I Am Not A Babysitter ......

[Daxx]

Let me start off by saying that this isn't a slam to babysitters. I do not mean to offend anyone who babysits. I respect you and admire you as I do any other profession.

I went to a party and when I told a group of people what I did for a living, one guy said "You're basically a baby sitter."

I am not a babysitter - I am a kindergarten teacher. I do not babysit 5 & 6 yos. I teach them ... all kinds of neat things they'll need to further their education. Things like letter sounds, how to take those sounds and blend them together to sound out words which they need to know how to do if they want to read. In turn, knowing those letter sounds helps them spell words on spelling tests. If they can sound out a word, they can spell it. I teach them how to answer questions based on information they've been given. I teach them addition, subtraction, fractions, and other math skills. I teach them about the world around them, how things work and what happens when you mix primary colors together. I teach them how to print letters properly and how to print their names, how to copy words off the chalk board, how to use a pair of scissors, how to sit still and listen, how to follow directions, how to be a good student, how to think and how to do so many things. I fill up those heads with loads of information. I'm not saying that babysitters don't ... but I don't know many babysitters who have to get kids ready to move on to 1st grade. If you're a babysitter and you're doing that, then change your job title!!!!!!

I didn't go to school for 6 yrs., obtain a masters degree and get certified to be called a babysitter. I am qualified to not only teach Kdg. but have degrees and certifications to teach Pre-K through grade 12. My job is to do more than most babysitters do. I give kindergarten children the solid foundation necessary for their education and future years in school. I am the one who gives them a love of learning. I am the one who gets 'em ready to move onto bigger and better things educationally. I am not a babysitter. I could teach any grade I want, however, I teach the level I'm at and do so with great love and compassion.

Thank you for letting me vent. I suppose I should have said to him "Well, you only drive the soda truck, why aren't you the CEO of the company!?"

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

I suppose I should have said to him "Well, you only drive the soda truck, why aren't you the CEO of the company!?"

That, or kneed him in the crotch. What a jerk.

 

[msdznyduck]

I think I would have been speechless......How dare he??
I have much respect for teachers, especially the early grades. Kindergarten is one of the most important, since you are teaching far more than academics. I probably would have countered with...."you basically just drive around all day", or something.
Jeesh.......some people

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I completely understand! I will be graduating in May with a degree in early childhood education--ill be certified to teach preschool-3rd grade. i want to teach kindergarten, and i hear that ALL the time.
I work at a goddard school and we teach the kids there--its not just a babysitting s ervice..every day i hear it from my brother "You must not be tired, all you did was sit there and watch kids all day"
it drives me crazy!

 

[jpmandan]

I am also a Kindergarten teacher. My colleagues and I always laugh at the reactions we get when we tell people what we do for a living. There are usually two distinct reactions...
the head tilt with, "Awww!" or
the shudder with, "I could not do that!"

The person that called you a "babysitter" needs to take a gander at our curriculum requirements (ours is available online). Then spend one of the first few weeks of school "babysitting" with you! I bet he'd NEVER say that again! As a matter of fact, I bet he wouldn't last an entire day!

 

[Evil Queen]

I agree.

There are folks out there who consider teachers and school as babysitters. ARGH!!! Some of my family members have spent years of learning so that they can TEACH kids, not just watch over them for several hours-5 days a week.

 

[hlbtimes2]

As I read the title and first couple sentances all I could think was "please tell me this person isnt a nanny".

Sorry someone was so rude. I'm guessing he doesnt have school age children. If he did, he would know how hard teachers work- at any grade level!

 

[debster812]

I am the daughter of a retired schoolteacher, and the mother of one child who is now in 4th grade. I thank our lucky stars EVERY DAY that so far, he has been blessed with wonderful teachers. His Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers were wonderful, gifted, and all around just awesome.

ITA with the poster who suggested a knee to the crotch. You are SO not a babysitter, and I hope you have parents who do appreciate all you do for their kids.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I understand. As a nurse, there are people who think all I do is wipe butts.

I once had a wise older nurse tell me that saying that all a nurse does is wipe butts is akin to saying all a mother does is change diapers.

We all know that's a bit of an understatement.

My children just began 3rd grade. I am in awe of all they have learned in school, and extremely appreciative of the teachers who've helped them get there.

Thank you, too, for all you do! And don't let the naysayers get you down.

 

[pigletz]

I teach 8th grade and when I tell people what I do they always feel sorry for me. I think 8th grade is easy compared to the early grades especially kindergarten. I could never teach those grades. Mine might act like kindergarteners sometimes but at least they have the foundations down thanks to you. I greatly admire anyone who has the patience and energy to teach kindergarten.

 

[fivefordisney]

Let me start off by saying that this isn't a slam to babysitters. I do not mean to offend anyone who babysits. I respect you and admire you as I do any other profession.

I went to a party and when I told a group of people what I did for a living, one guy said "You're basically a baby sitter."

I am not a babysitter - I am a kindergarten teacher. I do not babysit 5 & 6 yos. I teach them ... all kinds of neat things they'll need to further their education. Things like letter sounds, how to take those sounds and blend them together to sound out words which they need to know how to do if they want to read. In turn, knowing those letter sounds helps them spell words on spelling tests. If they can sound out a word, they can spell it. I teach them how to answer questions based on information they've been given. I teach them addition, subtraction, fractions, and other math skills. I teach them about the world around them, how things work and what happens when you mix primary colors together. I teach them how to print letters properly and how to print their names, how to copy words off the chalk board, how to use a pair of scissors, how to sit still and listen, how to follow directions, how to be a good student, how to think and how to do so many things. I fill up those heads with loads of information. I'm not saying that babysitters don't ... but I don't know many babysitters who have to get kids ready to move on to 1st grade. If you're a babysitter and you're doing that, then change your job title!!!!!!

I didn't go to school for 6 yrs., obtain a masters degree and get certified to be called a babysitter. I am qualified to not only teach Kdg. but have degrees and certifications to teach Pre-K through grade 12. My job is to do more than most babysitters do. I give kindergarten children the solid foundation necessary for their education and future years in school. I am the one who gives them a love of learning. I am the one who gets 'em ready to move onto bigger and better things educationally. I am not a babysitter. I could teach any grade I want, however, I teach the level I'm at and do so with great love and compassion.

Thank you for letting me vent. I suppose I should have said to him "Well, you only drive the soda truck, why aren't you the CEO of the company!?"

It used to be when I found myself confronted with someone who says something so thoughtless I used to try to defend or enlighten. Now, I just respond by saying, "Why would you say such a thing?" Usually the person is left trying to defend or enlighten!!!

As my 89 year-old grandmother would say,"Tell him to go scratch his tail!"

 

[lesroi]

Well he obviously didn't have a good Kindergarten teacher like you, so you should probably feel sorry for him!

My sister is a Teacher too, for you both!!! She teaches Special Ed. kids in 3rd-5th grade.

Count me in as one of those people who could never do that!


Tracy

 

[Linda/MA]

What a pompous a**!

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

I went to a party and when I told a group of people what I did for a living, one guy said "You're basically a baby sitter."

What a jerk!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

my friend who is a K teacher hears this all the time.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I cannot believe someone said that to you! Obviously he has an extremely skewed view of what goes on in a kindergarten classroom. That really makes me angry!

 

[SleepyMom]

I cannot imagine ever saying that to a teacher. I would take his comment as a reflection of the kind of person he is.

When I read your title it reminded me of something my late MIL said to me often and I thought that was what would be in your post, I was very surprised to see you are a KG teacher. What a moron he must be

I do home day-care and my MIL always had to make the comment that I don't really work since I am home all day. Um, ok. She would ask me to run an errand or something for her and when I said I couldn't on that day because I had to work she would say "work? you don't work".

 

[princess pooh]

That guy was an idiot. He probably thinks you play all day too . What a rude thing to say!

 

[Danauk]

How rude of him.

One of our teachers was left speechless as well a few years ago. My school has a nursery attached so we have children from 3 - 11 (I teach in England.) All staff are certified to teach any of these children. A few years ago I taught a 10-11 year old class as did another teacher. This lady has been teaching a long time and was very good. But she decided for various reasons she no longer wanted to teach the older children and wanted a change. The nursery teacher was leaving at the end of the year so she decided she would like to work with the 3 year olds instead. Not one but 3 parents asked her if she had been given a demotion (and they were not joking.) They thought that if you taught the older classes you had been promoted and so from dropping from 11 year olds to 3 years olds she had done something majorly wrong and was been demoted because of it!! How rude.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Get out! They pay you to play all day?! I knew K teachers just played with kids all day...but I thought they did it for fun, not as a JOB!!! I'm switching professions tomorrow.

Everyone gets mean comments about what they do for a living sometimes. Don't let it get to you. Guy sounds like a buple.