“Fighting for the children while the shrapnel seems only to be killing teacher after teacher.”
I wrote a column for the print AJC on national Teacher Appreciation Week, which I will post later today. I decided to post this essay first to kick off the week. This was written by a local teacher who asked me to withhold her name.
Here is her piece:
It’s teacher appreciation week, again, and the fact that teacher morale is at the lowest it’s probably ever been shows that our nation is ignoring the reason that the week was started in the beginning. Think of it as the educational equivalent of taking the “Christ” out of Christmas. A holiday we’ll go on celebrating arbitrarily since it no longer has anything to do with teachers themselves.
Maybe you’ll send an apple with little Suzie on Monday. Or have little Tommy write a heartfelt note on Wednesday. Then pat yourself on the back on Friday for whatever dollar store treat you gave in thanks to the one person who spends more time with your child than you do. Some of you will do it because the classroom mother bullied you into taking part. Or because that’s what your parents did. Or because you want the teacher to tack on bonus points for your child to have a higher grade. Whatever. It doesn’t matter why you do it (and trust me when I say that the irony of a gift from a parent who just cussed me out at the last conference night isn’t lost upon my colleagues or me). The fact remains that more often than not, the gestures have little or nothing to do with the teachers themselves.
Still, let’s be clear about something right from the beginning – I appreciate those tokens. I’m honestly not mocking them – heartfelt or not, it’s always nice when someone gives you a pat on the back. There’s a file that I’ve kept for over a decade with every hand-written note of appreciation I’ve ever received from my students, and on my roughest days in the classroom, I pull it out to remember why I do what I do.
It’s been getting a lot of use these last few months.
Like many of my colleagues, I went into education because I truly believe teaching is the most important job in a democratic society. It is without hyperbole when I say that I believe when public education fails, a democratic society won’t be far behind. It’s the cornerstone of the United States with far-reaching power in how we live, vote, and behave. Teachers mold not only the future professions of our country but also the present citizens who walk the streets. The responsibilities and the intrinsic rewards for teachers are massive and overwhelming all at once.
It’s exhausting. And often thankless.
We’ve reached a time in this country where teachers are the only profession being asked to ignore the fact that we live in a capitalistic society. When a teacher complains about pay, they are just being selfish and should be glad that they have a job. Because, as we all have been told from a friend or family member — you knew what you were getting into.
Well, obviously, I didn’t. None of us did.
I never expected people outside of education to create impossible standards and expectations. I never expected to be villainized in critically acclaimed documentaries about super heroes who never show up. I never expected to receive a contract that reflected a lower salary than I’ve made in the five years. And I certainly never expected to have my first amendment rights taken away when all I want to do in the world is in defense of my job. In fact, just in writing this, my job is in jeopardy for saying what so many people are feeling.
It’s beyond exhausting and thankless – it’s soul-crushing.
I’m not sure when this happened to education or when the expectations for teachers reached an all-time high while the compensation reached an all-time low. But I do know that we’re involved in a war on education in which we claim to be fighting for the children while the shrapnel seems only to be killing teacher after teacher.
Here’s my battle-cry: we are not in an either/or situation.
I can be in the fight for the children AND still expect reasonable pay. Until I can pay for groceries or my light bill with my students’ appreciation or their test scores, school districts across the country must be willing to pay teachers for their services. That’s not being selfish, just practical. And I’m not talking about the overtime spent tutoring or at meetings or at school carnivals or lesson-planning while falling asleep at night or grading essays or writing letters of recommendations for the students. I’m talking about a decent hourly wage. You expect it in your job, so why can’t I expect it at mine?
Each of us has a memory of that teacher who touched his/her life and likely changed our path in life. That’s how important this job is. I can’t say the same about any other profession with which I’ve come in contact. And yet, every other profession is able to talk about their jobs and how they’re compensated without anyone giving them a crazy look or mentioning the hours that they don’t work (seriously, stop telling teachers that you’re jealous of their summer breaks – we hate that. We’re only paid for 186 days of work, so that’s all we work. None of us get paid for the summertime that we “have off” unlike the paid vacations that many of your jobs provide). My point is, stop thinking of me as the bad guy. Help me. Help us.
You know as well as I that neither you nor your children will ever stop to remember the educational lawmaker who played an important role in your lives.
Again, I love my students. That is, after all, the one factor that keeps me going back to my profession year after year, that’s true. But don’t use that against me. Don’t pretend that I must choose between caring about them and caring about my own livelihood. Why must I choose between one or the other?
The fact that I care about what I do is exactly the reason why I will eventually not be able to afford my home. The reason I won’t be able to live in Atlanta anymore. The reason I’m held hostage into signing an unfair and possibly illegal contract year after year. The reason that my workday keeps getting longer while my pay keeps going down. The reason that there continues to be fewer teachers to appreciate each year.
Maybe that’s the real reason the week has nothing to do with us anymore.
State governments don’t care. Boards of education don’t care. We don’t expect them to. They are simply balancing a budget because that’s what we hired them to do. Well, I, too, am balancing a budget – my own. And I can’t keep paying bills when funding continues to be cut. I can’t continue to keep a career that simultaneously pretends to appreciate me yet continues to pass laws and budgets that reflect just the opposite.
There are many of you that won’t agree with me, I know that. Many of you who will read this and feel that I’m just bitter, angry, and should be glad that I even have a job. Many of you who will thank a teacher in the press then go back to your offices and pass laws against them citing them as collateral damage of a zero-budget balancing mentality. Many of you in the same profession as me who will continue to work countless hours and spend money that you don’t have on your students because you’ve bought into the idea that they matter more than you do.
Instead, before you think those thoughts about me, think about that teacher who changed your life. The one who gave selflessly his/her time, energy, and self-worth to improve you and your history. Think of how much that teacher meant to you and your path.
Now, what is that worth to you?
If you truly want to show your appreciation for that teacher, in lieu of a gift card this year, make a phone call. Let those in control of balancing budgets and passing educational reform laws know that you won’t accept the budget being broken on the backs to teachers any more. That your child’s education will not be collateral damage in for people who cannot simply balance a checkbook. That you won’t sit idly by and watch a democratic society fall apart.
Do it for the fact that the teacher who might have changed your child’s life might be one who just left the profession because it cost more to them to stay in it.
Be the Superman or woman that your teachers are waiting for. If you don’t save us, no one will.
Oh, and Happy X Appreciation Week.
Bah humbug.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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148 comments Add your comment
Two Cents
May 7th, 2012
4:00 am
I agree 100% with what has been said. I make every effort to thank the teachers often for what they have contributed to the lives of my children and grandchildren but I am sure it isn’t said often enough. I have had more battles with local politicians and the Board of Education over their treatment of our teachers than I can count only to be told basically,especially by the politicians, to shut up. The mistreatment of our teachers needs to stop.
Jason
May 7th, 2012
4:08 am
*gives Maureen a standing ovation
This is EXACTLY what teachers have been saying for years. Come on, society, work WITH teachers. Stop fighting them.
Peter Smagorinsky
May 7th, 2012
5:32 am
The fact that such a passionate educator can’t affix her name to this appeal speaks volumes about the teaching profession right now. When teachers fear that by explaining to the public how the current oppressive climate affects their will to work, they risk their jobs, there’s something horribly wrong. I hope that by some miracle Arne Duncan reads this essay so that he can see the effects of his policies, which coincide with the growth of widespread professional despair among teachers, for all the reasons that this teacher so beautifully articulates. Thanks to Maureen for printing it for us.
Western Bypass
May 7th, 2012
5:43 am
Thank you teachers!
bootney farnsworth
May 7th, 2012
5:47 am
preach on!
my only issue with her is she didn’t go far enough. our society has become Maoist in its open hostility for education.
inner city culture often states getting an education and using proper
grammer is “acting white”, while being unemployed, violent, and wearing
pants around your knees is “keeping it real”
parents and lawmakers treat us with open hostility and ridicule.
our administrators, who should be our greatest allies, are the worst offenders. besides the cronyism, nepotism, and near complete lack of the most basic restraint (yes, I mean Tricoli here, but he’s not the only one by far), our outright hostility shown towards educators is astonishing.
we claim to be about preparing students for a better life/be a contributing member of our society. truth is, we treat the students little better than we treat educators. giving them grades they didn’t earn is not a kindness. forcing them to volunteer under the guise of
“service learning” is little more than endentured servitude.
at GPC, the new Sustainability girl Joanne Chu -and we wonder why we’re millions in the hole with no idea how we got there- likes to talk about
“social justice”. how one earth can any entity claim to be for “social justice” when it is engaged in open warfare with its employees?
worst of all to me is the outright encouragment by administration to have faculty and staff turn on each other. most educators are -like it or not- enaged in bloodsport against each other. the lack of respect from our students, the hostility from our so called leaders, the contentempt shown us by the legislature has created an environment of personal and professional fratracide that makes the Hunger Games look like Woodstock.
bootney farnsworth
May 7th, 2012
5:55 am
@ Peter
we all know putting our names on our posts is professional suicide.
I admire people like Dr. John who has the cache to be able to be open about who he is, but most of us can’t take the risk.
at GPC, question something and you’ll be told you’re not a team player, you “don’t get it”, and its implied or flat out stated you’re not as good as you think you are.
then, of course, comes the “be glad you still have a job” comment/thinly veiled threat
Elizabeth
May 7th, 2012
5:56 am
She said it all. And all she she said is absolutely true.
bootney farnsworth
May 7th, 2012
5:58 am
I think we should pick a date in the fall and all walk out for the day.
from pre K to UGA, all of us walk out for an afternoon.
the biggest single reason for management encoraging us to kill each other is they know something we don’t. we’re actually more powerful than they are.
bootney farnsworth
May 7th, 2012
6:02 am
sorry about the spelling. I’m tired, pissed, and (somebody said this long ago) I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired
bootney farnsworth
May 7th, 2012
6:06 am
a simple premise:
its often asked why the kids act up so badly in the classroom.
they just openly reflect society.
society doesn’t respect what we do – why should they?
mountain man
May 7th, 2012
6:25 am
Unfortunately, things will not change until there is a true shortage of teachers who want to come into the profession. The working conditions are horrible, why any young person would ever aspire to this profession is beyond me. As for the veteran teachers, you should be looking for a professional position outside of teaching (or outside of public schools). But as long as there is this endless parade of new teachers (since the average half-life of a teacher is about 5 years), there will never be a shortage, so administrators feel they can do whatever they wish and teachers will accept it, just to have a job. Until there is a teacher shortage, things will never change.
I love teaching. I hate what it is becoming...
May 7th, 2012
6:26 am
I wonder how long it will be before the first “whining” comment is made.
Off to the trenches, my friends…
Dr. Craig Spinks/ Georgians for Educational Excellence
May 7th, 2012
6:47 am
BRAVO, Bah (H)umbug.
Moreover, Peter’s point about writer anonymity is telling. I survived a 30+-year career because of tenaciously loyal, smart lawyer-friends and my hard-nosed “Cuz’s” being the local DA.
Blame the right people...
May 7th, 2012
6:51 am
I understand her situation. I worked as a police officer for years and grew frustrated with the politicians and the public. It’s a bad situation made worse by unions, politicians, parents who don’t care and a some “bad apple” teachers.
My advice? Get out. Find a job a private school or in another teaching-type job where you are more appreciated if not better paid. You’ll be happier and enjoy life more. You are bailing water on the Titanic and howling against the wind. Get out. It won’t change and will only get worse. It took me several years to leave the police department, but it was the best move of my life. I still have the friends and good memories, but the frustrations are gone. You can still contribute to good of society but in a different way. Get out. Either that or become a politician and play the game.
Sage
May 7th, 2012
6:51 am
Retiring from teaching in 13 days after 35 years in the classroom. Enough is enough! Sine die!
Blame the right people...
May 7th, 2012
6:53 am
Sorry for the typos, but you hit a nerve and I typed before thinking. Great for a comment on teaching! I be edumacated!
Jack
May 7th, 2012
7:09 am
Circumstances are such that I talk to teachers on a regular basis. None of them are happy with the present system and the number one problem is unruly students. They can’t teach to the students who want to learn due to having to deal with students who have no idea how to even act like a student. As always, the problems start at the child’s home.
teacher&mom
May 7th, 2012
7:14 am
Our small system will experience a record number of retirements this year. A few more are leaving the profession earlier than planned. Solid, competent teachers are walking out the door.
And guess what?
Due to the failure of our state legislators to PROTECT education, not a single position will be filled.
We are going to increase class sizes….again. We are going to cut programs….again.
We are at a tipping point in this state and in my district. The long term effects are chilling and for some students will be irreversible.
I wish I had the nerve to add my real name to these posts. I once commented on Jay Matthew’s blog about the whistleblowers who were fired or reassigned in APS. The commenters were appalled at the lack of support for those teachers. Many wanted to know why the union did not protect those teachers.
Teachers in GA have no protection. None whatsoever. And those in power intend to keep it that way.
Morale is at an all-time low.
school_is_home
May 7th, 2012
7:22 am
Cry me a river. I’ve met a few social workers in my time, I suspect that their hearts bleed for you and they’re all hoping you’ll walk in their shoes for 180 days.
- don’t sign the contract, they can’t spank you if you don’t,
- do a little more due diligence before you pick your next career
- lobby a teacher-turned-politician to protect your ability to be a whistleblower, as uncovering the ills jeopardizes your job. What say you? Low pay, bad working conditions, horrible bosses, defective work materials, unsafe working conditions? Unionize, my friend.
Some of what I’ve written is sarcasm, some tongue-in-cheek. While I value good teachers (even the ones that rub me the wrong way), society is showing you that they don’t value your efforts. Quit whining and pick a solution that you like and exercise your democratic right to do something about it. Something likely to result in results other than a reprimand or worse.
school_is_home
May 7th, 2012
7:41 am
@I love teaching … oops, just realized that I’m the first “quit your whining” comment. I feel sorry for them, but seriously, I’ve been to poor countries and I’ve been to the former East Germany. The rest of the world would kill to have our problems and some of the things that Americans complain about is truly whining while Rome is burning.
Just read a story about 2 doctors that started a hospice for children because they didn’t like the current options. Why don’t some (more) of the teachers band together and create institutions of learning to compete with public schools and show them how it *ought* to be done? Are there none within the ranks smart enough to do this? How about a business plan competition for teachers? Given the current budget of your school system, design a more effective and efficient way of delivering your product to market.
The more I think about it, the more fun I’m having. For example, children will not be allowed into the classroom unless a parent/social worker shows up at least twice per year for conference. Children who’ve had X disciplinary actions must have a parent (or proxy) chaperone the child through an entire week of school. Food and mentors for all children in need. No supplies from the teacher’s pocket – get creative.
That’s all my free time for today. I must go tend my children as I don’t want to have to chaperone them for a week later on.
Angela
May 7th, 2012
7:47 am
Good Morning All and Especially DCSS,
It is more than apparent that our SUPER thinks that we are stupid. Our treat is an apple and cookie.
Does she really have some nerve. Is this suppose to keep us quiet? How much money did she spend on apples and cookies? This_____________ (you fill in the blank) is truly crazy.
Perhaps it is time to stage a real walk-out and merge over to central office.
Ron F.
May 7th, 2012
7:48 am
“But as long as there is this endless parade of new teachers (since the average half-life of a teacher is about 5 years), there will never be a shortage, so administrators feel they can do whatever they wish and teachers will accept it, just to have a job. Until there is a teacher shortage, things will never change.”
How very sad, but yet how true. Unfortunately, it will take that for those in power to realize that teachers are a more important commodity that oil, and that we can’t continually heap coals on their heads for the ills of the entire society.
As I thought about this topic this morning, I realized that I do feel appreciated for the most part by parents. Maybe I’m lucky, but every parent I talk to is at least somewhat supportive. The appreciation wanes quickly the further up the administrative chain. By the time you reach the state legislature, we’re villains. If there’s a systemic problem, it’s in our leadership and unfortunately they’re the ones controlling the dollars and the environment within which we work. Their only allegiance is to the big dollar donors, not the constituents who elected them. Until we clean up the state house, nothing will change.
Jeff
May 7th, 2012
7:50 am
Both my wife and I are FORMER teachers. Me for a couple of reasons, and the conditions being the one that ultimately broke the camel’s back. Her, specifically because of the conditions. She literally had her dream job – working as a teacher in the very HS she had graduated from just a few years earlier, working almost within walking distance of the house she grew up in. Yet she quit after the end of last year, because the conditions even in our fairly ideal small SWGA County were absolutely disgusting. When we first met, I had just quit teaching in the middle of the school year due to the conditions. Before we were engaged, I had a job in my degree field – programming. That first job, we actually made roughly the same amount of money – her as a 4th year teacher, me as a first year programmer. 5 years later, she quit a year ago and I am very nearly double the salary she had when we got engaged. I think she was MAYBE 3k higher than when we met when she quit. Now, I do some pretty impressive work – I’ve done work that literally controlled the nuclear waste at the Savannah River Site, and I currently work for the leading anesthesiology billing software company in the nation (and possibly the world). And I currently work for a private firm. But if you HAVE to pay taxes, who would you rather that money go to: the cop who will murder your grandmother without blinking an eye (hello Kathryn Johnston), or the teacher who will give everything they have to do the job that you either cannot or will not do yourself?
GIKJH
May 7th, 2012
7:50 am
“Each of us has a memory of that teacher who touched his/her life and likely changed our path in life.”
Yeah, and each of us also has many, many more memories of the power-tripping, time-serving drones who made our lives miserable for twelve years. Based on your level of self-regard, I think I’m safe in guessing you’re one of those.
Joe Frank
May 7th, 2012
7:52 am
While I agree that the profession of teacher had come under more review in recent tmes. you kinda got what you wanted. As pay has risen, so has scrutiny. Say what you want, in GA teaches are paid more than at least those in 45 other states. The bosses? Were they not former teachers? The main reason your cries fall on deaf ears in society is that we really can’t see what or why you are complaining? Work hours you say? Most of us “work” for far more hours per week, in worse environments, and for less money. All I can think to reply to you is, “things are tough all over!”
Entitlement Society
May 7th, 2012
7:55 am
Just curious – why do most of the disgruntled teachers seem to be from the public schools? Do teachers at private schools face the same issues? I am honestly asking the question…
Do the math
May 7th, 2012
8:03 am
I wish someone could ensure that Chip Rogers reads this.
Mary Elizabeth
May 7th, 2012
8:08 am
“I’m not sure when this happened to education or when the expectations for teachers reached an all-time high while the compensation reached an all-time low.”
================================================
You cannot solve a problem until you can correctly analyze what caused the problem. The assault on teachers started with the stealthy assault on state governmental workers by ALEC, and others with a market-based, private-sector ideological agenda for our nation. (See link below.) Once teachers have been maligned sufficiently to sway the general public against them, by this stealthy propaganda, then those market-based ideological types (who seek profit in everything), can soar into state governments with a “school choice” agenda, in which the private market will control education for profit. Teachers will have less pay and less benefits than they presently do. State Rep. Jan Jones, who sponsored the state charter school amendment to Geogria’s Consitution bill that will be on the ballot in November, also sponsored a bill in this past legislative session which would have curtailed teachers in state charter schools from becoming members of Georgia’s Teacher Retirement System.
State employees have been cut in states across the nation by .5%, but in Republican states they have been cut by 2.5%.
Parents, if you allow the market place to control every aspect of our cultural life, including education, in the long-run especially, your children will suffer the consequences.
The link, below, entitled, “ALEC puts its fangs to education,” was written by a member of NEA:
http://www.educationvotes.nea.org/2012/05/03/alec-puts-its-fangs-to-education/
Teacher Reader
May 7th, 2012
8:09 am
As a former teacher, I do not understand why teachers complain. If you don’t like teaching, what it’s become, what it’s becoming, how much you get paid, the long hours worked during the school year, the summers off, etc, than move on. Teacher appreciation is a made up holiday. One should not get into teaching because of the pay and needing praise. There are many other professions that are not thanked for the good that they do. I’ve taught in truly rough environments and had parents give me positive feed back in words and short notes which have meant more than any teacher appreciation week gifts that I have ever received. Unsolicited praise is much more meaningful than the stuff received during teacher appreciation week. Does the unsolicited come often? No, but it so much more meaningful.
Teachers will get respect when they stop complaining and actually put that energy in to their jobs.
Bas
May 7th, 2012
8:11 am
“Each of us has a memory of that teacher who touched his/her life and likely changed our path in life.”
Yeah, and each of us also has many, many more memories of the power-tripping, time-serving drones who made our lives miserable for twelve years. Based on your level of self-regard, I think I’m safe in guessing you’re one of those.
something has to give
May 7th, 2012
8:13 am
The essay brought tears to my eyes. Our country is positioning itself to be taken over my a totalitarian leader. This is the prime time to spread propaganda. Promise teachers that they will get a hefty pay raise, reduced class sizes, and classroom support, and they will most likely cast a ballot in your favor.
I agree with the previous poster.
Georgia’s teachers need to unionize and plan a massive walk-out during the fall. Drastic measures are needed immediately.
And There It Is
May 7th, 2012
8:15 am
Two people, as predicted, making comments about whining. If you haven’t been in a classroom, you have no idea what this teacher is talking about, and you need to shut your piehole. Did you actually read and think about what the writer was saying, or did you skim the first paragraph and jump down to comment?
When I started teaching 13 years ago, it was nothing like it is today. I am a passionate educator; I LOVE my job, and I do it for all the right reasons (kids, kids, and kids). When I quit public school two years ago, I was making very good money because of my experience and master’s degree in education. I never whined about salary, even when it froze, because that’s not what it was about for me, and believe it or not, that’s not what it’s about for most educators.
Everything in the essay above is 100% true. You can blow it off and talk about huge salaries and summers off, but I didn’t have one colleague who had summers “off,” and most teachers work summer jobs or tutor throughout the year to make ends meet. In addition, they take classes to keep up with the ridiculous “new” reforms that are constantly implemented. There was not one year in the last six of my career in GA without some “reform” or program being implemented.
I still teach, but I do it in a private school I started. It is 100% about the kids; if it doesn’t benefit them, it doesn’t happen. The pay is lousy, I don’t have benefits and there is no time off, but it is the best job I have ever had.
Entitlement Society, there is some of this in private schools, but not nearly as much and/or the issues are different. It is case-by-case for private schools widespread in public schools.
Caught you
May 7th, 2012
8:18 am
I see Maureen is censoring posts again. Just like a typical petty-tyrant public school teacher, always ready to dish it out, never able to take it.
irisheyes
May 7th, 2012
8:19 am
@I Love Teaching, to answer your question about the first “whining” comment. It looks like 23. I’m sure there will be more as the morning rolls on.
Old Physics Teacher
May 7th, 2012
8:21 am
“I love teaching. I hate what it is becoming…”
The answer is: 7:22 minus 6:26 equals…? 56 minutes!!! That’s how long.
Guys, my daddy taught me that, “What you do speaks so loud, I can’t hear what you’re saying!” Read “school-is-home”s comments. She’s telling you what ‘conservatives’ are doing. They don’t care about public school teachers. They want them destroyed. Everything the ‘conservatives’ do toward education is specifically designed to drive the teachers out of public education. That way, if there are no teachers, there are no public schools. It’s just that simple! Either you can believe one of two possibilities: (A) Either the ‘conservatives’ are just that stupid, that they really believe that instead of teaching readin’, writin’ and ‘rithmatic, to every child that wants to learn, we can teach a love of poetry, algebra, geometry, AND trigonometry to EVERY CHILD THAT WALKS IN OUR DOORS, or (B) they KNOW they have given us an impossible task and are trying to destroy the (alert, alert – sarcasm coming) industry. You pick – your profession depends on it.
Oh, and by the way, until we stop the practice of taking failing, spineless teachers and putting them in administrative positions of power over us, the (sarcasm coming again) “support staff” will continue to help out the ‘conservatives.’ You know: stupid is as stupid does. Disclaimer: I voted for Goldwater, Nixon and Regan – and would again.
fultonschoolsparent
May 7th, 2012
8:22 am
Bravo
me
May 7th, 2012
8:24 am
Pay raise? I haven’t had a pay raise in 5 years. My husband pulls in as much money working side jobs as I do a month teaching. A little ridiculous. I wish those of you who have never stepped foot in a classrom after you graduated would come spend a week trying to teach students who don’t want to learn, measure up to administrative standards that are impossible with your resources, and conference with parents that won’t answer your phone calls or show up to meetings to discuss their child who never does anything wrong and it must just be you.
TaylorVol
May 7th, 2012
8:28 am
I agree wholeheartedly with the teacher. Teachers, firefighters, nurses, and police aren’t paid what they are worth. They do more for our communities than any other profession. True story, my wife was attempting to provide “additional credentials” which would mean about $2,000 in additional annual salary. The “central office” employee asked why this was important, and if she was only doing the job for the money??? This was an aid position that barely even paid for daycare! Unbelievable, I guess the central office expects folks to volunteer. Ha.
MJ McKay
May 7th, 2012
8:32 am
Amen!
something has to give
May 7th, 2012
8:33 am
@ Former Teacher: You make no sense. We live in a capitalistic society, so pay is important. People in other professions make more money than teachers. I could care less about the thanks, but I would like compensation. I cannot tell Georgia Power, SCANA, or the mortgage company that I am paying them with “thank yous.”
HS Public Teacher
May 7th, 2012
8:36 am
Teachers, especially the good ones, are giving up on the profession. It just isn’t worth it anymore – even if you are in it “for the children.” Two of five in my department are leaving.
No one really appreciates what a teacher goes through day to day. Too many (I would say most) students are completely rude and disrespectful. The students assume that the teacher will provide pencils and paper and don’t even bother to say thank you (forget that the teacher pays for this out of her pocket). The kids are rude and mean to the ADULTS and don’t care.
Why do they not care? Because their parents raised them that way. How can I say that? Well, after years of calling home and parent/teacher meetings it is easy to see where these kids get their behavior.
Many parents attack teachers at every turn. I have called home out of concern for their child only to be scolded for hours. I have had a mother break down on me and go on to complain about her husband. During a parent/teacher meeting, I have had a parent actually say that their child is “perfect” and could never do anything wrong! Interestingly, that “perfect” child threw curse words around DURING the meeting….. and the parent said nothing!
I could go on and on.
However, the bottom line is this – forget about charter vs. public or even private vs. public – what will the children do once every single last GOOD teacher is run out of the profession????? All that will be left are the ones that cannot get a job anywhere else and are nothing more than warm bodies to baby sit.
Is this what you (the general public in Georgia) want?
RJ
May 7th, 2012
8:38 am
“Teacher appreciation is a made up holiday.” Well, aren’t all holidays made up?
Georgia code does not allow teachers to engage in collective bargaining. That means no unions! It would be great if we could. The working conditions are awful. We have few rights. I work well over 40 hours a week. I spent this past Saturday working at the school for our spring festival. I tutor for free after school even though it’s not in my area of certification. I’m tired. The kids are awful. Really awful. Nothing is being done. The 2012-2013 school year will be my last. I have to move on to keep my sanity.
carlosgvv
May 7th, 2012
8:39 am
In a country where the only real allegiance politicians have is to their wealthy sponsors, this and other disgusting situations is precisely what you may expect.
Anonmom
May 7th, 2012
8:51 am
When you have billions of dollars, per year, per system going into education; and you start to focus on how much is being wasted (and abused, and, I say, criminally mis-directed) at the top — it it time to develop a way to feed all of the money into the bottom layer (that being the school house rather than administration). Our systems are enormous governmental machines… just like DC. They feed plenty of jobs (not really in the classroom) — they take dollars from taxpayers and use them to pay the “mouths” of the “workers” at these levels. This is where, competition, free market, choice and, yes, vouchers, starts to really make sense — start to break the dollars into small components ($10,000 increments for easy numbers) that are in the hands of hundreds of thousands of parents instead of billions of dollars in the hands of a few people. Then, the parents can be required to direct the money directly into the school house where the first mouths fed will be teachers, for the benefit of the students, and the last mouths fed would be administrators. This would also discourage so many from going into administration. That’s the theory. It would need to be set up appropriately. The free market that American society has offered for 300+ years is a remarkable achievement. The unopen market of China and Cuba and the former Soviet Union and Nazi Germany are not so wonderful. Greece and Spain and France are socialist and are having major problems right now. We have the best system out there. It’s high time we take the resources we are currently spending on education and apply these same principals to education. Really, read Gatto’s books — he was a very highly regarded teacher for 30 years in the NYC public school system. He was Ivy League educated and it’s pretty well footnoted. Amuse yourself. Then think about what you, yourself, know has happened in APS and DCSS….. think about it.
Angela
May 7th, 2012
8:55 am
@Teacher Reader,
I appreciate your comments however, no one works for free unless they are volunteering. We did not chose this profession to be volunteers. Since you say we are whining might I ask you a question?
Did you accept or reject your pay check? Are you rejecting or accepting your retirement check? If , you rejected your pay and is rejecting your pay your have put your money where your mouth is.
We need more people like you in this curel old world.
Drew
May 7th, 2012
8:57 am
186 DAYS!!!!! Mine has been cut to 170 with the possibility of 160 this coming year. I have lost close to 6000 in pay over the last three years. Great letter! oh yes, the fact that we have to invest an average of over 30 grand to get to teach is what a lot of people forget!
Double Zero Eight
May 7th, 2012
9:02 am
To say that “teaching is a thankless job” would be
an understatement. If politicians, bureaucrats and
administrators would get of of the way of teachers,
the results would be amazing. If parents would do
their jobs in addition to the aforementioned, the results
would be astronomical.
My Two Cents
May 7th, 2012
9:07 am
EXACTLY why I left teaching, and it was the best decision I ever made. Ever. Even above marrying my husband or having my kids, because had I not left teaching, I would perhaps no longer have my husband, or be able to enjoy my time with my kids. I have nothing positive to say about public education in our country, except that I am positive that my kids will never attend a public school.
My Two Cents
May 7th, 2012
9:08 am
Ooops, posted that last comment too soon. I should make clear that I don’t blame TEACHERS for what is wrong with public education.
MannyT
May 7th, 2012
9:12 am
The issues stated are not limited to one school system, they are much broader.
One suggestion…time for teachers to start a national Super PAC.
You don’t need unions to have a Super PAC.
One example to consider…seems like anyone can do it
Tired
May 7th, 2012
9:12 am
I appreciate the essayist’s sentiments, but teachers are hardly the only profession being asked to do much more for the public good with much less and great personal sacrifice. Talked to any social workers, discharge planners, attendant care workers, police officers, park rangers, or state hospital employees lately?
WAR
May 7th, 2012
9:14 am
i love education. i hate the people.
Cakelady
May 7th, 2012
9:16 am
I am a retired Teacher of more than 37 years. My very first Principal once told me, “You will never get rich in education”. I agree you must have a passion to want to work with our children. I have always been amazed at the number of people who thought teachers had easy jobs. I have always wished there was some way I could assign ALL politicians from the local to Washington level
to come spend just one week trying to teach their children and their neighbors children. Allow me to assign the schools they would serve and inform them they are NOT to come in three-piece
suits! They are not there to impress. Let them deal with the precious ones since they don’t value the way teachers handle them. Our values are misplaced. They would pay Atheletes millions of dollars for a few months work and the rest of their “free” time is used getting into trouble and being unable to manage what they make. The world is willing to continue to pay them for their inappropriate behaviors and become terribly upset when Teachers ask for raises , due to the rises in the cost of living.
Remember, without teachers, you would not have the other professions that exist. Someone had to show you they way and teach you the fundamentals that have laid the groundwork.
Someone hook me up with Mr. President so I can ask permission to make my assignments (Smile).
red herring
May 7th, 2012
9:17 am
Happy teachers day teachers. I too am one that believes that education nationwide (not just in georgia)
has become a black hole for taxpayer dollars. I also do not lay this on teachers doorstep but rather on bloated bureaucracy and administration. When an independent survey can recommend that you cut 129 asst or vice-principals out of one county school system then that pretty much sums it up. It’s time the state of georgia did a reclassification of all of georgia’s public schools and reduced the number of administrative positions as well as the huge salaries that go with them. Then perhaps two things can happen—teachers can be better compensated and the taxpayer can actually receive some relief from all the tax money eaten up by education. Most private workers would love to have a part time job with decent pay and good benefits so let’s don’t shed too many tears for those in education. All the years forward from the time Zell Miller was governor education employees have gotten a much better shake than state employees. So there is some good that goes with the bad. Again first and foremost Ga. must correct is over staffing of administrations, get rid of nepotism, and reduce the dollar/student/year figure –then give teachers raises according to their abilities and give the taxpayer some much needed relief.
Kelli
May 7th, 2012
9:18 am
As a teacher of the year who teaches middle schoolera to inspire children to change our world and to dream, I totally agree with the article. After being foreclosed on twice in the same house, my family of 5 live in a two bedroom apartment. The OCC has our case and sees how the bank messed us up. However with no credit cards nor car payments our home was our only debt. Being furloughed $800 a month, inflation, we put in for a mod. I am not a whiner. My students, family and friends cannot believe how i have remained so positive. However, when pinestraw is added to a huge fluff if pinestraw, brand new soap dispensers in every rr with our county logo, floor being waxed every day, and finally my air conditioner never shuts off even during the winter, my situation stings!! Something has to change!
FCS Teacher
May 7th, 2012
9:24 am
Fortunately writing anonymous letters to blogs is the best way to enact revolution. Look, most teachers are too scared to ever stand up for what they think is right. Several of my colleagues are republican. That’s like being a black member of the KKK. I used to blame the power elite, but now I blame the teachers. Speak out and, “be the change we want to see in the world.” Learn to say no.
Dr. John Trotter
May 7th, 2012
9:26 am
Can anyone successfully refute the MACE Mantra? Here it is again: “You cannot have good learning conditions until you first have good teaching conditions.”™
http://www.theteachersadvocate.com
MiltonMan
May 7th, 2012
9:28 am
“Teachers in GA have no protection. None whatsoever. And those in power intend to keep it that way.”
Give me a break. The cheating APS teachers have all been afforded a hearing prior to their dismissal.
MiltonMan
May 7th, 2012
9:31 am
Once again, another teacher who label the USA a democracy. This country is a republic – read the constitution & it is even in the Pledge of Alliance.
John Watson
May 7th, 2012
9:35 am
I’m a public servant as well, have been for 13 years and several in the military before that. I am so sick of the “be lucky you have a job” line. It’s simplistic, dismissive garbage. While some teachers (I’m looking at you APS) should be lucky they have ANY job, most teachers could, and eventually will, do something else. When that happens we wind up with the bottom of the barrel of teachers, cops, firefighters, and all public servant jobs. The public – and especially the cake eating ‘bosses’ -should be saying they are lucky they have most of us as workers….if not- say hello to the lowest common denominator teaching your kids, policing your streets, fighting your fires, prosecuting your criminals…etc…
hildymac
May 7th, 2012
9:36 am
To those of you trying to claim capitalism as an excuse for teacher pay needing to be higher: teachers are not part of the capitalist system. We are government employees. People who are employed in capitalist companies get paid based on how much money they “bring in,” or are perceived to “bring in” relative to their position in the company. This is why actors get paid so much. One film might earn them $10 million, but it earns the studio $150 million. THAT is being employed in a capitalist system.
Capitalism impacts teachers through taxes. If the economy is failing, tax revenue goes down. If tax revenue goes down, teachers’ salaries get cut, days are lost, and austerity measures are taken in schools. You can’t spend money that you don’t have, and teachers aren’t the only government employees impacted like this.
Yes, the situation sucks, especially for the students who are having to deal with breaking fire code levels of class crowding, and having the programs for gifted and magnet students cut. That’s what upsets me the most, but if there isn’t money, something’s going to be gone.
I make more money for nine months of work than a good number of people make in a year. I’m certainly not going to complain, because I know that a) salaries are getting cut because there’s no money to pay them, not because people are doing it out of spite and b) I’m very fortunate to have the job that I do.
teacher&mom
May 7th, 2012
9:40 am
@MiltonMan:
Were the whistleblowers afforded the same hearing?
Answer: no
Were teachers asked to participate in the RttT grant writing process? Did they have any say into whether or not their districts participated? How many teachers in each RttT district were made aware of the requirements for RttT BEFORE their district signed on the dotted line?
Answer: none
(Well I take that back…. some teachers participated in a nebulas survey that was used as “evidence of teacher buy-in”)
Is it fair to judge the entire profession against the actions of a few in APS?
Answer: no
teacher
May 7th, 2012
9:44 am
Thanks for your comments!!
I find the new graduation requirements ridiculous compared to the new teacher evaluation system to be implemented next school year. While there will be no state tests required any longer for graduation, teachers will be evaluated on what the kids score. Now, does that really make any sense?
From Dade County
May 7th, 2012
9:45 am
Hey Maureen – I live in Dade County in NW Ga – my wife is a teacher. What permissions do I need to obtain from you or AJC to submit this article in our local paper. It has in print what my spouse has been saying for years. Thank you.
MiltonMan
May 7th, 2012
9:47 am
Maybe if you clowns in the GAE would quit endorsing every little crappy candidate that the democratic party in this state nominates for basically nothing more than being a sacrificial lamb would you get more “respect” from the public. Does Roy Barnes ring a bell??? The clown turned on the teachers but he got their endorsement regardless simply because he a (D) following his name.
dc
May 7th, 2012
9:47 am
I really wish all teachers had the chance to go out and get another job, if just for a few years. Given my wife’s experience, the pay “on the outside” has been better, but the hours have been significantly worse as well. And the pressure is completely different……seriously. Not saying any of it is better or worse, but it’s not a bed of roses outside of teaching either.
Again, we are a sample of one, but the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the outside (even if it looks pretty brown inside – teaching). Taking a few years to do something else (a real job, not a sabbatical or part time fun gig) might really help teachers appreciate their job….or I suppose it might cause the never to return.
Maureen Downey
May 7th, 2012
9:54 am
@Dade,
I am sure the author would be delighted to have it reprinted. She is a metro Atlanta teacher. But I am not sure of your local paper’s policy on printing essays without names. You would need to ask them.
Maureen
Jordan Kohanim
May 7th, 2012
10:05 am
Thank you, Maureen, for posting this. Thank you so very much.
Dan
May 7th, 2012
10:30 am
Don’t forget to add the numbers of FALSE claims made against teachers. I know of a number of them. I was one. It is very stressful. Imagine the stress of having the sheriff’s department investigate you. Luckily, I was exonerated. The parents and the student confessed that they made a false report, Yet, they were never charged with filing a false police report. Teacher appreciation? What a laugh.
A Conservative Voice
May 7th, 2012
10:31 am
You know folks, nothing’s gonna get better unless and until our schools are returned to State/Local control. The USDept. of “Non Education” has ruined them……Arnie Duncan needs to be in the unemployment line along with his boss. Remember to vote on November 6, 2012
yeah right
May 7th, 2012
10:34 am
@hildymac : Oh you are luck to work for 9 months. Most teachers work year-round (during their official time off).
teacher&mom
May 7th, 2012
10:46 am
@ A Conservative Voice: Can you provide any specific information that outlines how Mitt Romney will be “different” when it comes to education?
Sadly, I don’t see any difference between the two parties when it comes to educational issues.
Duncan was a poor choice… which is why I signed the petition on dumpduncan.org
ateacherfirst
May 7th, 2012
10:51 am
I’ve been a teacher for 17 years in both public and private settings. The hours are long, the pay is sub-par, working conditions are difficult, and the task is often thankless. I still love what I do. Why? Because for every thirty students that make my life difficult, one learns and takes that forward. Maybe that student cures cancer, solves the Middle East crisis, or becomes the next Steve Jobs. Maybe he or she simply goes on to be a good doctor, lawyer, newscaster, or other professional. In a perfect moment, he or she becomes a teacher. Why? The late Christa McAuliffe said it best – as teachers we touch the future.
Before anyone thinks I’m some type of martyr or delusional, I wish I was paid more. I would love my students to be ready to learn more – for their sake as much as my own. I wish people without a clue what education is would keep their noses out of it, and I wish parents would take more of an interest every day – not just when they don’t like something.
However, I can’t and won’t spend all my energy worrying about those things. Every profession has its problems – ask your doctor, your lawyer, or your real estate agent. I knew what I was getting into when I became a teacher, because from the first time I said it to Sister Pauline in first grade, my teachers tried to talk me out of it. Instead, I spend my energy trying to find new ways to help my students learn.
I had a teacher I admired for many years when I was in middle school and high school. By the time I had the chance to work with her, she was burnt-out. She hated teaching, hated the students, and hated all the baggage that goes with it. She was miserable and I hated seeing her that way. I promised myself that if that day ever came for me that I’d walk away from teaching, not just for my sanity but for my students. I’ll let you know when it happens, but don’t hold your breath. Blue may not be your best color.
Shark Punch!
May 7th, 2012
10:51 am
I predict this comment will be lost in the wilderness of the same old back-and-forth between Teachers and PeopleWithNoClue, but….
The headline gave me a crazy idea. If we could somehow convince the Republicans than public education is really a matter of national defense/security, THEY’D BE LINING UP TO FUND IT. After all, you’ve never heard the phrase “privatize the military” or “those crooks in the defense industry are just going to have to make do with the funding we have available.”
Thoughts?
Ron F.
May 7th, 2012
10:58 am
Shark: Just get Cheney to help us form a subsidiary of Blackwater…problem solved!
Anonmom
May 7th, 2012
11:01 am
We’re actually spending multiples of what we used to spend for education decades ago and the results are a fraction of what they used to be… the layers and layers of bureaucracy are the real problem — I think we want dollars in the classroom — the “powers that be” want job — upper level jobs. Read Gatto’s book.
Mary Elizabeth
May 7th, 2012
11:16 am
Yesterday, on C-Span2’s Booktv broadcast with Michael Sandel of Harvard University, Professor Sandel desribes how market interest are taking over almost every aspect of American life, even in places where they do not belong, such as in education. He describes how this may be harmful to our nation in ways not considered. His is an in depth analysis. He is a professor of philosophy at Harvard.
Some may be interested in viewing this hour long broadcast. To watch the program, hit the “Watch” icon on the right of the screen.
http://www.booktv.org/Program/13304/After+Words+Michael+Sandel+What+Money+Cant+Buy+The+Moral+Limits+of+Markets+hosted+by+Nicole+Gelinas+Manhattan+Institute.aspx
Once Again
May 7th, 2012
11:27 am
I had a teacher in high school who drove 100 miles each way to teach us! This was in a Catholic High School so you know he made far less money than the protected union folks in the LA Unified School District. He was such an enjoyable teacher that many students would come back and sit in the back of the class when they had days off from college, etc.
These are the kind of teachers that deserve a week of recognition.
Angela
May 7th, 2012
11:28 am
Maureen,
Is there any way that this can be sent to Obama? If so, I think that it would be a good idea.
Once Again
May 7th, 2012
11:31 am
Mary Elizabeth – Personally I think there is FAR more to be gained by watching John Stossel’s “Stupid in America.” I watched the program last night with my wife and both of us were appalled at the arrogance and stupidity exhibited by those the government has put in charge of educating children. It will only be possible to address these educational problems once the government system is gone and a free and competitive market in private/home/group, etc. education is reestablished in this country.
Teacher Reader
May 7th, 2012
11:33 am
@ Angela, I went into teaching knowing that I wouldn’t get rich. I also went into teaching and life not buying what I couldn’t afford and living well within my means. I realized that good teaching is not what my district wanted, and also knew that I couldn’t send my son to a school in the district that I lived and taught, so I left teaching.
Those making education and support for teachers a Republican/Democrat thing are unknowing and truly need to read books by Gatto and Charlotte Iserbyt, so that you can really understand what is happening in education and why our schools are in the condition that they are in. I am tired of being part of the 50% that pay taxes and see my money used in a way that I would not spend it myself. I am tired of seeing more spent on children’s education and the outcomes consistently going down. As a product of public schools, I’d love to be able to send my son to the public schools in my county, but I want him educated, and a life long learner, and being a former teacher, I know that is not going to happen in many of our public schools.
I support teachers who speak out not about their salaries, but about not being able to educate children. I support teachers who speak out about the way our history books skew history and leave out many important events and people or don’t give the full facts so our children are uneducated. I support teachers who are life long learners themselves and make learning hip and fun. I support teachers who are grateful for what they do have and aren’t complaining about what they don’t have. I support teachers who do the right thing when no one is looking. I support teachers who speak out about the lack of discipline in our schools. I support teachers who speak out against the ridiculousness that comes from administrators from the central office that makes their job nearly impossible. I support teachers who teach as if their own child were in the classroom and give students the opportunities to receive a quality education. I do not support teachers who whine and complain and do not possess the above qualities, as they are not the kind of teacher I want my child to have.
Beverly Fraud
May 7th, 2012
11:52 am
What people who complain about “teachers whining” need to SERIOUSLY think about:
When you dismiss the teaching conditions, you are also dismiss the LEARNING conditions.
If teaching conditions are GARBAGE do you really think LEARNING conditions are pristine?
All you “free market” people need to think: if teaching conditions are driving good teachers away, what do you think is going to be left?
Tonya C.
May 7th, 2012
11:53 am
Teacher Reader you stated:
“I support teachers who speak out not about their salaries, but about not being able to educate children. I support teachers who speak out about the way our history books skew history and leave out many important events and people or don’t give the full facts so our children are uneducated. I support teachers who are life long learners themselves and make learning hip and fun. I support teachers who are grateful for what they do have and aren’t complaining about what they don’t have. I support teachers who do the right thing when no one is looking. I support teachers who speak out about the lack of discipline in our schools. I support teachers who speak out against the ridiculousness that comes from administrators from the central office that makes their job nearly impossible. I support teachers who teach as if their own child were in the classroom and give students the opportunities to receive a quality education.”
That is exactly what was stressed in this letter. That is what has been said my multiple teachers on this blog. And in the minds of many, this is considered whining.
Schools are a reflection of society. Fixing many of the ills starts with recognition and acceptance of that fact.
Lib in Cobb
May 7th, 2012
11:59 am
My wife is a very happy former teacher. Happy for the following reasons.
*She no longer has to deal with elementary school students who are out of control to the point that they will most likely some day be a convicted felon.
*She no longer has to deal with parents who should have never been parents.
* She no longer has to deal with school management who needs a years worth of tracking studies to determine that Little Johnny needs to be sent to a behavior treatment facility, with or without the parents.
*She no longer has to devote more attention to one child than the rest of the class because Little Johnny has threatened bodily harm to every adult and student in sight.
*She no longer has to explain to parents that the schedule for field trips cannot be changed to accommodate your massage appointment.
*She no longer has to go shopping for school supplies because the $100.00 allotment for the year was not enough.
*She no longer has to accept declining income or furlough days.
*She no longer has to supply materials for the same six students for a project, because the parents don’t/won’t understand that they are required to supply these items.
*She no longer has to reschedule teacher/parent conferences for the same parents because that time doesn’t work for them due to a massage appointment. By the way, no parent/teacher conferences are held in a Panera Bread on Saturday.
*She no longer has to say no to parents who want a weekly progress report on their little darling who they think is the next Mensa member.
*She no longer has to deal with the constant money raising programs promoted by the school.
*She no longer has to deal with the people who just don’t give a sh– about their kid, the school or anything close to being the right thing for the kid.
My wife loved to teach and she loved the kids, but she is happy to be out of it for the above reasons and more which have not been mentioned.
Angela
May 7th, 2012
12:08 pm
@Teacher Reader,
And, yet you still have not answered my question. Do you reject your pay check?
We as teachers know that we will not ever be rich in this profession. Also, if you cannot send your child to the schools in your area why not home school? You are doing something that is illegal. You say that you respect teachers however, you only respect them on your terms. You don’t really sound like you have much respect for people in general.
Again, do you reject your pay check? Or, do you have a job?
Mary Elizabeth
May 7th, 2012
12:12 pm
Once Again, 11:31 am
“It will only be possible to address these educational problems once the government system is gone and a free and competitive market in private/home/group, etc. education is reestablished in this country.”
==========================================
Your thinking, from your remarks above, needs more balance, in my opinion. I have no problem with the market place functioning within its proper place in society, and I believe that it should do so. However, I do not think the market place belongs in educating all of America’s children. John Stossel, the force behind, “Stupid in America,” is well known as a Libertarian journalist. He is employed by FOX News. He has a definite ideological bias. I heard Stossel speak on C-Span 2, within the past month, in which he stated that the government should not have intervened in private business enterprise during the years in which the South had a segregated society. Stossel thought that the market place would have, itself, corrected injustices in places such as Lester Maddox’s segregated restaurant, if the market place had been left alone of government intervention. I was a young person during that era in Georgia. I remember it well. The market place would have taken a century or more to correct the injustice of the South’s segregated society, if it ever would have done so. In fact, I believe that the market place would not have corrected this moral injustice without governmental intervention. That is why primary injustices, regarding liberty among all Americans, are protected from occurring by our government’s U.S. Constitution. Stossel was simply wrong in his thoughts, in that regard, because of his ideological prejudices, in my opinion. Therefore, one needs to “consider the source” of “Stupid in America.”
On the other hand, Professor Sandel has no ideological ax to grind. Please take the time to view the broadcast link that I provided, above, regarding Michael Sandel’s current book: “What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets.”
David Patton
May 7th, 2012
12:15 pm
Excellent article.
Batgirl
May 7th, 2012
12:15 pm
Excellent article.
@bootney at 5:58. Set the date, and I’ll spread the word.
Colonel Jack
May 7th, 2012
12:36 pm
Not exactly an on-topic question, but I wanted to ask my fellow bloggers here … after how many consecutive “unsatisfactory” annual evaluations does a tenured teacher face non-renewal? (I know, I know, “tenure” is a relative term.) Thanks.
Csoby
May 7th, 2012
12:38 pm
But wait, we can pay foorball and basket ball coaches a nice salary anbd they do not even have to spend time in a class room. The big bad government has turned the school system into one glorified baby sitting service…Put back local control, parent responsibility and pay teaches a decent salary and watch education go skyward.
JLM
May 7th, 2012
12:43 pm
@ ateacherfirst wrote: “I’ve been a teacher for 17 years in both public and private settings. The hours are long, the pay is sub-par, working conditions are difficult, and the task is often thankless”.
Great post!
mountain man
May 7th, 2012
12:47 pm
About that comment about education being a “Black Hole” for tax money – I would like to see the cost of teaching the average “regular” student vs. 20 years ago. Then do the same for “Administrators cost per student” and then the cost of special education per student. I think you will find that the first is almost flat while the latter two have experienced astronomical growth.
mountain man
May 7th, 2012
12:49 pm
I think most teachers leave the profession due to working conditions, not pay. Private schools pay their teachers less and the teachers there mostly are happy. That is because they don’t have to deal with discipline problems, SPED students, and overzealous government regulation (NCLB).
Angela
May 7th, 2012
1:01 pm
@Colonel Jack
Has the teacher been placed on a PDP?
Colonel Jack
May 7th, 2012
1:21 pm
@Angela Yes, it’s the second year of the PDP.
cris
May 7th, 2012
1:21 pm
@Colonel in my particular school, once a teacher is placed on a PDP, they have until the end of the school year to “improve” if they do not have “tenure” or they are gone…tenured teachers usually have a full year in which they are monitored constantly – usually most end up leaving of their own accord because they don’t want the pressure. The problem remains with administrators who are unwilling to begin the PDP process on tenured teachers – they know how to get rid of them, they just don’t want to put in the time to do it unless someone is jumping up and down complaining about a teacher.
Colonel Jack
May 7th, 2012
1:24 pm
@ Angela Let me correct that … the PDP was instituted at the end of last school year. This is the end of the first full year of it.
Angela
May 7th, 2012
1:37 pm
@Colonel Jack,
Well, let me be perfectly honest it depends on the principal. The principal has to right to let that PDP go on to the next school year or not. My next question is is this a personal or really a teacher lack of performance PDP.?
cobbmom
May 7th, 2012
1:38 pm
My pay has dropped $5,000 in the last two years and will drop another $3,000 this year with furlough days and a shortened school year. Last year’s 17% increase in health insurance premiums took it’s own bite of my pay and we don’t even know how much the health insurance increase is this year. Because of all the cuts I’m in danger of losing my home even though I work 50+ hours a week. Love my students but have no good feelings for state/federal politicians and school board members.
Angela
May 7th, 2012
1:40 pm
@Teacher Reader,
I am awaiting your reply!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you rejecting your pay check?
Colonel Jack
May 7th, 2012
1:40 pm
@Angela The teacher involved believes it’s partly personal and partly financial – this individual has 23 years experience and a Specialist’s degree, and thus is quite expensive in the payroll department. The PDP is one that most teachers couldn’t fulfill if they tried, in my opinion.
Once Again
May 7th, 2012
1:49 pm
The libertarian perspective is that nobody should be able to use force or fraud against another including the government. This position defends the rights of everyone. Mr. Stossel doesn’t have any agenda except one against force or fraud. That doesn’t sound like a bad ideological “axe to grind” to me. The author you cite obviously doesn’t believe in freedom as he believes that the force of government is appropriate to interject into the marketplace. Sorry, I am a moral person and object to violence or force against another, especially when it takes the form of government.
Education is FAR too important a thing to allow government to control. Every instance of intervention in the food arena has led to shortages, lower quality, longer lines, etc. If we know the consequences of government intervention in food and generally work to keep them out, why would we want government involvement in something as important as education – especially when the private market (such as it is) does such a better job?
I’m done with blind faith in government. I have taken the red pill. The free market is the ONLY force in society that actually creates prosperity for all. It is the imposition of government into the free market that destroys it. Always has, always will.
And by the way, libertarians fully supported ending government imposed segregation and other Jim Crow laws. It was the laws that violated people’s property rights that they oppose – as should everyone. Without private property rights, we are little more than a 3rd world banana republic. Since the destruction of private property rights began in the 60s, the negative consequences have been severe.
Beverly Fraud
May 7th, 2012
1:50 pm
Try this Colonel,
Break down each component of the PDP and ask admin to commit in writing as to how long each component would reasonably take to complete? If they can’t commit to a reasonable time frame in writing, how can they expect a teacher to do it?
Speaking of which, where is Matt the Mouth Organ at DOE with the VERY legitimate concerns the English teacher shared with Maureen?
If there is one thing I wish Get Schooled bloggers would do is keep the PRESSURE on. Matt the Mouth Organ is being paid with TAXPAYER dollars after all.
Angela
May 7th, 2012
1:51 pm
@Colonel Jack,
If the teacher feels that he or she is being harassed have they contacted PAGE / GRE (if they are a member). Also, if this is the first time this teacher has had in the past positive evals. they really need to contact them. However, if the teacher can retire it would be my advice to retire. They need to contact the people we have to contact and start making steps to do so. They can also, retire at age 60 or 20 years.
TimeOut
May 7th, 2012
1:52 pm
I think Once Again has been fooled by Alec and its ilk. Look to places such as Finland for solutions. When teaching is a field of choice for the best and brightest, we will see results. Teachers in Finland hold coveted, hard-won positions. Finnish society considers this profession to be of great value and to represent some of its best workers. It is not a market-driven system. Why would we want such a thing? Market-driven products and services are not always, by definition, the product or service that best meets the customers’ (read stakeholders’) needs.
Angela
May 7th, 2012
1:53 pm
Also, if this is the first time this teacher has had A NEGATIVE EVAL. AND in the past positive evals.
Colonel Jack
May 7th, 2012
1:55 pm
@Angela The teacher is contacting GAE about the issue, and does feel harrassed (visits in class by everyone from Asst. Principal to State support people!), as well as feeling targeted. Plus 21 years of good evaluations prior to last year’s unsatisfactory, and he reports that he was told two unsatisfactories means you’re out … but it was three last year. He’s 53 and has 23 years experience … retirement is at least two years away (with loss of benefits for the years between 25 and 30). I’ll give him your advice.
Angela
May 7th, 2012
1:55 pm
@TimeOut,
But, I am sure that they have students who want to learn and come to school prepared to do so.
I am sure that their parents are actively involve in their academic. HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Colonel Jack
May 7th, 2012
1:56 pm
…but was told it was three last year. (Correcting badly written line)
Love Education
May 7th, 2012
2:02 pm
Our tax dollars per child education is the largest of most countries, so why are our children behind comparatively? Because the teacher doesn’t make enough money? Because they are expected to produce like every other working professional? Yeah, unionize, that’ll fix it and run all of us over a cliff…nice
Angela
May 7th, 2012
2:07 pm
@Colonel Jack,
Please tell your co-worker to look into teaching abroad. TeachAway and teaching online with K12.com. I him/her the best. It is a very hard thing to deal with.
jj
May 7th, 2012
2:12 pm
I think a lot of the contempt is the public views school budgets as being excessively wasteful. I have said this before, look up any individual school on the internet, count the total staff, now count those who actually teach the major subjects. You will find it is about 1/2 of the total population.
Mainstreaming has turned classrooms into a societal laboratory which now fails all students. It’s more important for a child to have self esteem than academic knowledge. Whatever a child says about a teacher must be true as all teachers are liars. The single parent could care less about education, just give me a place to send the kid while I work. These same parents then come to school telling the teacher “they work for a living” and what are you going to do about the fact Johnny doesn’t do his homework. That comment alone speaks volumes, they don’t see teaching as a job, but rather as a babysitter for their precious one.
I don’t know what the right amount of pay is, but I suspect most teachers just want a little respect, which costs nothing.
I am not a teacher and realize I could never do what you do, so I tip my hat to those of you who are able to stomach the kids of today.
Beverly Fraud
May 7th, 2012
2:13 pm
What if one of the administrators in question also happens to be a member of GAE? How does GAE fully represent both COMPETING interests?
Also, age 53 one might want to look into the possibility of age discrimination. Might be worth a one-off attorney consultation with a lawyer experienced in such.
And, document EVERYTHING.
Angry Moderate
May 7th, 2012
2:19 pm
Most of the problems in public education boil down to this simple truth: Teachers care about education of “The Children,” whereas parents care only about the education of “My Children” (if they care at all).
Discuss.
Angela
May 7th, 2012
2:23 pm
@Beverly Fraud,
GAE would be representing the person filing the law suit. The school system attorney would in most cases represent the administrator.
cris
May 7th, 2012
2:26 pm
@ Colonel…this will become more commonplace since the state has done away with “last hired, first fired” policy in education….it’s a lot cheaper to hire a new teacher with a bachelor’s degree than to keep on a 20+ year veteren with a specialist’s degree….also, don’t know about all counties, but our 30+year veteran teachers were strongly advised to retire this year if they weren’t already considering it because of some change in retirement income (not at that point yet, so I don’t have all the details) something’s rotten in Denmark…..
Beverly Fraud
May 7th, 2012
2:37 pm
Well Angela, that does sound plausible if it gets all the way to a lawsuit
But looking at some of the things GAE does (for example submitting a policy to ABOLISH the teacher’s right to remove a severely disruptive student from the classroom when a local school board passed a Teacher’s Bill of Rights-why anybody with any clue would tried to abolish that once a school board passed it is beyond me ) could make one possibly think that a teacher depending on GAE when the chips are down has some similarities to a chicken seeking asylum with Col. Sanders.
Devil's Advocate
May 7th, 2012
3:02 pm
The only problem with the “local control” argument is that it’s the local people who cause the majority of education problems.
williebkind
May 7th, 2012
3:08 pm
With great teachers wouldnt education be great if it were voluntary and not mandatory! No government intrusion at all.
williebkind
May 7th, 2012
3:10 pm
P.S. I hated high school.
Mary Elizabeth
May 7th, 2012
3:21 pm
Once Again, 1:49 pm
“The author you cite obviously doesn’t believe in freedom as he believes that the force of government is appropriate to interject into the marketplace.”
==========================================
Wow. You make such an assertion, and yet you are so wrong regarding your words, above. It is obvious that you have not listened to Professor Sandel’s interview on the link I provided. If you can make such an untrue and generalized assertion – based simply on some generalized ideology, which has little truth regarding the complexity and depth of Professor Sandel’s thoughts, it should alert you to the fact that you may have been swayed in your thinking by those who are spreading ideological propaganda for their own ends.
Please, just listen Professor Michael Sandel’s interview in the link I provided above, and then make an informed comment regarding his thinking relative to private markets.
catlady
May 7th, 2012
3:23 pm
cris, teachers retireing after Dec 2012 will lose over $1000 in pay that had been given to make up for some kind of taxes.
catlady
May 7th, 2012
3:28 pm
See TRS re:Discretionary Tax Offset Adjustment
Just A Teacher
May 7th, 2012
3:56 pm
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week (or Day, or something). That means little or nothing to me, anymore. When I think about the things I have shared with the young people of this community, how I have watched them grow up, and the time and effort I have put into their education, it just makes me very depressed because i have come to realize that the community DOES NOT appreciate me or my sacrifice. I never had any notion that I would become wealthy by becoming a public school teacher, but I did assume that I would be able to live a comfortable (if modest) life and manage to pay my bills. However, this is not what happened. The young people I comforted when their classmate committed suicide, those with whom I struggled to make sense of the events of 9 – 11, and even those for whom I helped attain scholarships have turned their backs on me and left me drowning in so much debt that I am now bankrupt.
I would like to take a moment to thank my own public school teachers, however. You made a difference in my life, and I thank you for that. You are all probably retired by now, but you should know that you helped introduce this farm boy to a world beyond his father’s fields and opened his mind to new and exciting ideas. I’m just sorry that I squandered your efforts by electing to follow in your footsteps. You were right: I did have potential. I just should have gone into a field where there was a chance to utilize it.
mark
May 7th, 2012
4:03 pm
A student told the sub in his classroom today, that he did not like the fact that I, the teacher from across the hall, walked between two classes to help students. I told him that if he got a high school diploma, he is less likely to end up in jail. (90% of inmates have not diploma)
We either are going to pay $50 a day for jail or $33 a day for educating him. Lets flip the numbers, $50 for educating and $33 for jail. We, Georgia, as a state, are the cheapest spenders. We spend less than all other states on Govt’ spending per a person in GA. Mississippis is last, we are 49th.
Next thim Chip Rodgers (republican’t) wants to gut a program, tell him to take a hike.
His motto is “Lets help the ones we can.” ( he said it at a teacher town hall meeting, now posted next to his picture behind my desk. )
He would not make in one day in the classroom. Public, private or charter school.
Archie (out of Arkham)
May 7th, 2012
4:36 pm
Sometimes, when traveling in South Georgia, I run into a lot of old elementary school buildings that at one time, many years ago, seemed to be at every crossroads settlement. (Disclaimer: To me, anyplace South of Macon is South Georgia!) These schools covered grades 1-8 (No public kindergarten in those days!) Imagine my shock when I found out these rural schoolhouses only had four classrooms! It seems in those days, there were two grades in one room with one teacher! The teacher would be teaching one grade and the other would be working on their classwork quietly (quiet in any school is relative, of course!) Such an approach would never work today even if using four teachers for eight grades would look like a great cost saving measure. Back then, teachers were respected and could pretty much count on the parents for support. Also, a teacher could do whatever she had to to maintain order and if it entailed a few trips to the “good old woodshed,” so be it! (Of course, the other students were expected to sit quietly and wait in the room while the malefactor was being “dealt with.” Those days are gone, along with hand-cranked spirit duplicating machines and the “old maid” elementary schoolteachers! (The only “rap music” you ever heard in those schools was the sound of those teacher’s rulers on knuckles!)
taxpaying teacher
May 7th, 2012
4:40 pm
Chancellor announces GPC has “lost” 16 million dollars, thanks and reassigns GPC President Tricoli, and tells faculty and staff to expect a major financial hit.
May 7, 2012
Message from Chancellor Huckaby
Recently the leadership of Georgia Perimeter College informed the university system that it faced a significant budget shortfall in Fiscal Year 2012, which ends June 30, 2012. Immediately upon learning of the shortfall, system fiscal and audit staff began working with GPC staff to determine the scope of the shortfall. After several days of analysis, staff determined that the shortfall is around $16 million.
Prior to alerting the system office, GPC had already taken steps to control spending for the remainder of FY12. These steps were expanded when the size of the shortfall was determined. These steps include curtailing travel, cancelling various encumbrances and purchase orders, delaying hiring, and suspending contracts. In addition the system will reallocate funds internally and will ensure that GPC will finish FY12 with a balanced budget.
GPC and system staff are preparing a plan to balance FY13 since the underlying shortfall will continue into next fiscal year. Similar steps as those outlined above will be taken to reduce spending. We do not know at this time precisely the impact in every budget area, but it will be significant and will likely impact personnel. These actions are necessary to address a shortfall of this magnitude. To be clear, tuition and fees will not be increased beyond what the Board of Regents already approved at its April board meeting.
In light of the need for a fresh approach, President Anthony Tricoli has stepped down. Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Alan Jackson will serve as Acting President until I appoint an Interim President in a few days to move GPC past this difficult moment. I want to thank President Tricoli for his dedication to GPC’s students and his leadership. He will join the system office to assist with initiatives in distance education, adult degree completion, and learning support programs.
I have been on the GPC campuses many times. GPC is a strong and vibrant college with much going for it. It provides educational opportunities to thousands of Georgia students. It is a wonderful institution and I know will remain so. Our focus will be to continue the great work of GPC toward meeting its educational mission while ensuring its long-term financial stability. I appreciate your dedication to GPC and your continued commitment as we address these challenges. Please know that I am committed to GPC and its students, staff and faculty.
Thank you for your cooperation and your understanding.
another comment
May 7th, 2012
5:09 pm
Why do so many Ga. Teacher’s vote against their own interests? Why do they insist on voting the “R” line? Why do they dare preach the backward “R” line to my children. Why do many of them even go ahead and vote for such idiots as Chip Rogers ?
Old Physics Teacher
May 7th, 2012
5:12 pm
mark,
People end up in jail for violating laws – not for not having a high school diploma. Yes, “statistics show…” and prove nothing. You are looking at a correlation not causation. I know this has nothing to do with the topic of the blog, but I had to respond.
Too many of our profession will “give” a student a passing grade so the child will not drop-out and end up in jail, or other such clap-trap. The claim concerning the amount of education and income correlation is just as false. Employees get paid high income from their employers due to the skills of the employee and has nothing to do with the degree OR THEIR GRADES. My dad dropped out of high school in the 10th grade and made more money than 90% of his age group. Out of my four children and their “significant others,” only one is working “in-field,” and they all make significantly more than average pay for their diplomas. Employers pay off for hard work, showing up for work on time every day, and mostly – success.
Sorry for going off topic.
teacher&mom
May 7th, 2012
5:36 pm
@Maureen: http://www.ajc.com/opinion/respect-over-gifts-1432749.html
Thank you for the support. It is much appreciated.
hryder
May 7th, 2012
5:51 pm
I am a retired educator. Never today would I consider the same career. Everyone, except the teachers, knows the way to educate the youth of today if you believe the state and federal legislation that has been enacted. Almost every working adult person would tell you where to go if provided similar dictates regarding their career/job, even the elected officials. We are only entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. No one is entitled to success. Success due to its very natural has to be earned, if not earned, it is not success. If you or one or more members of your family are unsuccessful look in a mirror and you will view, if a parent, the primary person responsible for this lack. When fully prepared for school almost every day each chiild will succeed to the limit of inherited genes and characteristics. Which leads to the fact that we are not all created equal. Some have great brains, some average, and yes, some below average but all could achieve success if an attainable success is sought that is possible with each persons genes and characteristics taken in to account. Far too many people in our society do not understand this because they are at a level of incompetence. These people continue to lead others to incompetence by being reelected to public office. VOTE OUT ALL ELECTED INCUMBENT OFFICE HOLDERS IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. Once this is done only vote for an incumbent when they have met the publicly stated goal they set for themself in being elected (political office was never meant to be a career for anyone). Using the immediate prior statement one can easily ascertain that all members of Congress and the current President should be gone come November.
I love teaching. I hate what it is becoming...
May 7th, 2012
5:57 pm
@Love Education “Our tax dollars per child education is the largest of most countries, so why are our children behind comparatively?”
In part, because in the USA we educate EVERYONE – not just the “cream of the crop”. Many other countries do not offer educational opportunities to slow learners, special needs students, physically disabled etc. We do, because it is part of our American beliefs that there is a benefit in an educated citizenry, and everyone deserves an opportunity to better themselves. If we only compare our top students with those from other countries, we actually are not doing so badly.
We are slipping, however, and partially that is due to the fact that so much of our funding does go to trying to support the neediest students. And the number of special needs students is increasing as medical advancements ensure that children survive childhood who would not have a decade ago. Consider too the growing number of autistic children (for reasons we cannot yet explain). Full time aides, one on one tutoring, special services like OT and Language specialists, transportation support, and specialized medical equipment are expensive. However, districts are required by law to provide such services to public school students if they are deemed necessary to support the student. Add the fact that educational funding is being cut back again and again – and that much of it never sees the classroom, but is swallowed by various levels of bureaucracy and testing and reform schemes – and you have the current mess.
It really is time to ask ourselves, what is it we value as a nation? Do we really believe in educating everyone? Are we doing what is best for ALL students, or are we trying to fit too many square pegs into round holes? Do we want to spend money up front, or wait till funds are needed to build prisons instead? Is it only about OUR particular child, or is it about ALL children? Do we really want the BEST teachers, or do we want the CHEAPEST teachers? Do we want the BEST schools or do we want the CHEAPEST schools? Who do we really want to support with our tax dollars, classroom teachers or testing companies? Corporations or your next door neighbors? Reformers or those working with your children?
Time to think about it, and then make your voice heard. Lord knows, no one listens to the teachers.
Ron F.
May 7th, 2012
6:38 pm
“Who do we really want to support with our tax dollars, classroom teachers or testing companies? Corporations or your next door neighbors? Reformers or those working with your children?”
Answer (according the Chip Rogers playbook): Testing companies- “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” and Mrs. Rogers sure likes the country club lunches. And the corporations- of course! They like to wine and dine us, and who can turn down a free dinner with a nice bottle of your favorite red wine? It’s not about teaching, kids, or what’s best for society. It’s about what the corporations can offer.
Thank you to all the teachers working hard for the kids every day. Believe it or not, I think many parents and community members really do support us, even if our own elected officials don’t.
Mikey D
May 7th, 2012
7:18 pm
I may be in the minority, but I feel continually appreciated by the majority of families of my students. It helps that I’m in a very strong district where community and family support is high.
The place where I absolutely do not feel appreciated, however, is by our legislative leaders, from the President and his joke of an education secretary, to the state level, and all the way to the local board. The size of Georgia’s DOE has skyrocketed with highly-paid eggheads over the past decade. These eggheads are years removed from the classroom, and they justify their positions by sitting around all day dreaming up new schemes that don’t do a thing other than make our lives more difficult. If the goverment would get the heck out of the way and let us do our jobs, the results would only get better. I was hopeful that Dr. Barge would clean house, but unfortunately he’s only maintained the status quo at the administrative level.
Nikole
May 7th, 2012
7:28 pm
@ Angela—-You must be new to Dekalb. No super. has EVER given me a treat, apple or otherwise. Dr. Atkinson was not my choice for super, but has turned out to be 10 times better than the last clown so far. She’s been fair so far, and actually solicited our advice. That’s more than what I can say for her predecessors. She is also returning millions of Title 1 dollars from the county to the schools next year. I say give her a chance on that fact alone. I’m not happy about her love affair w/ SFA, but you can’t please everyone all the time.
STAR Teacher
May 7th, 2012
8:44 pm
@John Watson at 9:35 am: You said exactly what I’ve been saying for a long time. We’ve grown accustomed to the illogical message:”Thanks for all you do, but remember you’re lucky to have a job.” They should try saying: “We know the cuts to your benefits and pay are difficult for some and devastating for others, and we appreciate that your sacrifices haven’t affected your job performance. Thanks for all you do and please keep doing it as we weather these trying financial times.”
Wouldn’t that be a treat? I’d love to hear a sincere and honest address of the situation we’re in right now. Maybe the bosses could use a sense of humor whenever possible as they deliver blow after blow softened by trite and insincere vows of gratitude.
Lady GaGa
May 7th, 2012
10:00 pm
What I don’t understand is how educators can continue to vote Republican when its clear what the agenda is. You get what we vote for when you work in the public sector. Yeah, I said it.
reacher
May 7th, 2012
10:02 pm
wow wow wow… what a powerful message. I must print this and show to my colleagues. This lady hit the nail on the head!
Angela
May 8th, 2012
8:08 am
@Nikole
Listen to the webanair that you received on Friday. Now, if your principal did not do what Cheryl requested that is on he/she. However, she sent a note stating that the apple and cookie was from her for teacher appreciation.
You say give her a chance. Perhaps, you are not looking at the money that WILL be taken from your pay check next year. Perhaps, you are not looking at the fact that she is still and WILL be making 300K without a reduction. Perhaps, you can afford to have your pay check cut again and again. Perhaps, you did not look at your taxes to see just how much your pay had been reduced.
Please understand which most only heard 6.25. But when she came back and said have the calendar for next year like this years. Perhaps, you and many others did not recognize that your pay check will still have a reduction based upon furlough days. So, if you make about 333. a day your check with 10 furlough days will be reduced 3330. for the next school year. If that does not equal to 6.25 more days will be added that will be a fact. The county has always gotten what they wanted. Please remember, Cheryl can only make a proposal to the board they don’t have to permit it. Also, all but one person voted for the 6.25 on the board. Who do you think will win? Cheryl is not different than the ones before her. She does not have any more respect for those that make it happen (teachers) than any other employee under her. Did she say that she would take a pay cut from her 300k? NO!
Angela
May 8th, 2012
8:09 am
@Nikole
Oh, I have been in the county for over 12 years!
V. K. McElroy
May 8th, 2012
9:58 am
I’ve been in this profession in 4 states since the late 1970’s and I have never felt less appreciated, I’ve seen collegues bullied by parents and not supported by administrators; I’ve seen young teachers questioning their career and leaving the profession. These young dynamic people are what we need, but education, 2012, is sadly a game of numbers and data. Thank you to all my fellow teachers who close the door to their classroom and create dynamic lessons, teach with passion, and adore the children in their rooms and thank you for choosing to spend your days with the future citizens of the world.
wanttohaveinput
May 8th, 2012
9:59 am
I find it amazing that more blame has not been placed on the universities preparing teachers. THEY have allowed sub-par and unprepared teachers into the marketplace. Their programs should be as rigorous as becoming a physician and the pay should be similar. I graduated with PLENTY of morons that had no business teaching children.
Katie
May 8th, 2012
10:54 am
Great article. She articulated the thoughts that have been rolling around in my head for a while. In the past three years, since the National Board cuts and our endless, fruitless fight to regain our stolen money (not to mention the extra furlough money and increased insurance costs), I have come to a sad but weirdly liberating conclusion: NOBODY CARES ABOUT US. AND NOBODY EVER WILL. The legislators don’t care because they send their kids to private school; the parents don’t care as long as their little darlings pass and don’t have any consequences; the media is absolutely on the attack (AJC included, big-time). We must stop complaining because our complaints will fall on deaf ears. No matter how much we try to get people to understand, they never will because they don’t want to.
My personal conclusion: teaching is not for the faint of heart. Either you can handle all the nastiness and stand up under it for your students’ sake, or you can’t. You won’t get any help from anywhere; you’ll have to find it inside yourself.
I used to praise without reservation students who wanted to become teachers. I still do, but now I also ask them to come and sit with me. We discuss what’s really happening and what they can expect if they choose this career. Basically, they are choosing to be dumped upon with excrement for 30 years. But in spite of that, I tell them it’s still worth it because I LOVE working with kids. I’m lucky.
I love all the Harry Potter books and movies, but one scene above all resonates with me visually. It’s at Hogwarts, in Deathly Halllows part I. Harry is gone; Dumbledore is gone; the Death Eaters are running the show. It’s a place of doom, gloom, and despair. Yet Professor McGonagall and others like her look down on these lost and desperate students, and they find a way to soldier on. That’s what those of us who care are doing. Without appreciation, under active and vehement villification, we find a way to keep helping our kids, who need us now more than we ever have.
Rock on, teachers. Remember your kids are the bottom line. Think of how many you’ve helped, and soldier on for THEM-not for anyone else.
Clayton
May 8th, 2012
11:03 am
From the time I was a tiny girl all I ever wanted to be was a teacher. I must say that the first 10 years of teaching I was living my dream. That was from the late 70’s to the late 80’s. I stayed home raised my kids and returned to my dream job in the mid 90’s. Now in 2012 work is hell!! I am stuck with 25 years in the classsroom and no where to go. No one wants a near retirement age person to work for them. I am stuck or go on welfare. Many days I think welfare might be the only way I can survive. The stress of teaching is ruining my health. The behavior we have to put up with is terrible. What whill become of our country when these children grow up?? We have no support from parents or adminstrators they both blame the teacher not the disruptive students!! We are pay to much?? What is the price of your health??
A#1NBCT
May 8th, 2012
11:04 am
Whining? Who taught you to spell the word? To use diction and syntax to create and analyze the mood and tone in a written statement so that you could A) Whine and B) recognize the whining of others? Who taught you what diction, syntax, mood and tone are? Forget even that…who taugh you to write in the first place? Hmmmmm? HAPPY TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK! WE DESERVE EVERY LITTLE BIT WE GET! TEACHERS ARE THE SMARTEST, MOST ORGANIZED, MOST VERSATILE AND MOST LOYAL PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE TODAY! We should proudly claim our place in society and then make the most we can of it. Personally, that means finding other careers where I can apply the creativity, innovation, leadership and management skills that I have learned through (highly) successful teaching. In today’s workforce, people typically hold new jobs every 3 years. Most of us have been at this a whole lot longer than that. Unfortunately, we may have to leave teaching en masse in order to show the rest of the world just how valuable a teacher really is! HAVE A HAPPY TUESDAY! STOP BANGING YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE WALL! Your day is what you make it….
Angela
May 8th, 2012
8:48 pm
@A#1NBCT
Please read your post. You have some issuas! (That means they are bigger than issues).
D.Leverette
May 8th, 2012
9:44 pm
I just retired from teaching last year and I am still having nightmares. I had planned to teach for 5 more years but I just couldn’t take it any more. If the administrators had to be evaluated by the teachers then they would have to shape up. The teachers are afraid to say anything about the horrible conditions because they do need their jobs. When you do speak up, there are consequences for it and they are pretty bad. Teachers have no advocates and the administrators have all the power and money. Low teacher morale is important only to the teachers that are suffering. We must take care of the people that take care of our children. If we don’t, the result is going to be catastrophic! Teachers are mothers, wives and friends but they aren’t allowed to behave normally because of the lack of trust and time. I’m done, but I worry about the teachers that I had to leave behind and my students. I worry that my grandchildren will not have good teachers!!! Wake up America!
Tenure is bs
May 9th, 2012
12:51 pm
We need to ‘redo’ this tenure bit. Notice the elementary school teacher on tribunal now for the cheating scandal – claims NO responsibility at all, even though she was in charge. Meanwhile, the school system is paying millions in legal fees just to try to remove these cheating scumbags. Teaching should be like ANY OTHER JOB. Pay them what they are worth (I agree 100% with the article), and REMOVE those who are NOT worth a dime. We do NOT owe them anything. And while we’re at it, how about bringing our current schools up to speed with teachers worth the money, and quit blowing all the money on charter schools to appease a few disgruntled parents!