DeKalb teacher: If you want good teachers to stay in your school, please let them know
Mike Ritter/AJC
A DeKalb teacher sent me this note, which I thought was worth sharing here:
I am an occasional commenter on your blog “Get Schooled,” but a frequent reader. Many, many parents and teachers I know follow it as well. Since I teach in DeKalb, you realize how I cannot use my real name…I sure wish that could change. I’m counting down the number of teaching days I have left until I can escape. The decline in morale is crushing and this has been a crushing week. I’m not sure how you select what letters you print, but I wrote this up after waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to sleep.
There is a lot of griping and hand wringing by parents and teachers alike on this blog, as well as an ample supply of teacher bashing. However, the suggestions of constructive positive actions to be taken are few and far between. It’s no secret that teacher morale is low and, in DeKalb, keeps getting lower with every news cycle.
If there was a way to impact the work environment where your children go to school, for your kids’ teachers, would you be on board?
Teacher appreciation week is in May, but teachers can sure use a boost at other times, like now. Many teachers have a file for special notes from parents or students, and they keep it for those days where it’s so bad they just want to throw in the towel. They can go to that folder and read some notes and recall memories that remind them that yes, they are making a difference. I have such a file in my middle school file cabinet, and I sure wish it were thicker!
The small act of reading these notes feeds me, energizes me, and keeps me going. The energy may not last, but it carries me through the moment, and many of us could use to be energized right now.
Yes, Valentines Day is coming, and we will get all kids of chocolates….thank you, but half of us are on diets…save your money and do something infinitely better.
At any job, when you really bust it to get the job done, sacrifice family time, and finish with flying colors, wouldn’t you want to be acknowledged? Trust me – teachers don’t get “attaboys” in the year end review when everyone gets the same “satisfactory” or “adequate” review. When was the last time you wrote a note to let a teacher know what they meant in your child’s life, college, or career?
Did the school year end, and you thought about that teacher again? Are there teachers you really hope keep teaching in your school, so that the younger siblings can be in their class?
If your kid has ever had a memorable teacher or an outstanding year in school, even if it was five years ago, pick up a pen and write it. (Email will do, too, but real paper notes are so unexpected, so shocking, so personal.) We do remember your child. Next week (in DeKalb) is the deadline for teachers to submit paperwork asking to transfer schools. Your note might make the difference between a signed contract and walking away.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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97 comments Add your comment
FYI
January 27th, 2013
11:03 am
@Marla
“We do not get paid if we take off two whole months in the summer and spring and fall breaks to be with our kids. We get two lousy weeks vacation.”
Just thought that you should know that teachers are only paid for the months they work for that school year. Our checks are divided into 12 months so we can have a check each month for budgeting purposes. During those summer months, most teachers attend one or more classes to keep their certificates current, and some attend meetings in order to plan for the upcoming school year (and they aren’t paid to attend those meetings since they are during summer months).
Perhaps you should do your homework before you spout off about how teachers are paid.
Goodteacher
January 27th, 2013
11:18 am
I don’t need any stroking Maria so thanks for the love. I love teaching, I hate what it has become. Teaching is not for everybody and good teaching requires more than a degree, as does most jobs. The more government gets involved the worse it gets…just like everything else.
But why I am here is to give a shout out to good parents…some of you may not realize that good parents are a wonderful addition to a class. More good parents = a more successful classroom. Good parents send their kids to school with good food in the stomach. Their kids have their homework and know that if they get a sad note from their teacher that their parents will be disappointed in them. Good parents write notes on the HW when they did not understand what they were supposed to do and then come in to get clarification on what the teacher wanted. Good parents care and want to help the teacher succeed in reaching their child. Good parents write simple little notes, come to conferences, smile at teachers when they see them. And yes when I have good parents I always let them know how much I appreciate them. I don’t mind bringing clean socks for your child, giving them supplies when they need them, cleaning the vomit off them when they come to school sick, I love your kids…I would just like for you to say thank you sometimes. I mean, I thank the sanitation workers when they go above and beyond, I thank anyone that helps me or goes the extra step…so I take it back Maria, I like for someone to say thanks every now an then. Don’t you?
SGATeacher
January 27th, 2013
11:50 am
Here is my two cents:
Last year, 2012, I was chosen as STAR teacher of the STAR Student. This is still one of the best moments of my teaching career, but I have also saved every personal note, letter, email and such that teachers and students have sent me over the last 13 years of my career.
I told my STAR student during the luncheon I know his goal in life is to be rich, but he would never achieve monetarily the wealth that I felt that day and still do.
Little things like a note from a student or email from a parent make my year worth it. I try to let my kids’ teachers know the same thing. A little praise goes miles with teachers and parapros.
RJ
January 27th, 2013
12:02 pm
@Marla, you right, there is a line of teachers waiting the fill the positions of those that choose to leave. What I’ve learned is that once they’re in the door, they’re ready to leave just like those before them. You see, being a substitute is a wee bit different from being a teacher. As a substitute you get to choose what schools you want to work for. As a teacher, once you agree to work at a school, you will work there, or possbily be moved to a different school without any say. Next year I suspect my school will have at least 6 openings. That’s a lot for this economy. All of them have been there less than 4 years. They left other school systems and now want out. I am planning my transition into entreprenuership. Within the next 3 years I will be gone. Whoever takes my position will learn quickly why I left.
My husband gets 6 weeks vacation with an additional 5 sick days and bonus checks. They get gift cards at Christmas and Thanksgiving to Walmart. The benefits package is better, even without the pension, and they’re getting a raise! No raises for going on 7 years, we don’t get bonuses of any kind, and they want to write you up if you use your sick days! I didn’t get into this career for the days off. Sure, it’s a perk, but at the end of the day, it’s not enough to keep me here. I seem to care a bit too much. I bust my butt to work with kids whose parents don’t feel the need to come to the school for any reason other than complain. Yes, I have some outstanding parents. I so appreciate them and I let them know how much I appreciate their support. But there are too many others that don’t. Couple that with a spineless administration and you have a choatic environment where morale is lower than I’ve seen at any school. I LOVE teaching but I truly hate what it has become.
RJ
January 27th, 2013
12:03 pm
Ooops, I meant “you’re” right.
Student Advocate
January 27th, 2013
1:17 pm
TechEd gets it 100%…attitudes like Maria’s are why no good, caring teachers will be left in DeKalb schools.
A Teacher, 2
January 27th, 2013
1:17 pm
Just askin’………..Do you really want your kids to be taught by a teacher who considers teaching “a job?”
A Teacher, 2
January 27th, 2013
1:18 pm
You might want to watch what you ask for………You may get it!
bootney farnsworth
January 27th, 2013
1:50 pm
@ Marla
form what you’ve posted, you appear to have made some difficult choices which backed you into a low paying, unrewarding, dead end existence
perhaps if you chose to return to school you might learn some new skills which could make you competitive for the many private sector jobs which offer much better benefits than we get.
bootney farnsworth
January 27th, 2013
1:52 pm
@ 10:10,
how about sharing with the rest of the class who and where this pool of more qualified applicants 10 deep?
be specific, with lots of details.
bootney farnsworth
January 27th, 2013
1:56 pm
BTW Marla
what world do you live in?
10:10 am
January 27th, 2013
2:21 pm
@ blabney feignsworth:
Perhaps Maureen will enlighten us with accurate statistics on just how many applicants there are for vacant K-12 teaching positions in the fields of social studies, language arts, math and general science in the Atlanta metro area.
My guess? More than enough to replace the perpetual malcontents, many times over.
fjeremey
January 27th, 2013
2:22 pm
Kind words are always appreciated, but if you really want to help then work with me. I don’t need praise and recognition. What I need is for you to make sure your student is doing their work when they are out of my class; that they are editing their paper one more time before turning it in; that they are reading the articles and taking notes; that they are getting enough sleep; that they are e-mailing me with those questions over the weekend and the night before the test; that they communicate their frustrations to me so that we can work it out; and don’t denigrate me or the assignment, if you don’t understand my way or purpose let’s talk about it, and just because you may not agree, doesn’t mean it’s “bad”. Some of you are fantastic. Some of you drop the ball. I need you to be my ally in helping your child come to understand what they want out of this life. I only see them for 4.5 hrs per week. This is a team effort. Yes, kind words are appreciated. But let’s work together for the children’s future.
Math teacher
January 27th, 2013
2:23 pm
Every teacher is not good at math. This has led to the belief that teachers get paid for their time off in the summer. True, most teachers get a check in the summer. This is because the school system uses a formula to divide the salary into 12 months of pay for those who cannot budget well. Most systems give 12 sick days a year (2-3 of those can be approved personal days). Paid vacation is not a part of the teaching profession!!!
We used to have the formula stated on our contract with 190 days of work for the school year, then 180 days of work, now our contract reads “number of work days”. Therefore, the system is not guaranteeing that we will have a certain number of days to work.
GA Teacher 10
January 27th, 2013
2:55 pm
“Counting down the days until escape.”
Same goes here for this teacher stuck in ClayCo. Been trying for 3-4 years to get out to a better district. I’ve learned to suck it up, do the very best I can for the students who work hard, and “do the most good possible,” but I will be hitting warp speed at the first chance I get to get the H out.
I love teaching. I hate what it is becoming...
January 27th, 2013
3:37 pm
@Pride and Joy
I work in the corporate world. I never, ever get a thank you or a note or a special “business woman appreciation day.
I am sorry no one has ever told you thank you for a job well done. That is a shame, but I do not see how it reflects upon teachers or the request for recognition by teachers. Would you not appreciate it if someone were to tell you thank you? Would that not make your day?
And to say that “You do not know enough about our job to offer professional advice.” is completely untrue.
I am afraid I have to disagree. Sitting in a classroom does not really prepare you to offer professional advice to teachers. Much of what a teacher does goes on “behind the scenes”, as it were. My students have no idea what goes into a lesson plan, or a daily activity. They have no concept of the hours spent in meetings, or how long it takes to assess essays, and calculate grades. They know nothing of the afterschool meetings with colleagues, weighing data and making curriculum decisions. The do not understand how we make flexible grouping decisions, or how or why their lessons are differentiates. They do not understand what it takes to write curriculum, design a balanced assessment, or score a standard based grading system.
As a former student and a parent, you can certainly offer advice on teacher/parent interaction, on what you prefer in a conference setting, on how to best explain how to help your child, but when it comes to my “profession” unless you have an educational degree and experience in the classroom, you really are speaking without knowledge. I see my dentist, car mechanic, and doctor on a regular basis to, but I wouldn’t try to tell them how to do their jobs.
We are qualified to give you profession advice and my advice to you is to quit complaining on a public blog.
You consider it complaining. I consider it self-advocacy.
It does you no good and it frustrates parents and alienates parents.
Actually, it does do me good. Maybe, just maybe, I will encourage someone to write a nice note to a teacher today.
But I must ask, how does it alienate YOU to ask parents to let us know when we do a good job? PLEASE explain to me EXACTLY how that somehow is frustrating for you? Are you the type of parents who never tells a teacher thank you? From your comments, it does not appear so, so why are my comments “alienating to you”? What EXACTLY have I said that you find so totally frustrating? I honestly do not know.
Look for solutions.
Seems to me the entire focus of this thread was about a solution to the low morale that pervades teaching. So the post writer makes a suggestion of a way parents can help good teachers feel better about what they do, and some posters feel the need to clober her for it, along with anyone who agrees with her.
WHEN you have sage advice for parents, please share it …politely and calmly.
I do consider my comments polite and calm. I have called anyone a “whiner”. I haven’t used capital letters to scream at anyone. Can you point out the exactly comments I have used that you deem so negative towards parents?
I send my children to school everyday on time, with a good healthy breakfast in their tummies, appropriately and respectfully dressed, homework complete and signed, a lecture in manners before I drop them off. I come to parent teacher conferences on time and prepared. BOTH of us are at each teacher conference, not just one. I volunteer at the PTA, I give and give and give money, time, supplies and so on…and…my child’s teacher treated me like the enemy.
Well, all I can say is you are the type of parent teachers appreciate, and I have never said otherwise. I never treat my parents like the enemy – nor did I suggest anything of the sort in my posts. The most I said was that some parents come in with a very negative attitude, which I must work to overcome.
She was just as angry as you sound in your posts.
Angry? No…frustrated at certain individuals who seem to have nothing better to do than attack my profession, yes.
During teacher appreciation WEEK …
The only thing I ask for during teacher appreciate week are supplies for my students. I don’t see the point in trying to “force” appreciation for one week, or even one day…do the things you do, get your child to school on time, make sure they do their homework, attend conferences, and that is enough. (Though a nice note at the end of the year would be special too…)
And then when I hear a teacher like you complain and whine and make bitter, angry comments about parents…how do you think YOU make US feel?
Again, where did I post bitter and angry comments about parents? I do not understand what you are reacting so strongly towards?
bootney farnsworth
January 27th, 2013
4:11 pm
@ 10:10
something I remain curious about: you are either unwilling or unable to offer people you attack even the most basic civility.
why is this?
Beverly Fraud
January 27th, 2013
4:15 pm
“Legislators could help ensure that turnover of ineffective/chronically dissatisfied K-12 teachers becomes more rapid … and that applicants for those open teaching position then have the opportunity to show what they can do.”
Or we could address teaching conditions so that chronically dissatisfied K-12 teachers who are effective don’t leave the ranks of public school teachers.
But then that would force us to admit the entire system is permeated by ineffectiveness, thus it becomes far easier to play “blame the teacher” first, last, and always, doesn’t it?
bootney farnsworth
January 27th, 2013
4:16 pm
@ 10:10
tight little intellectual corner you’ve backed yourself into, isn’t it?
you made a claim you can’t verify, and now you must resort to namecalling and trying to get someone to bail you out with facts you are unable or unwilling to provide yourself.
so you either have to admin you were speaking your factless opinion, or that you were just base trolling. either way would require you to have a moment of intellectual honesty and/or integrity.
again, nice box you’re put yourself in
bootney farnsworth
January 27th, 2013
4:20 pm
@ beverly
what I think really lurks at the heart of all this is very simple. they attack us for the simple reason of trying to cover up/deny their basic intellectual and parental failings.
intellectual in it is their votes which enable the idiot pols who create and reinforce this mess, and parental in regard to the poor job so many have done in their “efforts” to raise their children.
much easier to scapegoat us. allows the personal delusions to continue
bootney farnsworth
January 27th, 2013
4:24 pm
@ 10:10
just for giggles—
when is the last time your were in front of a class? made your last lesson plan? hosted your last parent teacher conference?
Charles Douglas Edwards
January 27th, 2013
5:34 pm
Teaching is one of the most important and honorable professions known to mankind !!!
We must encourage our best and brightest to become teachers.
Teachers have a hard, hard job and need the support of parents, students and administrators. We need to show appreciation to our teachers.
Keeping bright, talented and motivated teachers in our classrooms is vital.
We owe it to our children to give them the best teachers and education possible.
9th Grade Teacher
January 27th, 2013
5:47 pm
I must “quit” at least once a week. Some days it feels like I can’t go one more class period, let alone one more day. But then I look at the graduation/class/personal pictures from my students and the letters and emails I receive from them and their parents and, inevitably, I find the strength to push on one more day. Those letters and notes really do make a difference. Knowing that what I do is appreciated makes my job worth while even if my school district doesn’t seem to think so.
Teresa
January 27th, 2013
6:20 pm
More whining from teachers! Everyone is finding it tough these days and few have the job security of teachers.
10:10 am
January 27th, 2013
7:52 pm
@ Pride and Joy:
Just happened to scroll up to your comments. Well written, sage advice indeed. If our blog moderator were even-handed in her approach to issues yours might be featured as the next Get Schooled discussion topic.
Truth in Moderation
January 27th, 2013
8:09 pm
In the past, I taught part time at a small private Christian school. Even with part time status, I was treated like a queen. The headmaster was a godly Christian man and trusted my abilities as a teacher. I WROTE AND IMPLEMENTED MY OWN CURRICULUM! The parents were always pleased with what the students were learning and many sent nice notes. On a regular basis, the parent organization sent little treats to the teachers during the year. They put on a lovely Christmas party, and each teacher was given a generous bonus. This was not a “tony” private school, but was started by Christians who had a vision of serving children in the area of education and providing a quality education at a reasonable price, thousands below other schools offering a comparable curriculum. GODLY LEADERSHIP IS THE KEY. I hope the teacher in DeKalb will find a better place.
Wilbur
January 27th, 2013
8:14 pm
Two comments.
First my kids had some outstanding teachers. They were kind, capable professionals both cared and who were intelligent and creative about teaching. I really appreciate each one of them. We remember them in person and we recall them with fondness in our family.
Second, the system does not seem to produce such people. They are outliers. Our public school system is broken, perhaps beyond repair. It’s simply not up to delivering excellence to the population it serves. Rather than reform to meet needs, much of education has hunkered down to preserve the status quo by demanding every increasing amounts of money to keep doing what we are doing.
Both points are true. I appreciate the good teachers perhaps even more so as I see how special and unusual they really are. I also see that public education is on the wrong road and seemingly incapable of the kind of change needed.
Pride and Joy
January 27th, 2013
8:30 pm
I love teaching you asked “how does it alienate YOU to ask parents to let us know when we do a good job? PLEASE explain to me EXACTLY how that somehow is frustrating for you?”
I read these blogs everyday and you are a frequent, almost daily poster. You always complain about how horrible your job is. You complain about parents and your bosses and you have no kind words for them.
What the author of this piece asked us to do, is to write about a good teacher and say thank you, yet yo do not. Reread my posts. I DO thank the teacher that made apositive difference in my life; yet you go on and on about how horrible your job is.
You do not make a positive difference on this blog — you indeed alienate parents like me. You give teaching a bad name when you consistently whine on these blogs about how much you hate your job.
You should really reread Mary elizabeth’s posts. She is a thirty-year veteran teacher. To my knowledge, she has never complained about teaching or her bosses or the parents. She consistently discusses education policy and curriculum in a polite, professional manner, even when others are unkind to her.
Please re-read her posts. If you really want to be respected as a professional teacher, speak and post as she does.
Pride and Joy
January 27th, 2013
8:39 pm
Thanks 10:10. for the kind words.
Pride and Joy
January 27th, 2013
8:47 pm
fjeremy, thank you for your comments. I was puzzled by this one “that they are e-mailing me with those questions over the weekend and the night before the test;”
I consider it rude to call or email anyone over the weekend when they are with their families. I consider it rude and wouldn’t allow my children to do so. I also consider it too late in the ballgame to email the teachers the night before the exam as I think that promotes procrastination.
I really appreciate your willingness to do so. It sounds like you are one of those exceptional teachers and I hope my child is lucky enought to have someone like you in their life.
As for me, I encourage my children to prepare without procrastination and to ask questions of their teachers whiile they are in school or at least at a very decent hour during the week.
My experience is this: when I emailed my childrens’ public school techer — they just ignored me. I had to resort to emailing the teacher and then copying the principal to ensure I got a response.
So — thank you. I mean it.
RJ
January 27th, 2013
9:06 pm
“Everyone is finding it tough these days and few have the job security of teachers.”
Please let my friends that lost their jobs that they have job security. Right now, they’re piecing jobs together to make it. There is no job security. I’m reminded of that in just about every meeting I go to.
bootney farnsworth
January 27th, 2013
9:11 pm
@ 10:10
still waiting for your answers, data, and list of classroom accomplishments.
bootney farnsworth
January 27th, 2013
9:16 pm
@teresa
-GPC booted nearly 700 employees (this includes PTers)
-every primary system in the state has a long list of people who were not offered contracts for the next year with no warning or explanation.
-every college in the state except maybe UGA has quietly been folding jobs and not re-upping staff.
-the BOR legal staff is drowning in harassment suits for abuse and inappropriate dismissal.
now what was it you were saying…?
bootney farnsworth
January 27th, 2013
9:19 pm
@ RJ
I know over 282 people who used to work at GPC who would beg to disagree
I love teaching. I hate what it is becoming...
January 27th, 2013
9:25 pm
@Pride and Joy
I read these blogs everyday and you are a frequent, almost daily poster.
I do not have the time to post here daily. I have posted on few of the stories lately, but before that I had not posted in quite some time.
You always complain about how horrible your job is. You complain about parents and your bosses and you have no kind words for them.
I have indeed discussed the downside of my job, when it was relevant to the topic. I have also discussed many OTHER issues, including suggestions about how to improve educational training, my feelings on the Common Core, the pros and cons of MAP testing, the dangers of over dependence upon standardized testing, etc. And, yes, I have complained about parents who do not support their children’s education, and about my past administrator who used to throw things at her employees – as well I should! I have also frequently complimented my current administration as they are wonderful and supportive. I have also complimented my supportive parents numerous times. YOU have even complimented ME on my kind words to parents.
Apparently, you have forgotten about that.
What the author of this piece asked us to do, is to write about a good teacher and say thank you, yet yo do not.
Actually, the author asked parents to send notes to good teachers and say thank you, not necessarily to post compliments here on this blog – though it is nice some have done so. I do not really need to praise my good teachers on this blog, as I have already sent them thank you notes years ago, when I entered the teaching field. They know how I feel.
I DO thank the teacher that made apositive difference in my life; yet you go on and on about how horrible your job is.
What does one have to do with the other? And when did I “go on and on about how horrible my job is”?
You give teaching a bad name when you consistently whine on these blogs about how much you hate your job.
Again… post specifics about when I have consistently whined about how much I hate my job.
You should really reread Mary elizabeth’s posts. She is a thirty-year veteran teacher. To my knowledge, she has never complained about teaching or her bosses or the parents. She consistently discusses education policy and curriculum in a polite, professional manner, even when others are unkind to her.
I have read Mary Elizabeth’s comments and find her a delight. She is well informed and well spoken. I have told her so. I am glad you appreciate her commentary, as you have not always done so in the past. Perhaps you forgot about that as well. See, I have a very good memory.
Please re-read her posts. If you really want to be respected as a professional teacher, speak and post as she does.
As much as I admire her, I am not Mary Elizabeth. I am not going to speak and post as she does. I will speak and post as myself, thank you. I am sure Mary Elizabeth does not want me to mimic her voice and style. She speaks well enough for herself.
I asked you to explain exactly when I posted “bitter and angry comments” about parents, and I note, you did not provide one example. Not one. What you did was throw a bunch of generalized accusations at me. It seems only fair that if you are going to criticize me for my posts, you provide SPECIFIC examples of how I have “complained about my bosses and parents and have no kind words for them,” or how I have ‘gone on and on about horrible my job is,” or examples how I “consistently whine about how I hate my job.”
When I make negative comments about ANY parent, I am always very careful to note I am speaking of specific cases, and that there are many wonderful parents who support teachers and do their best for their children. I am fully aware that there are poor educators in the field, people poorly equipped to be teaching children or running schools. I am sure you would agree. You seem to have encountered a few yourself. However, there are also parents who do a poor job of supporting their children’s education. That too is a fact, and I won’t pretend otherwise.
Pride and Joy
January 27th, 2013
9:34 pm
Maureen, APS is seriously considering the same lengthy school year that Dekalb county recently rejected. I am surprised to hear you haven’t blogged about it. Please do.
It lengthens the school year by another month without giving any more instruction time; instead it gives four more one week breaks during the year.
A Teacher, 2
January 27th, 2013
10:26 pm
I was looking at my 1972 Golden Memories from Sylvan High School in Atlanta today. I was in the 8th grade in 1972. There is a poem on page 57 that seems appropriate for this topic.
The Builder
A builder built a temple,
He wrought it with grace and skill;
Pillars and groins and arches
All fashioned to work his will.
Men said, as they saw its beauty,
“It shall never know decay;
Great is thy skill, O Builder!
Thy fame shall endure for aye.”
A Teacher built a temple
With loving and infinite card,
Planning each arch with patience,
Laying each stone with prayer.
None praised her unceasing efforts,
None knew of her wondrous plan,
For the temple the Teacher built
Was unseen by the eyes of man.
Gone is the Builder’s temple,
Crumpled into the dust;
Low lies each stately pillar,
Food for consuming rust.
But the temple the Teacher built
Will last while the ages roll,
For that beautiful unseen temple
Was a child’s immortal soul.
From the Treasure Chest
While I am at it, thank you Lucy Stephens of Sylvan High School. You taught me so well that knowing facts was not enough. You taught me how to think, and because I could think how to write. Thank you Karl Kimbough of Sylvan High School. You taught me that algebra was a step-by-step process, and that all the pieces do really fit together. Thank you Charles Adair of Sylvan High School. You gave me a lifetime appreciation of the military while teaching us Electronics. You modeled how to calmly solve problems that come up every day. Thank you Rufus Burger of Sylvan High School. You taught me an appreciation of the classics, and, more importantly, how to love every student. Thank you Rose Maurie Drake Brown of Perkerson Elementary School. You prepared us so well for high school. You also knew when to back off and let us learn things the hard way. I could go on and on about what you taught us.
I have now been a teacher for almost 34 years myself. I hope that I have done each of you, and the others who I didn’t mention proud. You helped make me the teacher that I am, and I am greatful. More importantly, you each gave of yourselves and help make me the man that I am.
Many people that snipe at the teaching profession truly do not understand the call to teach. There is no more noble calling. Regardless of what anyone thinks of me, I cannot imagine doing anything else the past 33 years. All of the complaints about the teaching profession truly hurt. I am sorry that we can’t please everyone, and I am truly appreciative of those that have said thank you throughout the years. To me, and many, many others, teaching is much more than a job!
Me
January 28th, 2013
8:43 am
One of the biggest problems with public schools today — summed up nicely:
“And to say that “You do not know enough about our job to offer professional advice.” is completely untrue.
All of us went to school. Someone who is a high school graduate had at least ten different teachers in grammar school, twenty differnt teachers in middle school and 24 teachers in high school.
AT LEAST 54 teachers. Teaching is a profession we know THE MOST about because we’ve had at least 13 years of it.
We are qualified to give you profession advice”
What a bunch of BS!
We all drive on the roads everyday too. I guess that makes us all qualified to be road planning engineers.
We all live in houses so we are all qualified to be builders and master electricians.
We all watch TV and movies so we are all qualified to be directors, producers, actors, News anchors etc.
and on and on.
Most idiotic statement EVER!
Catlady
January 28th, 2013
9:34 am
I love this, and I certainly did it with many of my children’s teachers. Last week I got a verbal bouquet from a student. I have been out of class for two weeks administering tests, and one of my students asked when I was coming back? I told him only a few more days, but why was he asking? His regular teacher was there. And he said, “class is so much better when you are there.” It was unexpected, as were the tears that came to my eyes.
Pride and Joy
January 28th, 2013
10:44 am
Me, you are a very angry teacher.
Unfortunately, there are way too many of you.
All that anger you have infects our little children you choose to poison.
You need to get out of teaching…immediately.
stuck in Clayco 2
January 28th, 2013
3:07 pm
THE STATE OF GEORGIA IS ANTI-TEACHER!!!! Clayton County is a cesspool. Incompetent principals who treat teachers like unwanted dogs. An interim superintendent who is just that… an administrative building housing people with created positions, but no job description. Some people just can’t manage. PAM ADAMSON HAS TO GO!!!
LA
January 28th, 2013
4:01 pm
@ Pride and Joy, You have no pride and reading your BS post is not a joy!!!
csdparentteacher
January 28th, 2013
9:50 pm
Kudos to the author of this post. Several years ago I left Dekalb County for City of Decatur Schools.I It wasn’t easy. There were over 200 applicants for my job and I had several rounds of interviews. The difference is remarkable. Size DOES matter, folks. In CSD, I am not a number. I received a “welcome” three weeks before I began in the form of a handwritten note from the Asst. Superintendent. The Superintendent stops by for “coffee chats”. At first, I was afraid to make eye contact with her (if you work in Dekalb, you know what I mean). Coming from a system where contact with anyone above your principal can get you in deep trouble to a “call me if you need anything” system has been an adjustment and an eye-opener. Hang in there, Dekalb folks. I KNOW how good you are. I was your co-worker for 20+ years. I know the long hours you keep. I know the family time you give up. I know the money you spend out of your own pocket for the kid who doesn’t get breakfast. I KNOW. Hold your heads high. You deserve all the praise you can get.
Sandy Springs Parent
January 29th, 2013
12:18 am
I had a pipe burst in my house in Oct, after months of wrangling with the insurance company my plumber came this weekend to start. He comes from a family of 13, Daddy trained each of his sons who range from 64- 39 or to be an electrician, pipe fitter, plumber or HVAC Mechanic. So the Business is truly family run. they only take on enough work that the family members can do. Through out the weekend they brought 4 or so of thie brother and then the two younger brothers boys who ranged from 12-28. The older brother I hired said the teenage and 20 something boys would be willing to help do some demo of the kitchen and damaged walls reasonably for me. They finished all but one area for me so the 28 year said he could finish Monday If I could pick him up at Marta. I did that it took him 2 hrs to get from the Bankhead area.
in talking to him Infound that besides working for his uncles, he was going to Gwinette tech so he could get his plumbers licenses even though he had been to regular 4 year college ( he also told me his dad had a 4 year degee in business that he got playing college football, then went back to tech school and got his more practical HVAC license. He told me that he and his 22 year old brother had decided that the wisest investment was to buy their own home with the low housing costs and low interests so they had bought a 6 bedroom house off of the Bankhead area in AtlantA.That is why is current priority was not a car.
What I did notice as I drove him home between 7:30 -8:00 on Monday night was that everybody is walking the streets and hang out on the street corners in all of the Bankhead area. But back over in Sandy Springs, even a drive through the little Mexico cut through street which is heavily patrolled by the Sandy Springs police.
I just couldn’t imagine anyone having to take Marta twice in a day, for 2 hours for a trip that takes less than two hours in a car.
My act of kindness has prevented my own 11 year old from finishing her homework as she fell asleep in this car ride. She has been asleep since. She did spend 2 hours prior to that working on her homework, which I feel is already way too much.
People need to step outside the box they live in and see, that other people live different lives. The lack of a mature public transportation system has a huge negative impact on our school systems. parents are stuck commuting and not available to help with homework. In DC 30 years ago when I was in college I could hop a train and be any where in 30 minutes. That included it was cheaper to hop the train and go grocery shopping in the suburbs and hop back on it and come back into the city. Hop on it go look up any publication at the library of congress before google.
DeKalb teacher: If you want good teachers to stay in your school, please let … | The Walking Dead
January 29th, 2013
11:38 pm
[...] DeKalb teacher: If you want good teachers to stay in your school, please let … Your note might make the difference between a signed contract and walking away. –From Maureen Downey, for the AJC …. more: DeKalb teacher – Blogs – Atlanta Journal-Constitution Recommend on Facebook Buzz it up share via Reddit Tumblr it Tweet about … Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
DunMoody
January 31st, 2013
11:03 am
Pogo, 1970: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
As I noted on another blog (Nancy Jester’s), much of the commenting on this blog seems intent on being “right.” Without commentary like Get Schooled, DeKalb School Watch Two, Nancy Jester’s “What’s Up With That?” blog, and others, the status quo of dysfunction and financial mismanagement in DeKalb Schools’ central office would continue unabated.
The point of this blog was teachers working in an environment of negativity and looking for affirmation. I don’t know of anyone, in ANY JOB, who doesn’t appreciate appreciation.
Look in the mirror, folks. Are WE part of the problem? Or are we engaging in a civil discourse that includes opposing view points, presented respectfully, in a common desire to see improvement in public education?
DP530
February 8th, 2013
2:17 pm
Teaching really is under-rated and under-paid, and it can’t be made to fit the model of other jobs because schools aren’t self-interested businesses. They can’t just bank off trends. But teachers get the kind of attention from their students, and have an impact on them (http://empiricalmag.blogspot.com/2013/02/february-excerpt-in-search-of-good.html) that no one else can. There must be some other way of giving them their due.