BuffettNews.com

Posted: **February 18, 2011 2:16 pm**

surfpirate wrote:My pet peeve?

I can take a vacation any damb week or 2 or 3 of the year that I want to.
She cannot. Has to be over "winter break", "spring break" or 2 summer months.

When she retires, we'll finally be able to take advantage of "off season rates"
and travel whenever we damb well please.

Same here, only replace the teacher with a student.

Posted: **February 18, 2011 2:59 pm**

sonofabeach wrote:
surfpirate wrote:My pet peeve?

I can take a vacation any damb week or 2 or 3 of the year that I want to.
She cannot. Has to be over "winter break", "spring break" or 2 summer months.

When she retires, we'll finally be able to take advantage of "off season rates"
and travel whenever we damb well please.
Same here, only replace the teacher with a student.

We pull the kids out of school for vacation, or have typically. Not sure with both of them with real school loads and Victoria performing at school year round we could do that now. We went to Aruba two Octobers ago and just let the kids skip school. No crowds and they were fine. Few years before that it was Mexico.

Posted: **February 18, 2011 3:15 pm**

buffettbride wrote:
sonofabeach wrote:
surfpirate wrote:My pet peeve?

I can take a vacation any damb week or 2 or 3 of the year that I want to.
She cannot. Has to be over "winter break", "spring break" or 2 summer months.

When she retires, we'll finally be able to take advantage of "off season rates"
and travel whenever we damb well please.
Same here, only replace the teacher with a student.
We pull the kids out of school for vacation, or have typically. Not sure with both of them with real school loads and Victoria performing at school year round we could do that now. We went to Aruba two Octobers ago and just let the kids skip school. No crowds and they were fine. Few years before that it was Mexico.

ya know, come to think of it we did that a few years back for a Key West vacation.

Posted: **February 18, 2011 3:24 pm**

Our school district had year round schools when Ryan started going to school. Actually you could have an option...some schools were on the year round track and some were 'regular' track.
We opted for the 'regular' school, but we knew alot of families that did the year round and liked it.
However, I think it was only for elementary and maybe middle schools.
Jr High and Sr Highs were only regular tracks.
There was talk about going year round for everyone, but nothing happened and the year round schools went back to regular school.
Never knew why....but big business makes sense

Posted: **February 18, 2011 3:38 pm**

buffettbride wrote:
sonofabeach wrote:
surfpirate wrote:My pet peeve?

I can take a vacation any damb week or 2 or 3 of the year that I want to.
She cannot. Has to be over "winter break", "spring break" or 2 summer months.

When she retires, we'll finally be able to take advantage of "off season rates"
and travel whenever we damb well please.
Same here, only replace the teacher with a student.
We pull the kids out of school for vacation, or have typically. Not sure with both of them with real school loads and Victoria performing at school year round we could do that now. We went to Aruba two Octobers ago and just let the kids skip school. No crowds and they were fine. Few years before that it was Mexico.

My parents did that a few times with me too - I always thought it was WAY cool!

Posted: **February 18, 2011 4:51 pm**

I taught at a year round school for a couple of years and loved it!! I taught for 9 weeks and then was off for 3. The kids came back rembering way more and didn't have to do much re-teaching!! There were alot of complaints from parents that had middle and HS kids that weren't on the same schedule. At one time I thought San Antonio was going to go to year round but don't know if they ever did. If the whole district adopted it I could see it working!!

Posted: **February 18, 2011 7:12 pm**

ph4ever wrote:Thank you Janice

Thank you Jack

Posted: **February 18, 2011 9:00 pm**

[quote="txaggirl91"]MammaBear, first of all, I am SO sorry for your loss. I've lost friends and family to suicide. I wish your son didn't have to experience death of a friend at such a young age. Secondly, I would have loved to have a parent who wanted to have an active role in the education of their child. I'm sure there are other teachers here who would agree.

Thanks.. It has been a tough few weeks. At 17, there should have been (and most probably were) signs. But, he was known to be a quite, very unassuming, popular kid. I think he didn't want to "bother" anyone with his thoughts. Obviously, there was more going on than anyone realized. Every once in awhile, the sadness really takes over. I want to be with my son every moment of every day and watch him like a hawk - we know that's not happening...

I really do feel for the teachers and staff at the high school in this case. If it were me, I would be questioning every day I spent with this child...what did I miss?? How did this happen?? From all accounts, no one had a clue, not even his best friends. Some of the kids are angry, some sad, and there are one or two about whom I have some major concerns...sad...

On a brighter note...my son took the initiative to ask for and then meet with the principal because he is not happy with the course scheduling/selection for his senior year. He told me about it after requesting the meeting. I was very proud that he decided to do this on his own. He was joking he should wear a suit. I am hopeful the Principal realizes what it took for this 17 year old to do this on his own....

Again...thanks for your response.....it is heartbreaking but hopefully we will get thru this....

Posted: **February 18, 2011 9:55 pm**

Thank you BEG.
I love teachers---especially if they had Ryan in their classroom

I respect each of them

Posted: **February 19, 2011 12:34 am**

txaggirl91 wrote:There are two types of teachers in our world today. Those that see teaching as a career and those that see teaching as a job.

Jon describes perfectly those who see teaching as a job. They get to school when they are required to and then leave as soon as they can. They are not available before and after school to help their students. They don't show up to extra activities unless they are required or they get paid. They do not put forth the extra effort to make themselves a better teacher or find ways to make learning relevant to their students. Their classrooms are full of worksheets, videos, etc. They grade only the minimum assignments that they have to per the district rules. Constructive feedback to student is minimal. They take every possible day off - using both sick and personal days. They have the attitude that if the school doesn't provide the materials then they don't need it.

The other kind of teachers see it as a career. They are there before they are required to be in the morning so they can help their students who can't stay after and are also there after school for those who can't come before school. They are always looking for ways to help their students learn and ways to update their knowledge in the area they teach. They show up at events because they know most of their students do not have someone at home who can come or want to come support them. They answer student emails after they get home because they know the student needs help. They show up to work when they do not feel 100% because they know how important it is to be there. They would rather be in the classroom than out of the classroom. They scarf their lunch or even skip it because 20 min isn't enough time to get to the workroom, eat and get back to the classroom before the students return. During the summer, they are in workshops, courses, etc to improve their teaching for their students. They pay for these things out of pocket - not depending on their school to pay for it. They take their papers home to grade, providing students with valuable feedback rather than a completion grade.

I am a professional educator. I have the experience and education to back it up. I take offense at people who say education is an easy job. I have worked in some of the toughest schools in Texas. I've also worked in schools where money wasn't an object. I have worked with all kinds of teachers, in all kinds of schools, all over the US. It is the same, no matter where you go. Teachers sign contracts for 9 months. They do not get 3 months off with pay. They have the option to have the 9 month salary paid out over 12 months. Very rarely do you find a teacher who does not have some kind of second income. Those that are career teachers use the summer to attend workshops, take courses or find ways to become better teachers, not sit on the beach and drink all day. They pay for courses and materials out of their own pocket because the school doesn't have the money to pay them.

Parental accountability is close to 0 today. Parents blame the school if their child fails. Teachers are expected to not only teach their subject area, but also teach values and morals. Have you heard the term "character education?" I bet every teacher on this board can tell you a story of where a parent has told them not to bother them regarding their child - that the student is the teacher's problem during the day. What some of these kids experience when they leave school is appalling. No child, elementary to high school, should have to deal with the things they do today. In addition, they have to work with students in their classroom who are not native English speaking (many who are not even literate in the native language) and have learning disabilities. They are required to individualize instruction to meet the needs of each student. When the majority of people on this board were in school, these students were in "special" classes and you never saw them. Now they are required by law to be in regular classroom. Let's not forget the gifted and talented student too. So let's see - I have to teach my content, how to behave, and modify instruction for my ELL, special ed and GT students - all who are in the same class together. Not to mention the paperwork I have to fill out documenting this so I don't get sued. It's easy as cake... pie... ice cream...

Most middle school and high school teachers see 150-175 students a day. Elementary teachers see the same 25 kids all day long. When I took a specialist position at an elementary school, it gave me a whole new respect for elementary teachers. They had to keep those "problem" students all day long while I could get rid of them after 50 min. On top of that, they have to deal with potty issues. My student who went into labor in class was nothing like potty issues.

You think teaching is easy? I invite you to take your two weeks of vacation from your job and come teach in one of the schools I work with on a daily basis. If it was so easy, why do over half leave after teaching 3 years? Teach for America and UTEACH are two highly touted programs. Once the participant's time commitment is up, they are out of there.

Jon, being a counselor and a coach is a totally different experience than being a real classroom teacher. Not that what you do isn't important but you don't have the pressure on you for the students to perform on standardize testing (which is another nest of bees). Athletics bring revenue into the district, I know that. Heck I live in Texas where high school football is king. If your district really provides all of the things you listed (money for grad courses, all the supplies you need to teach, etc), you are very lucky. It is an exception to the norm and feel lucky you have a job with them. Most schools get grants for professional development. Not one federal or state grant that I know of (and I have been awarded grants from every major federal agency) will allow food costs. Most state grants are flow through federal money for districts. If they do allow to pay for food, then it has to be a working lunch.

If I had to pick between taking a faculty position or teaching high school biology, I would take high school biology in a heart beat. Nothing beats getting an email from a former student telling you they are the first college graduate in their family and they would have never gone to college without you pushing them to follow their dreams.

Thanks you for posting this! It is articulate, thoughtful, and accurate. I spent 2 1/2 years subbing in Michigan before finally moving to New Zealand to land a full time job. I can assure you that the same issues everyone is mentioning here is the same all around the world. However, the main thing that needs to be reiterated here is that some teachers use teaching as a job and others as a profession. I feel sorry for those that consider it a job because in my opinion there is no better profession in the world. I love teaching and I love my students - even when they are shits - they're MY shits! Non-teachers all around the world have their opinions of teachers - so be it. I teach for my kids, not for acceptance of others. I'll take a decent wage (and that's all it is is decent) for the opportunity to teach everyday. Good teachers teach for the kids and because they love it, not for the pay.

Posted: **February 19, 2011 12:44 am**

NZParrothead58 wrote: Thanks you for posting this! It is articulate, thoughtful, and accurate. I spent 2 1/2 years subbing in Michigan before finally moving to New Zealand to land a full time job. I can assure you that the same issues everyone is mentioning here is the same all around the world. However, the main thing that needs to be reiterated here is that some teachers use teaching as a job and others as a profession. I feel sorry for those that consider it a job because in my opinion there is no better profession in the world. I love teaching and I love my students - even when they are shits - they're MY shits! Non-teachers all around the world have their opinions of teachers - so be it. I teach for my kids, not for acceptance of others. I'll take a decent wage (and that's all it is is decent) for the opportunity to teach everyday. Good teachers teach for the kids and because they love it, not for the pay.

Nicely said!!!!!!!

Posted: **February 19, 2011 7:02 pm**

i really hate threads like this sometimes. Yes I am spending two hours a day doing work at home. I am doing a long term sub assignment for sewing and wish to do the projects my students do at least three times before I teach it. In my classroom I have quite a few students who have been absent more then 25 days this year. They are gone for a long time and then I have to catch them up. Instead of doing prep I am giving them my prep period to try to help them. I have students who have families from all over the world. They regularly go back to places like the DR for two-four weeks and are two projects behind. I have to give them time to catch up. I have half a dozen students who are out often for out of school suspensions for 10-14 days, then back for a week and out again. I also have to help them catch up. Their parents are not disciplining them for the behavior or insisting they stay after school to catch up, so I'm doing this during prep time. Our school day ends at 2:10. I never see anybody leave before 3:30 in my wing unless they have an emergency or a club or something. On Thursday we are required to stay after for HSPA training. No, it's not paid.
Teachers don't really gripe about their pay until somebody decides that they don't deserve a raise for years in a row.
There are tired, burned out or poor teachers. Most good teachers know exactly who they are and don't like it any more then you do. I have worked in other fields and we always had a few who did not carry their weight. It's sad, but true.
Also, in order to teach I am required to obtain not one but two bachelors degrees. This takes at least 51/2 years of schooling. Even at the cheap state university, living at home, buying used books this would put the cost of entering into the teaching field at least at $60,000. As soon as you get your first job they pressure you to get your masters degree. I don't think most road workers have to do this to start work. My husband is an hvac mechanic. He works with his hands and pays his own benefits. But he gets paid very well for every hour of over time he puts in, isn't required to go to unpaid meetings, only goes to short retraining programs and makes quite a bit more then teachers.
You can complain about unions but states where teachers are unionized outperform other states academically. You get what you pay for. If a student graduates with their teaching degree and begins looking for work, and got all A's in their courses, has excellent references from the schools they did student teaching in, has subbed and also has excellent references and is looking for work, unless they need to they are not going to head to the non-union states where the pay doesn't go above 50,000. for a masters. They are going to go to the better paying districts. If they are forced to go to a poorer paying district they will stay there, get some experience and go to a better paying school.
I would love to see an easier way to get rid of poor teachers, but you have to create a fair way to decide what is poor. I also think it would be good to find a way to rotate teachers after ten-fifteen years without them losing seniority in order to gain from experience but prevent burn-out. There are teachers where I work who I honestly believe are suffering from PTSD. They have been hurt physically, assaulted verbally, and threatened to the point of real fear. But they still care for their students.

Posted: **February 19, 2011 7:31 pm**

Wow if you could be arrested for long rambling posts I think I might be looking at some time.

Posted: **February 19, 2011 8:10 pm**

OceanCityGirl wrote:Wow if you could be arrested for long rambling posts I think I might be looking at some time.

Did you ever start to go on one of the long posts...get to the end after 20 minutes of attempting to be coherent then...accidentially delete it all??? or is that just me...

BuffettNews.com

What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make

Re: What Teachers Make