dont'work.......YIKES>........I have a little boy that has been reading since he was just three.....he is smart and when he asked for a certain word on how to spell I told him......It was not pushed on him ...he asked and we delivered...he is reading anything and everything .......with a few wrong words that are the two and three syllable words.........Just ignore IGNORANT PEOPLE.......cause that is what these OTHER TEACHERS ARE.........RUDE too

 

[doxdogy]

I agree with Pumba, a good Pre-K teacher can lay a good foundation for learning. The teachers were indeed rude to you and should be ashamed of themselves.