teacher myths

[doxdogy]

Are you under the impression that I am a teacher, I am not. I am just a mom that gets sick and tired of teachers getting bashed all the time when I know most of what people say about teaching is no where close to true.

Actually I was referring to this post of yours:

I will also bet that in some information sent home from the school or posted on the school website that there was information long ago about these assessments.

And I knew full well you were not a teacher. You made it clear in the daycare thread that mothers that worked were "dumping" there children at daycare. My father was a retired teacher and damn good one too. You will never find me bashing a teacher. Are all teachers good? Hell no they aren't all good. Just like ALL professions, there are teachers out there that have NO business teaching children. Any time some one posts about a school not giving advanced notice, you swoop down and PROCLAIM that they the school had to have given out the information earlier in the week. Therefore, I was trying to prove the point that it does happen.

 

[MM27]

Is that vent board here on the Dis? And if it is a teachers only board, why is it accessible by parents?

I do need to vent sometimes, but it is usually done in private, with someone I know I can trust. If I didn't get these feelings off my chest, I would probably be in the loony bin, LOL.

I don't know if this is what the poster was talking about, but Proteacher has two Vent boards. I can't tell you how many times I've seen posts here on the DIS about school or teachers and how parents are LIVID with something that was done, but this teacher vent board is a problem. It's a way to vent to people that understand what you are going through. Many of those posts provide good information and suggestions or just someone to listen to your issues. Yep, I've posted there

I have never seen a profession say "if spend you a week (day, hours) in my class you would know how hard I have it", "you would never make it a day doing what I do" all things along these lines more than I see teachers say it. That is what I mean by acting godlike.

There are tons of professions where if someone spend a day in that field they would be exhausted, not just teachers. But yet those are the lines I see all the time as if their jobs are SOOOO much harder than everyones. I bet if they spend a day in the life of a accountant, engineer, heck even a receptionist, they would see that those jobs are all difficult as well. Every job has it difficult times and lots of jobs are extremely stressful.

Because most people don't go around saying how easy other jobs are.

 

[goofy!]

I think we are in the same metro area but different districts. While there are similarities between your calendar and ours, I think there are a few more differences. I am in one of the poorest districts in the metro area, with the highest homeless rate.

Yes, ours is definitely on the opposite end of your district. While we have a few title 1 schools (one of which I work at), we have many schools that are in the middle to upper end of the economic bracket.

We were hit by the economy with some big layoffs, but did not have as drastic of cuts as you did.

While our teachers have some work days / professional development days built into their contracts, they still work their tails off just like any other dedicated professional in any other profession. They stay later than they have to, they work over weekends etc. I do not believe they have it any easier than in any other profession. I think the hardest would be the mental strain of always having to be there. No working from home if you are feeling ill, having to find subs if you need to be gone for any length of time, not leaving for lunch or appts, etc. You can't be sick and just call the boss and say you are not coming in. You are responsible for finding a sub that will be there before the kids get there and preparing a lesson plan for that sub. Your work will not just wait for you the next day when you are feeling better.

I've worked mgt in the high tech world and now in a school (and not even as a teacher) and I can say that even though my hours were longer in the corporate world, I was paid more and I had more flexibility and freedom in my corporate job.

 

[golfgal]

Actually I was referring to this post of yours:



And I knew full well you were not a teacher. You made it clear in the daycare thread that mothers that worked were "dumping" there children at daycare. My father was a retired teacher and damn good one too. You will never find me bashing a teacher. Are all teachers good? Hell no they aren't all good. Just like ALL professions, there are teachers out there that have NO business teaching children. Any time some one posts about a school not giving advanced notice, you swoop down and PROCLAIM that they the school had to have given out the information earlier in the week. Therefore, I was trying to prove the point that it does happen.

So you are going to stalk me around the boards because I don't agree with using daycare?? . Given the extensive nature of the website for her school district I DO find it very hard to believe that NO advanced notice was given, ever. Everyone misses things.

 

[Mimi1965]

news flash, kids are NOT convenient. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

And career women or working Moms who HAVE to work sometimes HAVE to do what they have to do-use daycare.

But you find that wrong

How confusing

 

[daisyx3]

Here's my experience (NW Ohio suburb):
I have 24 years experience and make $72,000. This is with a master's degree. If I had 3 more extra hours (I have Master's plus 12 but our next step is master's plus 15) I'd make another $1000 a year. I just haven't scraped the money together. I will get 1/2 reimbursement if I get a B or better in any course.
My district has had a 1% raise in the last 4 years. Ohio schools are heavily taxpayer funded. In fact, the Ohio supreme court has ruled that the Ohio funding system is unconstitutional. That ruling was about 10 years ago and the state government has yet to do anything about it.
This year I was supposed to go onto my last step--in my district the steps widen out to 2, 3 or 4 year increments. I'm on step 20 and I was going onto step 24. They decided to freeze the steps, so I have to wait a year. We doubled our health care contribution as well. This is WITH a union. We have a levy in November and if it doesn't pass it may be another year without a raise.
I will be honest--I never take summer classes. I have a "permanent certificate" and don't have to. I would if I had the money or didn't want to just spend the summers with my own kids. But teachers now CANNOT get one of those. It is all a licensure system now and there are no permanent certificates. I was grandfathered in just under the wire before they stopped giving them out. I do read quite a bit about my job and am the department head in my area at the HS.
I talked to a friend the other day who works in the district where I live (I don't live in my own district--I need to be closer to my parents) and he said on their contract I would make $82000. However, this is wealthier district and was less impacted by some tax decisions the state made (they decided businesses didn't have to pay tax on inventory, which took millions out of my manufacturing-heavy district). Now, however, they are also starting to suffer and I think they'll regret those constant 3% raises they've been getting.
We just hired a new guy fresh out of school and he makes $34000. There were a couple of days last week the guy just looked beaten down. I'm sure anyone who is trying to teach Language Arts to 6 periods of 10th graders (about 130 kids total) and prep them for our state test will tell you it is NOT an easy job.
Daisyx3

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have never seen a profession say "if spend you a week (day, hours) in my class you would know how hard I have it", "you would never make it a day doing what I do" all things along these lines more than I see teachers say it. That is what I mean by acting godlike.

There are tons of professions where if someone spend a day in that field they would be exhausted, not just teachers. But yet those are the lines I see all the time as if their jobs are SOOOO much harder than everyones. I bet if they spend a day in the life of a accountant, engineer, heck even a receptionist, they would see that those jobs are all difficult as well. Every job has it difficult times and lots of jobs are extremely stressful.

You're probably right. A better way to state it is, "If you spent a week doing the teacher's work - all the work, not merely observing - you would likely not make it through the entire week successfully".

 

[tvguy]

Here's my experience (NW Ohio suburb):
I have 24 years experience and make $72,000. This is with a master's degree. If I had 3 more extra hours (I have Master's plus 12 but our next step is master's plus 15) I'd make another $1000 a year. I just haven't scraped the money together. I will get 1/2 reimbursement if I get a B or better in any course.
My district has had a 1% raise in the last 4 years. Ohio schools are heavily taxpayer funded. In fact, the Ohio supreme court has ruled that the Ohio funding system is unconstitutional. That ruling was about 10 years ago and the state government has yet to do anything about it.

Okay, stupid question. Are there public schools that aren't 100% taxpayer funded?
I know voters felt education was such a priority in California that they passed a ballot Proposition some years ago that says schools can get no less than 50% of the entire state budget. Of course, in good times that's good, but times like now, with the state taking in $20 billion less than expected, even with schools getting half hte budget, it means the schools have to take a $10 billion cut.

 

[leighe]

Damn spoiled teachers and their 25 minute lunches!!!! What entitlement!!!!


Good lord. I have nothing to say on this thread that wouldn't get me points.

Yes, I am probably an idiot because I spend my day teaching your children when I could be doing lots of other things. I put up with insane mandates from politicians and ridiculous expectations from central office administrators who have never been in a classroom or have forgotten what a real classroom is like. I politely respond to parents who think they could do my job when they cannot even get their own kid to turn in their homework. And the one thing I think so many people forget - MOST TEACHERS ARE PARENTS TOO. We get it. We are not out to demoralize you or your precious snowflake.

I teach 183 kids a day. Forgive me if I am not perfect all day. Sometimes I can't even remember what period your kid is in. Every year I get more responsibility and fewer resources. I totally understand why most new teachers don't last 5 years.

 

[Acklander]

Yes, I am probably an idiot because I spend my day teaching your children when I could be doing lots of other things.

I spend my day making money for my clients when I could be doing a lot of other things too. But this is what I chose for my job. You chose what you enjoyed doing. If you don't enjoy it, they yes - you're an idiot for doing it. You spend half your life at work, you damn well better be doing something you enjoy. I don't know any job that doesn't have challenges and problems and jerks to deal with. But you put the great things about your job on one side of the scale, and you put the bad things about the job on the other side of the scale, and if it's tipping in the right direction - all is good. Only you can make that decision.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Damn spoiled teachers and their 25 minute lunches!!!! What entitlement!!!!


Good lord. I have nothing to say on this thread that wouldn't get me points.

Yes, I am probably an idiot because I spend my day teaching your children when I could be doing lots of other things. I put up with insane mandates from politicians and ridiculous expectations from central office administrators who have never been in a classroom or have forgotten what a real classroom is like. I politely respond to parents who think they could do my job when they cannot even get their own kid to turn in their homework. And the one thing I think so many people forget - MOST TEACHERS ARE PARENTS TOO. We get it. We are not out to demoralize you or your precious snowflake.

I teach 183 kids a day. Forgive me if I am not perfect all day. Sometimes I can't even remember what period your kid is in. Every year I get more responsibility and fewer resources. I totally understand why most new teachers don't last 5 years.

I have to say that reading this has me scratching my head. From this post you clearly don't like your job so why choose that career? Every job has challenges. Every job has higher ups that make demands and rules. It is not exclusive to teaching. Most jobs these days constantly heap on more responsibility for the same pay. If a person doesn't want to do it there are 10 people at the door who will jump at the chance. Again- that is how it is in every profession. Teachers are not the holy grail of terrible work conditions.

 

[declansdad]

I spend my day making money for my clients when I could be doing a lot of other things too. But this is what I chose for my job. You chose what you enjoyed doing. If you don't enjoy it, they yes - you're an idiot for doing it. You spend half your life at work, you damn well better be doing something you enjoy. I don't know any job that doesn't have challenges and problems and jerks to deal with. But you put the great things about your job on one side of the scale, and you put the bad things about the job on the other side of the scale, and if it's tipping in the right direction - all is good. Only you can make that decision.

That was a nice job taking only one part of her quote and changing the context.

What most people don't seem to get is that teachers all know other professions have there challenges as well. However, no other profession seems to have so many "experts" seem to be able to tell them how to do their job.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

That was a nice job taking only one part of her quote and changing the context.

What most people don't seem to get is that teachers all know other professions have there challenges as well. However, no other profession seems to have so many "experts" seem to be able to tell them how to do their job.

Really? Everytime you read the paper you have people saying how the Police didn't do whatever. Or that the Sports player should be doing this. Or how the Governor made a mistake and should have done XYZ. Meanwhile none of these people have any idea how things work in these professions yet everyone is an expert.

 

[golfgal]

I have to say that reading this has me scratching my head. From this post you clearly don't like your job so why choose that career? Every job has challenges. Every job has higher ups that make demands and rules. It is not exclusive to teaching. Most jobs these days constantly heap on more responsibility for the same pay. If a person doesn't want to do it there are 10 people at the door who will jump at the chance. Again- that is how it is in every profession. Teachers are not the holy grail of terrible work conditions.

Maybe she really thinks this but I took her post to be total sarcasm.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Really? Everytime you read the paper you have people saying how the Police didn't do whatever. Or that the Sports player should be doing this. Or how the Governor made a mistake and should have done XYZ. Meanwhile none of these people have any idea how things work in these professions yet everyone is an expert.

Yet, those are simply...comments. They are not legislated into real changes that affect working conditions on a daily basis.

 

[Acklander]

Really? Everytime you read the paper you have people saying how the Police didn't do whatever. Or that the Sports player should be doing this. Or how the Governor made a mistake and should have done XYZ. Meanwhile none of these people have any idea how things work in these professions yet everyone is an expert.

You don't even have to read the papers. I see posts every day on the DIS picking the castmembers at Disney apart for things like - they didn't smile, they didn't make me a towel animal, I didn't get to wake up tinkerbell, the CM should have done this, and should have done that because I spent XXX amount of dollars on my vaction. And the thing is, it doesn't matter how much you spent on your vacation, the person you're complaining about is probably only making 8 bucks an hour. Letters and e-mails and comment cards being sent left and right for every percieved slight.
I don't know of anyone who works a job that doesn't have to answer to others to justify their income.

 

[Acklander]

Yet, those are simply...comments. They are not legislated into real changes that affect working conditions on a daily basis.

Tell that to the cops, the firemen, the IRS agent or ANYONE who is paid by taxpayer funds.

 

[Mimi1965]

So you are going to stalk me around the boards because I don't agree with using daycare?? .

Given the extensive nature of the website for her school district I DO find it very hard to believe that NO advanced notice was given, ever. Everyone misses things.

I missed this-what is her school district?

 

[Ceila]

I have to say that reading this has me scratching my head. From this post you clearly don't like your job so why choose that career? Every job has challenges. Every job has higher ups that make demands and rules. It is not exclusive to teaching. Most jobs these days constantly heap on more responsibility for the same pay. If a person doesn't want to do it there are 10 people at the door who will jump at the chance. Again- that is how it is in every profession. Teachers are not the holy grail of terrible work conditions.

I think you completely mis-read her intent.

 

[RobDoc]

OK - this has gone on long enough.

Thanks for participating.