I think, though, that teachers invite the bashing when they act as if they have it so much rougher than people in other industries.
I
don't think my job is more rough than other professional jobs. What I object to is the people who insist that it's a walk in the park because of all the "time off" we get.
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.
My husband has those days too; however, he also has the days when he leaves work at lunchtime to come home and get a start on mowing the grass -- it all sort of evens out for him; plus he earns 3Xs my salary, and that compensation is worth something! Having worked in another professional field before becoming a teacher, I can say with certainty that teaching is a unique job; it's hard to compare it to other professions.
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.
That DOES put ALL our jobs into perspective, doesn't it?
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 . . . 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.
Yep, yep, yep.
I mean, I doubt I had a single good teacher EVER.
ALL of them were horrid? Every single one? You know, at some point, you have to say, "Hmmm. Could it be me?"
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?
THIS is exactly the thing that gets under teachers' skin: the information is badly skewed, yet many people believe these "facts". If you want to complain, get the facts right!
In my state, those "guaranteed raises" are 2% step increases, which do not keep up with the increases in the cost of health insurance -- and, of course, another seven-year salary freeze could come along anytime. Where can I sign up for the incredible benefits? We're using my husband's health insurance because it is much better than ours. There is no retirement age for teachers; instead, retirement is based upon years of service -- to get full benefits, one must teach 30 years. We do have a traditional pension; however, we do not have stock options, travel opportunities, or bonuses based upon the quality of our work -- you know, things that many people consider really great benefits! I don't know about the unions; they're only strong in the Northeast. My work week is 40 hours per week, and I use every minute of planning time PLUS my own time at home to prepare for my teaching time -- no good teacher can walk right into the room and start teaching without any prep time, not even for a topic he or she has taught before! As for available teaching positions, we have a teacher shortage here in the South; we're being forced to hire lateral entry people because not enough people are willing to teach.
Teaching is definitely a calling that some people aren't cut out for.
You're exactly right -- anyone can learn the material, but a HUGE part of being a successful teacher is having the right personality in the first place. I don't mean to say that teachers are better or worse human beings, but the right disposition is at least 50% of the job -- and that can't be taught!
If I told you what teachers around here made, you would def. say many could justly cry poverty.
I'll just say one thing about my salary: If my husband suddenly lost his job and we were living on my income only, my two children would qualify for reduced-price school lunches. Should a professional with 15 years experience be able to say that?
I tell both my kids to go to college and become teachers.you have a guaranteed job, annual increases,free health insurance and a pension to boot.
I hope your children will investigate the job for themselves before they sign up. Yes, teaching is a good job, but most of the "perks" you describe are inaccurate. For example, our insurance is NOT free, teachers with tenure CAN be fired -- though it must be for cause, whereas a first-year teacher might not have her contract renewed simply because someone else who was qualified to coach cheerleading came along.
I maintain my position--teaching is a job and is no more or less inherently "special" or praiseworthy than any other job.
I agree. My problem is with people who start out with negative assumptions about teachers -- and until I joined the profession, I had no idea just how many of those people are out there!
NCLB - standards for education - problem why? Please enlighten me.
It stands for No Child Left Behind. It's a set of laws that was passed a couple years ago, and it holds schools up to certain standards -- very high standards -- without giving any real help in reaching these goals. Most teachers agree that while the lawmaker's desire to help child was sound, this set of laws have shifted the focus to testing rather than teaching.
