Attention school teachers?

Question

You work an average of 7 hours a day at most, for about 9 months. You get numerous holidays off, plus a month and a half in the summer. You moan about how you're under paid which is BS. I teach my kids a lot more than they learn in school. Don't tell me you stay late each day after school. I know that's BS also. Whenever I try to get a hold of a teacher after school, most of the time they had already left. Yeah, you may have to put up with the rambunctious student here and there, but you chose that profession. If you can't handle it, you shouldn't be doing it. In my opinion teachers today are lazy and are only showing up to get a paycheck. Sure, there are some that are good & take it seriously, but for the most part, you all thought it would be cool to work part time for fulltime pay and now your bored with it and our kids are suffering. My question is, why don't you stop taking up space & let someone who really wants to teach do it? This is more for H.S. teachers.

Ouch! Okay, maybe I was a little to general. Sorry about that. I know there are a lot of really good teachers. It's just when you have bad experiences with a few that you're dealing with, you tend to just want to pop off. Sorry about insulting those of yu that are good teachers and that enjoy your job. Those who are bad teachers, I still hold to what I said.

Answer 1

Hmm...must just be your school. You know that some teachers do coach sports, or have other after school activities that they help out with?? Maybe you should actually try to understand what teachers do for students.

Answer 2

LOL do you have any idea how much education you have to have to teach in most states. If you don't really want to do this you wont be able to. As for lots of holidays; guess what most schools require teachers to go to training during those days and a lot do not pay for the holidays. You get paid half of what you would in any other field for the same degree. Plus thanks to numerous state laws it's against the law for a teacher to stay after school; they can literally fire you if you do not leave the premisies without permission to be working extra hours.

Oh and by the way thanks to the amount of paperwork the government has forced onto the teaching force they have to work on average 30 hours unpaid each and every week just filling out forms which means the average teacher works 70 or so hours a week and gets paid for 35 of them.

As for kids suffering; teachers don't make policy the government does. Teachers are in charge of putting into effect what they are told they are allowed to do; if they try anything different they are subject to immediate revocation of their teaching credentials and not able to apply for unemployment. There's an old Russian saying my angry and ignorant friend "The fish rots from the head down" what that means is if an organization or group is performing badly it's almost always the people who run the group's fault.

Here's a hint check out how many governors and people on the state board of education have taught or even worked in the fields they're managing; on average the answer is not a day in their life and a lot of times they don't have any expertise at all in education. The ones that have taught normally haven't set foot in a classoom for 20 years. The system is failing because the people in charge of the system don't care; not the teachers.

Also as for choosing the profession and if we can't handle a few rambuncious students we shouldn't be here there are laws that say we are not allowed to suspend students; also there are laws mandating how often students can be suspended or punished in any manner before the district is penalized for it. You try working in an environment everyday and being attacked and not being allowed by law to teach the child how to behave or defend yourself or your students in any manner and then tell me how you like it.

As for the month and a half off; guess what we don't get paid for it which means that we have to take a portion of each pay check and put it away for those months and before you even bring up unemployment there are plenty of states that will not allow a teacher to file for it during their times off. Which means the average teacher when you factor in how much they make compared to how much they work end up making on average below minimum wage; we're talking anywhere from 3 to 5 dollars an hour here.

Answer 3

Can I get an "amen" to the responses???? GREAT feedback!! Let's rip this person to pieces!

Seriously, this has already been said, but you need a reality check. Some people have described their typical day, revealed their salaries, discussed what they really do during the summer, and so forth. I really suggest you shadow a teacher for a week, and not just any teacher, a high school teacher in an inner city school - it will blow your mind.

I get up at 5:45, shower and dress (teachers are expected to dress professionally), have breakfast, wake up the kids around 6:30, get them dressed, pack up, out the door by 7:00 at the latest, drop off the kids at their schools, at my school by 7:45 (earlier if I have duty, a club meeting, or something else that requires me to be there earlier, which means that I have to shift my entire morning schedule). School starts at 8:00, but I don't teach classes like a typical teacher, I set my own schedule, and I fill it up - we have 10 periods each day, and I am in a classroom for at least 8 of those, gotta eat sometime, which I usually do while checking email, gathering materials, consulting with other teachers, etc. I also do so much paperwork it would make your head spin, attend ARDs, trainings, committee meetings, and so forth. School day ends at 3:30, well, that's when the bell rings for the kids to go home. Then I do afternoon duty, attend staff meetings, more club meetings, department meetings, prepare for the next day, and so on. I have to force myself to leave by 4:40 because the daycare closes at 4:45 - now wouldn't that look funny if the daycare had to call Child Protective Services on me because I didn't come pick up my own kids. So let's see, 7:45 - 4:30? According to my calculations, that more than 7 hours. Oh, then I run errands, make dinner, clean up, bathe the kids, put them to bed, spend time with the hubby (I did get married for a reason, I actually like the guy). If I am not completely exhausted, yes, I work more, but usually it gets put off until the weekend - I actually spend more than half of my weekend, my days off, doing lesson plans, grading papers, preparing assignments, gathering materials, etc.

You know what, I'm not even going to dignify the rest of your complaints, I've already wasted too much of my precious time.

Answer 4

Wow. It sounds like you have had a rough time with some teachers.

And with your older kids right???!!!

Here's the deal, without knowing the school district or area you are in, I could never say what's going on with your kids. Not "all" American kids are suffering, this is just as bad a generalization as teachers saying "these kids come to school, and aren't raised at all, and don't know how to act right." I suggest you look at other districts in the area, which may be considered "better" academically.
Does your location have lower property taxes to lure new residents, or maybe lower school taxes? If so, that is an indication that your community is not willing to pay for better teachers, or to pay for schools. And trust me, teachers will go to districts that pay. You mock teachers for complaining about long hours in the classroom, or for saying they are underpaid. Well, a teacher has to have a Master's by their 5th year teaching in the State of Ohio to keep their job. If you look it up, a Master's in any other field might get you 100k easily. And I have talked to teachers in the hs realm who have said that they would go back to their engineering job in a heartbeat now. After teaching for 2 or so years, this person was ready to go back to his original field. Yes, teachers should realize that if they were in it for the money they should have picked another career. That teacher who left his 100k engineering job left it so that he could help kids. You should be thankful that more teachers don't change their mind. You complain a little about your job, right? Why shouldn't a teacher who makes barely 35k a year complain about that. If that's your biggest beef so what. Also, communicate to your child's teachers, and let them know how much both you and your child value their education. This in turn SHOULD help the educator to come to your side a little more, and help your child with whatever concerns you. But you should leave the "anti-teacher/education" attitude at the door. If you don't, of course the teacher won't want to deal with you.

Answer 5

Okay....I like my job that's why! And the reason some days I leave early is. I am helping out with the track team and I am an assistant coach. So if you need me just leave your phone number and we can schedule a meeting.
Also I have children three to be exact and they have after school activities also. And since dad works in Chicago that means mom gets to drive them to their various activities. Leave your number I'll gladly call you and we can schedule a time to meet.
I also have two elderly parents and I drive them to various doctor appointments and to the store my sister and I share the days on this. Not to mention my in-laws.
I've been a high school English teacher for over 20 years I like my job! And there's this thing called the phone you call the school and we talk and set up an appointment. Then we meet and I can discuss anything your child is having problems with. And may be we can find a solution to helping your child.
And lets not forget I get called a cracked whore by some kids although I am still not sure if I am a woman who puts out and uses crack or what? I've had to stop fights in the hallways . I've had kids come to class drunk, some kids were on drugs and the list goes on.
So what line of work are you in? You chose it right? Just like I did? So why all the anger? Care to explain?

Answer 6

I have 15 years experience and a master's degree.

I work on campus of 9 hours (7-4) and this does not include grading. I tend to spend 1 hour a night and a half saturday grading and doing paperwork.

I keep all appointments with parents, go to all parents nights, and do not clock in for this.

I coach sports. I cannot add up all those hours.

I am considered highly qualified in math AND science, I get job offers every year from other districts because of the scarcity of teachers in my situation.

I spend my summers vacationing in hawaii...(I'm sure this is what you think) but no, what I really do is take a class - this summer I will be taking classes for my national certification. (I pay for this)

AND every once in a while, I deal with a parent who does not respect what I do. I don't mention it to their child, I just do my best to teach them.

Answer 7

Wow! you really don't get it do you? come walk a mile in my shoes every once in awhile, then tell me it's all B.S. My "summer consist of me going to workshops to get the points I need to keep up my certificate. Workshops that I can't go to during school because between the parents and the kids I don't have time. Granted there are some teachers out there who are not as active as they should be but don't take it out on the rest of us. Now to the not being able to get a hold of your teachers, have you heard of email?
It sounds to be like you are a parent or maybe a student who has had a bad experience with at least one teacher. So instead of sitting here talking about things you don't know anything about. Why don't you stop taking up space on this site and go out and get your facts straight.

Answer 8

Now let me tell you the truth about the pay. Yes we get paid when we're off in the summer, but they take our pay and stretch it out for twelve months (24 payments). which brings your net pay down almost to half. We have to teach a test to children that don't always won't to sit down and listen because their parents don't think they have to. As far as being lazy and not answering calls they are probably at a meeting after school or home grading papers for the next day. The reason they do what they do is because they love your children and this is the thanks they get. Never judge another person until you've walked a mile in their shoes. I always say that they need to do a Survivor plot about a school. The people would have to work in a school and especially during the holidays and see how they would survive.

Answer 9

I was a teacher for many years. I taught special kids. I got there early and stayed late. I taught summer school so my kids wouldn't forget things over the summer. I took home as many hours of work as I did in school. those papers don't grade themselves ya know. yes, there were teachers that should have gone into another career, but most of them really cared about their students and wanted to help. we had a hard time getting the parents involved. we'd arrange parent-teacher conferences and the parent wouldn't even call to say they couldn't come. we'd send home notes or call the parents to say their child was having a problem and the parent would deny there was anything wrong. If you are having a problem with one (or more) teacher(s), call the school office and ask to talk to the guidance counselor or principal. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT! don't come here and vent. it won't help, except for you to let off steam. show up during school hours when you know the teacher is there and ask when can you talk? do whatever you have to to let the school know that you are concerned and want to be a part of the solution.

Answer 10

TEACHERS GET PAID TOO MUCH
I am fed up with teachers and their hefty salary guides. What we need here is a little perspective. If I had my way, I'd pay these teachers myself.... I'd pay them babysitting wages. That's right... instead of paying these outrageous taxes, I'd give them $3.00 an hour out of my own pocket. And I'm only going to pay them for five hours, not coffee breaks. That would be $15.00 a day - each parent should pay $15.00 a day for these teachers to babysit their child. Even if they have more than one child, it's still a lot cheaper than private day care.

Now, how many children do they teach a day - maybe twenty? That's $15.00 x 20 = $300 a day. But, remember they only work 180 days a year!! I'm not going to pay them for all those vacations. $300 x 180 = $54,000. (Just a minute, I think my calculator needs batteries.)

I know now you teachers will say what about those who have ten years' experience and a Master's degree? Well, maybe (to be fair) they could get the minimum wage, and instead of just babysitting, they could read the kids a story. We can round that off to about $5.00 an hour, times five hours, times 20 children. That's $500 a day times 180 days. That's $90,000....HUH???? Wait a minute, let's get a little perspective here. Babysitting wages are too good for these teachers. Did anyone see a salary guide around here??

Just something to keep in perspective.
Unfortunately it seems that you have not had many dedicated teachers in your life. I find your comment insulting and uncalled for.

Answer 11

Yep, you've nailed it. I'm on my summer break yet today I spent $200 of my own money to sign up for a 30 hour workshop that I get to attend on my summer break.
My contracted hours at school are from 8:15-3pm. So yes naturally you will not find me staying afterschool unless a parent has made an appointment to see me or I have a meeting. Tell me, in your profession, do you stay after your salary work time is over?
Have you looked into home schooling?