OT: Teacher's meeting July 19th

[DawnM]

No one said anyone didn't appreciate what they had.

I obviously LIKE teaching or I wouldn't have gone in to it. I have ZERO desire to work in some tech job or accounting (like my DH) job.

Nor did anyone suggest teachers work any HARDER than anyone else. It was just a response to your "Oh, boohoo" comment that has people upset.

What if your DH scheduled a vacation to WDW for a week and had it planned for months, prepaid the airlines, etc....and then was told, "ok, you have to be at a manditory meeting the Wed. you are on vacation. Too bad that you already planned it."

You have really turned this into something it should not be....a teacher bashing thread.

Dawn

no, you don't get a paycheck during the summer months, but your annual salary, which you all complain about, is based on a ten-month work year, not 12 months, like the rest of the work world.

Here's a link to an article that might just make you appreciate what you've got--


http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/jobseeker/tools/ept/careerArticlesPost.html?post=129

Oh, btw, I have done substitute teaching, I'm constantly amazed at the glib way teachers view their jobs. They call in for reasons the rest of us would be expected to work around, like their kids has a dental appointment (we schedule ours before/after work). Last school year my dd had a teacher who seemed to think she was some sort of part-time worker (maybe she tought she was the sub?) She took so much time off it was a wonder they kept her. It was a running joke with dd, was your teacher there today? This teacher seemed to always have a crisis on Fridays and Mondays, the days before/after breaks, holidays, etc. Try getting away with that in any other profession!

Oh, yes, I realize most teachers are hard-working, dedicated professionals who value their work, but its about the only profession I know of where you can call in sick and get a sub at a moment's notice (no such thing as a substitute engineer!). Also, they do get much more time off than any other profession. Do they work hard? Of course! So does the rest of the work force! We can't just call in when we feel like it or take vacations without being tied to the job via cell phone, pc, etc.
all jobs are tough, or they wouldn't pay you to be there!

 

[Tikicampers]

no, you don't get a paycheck during the summer months, but your annual salary, which you all complain about, is based on a ten-month work year, not 12 months, like the rest of the work world.

Oh, btw, I have done substitute teaching, I'm constantly amazed at the glib way teachers view their jobs. They call in for reasons the rest of us would be expected to work around, like their kids has a dental appointment (we schedule ours before/after work). Last school year my dd had a teacher who seemed to think she was some sort of part-time worker (maybe she tought she was the sub?) She took so much time off it was a wonder they kept her. It was a running joke with dd, was your teacher there today? This teacher seemed to always have a crisis on Fridays and Mondays, the days before/after breaks, holidays, etc. Try getting away with that in any other profession!

Oh, yes, I realize most teachers are hard-working, dedicated professionals who value their work, but its about the only profession I know of where you can call in sick and get a sub at a moment's notice (no such thing as a substitute engineer!). Also, they do get much more time off than any other profession. Do they work hard? Of course! So does the rest of the work force! We can't just call in when we feel like it or take vacations without being tied to the job via cell phone, pc, etc.
all jobs are tough, or they wouldn't pay you to be there!

I bolded the comment in which you seem to contradict yourself. You said we get three paid months off, then you said we are paid to work ten months. If we are paid to work ten months, then they shouldn't expect us to work during the time we have off. With the bolded comment above, you have proven why the OP is upset about the meeting. Are you here just to stir up trouble?
I'm willing to bet that most of us love our teaching jobs (I know I do), but we still have a right to talk to each other about the things we don't like about them. I bet your DH talks to his coworkers about things he dislikes about his job.

 

[DawnM]

Just so you all know....I did call my supervisor and have discovered that there are varying dates to attend the meeting. I can miss this one. WHEW! I was willing to rearrange my schedule, but just didn't like the letter in the mail without a little more notice.

This is actually just one more thing that is frustrating about not having a union. I have always worked in a union area that had rules about when you could make teachers work and when you couldn't. I have heard through the grapevine that is NOT the case here. This should be interesting.

It is an adjustment to move to a new state and start "over" again....that is something that DH, being an accountant, never had to deal with.

Dawn

 

[Tikicampers]

Just so you all know....I did call my supervisor and have discovered that there are varying dates to attend the meeting. I can miss this one. WHEW! I was willing to rearrange my schedule, but just didn't like the letter in the mail without a little more notice.

This is actually just one more thing that is frustrating about not having a union. I have always worked in a union area that had rules about when you could make teachers work and when you couldn't. I have heard through the grapevine that is NOT the case here. This should be interesting.

It is an adjustment to move to a new state and start "over" again....that is something that DH, being an accountant, never had to deal with.

Dawn

I think union vs. non-union is what's making the difference for you. We are a non-union district, and our contracts are very vauge so they can pretty much ask you to do whatever. From what I understand, in a unionized district, the contracts are much more detailed.

 

[DawnM]

Yes. I talked to a friend about it this weekend. She has been working here in NC for a few years and came from a union area like I did. She laughed when I complained and said, "Oh, honey, it is a whole different world working here!"

I am trying to remain positive, but with a 45% pay cut and about 13 extra workdays on top of the 180 I am a bit overwhelmed.

Dawn

I think union vs. non-union is what's making the difference for you. We are a non-union district, and our contracts are very vauge so they can pretty much ask you to do whatever. From what I understand, in a unionized district, the contracts are much more detailed.

 

[Tikicampers]

Hopefully your cost of living will go down some too. Then the pay cut won't be so drastic. I'm sure it's overwhelming to go into a new district with all new rules. I hope that once school starts and you're in the thick of teaching, it won't seem so bad.

 

[frtchr]

no, you don't get a paycheck during the summer months, but your annual salary, which you all complain about, is based on a ten-month work year, not 12 months, like the rest of the work world.

Again, I must have been in the wrong district because we got paid based on a 12 month year. Sorry you feel so angry about the teaching profession. Hope you can find something to be happy about.

Life's too short to be so confrontational. Peace, sister.

 

[Tikicampers]

I actually get paychecks over the summer too. They hold back from the paychecks during the year to cover the summer months. You can choose to do this when you first get your job. I cannot imagine trying to budget for the summer with no paychecks . Oh, and I just spent part of my "vacation" discussing something on the phone with my AP. I'm already planning for next year.

 

[DawnM]

We moved here 2 years ago and have been living off of DH's salary, so the added income will be nice at this point.

We did move from a high cost of living area to a much lower cost of living area too.

Dawn

Hopefully your cost of living will go down some too. Then the pay cut won't be so drastic. I'm sure it's overwhelming to go into a new district with all new rules. I hope that once school starts and you're in the thick of teaching, it won't seem so bad.

 

[DawnM]

Actually, I am going to MISS working in a year round area. We could work on our off-track time and make a nice bit of extra change! There was always a shortage and they prefered in-house teachers subbing off-track so we got preference too.

Dawn

If any of you teachers are getting three months off in the summer and getting paid for it, please tell me where you teach so I can come teach there too.
To me again, why you are posting here is a mystery to me. You clearly have no idea about what you are talking about. During a teacher shortage here they allowed people from other professions to get a temporary certificate to teach. Many of them didn't make it through one school year, and even more quit after one year. I know nothing about IT jobs, which is why you will not find me posting on threads about them.

 

[Christypl]

Just for your information, teachers aren't the only ones who bring home work. My husband doesn't work "shifts" his job is a managerial one and he often either works from home or brings work home. Insofar as interrupting with vacations, I can't remember the last vacation he wasn't either called from work with a problem that couldn't wait or had to check in with ongoing projects. I remember just boarding the monorail at Epcot when his cell rang, some problem from work, he had to go back to the hotel and work on it from there via his pc.

My point is that teachers aren't the only ones who work hard. No, having never worked as a teacher I don't know first-hand what its like to be one, but you have never worked in a fast-paced, high-tech job (at least doesn't sound like it) and can't appreciate what its like to work 60-80 hour works weeks, be up all hours of the night, get phone calls during your vacations (which are much shorter than any teacher's vacation), then be expected to sympathsize with someone who gets almost 3 months off during the summer (paid!) and has to come in for a one-day meeting! Teachers aren't the only ones who get burned out and need a vacation, seems at least 1/4 their work year is vacation, anyways!

Um...do you work??
Anyways...they hold back a portion of my pay during the school year then I get checks in the summer. I've worked in FL, HI and GA and it is always this way. As a teacher I work very hard. I am at school by 7...rarely leave before 5. I tutor low income, non English speaking students after school, volunteer when needed, meet with parents etc. So thats 50 hours a week. I spend weekends catching up on paperwork and lesson plans...another 10 hours. I love my job...but I also love my breaks.