Looking for a teaching job? Rhode Island is hiring 74 at one school!

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Okay maybe I dont bring "work" home but I am a psychiatric nurse and heres what I bring home
hearing the awful stories of some of our patients- the abuse that has been done to them and that some of them have done to others. I have nursed paedophiles and victims of child sex abuse, murderers and the suicidal, drug addicts and alcoholics, the psychotic and sociopaths.
I have been afraid for my safety, been punched, pulled around by the hair, am quite sure I would have been at least seriously injured by one of my most disturbed patients had I not seen it coming seconds ahead of time and got out the door right before she got me. I have tried to coax a 12 yr old out from under a table as he is holding a knife to his wrist. I have nursed the dying and taken care of them after they have passed. At the moment I am working in a unit that is facing imminent closure forcing 21 scared elderly people to move out of the home they have lived in for most of their adult lives.
Those kind of things tend to stick in your head.

This sounds like what happens to my sister at her job - she's a teacher at an inner-city school. Let's see, in the last couple of years she has also be threatened (one of her students threatened to kill her), spit on, hit, stomped on (she had had ACL reconstruction surgery less than 3 months before this incident happened and she was afraid the student re-tore her graft), pinched, and stabbed with a pencil. Want to know what happened to the kid who did this to her? Nothing - nothing at all. Thankfully he transfered to a different school so I no longer have to worry about her everyday.

By no means could I handle your job but some of the same things you deal with on a day to day basis teachers also deal with.

I have always told my dad and sister (both of them are teachers) that I would rather hang myself upside down by my toenails than become a teacher. When I read threads such as this one, that completely reinforces that fact.

As far as time is money, honey - if my dad got paid for the number of hours he actually works my parents wouldn't still be living in their starter home they bought 35 years ago. Are they happy there? Yes. Does my dad still enjoy teaching - yes. Has he helped hundreds of kids over the years - absolutely. It's amazing the impact he has made on so many people's lives.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Do you really think these teachers aren't grateful for their jobs?

Everyone is replaceable. Teachers know that, but these teachers did nothing that called for them to be fired. They were following the terms of their contract. The district wanted to change it in the middle of the contract. All their union did was try to negotiate; which is how the process is supposed to work. I foresee a long, drawn-out court battle ahead for the district. Any money they would have saved by not negotiating the added cost for increased time, is going to be spent in legal fees and back pay when all the teachers are rehired.

To quote Rich LaVoie, "When elephants fight the grass gets trampled." Seems to me that no one really cares about the "grass". I teach in an urban district. We just got at my school alone 25 kids from Haiti (some of whom have never been to school OR even know how to flush a toilet) these kids will be expected to take the high stakes tests that are driving everyone and everything this MAY! NOW, raise your hand if you think they are going to pass. No special note attached to our scores, no well they had an ADDITIONAL 25 kids (on top of the huge sei and sped population we already had) who have had what amounts to no education just a scarlet letter attached to our name.

I work in a school system very similar to Central Falls demographically speaking. Parents take their kids out for months at a time to go back to their "own" country, three of my students are homeless, maybe 5 have actual parental involvement in their lives. I am not passing the buck but come on we are asked to teach with both hands tied behind our back.

We will be a failing school and are a failing school. I long for the day when we are ALL charter schools and then we will see where the rubber meets the road. When charter schools can no longer kick out the less than desirable students and that includes the extreme behavior problems we endure, let's see how their scores are affected.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

As a special ed teacher, I have been hit, bit, spit and even stabbed by a student. That 30 minutes without my students is a way to regroup myself so that I can effectively teach them. I still don't know why any teacher would want to work in a district that would do that. Experienced teachers aren't going to teach there. This mass firing isn't going to solve the real problem and that is the socio-economic factors at play. When you're worried about where you'll sleep that night and if you'll get to eat dinner, school is the last thing on your mind.

MRS. Reese,

I too teach sped and totally understand what you are saying. This whole thing is a farce.

OUR union backed the current adminsitration both at the state and federal level. We had no say in it and that is what upsets me. I just want all these big mouth know it alls to come and teach in our places for even one day. Then tell me I make too much. We don't get combat pay but we should.

 

[gina2000]

First, no way in heck would I want your job... I know my limitations and working with children all day - nope - spreadsheets and an office - that is my kind of work

But... I'm in the corporate world with 3wks vacation, 11 paid holidays and easily put in minimum 60hr work weeks. Thus I do work more days and hours than many teachers.

In the end this is a loose/loose situation for everyone.... The teachers out of a job, the new teachers without the experienced teachers to mentor, the district dealing with the mess, and most of all the students without experienced teachers

Of course you work more hours than I do. I know that~ I can do the math. I worked in the private sector for 17 years in a high stress, high production environment. I never complained about my hours at that job, nor did I take advantage of the perks. And I have to say, I was lucky enough to have numerous perks.

I sought a different profession because of a voluntary change in my life. The perk I was seeking was time off ~ and in this profession the only time off you get is unpaid. I felt that was what I wanted at this point in my life. But I was not foolish enough to think that this profession was a cakewalk. It's not. I will never make millions, I will never have corporate lunches, heck, I won't even have a free water bottle when I'm at a staff meeting unless the principal pays for it. But there are numerous non-monetary thrills in this job.

Are there people who cakewalk through their jobs? Sure are. But I've seen it in both the public and private sectors. No profession is immune to lazy, self-indulgent professionals who take advantage of the system. That's the nature of the beast, unfortunately.

And now this horse has been beaten yet again. You'd think he'd learn by now.

 

[daughtersrus]

Okay maybe I dont bring "work" home but I am a psychiatric nurse and heres what I bring home
hearing the awful stories of some of our patients- the abuse that has been done to them and that some of them have done to others. I have nursed paedophiles and victims of child sex abuse, murderers and the suicidal, drug addicts and alcoholics, the psychotic and sociopaths.
I have been afraid for my safety, been punched, pulled around by the hair, am quite sure I would have been at least seriously injured by one of my most disturbed patients had I not seen it coming seconds ahead of time and got out the door right before she got me. I have tried to coax a 12 yr old out from under a table as he is holding a knife to his wrist. I have nursed the dying and taken care of them after they have passed. At the moment I am working in a unit that is facing imminent closure forcing 21 scared elderly people to move out of the home they have lived in for most of their adult lives.
Those kind of things tend to stick in your head.

Much of what you bring home is very similar to what some teachers bring home.

My DD has only been teaching full time for a few weeks now but she has already told us about some of the things that have gone of with her students in class. So far, she's had to call DCFS about two students in her class. Both of these children were placed into foster care. One student sat in her class and refused to do anything. He finally broke down and wrote DD a letter. In the letter, he told her that him mom is beating him and he's afraid to go home. She's also had one students that said that he would kill her and all of the students in the class. She's had students come with nothing for lunch and when she talks to them about it, they tell her that they haven't eaten since the night before. She had another student pretending that there was a stripper in the closet. He kept opening the door saying things like "take it all off" while he was throwing a dollar bill.

The one that got to her the most was a parent. During parent/teacher conferences the mom began to yell at her son for not doing his work. The mom told the boy that she was going to get a loan so that she could send him back to Africa. Once he was there, she was going to burn his passport so that he could never return. This boy had been sent to a school there a few years ago. He told DD that the teachers there beat the students and that he's afraid to go back. All of this was said while the school social worker was present as well. If these things happen in front of school staff, what do you think is happening at home?


These children are all young. Kindergarten-2nd grade.

Yes, my DD knew what she was getting into. As a special education major, she spent 1 semester in classroom for "field base", a second semester in classroom for "practicum" and a third semester in a classroom for "student teaching".

On top of bringing this home, she is also bringing home papers to correct, data sheets to update IEP goals, work to prep for the next day, differentiating instruction... all for the giant salary of $103/day.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

 

[chobie]

I believe that the first wave of unemployment was in the private sector.

The second wave is coming---I believe that many states and municipalities will balance their budgets on the backs of public employees.

Layoffs are coming. In my area, it is already starting (before you flame me---I am a public employee too.)

Right but when public employees are let go, it is usually done in "last in - first out" basis, right? Unless they eliminate an entire department. Teachers are being laid off throughout the nation, but the more seasoned teachers are not, its the newer ones.

There simply is not an available pool of "seasoned professional teachers" to apply at failing schools were an entire staff has been fired. This school will get teachers fresh out of college who have little, if any, classroom management skills. Those take a few years to develop. Hiring new teachers for a school with the problems this school has is a recipe for disaster. Although I feel for the teachers here and the students, maybe this could finally put to rest the idea that mass firings of teachers will solve the problems in education.

And why is there such glee in the firing of teachers anyway?

 

[CapeMayMommy]

Right but when public employees are let go, it is usually done in "last in - first out" basis, right? Unless they eliminate an entire department. Teachers are being laid off throughout the nation, but the more seasoned teachers are not, its the newer ones.

There simply is not an available pool of "seasoned professional teachers" to apply at failing schools were an entire staff has been fired. This school will get teachers fresh out of college who have little, if any, classroom management skills. Those take a few years to develop. Hiring new teachers for a school with the problems this school has is a recipe for disaster. Although I feel for the teachers here and the students, maybe this could finally put to rest the idea that mass firings of teachers will solve the problems in education.

And why is there such glee in the firing of teachers anyway?

There isn't glee.

However, my mother was a teacher, and I have friends who are teachers. I am a public employee.

I have worked in the private sector. The public sector is a lot better.

I don't understand public employees who refuse to make a few concessions when their friends and neighbors in the private sector have layoffs, and down -grading of benefits breathing down their necks daily.

The difference between professionals and "labor" is that professionals not only identify problems, but they are innovative and creative in the solution of problems. If those teachers didn't like the plan that the superintendent came up with--did they identify a different plan? Or did they just say "we're not going to do this or that, that or that" ?

It's not enough to say that this is a poor district, and we can never expect these kids to pass. What is needed is an aggressive plan to address the issues and staff eager to impliment this plan.

 

[gojoe]

Today's Providence Journal article link http://www.projo.com/news/content/central_falls_turmoil_02-28-10_TQHGS9N_v292.38b0e26.html

Please read this story before making up your mind.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Today's Providence Journal article link http://www.projo.com/news/content/central_falls_turmoil_02-28-10_TQHGS9N_v292.38b0e26.html

Please read this story before making up your mind.

Thanks for the link. to Cranston.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Today's Providence Journal article link http://www.projo.com/news/content/central_falls_turmoil_02-28-10_TQHGS9N_v292.38b0e26.html

Please read this story before making up your mind.

Very interesting article. It does shed some light on the situation, however in my book it still makes Gallo look like the bad guy. Basically just firing everyone because she couldn't come to an agreement with the union official sounds like she just gave up, something she doesn't want the students to do.

Reading what they expected out of the teachers was kind of confusing.

- Increase school day by 25 minutes
I get that...25 minutes longer a day.

-Formalize tutoring schedule so struggling students have extra help for one hour before and after school.
I get this for the most part - but what they fail to mention is if they would be doing it everyday.

-Agree to eat lunch with students one day a week to build stronger relationships.
I could see this helping in elementary school but not in high school. I was a good student and I liked most of my teachers but I wouldn't want them eating lunch with me.

-Attend two weeks of professional development in the summer at a rate of $30 an hour ($1,800 per year).
I understand this completely - professional development is important for any occupation.

-Stay after school for 90 minutes one day each week to work with fellow teachers analyzing student work and test data and discussing ways to improve teaching.
This states one day a week...but does that mean 90 minutes on top of the extra help for one hour before and after school?

So I have this correct, this would add about 4 extra hours onto the school day at least once a week (25 minutes longer school day, lunch which I approximated as 30 minutes, an hour before and after school as well as 90 minutes one day a week). That is a lot of added time without compensation.

I was salaried at my old job and yes I would work until the job was done. However, then I had the freedom of coming in a little late or leaving a little early to compensate for the extra time. Teachers don't have that opportunity.

It also mentioned in the article that RI will be receiving 12.5 million dollars in inprovement educational grants. With receiving that much extra money in grants, it just amazes me that she couldn't find the money for the compensation. Makes me wonder where that money will be going?

I just find the entire situation very interesting. It seemed like the entire process was too rushed and should have been handled differently.

 

[gojoe]

So I have this correct, this would add about 4 extra hours onto the school day at least once a week (25 minutes longer school day, lunch which I approximated as 30 minutes, an hour before and after school as well as 90 minutes one day a week). That is a lot of added time without compensation.


You missed this part of the story:


Agree to eat lunch with students one day a week to build stronger relationships.
Attend two weeks of professional development in the summer at a rate of $30 an hour ($1,800 per year).
Stay after school for 90 minutes one day each week to work with fellow teachers analyzing student work and test data and discussing ways to improve teaching at a rate of $30 an hour if Gallo could find grant financing ($1,620 per year).


They get to eat there lunch, just one day a week with the students.

$30.00 an hour.



I think they get there lunch and get compensation. The teacher don't want to eat with students and they want $ 90.00 an hour.


By the way most cities and town are on the verge of bankruptcy and the state is several million dollars in the red. We also have a 12.9 % unemployment some of the highest foreclosures in the country. It's an election year and no one is talking tax increase but it's coming. When
teachers get a raise I'll get a pay cut when my taxes go up.


They're links to earlier articles in the story, this didn't just happen overnight.

 

[daughtersrus]

So I have this correct, this would add about 4 extra hours onto the school day at least once a week (25 minutes longer school day, lunch which I approximated as 30 minutes, an hour before and after school as well as 90 minutes one day a week). That is a lot of added time without compensation.


You missed this part of the story:


Agree to eat lunch with students one day a week to build stronger relationships.
Attend two weeks of professional development in the summer at a rate of $30 an hour ($1,800 per year).
Stay after school for 90 minutes one day each week to work with fellow teachers analyzing student work and test data and discussing ways to improve teaching at a rate of $30 an hour if Gallo could find grant financing ($1,620 per year).

You say that it didn't happen overnight. You are correct. All of this happened in about 30 days. Not much time to negotiate a plan.


They get to eat there lunch, just one day a week with the students.

$30.00 an hour.



I think they get there lunch and get compensation. The teacher don't want to eat with students and they want $ 90.00 an hour.


By the way most cities and town are on the verge of bankruptcy and the state is several million dollars in the red. We also have a 12.9 % unemployment some of the highest foreclosures in the country. It's an election year and no one is talking tax increase but it's coming. When
teachers get a raise I'll get a pay cut when my taxes go up.


They're links to earlier articles in the story, this didn't just happen overnight.

Gallo was not offering them anything extra for all of the time that she was requiring during the school year. She was telling them that they had to work an extra 150+ hours during the school year for nothing. She was only offering them $30.00 hour for the extra time in the summer.

Have you looked into the specifics of the contracts for the school district administrators? Gallo is currently making over $140,000. I'm sure that at least part of that is coming from your tax dollars.

 

[CapeMayMommy]

Do you really think these teachers aren't grateful for their jobs?

Everyone is replaceable. Teachers know that, but these teachers did nothing that called for them to be fired. They were following the terms of their contract. The district wanted to change it in the middle of the contract. All their union did was try to negotiate; which is how the process is supposed to work. I foresee a long, drawn-out court battle ahead for the district. Any money they would have saved by not negotiating the added cost for increased time, is going to be spent in legal fees and back pay when all the teachers are rehired.

I think that teachers who ask for $90 an hour cooked their own goose.

I guess their contract ends in June 2010.

 

[daughtersrus]

I think that teachers who ask for $90 an hour cooked their own goose.

I guess their contract ends in June 2010.

Again, the $90/hour was only for the time in the summer as they weren't going to be getting anything for the time during the school year. Also, the $90 figure was agreed upon by the school district when they signed the contract.

Their contract ends August 31, 2011.

 

[CapeMayMommy]

Again, the $90/hour was only for the time in the summer as they weren't going to be getting anything for the time during the school year. Also, the $90 figure was agreed upon by the school district when they signed the contract.

Their contract ends August 31, 2011.

This is the one of the problems of LABOR unions representing professionals.

The guy/gal who works on the assembly line turns the screw on the widget. He or she doesn't ask why they turn the screw, that is for the professional engineer to ask. They just turn the screw for 3 hours , get a 15 minute break. Turn the screw for 1 1/2 hours more, go to lunch.

No innovation or creativity. They just do a job.

This is not a salaried professional who gets paid to bring about positive results.

Teachers needed this boost in the past from the union because their salaries were so low. Now, their salaries are competitive and their benefits are the best.

Now, it's really about the kids.

 

[daughtersrus]

This is the one of the problems of LABOR unions representing professionals.

The guy/gal who works on the assembly line turns the screw on the widget. He or she doesn't ask why they turn the screw, that is for the professional engineer to ask. They just turn the screw for 3 hours , get a 15 minute break. Turn the screw for 1 1/2 hours more, go to lunch.

No innovation or creativity. They just do a job.

This is not a salaried professional who gets paid to bring about positive results.

Teachers needed this boost in the past from the union because their salaries were so low. Now, their salaries are competitive and their benefits are the best.

Now, it's really about the kids.

So you now agree that it is Gallo and the district that are trying to break a legal contract that they agreed to?

What makes you think that their salaries would remain if they no longer had a union to negotiate a contract? As many here have posted, they believe that teachers are over paid as they only work 6 1/2 hours a day and have 3 months off. How about policemen, firemen, nurses...? These are professionals that all have union benefits.

 

[hentob]

-Agree to eat lunch with students one day a week to build stronger relationships.

Weird. Just weird. I could see having Lunch With The Teacher Day every so often as a reward, but to "build stronger relationships"

We have 1/2 hour to eat. Those kids wolf down their food at record speed and most of them have disgusting table manners (yay parents).

It is difficult to watch them eat while on lunch duty. I could not imagine eating my own meal while watching them spit all over.

Maybe the school should bring the parents in and teach THEM how to teach their children to eat. I would give up my time for that

I feel sorry for the small percentage of children that are taught proper table manners. Their parents would be appalled at what they have to look at whilst they eat.

ETA--I WOULD suck it up and eat with the students for $90 an hour

 

[hentob]

It is the TEACHERS that miss the point.

If you work 180 days per year and 6 1/2 hours a day. And I am working 230 days a year and eight hours a day.

WHAT 6.5 hours a day Where in the world is a teacher working 6.5 hours a day

Delusional.

 

[rgf207]

Everybody knows that teachers don't get paid in the summer.

It is the TEACHERS that miss the point.

If you work 180 days per year and 6 1/2 hours a day. And I am working 230 days a year and eight hours a day. If we both are earning 65K per year---you are earning more than me per hour.

Time is money, honey. That is why teachers are consitered by many to be well paid. No work in June, July, Christmas, Easter, Veterans' Day...When others are at work.

These teachers were foolish. They haven't been reading the newpapers about the unemployment rate in America.

I'd bet Central Falls receives at least 20,000 college graduate applicants' eager to be consitered for one of the 74 positions.

Wouldn't surprise me at all if NONE of those teachers were hired back.

You are naive and have absolutely no idea. That's all I can say.