When did teacher bashing become acceptable?

[SavvyMom]

I am a 2nd grade teacher that has been working in excess of 10 hours a day since school started back. I answer to the Federal, State, and County government as well as my school administration. I also answer to parents, aunts, grandparents, and all other taxpayers. I have a lot of bosses. I have not had a duty-free lunch yet this year. Monday I worked 9 1/2 hours without a break. I work at least 2-3 hours at home most nights. I spend hundreds of dollars of my own money to provide for my students. I am responsible for their test scores whether they are smart, disinterested, abused, excited, loved, or ignored.

I love my students. My skin tingles and my heart flutters when I hear a child say, "Oh, I get it!" or "I did it!" I always have a hug ready and a complement on my tongue when they arrive. My classroom is safe for all children. I don't care if they are poor, disabled, gifted, rich, sick, ADHD, depressed, pretty, or any other classification - they are MINE for 7 hours a day and I love them.

I do my best. My best is not always good enough. My best is not always good. I'm there though. I care enough to be there and I will continue to do everything I can. Help me, don't hate me. I am not perfect, and I shouldn't be expected to be. I am human. I am a teacher.

Thank you. I wanted to get that off of my chest.

 

[MAKmom]

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I'm not one to bash teachers. My son has had some excellent ones. Some poor ones too, but that happens.

I think, though, that teachers invite the bashing when they act as if they have it so much rougher than people in other industries. There are a lot of people who work tremendously long hours in this world, and some of them don't get summers off with week long breaks for Christmas and Easter too.

 

[Devil_Dog99]

Anyone who teaches today should be afforded all the respect in the world. I feel bad that teachers tend to get a bad rap on these boards, but unfortunately (as is the case with a lot of things) people are quick to put in their two cents on bad experiences but slow to praise.

My father teaches. My neighbor teaches. I know for a fact they both care about their students and their jobs.

So to all teachers out there, I raise a glass to you!!!

Keep up the good work!!!

 

[elizke]

You should know that most of us appreciate teachers immeasurably! The patience required is something any parent should understand. We are trusting you to a great degree, and almost never are let down.

But you should also remember that every job has its pain in the rear people!!

And most employees benefit from a vent now and then too. Hang in there. I'm sure the kids love you.

 

[Southern4sure]

God bless you.

 

[EUROPACL]

I am a 2nd grade teacher that has been working in excess of 10 hours a day since school started back. I answer to the Federal, State, and County government as well as my school administration. I also answer to parents, aunts, grandparents, and all other taxpayers. I have a lot of bosses. I have not had a duty-free lunch yet this year. Monday I worked 9 1/2 hours without a break. I work at least 2-3 hours at home most nights. I spend hundreds of dollars of my own money to provide for my students. I am responsible for their test scores whether they are smart, disinterested, abused, excited, loved, or ignored.


Thank you. I wanted to get that off of my chest.

I'd blame that person that put that gun to your head and made you get into teaching.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I think, though, that teachers invite the bashing when they act as if they have it so much rougher than people in other industries.

yep I think so too.

I mean, my husband left the house at 4am this morning. He has worked all day, called me for a quick 5 minute conversation around 5pm. He said "Hi" to the kids -- and is right now being drug to hell and back at a Board meeting. He'll probably get home around 11pm tonight.

And even that day is nothing at all compared to some jobs. Try being a coal miner that has a mountain fall on your head. Now THAT'S a job to gripe about.

 

[tiggerlover]

You sound like a wonderful, giving, dedicated teacher. My hat goes of to teachers like you and I very much appreciate good teachers. My son is entering 6th grade and we have been very fortunate that he has had some wonderful teachers. Out of the 6 teachers DS has had there has only been 1 that we absolutely disliked, but we still worked with her for the benefit of our son. Out of those 6 teachers we have also been blessed to have had 4 FANTASTIC teachers.

When we love what we do we tend to give 110% of ourselves and often times we do not get appreciation for what we do (whether it is teaching or any other job). But rest assured if you continue to do what you love and do the best job you can, you can be happy in the knowledge that you have made a difference.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I'm not one to bash teachers. My son has had some excellent ones. Some poor ones too, but that happens.

I think, though, that teachers invite the bashing when they act as if they have it so much rougher than people in other industries. There are a lot of people who work tremendously long hours in this world, and some of them don't get summers off with week long breaks for Christmas and Easter too.

Oh no you Di'nt!


Mikeeee

 

[pearlieq]

Oh for pity's sake!

I would like to see where anyone, anywhere stated that all teachers are bad or where teaching as a profession was "bashed".

One mote of criticism breathed at a teacher and up comes the cry of "teacher bashing". Good grief! It's a job! Just like mine. Just like everyone else's. It doesn't entitle one to a special lifetime exemption on criticism.

Teaching is an important job and helps contribute to society. So is being a plumber. Or a mechanic. Or an assistant vice president for product design. We all have a job to do and we all contribute in our own way.

 

[SavvyMom]

I'm not one to bash teachers. My son has had some excellent ones. Some poor ones too, but that happens.

I think, though, that teachers invite the bashing when they act as if they have it so much rougher than people in other industries. There are a lot of people who work tremendously long hours in this world, and some of them don't get summers off with week long breaks for Christmas and Easter too.

I agree. I am blessed to have the breaks off with my own children. Personally, I don't think I have it rougher than all people in other industries, but I do have challenges. I worked in the business world for 16 years before becoming a teacher (I was 32 when I took my first teaching job). I assure you, teachers deserve just as much respect as any other professional. I can deal with the comments, "You work 6 hours a day and get 3 months off in the summer." (I wish) I've actually said to people, "Well, become a teacher and you can too." They respond that they couldn't stand being locked up in a classroom with a bunch of kids all day. Ummm. Okay. I do not get paid for any day I don't work. I do not get paid for holidays or summer vacation. I get paid for 190 days and I work 190 days. I get paid for 40 hours and I work usually much more than that.

Teaching is the only profession in the world that is treated as if it is a privilege. We should be thankful and never complain about anything. I did not settle for teaching. I answered the Call to teach.

 

[Mkrop]

All I can say is WOW.

I have the utmost respect for the teachers out there, I could NEVER do that job. I volunteer all the time at school and as much as I love helping the kids, so I do get that feeling a teachers gets when a kid finally gets it, but I could never do it on a daily basis all day long.

I aslo underatnd venting, no job is perfect, people on here complain about rude customers, grumpy coworkers etc. No job is perfect and yes some jobs are harder than others. I am a SAHM at a lot of people think that is a piece of cake too yet some days are better than others and some days I am ready to pull my hair out.

With that said, there are some lousy teachers, just like there are lousy mehcanics, doctors, hairdressers etc(even lousy CMs) so you have to not take all these comments personally either. Are they bashing the lousy teachers or all of them? I know if I have a complaint it is usually for something I dont agree with but I try not to lump all teachers into the same group as one my kid or me had an issue with either.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I have always thought highly of teachers, but since becoming a girl scout leader and experiencing first hand just how hard it is to keep a group of kids engaged and attentive for only an hour and a half at a time, I am now in awe of teachers, who do it all day long, every day.

I just got this in an e-mail yesterday, and it seems appropriate to post it here. I hope you like it:


The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest, "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make?" (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental...

You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and
every person at the table.)

I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant... You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?"

 

[friend of pooh]

I think that a big part of the problem is that most nonteachers don't know what the education world is really like today. Many figure that since they went to school, they know what goes on. But truthfully it is nothing like it was even 10 years ago. There is a tremendous amount of pressure put on teachers now due to NCLB. The majority of the public doesn't know all the ins and outs of that law. ALthough I am sure there are also teachers who dont understand NCLB.

The "teachers only work 10 months" garbage might be my #1 pet peeve. First, most teachers do something to better themselves or their classrooms over the summer. Second, there are many jobs out there that have more time off ( but it doesnt come all at once) and no one complains about them.

I love my job, but it is very frustrating to constantly have to defend my profession. I think we lose many wonderful teachers who get worn down by the bashing and lack of parental support.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, why would one think that being in one profession would make one criticism-proof?

I mean, I doubt I had a single good teacher EVER. I hated school, all initial 12, then 4.5 (the extra .5 because a teacher/advisor had another job on her mind during our advising appointment, and thanks to that I ended up with courses in the wrong order and had to stay an extra semester for 2 courses), then 3.5 for chiro school (actually those were the best teachers, and maybe one of them actually had teaching credentials).

I used to work in customer service at amazon.com. CS reps get bashed all the time. Car salesmen get bashed all the time (and many for good reason). Servers at restaurants, presidents of countries, bus drivers, flight attendants...

There is no profession that should think itself as perfect. In my life, teachers were not perfect. I had a 5th grade teacher have a nervous breakdown in front of us. Raving. Then she came back and taught a mixed 5th/6th grade class the next year, when the 6th grade teacher retired. Can I even express to you how BAD it was to have her as a teacher the second year? I had a math prof in college, the head of the department, who thought it was a grand idea to put extra credit questions about the Beatles on his Linear Algebra tests. He didn't seem to like to teach, and I was not passing anyway, and I grew up with a hippie mom who HATED the Beatles, so those questions didn't help. Questions on the subject would have been a better idea. Those around me who had grades like me did better, because they just happened to know the discology of that band. Ridiculous. I took it again, had to because I failed, with another teacher in the department who actually felt the need to teach the subject, and I passed.

Actually I have to say there was ONE good teacher, at a 2 year, private college I went to for a summer in order to take Organic Chemistry. Part of it was the book (much better than the tome I used my first semester that I took at university (I drop-passed the class)), part of it was the tiny class, but a big part was b/c of him. We were going to be his last class ever. I got an A that class. Yay for that guy.

But the rest of 'em were just horrid.

So why shouldn't I, why *wouldn't I, be wary of that profession?

 

[pearlieq]

I get paid for 190 days and I work 190 days. I get paid for 40 hours and I work usually much more than that.

By that logic, a teacher get paid darn well for 190 days.

My best friend is a teacher. In her first year she made $31,000. My first year in a business job I made $31,500.

I work 233 days a year, she works 190. Therefore, she makes $163.18/day and I make $135.19 a day. She is scheduled and paid for 37 hours a week. I am salaried for 40 hours a week. Between overtime for me and grading/extracurricular work for her, we probably work about the same hours in a week (in the weeks where we're both working--she works 8 weeks less than me)

So essentially she gets paid 20% more than me. I'm not quite ready to throw a telethon just yet.

I don't have a problem with it and I figure it's a fair market wage. But I resent it when teacher apologists cry poverty. I won't speak to conditions in inner-city and rural schools, but here in the burbs, it's a pretty good gig.

 

[SavvyMom]

My point is not to defend 'bad' teachers nor to say that our lot in life is worse than anyone else's. I am very blessed. I can take criticism, and - unfortunately - many times I deserve it! I screw up on a daily basis. I say things wrong and do things wrong. I was/am not forced to teach, I choose to teach. I love it! All I ask is that teachers are afforded the same patience/respect as any other professional.

 

[waltskids]

Delete post

 

[Hannathy]

By that logic, a teacher get paid darn well for 190 days.

I don't have a problem with it and I figure it's a fair market wage. But I resent it when teacher apologists cry poverty. I won't speak to conditions in inner-city and rural schools, but here in the burbs, it's a pretty good gig.

I agree and when you throw in the guaranteed raises every year, the incredible benefits, including ridiculously low retirement age, job security-it is almost impossible to fire a teacher in a strong union state, and I'll throw in short actual work hours -our elem teachers average less than 5 hours a day of actual teaching/being with the kids. It is an excellent job. If it wasn't such a good job why is it so hard to get a teaching position except for in inner city schools?

As far as working in the summer there are 6 teachers on my street and the only one who learned anything was the one who sat in his driveway practicing the banjo!