Posts
Believe it or not, I teach by choice; I love the little people I work with daily, and feel compassionate that their choices can make this world a better place. They are going to need a solid foundation in understanding to make those informed choices.
I heard a comment on the radio the other day and it was one of those “wow, they are really ignorant” moments. The woman was on a talk show saying how “lucky” teachers are to get paid summer vacations, and she wished she had a job as easy and with so many days off.
I was kind of stunned at how stupid that sounded… Are there still people out in the real world who believe teachers have it made in their cushy jobs because they are off every day children are, and get paid all year long?
What a hoot! You really do have to feel sorry for people who have no clue about the real world don’t you? At least make an effort to find out the facts before making comments on the radio about something you really have no clue about…Jee wiz.
Teachers really do teach for the love of the children or they won’t last very long in the profession.
The truth about teachers is the following; please keep in mind it may vary from county-to-county, and state-to-state:
· Get paid for working 7.25 hours a day, 187 days a year (only)
· No paid holidays
· No bonus’
· Insurance—not the greatest, must pay for own dental and vision
· Must pay for most school supplies out of own pocket, includes your own soap and supplies for children who don’t have parents to buy their supplies
· Must donate extra hours working at home on lesson plans
· Must donate extra hours conferencing with parents before and after school
· Usually uses his/her off days recuperating from an illness that 24 coughing, sneezing, or ill children gave them
· Does lice checks, takes temperatures etc…(most schools have NO school nurse)
· Is the only profession I know of that is not reimbursed financially for the continuing education required
· Expected to teach children the things that were once taught at home in addition to academics
· Paperwork out the wazoo for special students and misc. requirements
· Approximate pay scale begins at only $24000, and in many places needs a Master’s degree to teach
· Usually suffer from feet, back, and stomach issues and usually can’t teach past the age of 60 on a daily basis due to some type of ailment.
Most teachers make ends meet because they are married to someone who makes a decent living. Teachers are not the only low paying helping profession out there; look at social workers.
Why do we as a society treat the helping professions so poorly? Is it because we know the people in those professions love children, and people, and helping others so they’ll do it any way?
It is true I made more money as a manager at an ice cream store then I do as a teacher at a public elementary school. Where does that say our American priorities are?
What can we do about it?
I think some people have forgotten that the parent is responsible for educating their own child. The teacher is to assist the parent in this endeavor by providing a free, appropriate education in the public school system. Our society has gotten to the point of expecting everything handed to us for free; some parents even sue the public education system for not doing “this or that” for their child. How has it gotten this far? With the exception of abuse, most of these lawsuits should not even make it to court.
I work in the same building, with about 30 other (helping profession) people just like me who would give their eye teeth to help a child (and just about do). They are some of the best, most caring people you would ever want to meet. Despite the poor economics and budget cuts making everything more difficult we have decide to stick with it for the sake of the children.
