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I have been in public education for 29 years in a conservative county of a conservative state. Next year I will earn a little more than $58,000. I don't think that's unreasonable for someone with 29 years experience. It makes my eyes bug out when I hear about some teachers' salaries-are some overpaid?-I'll say! I think teachers' unions are full of whiners and bullies. I do not belong to the local, state, or national education association. I make a fair living and have good benefits for a 190 day/year contract with the state. I expect to retire next year after 30 years with a pension which won't allow me to totally retire, but it's more than a lot of folks get. Believe me, I am grateful for state benefits! I am gladly retiring, not because of the children but because nowadays, teachers teach when they get a minute from endless paperwork, stupid meetings, more paperwork, more stupid meetings etc. Our focus of actually teaching has shifted-it's no longer about the kids, it's bureaucratic you-know-what.
I have read this forum for years but have never posted. A very good friend of mine is a regular poster and introduced me to FR.
I know for a fact that there are teachers in this profession who are 'dead wood'-believe me, I've met my share-but that's the case in every profession.
What I resent, is that some of you make these SWEEPING generalizations about teachers (me) as stupid, lazy, money-grubbing, greedy liberal losers. You don't know anything about me, my politics, how I teach, what my successes are, how much time I spend on my job, what degrees I have earned, or anything about my work environment or my student population. There are big problems in public education today-believe me, I know that-I am in the trenches everyday. Teachers (at least where I work) don't make policy-they follow policy.
I would ask that you folks who insist on lumping all teachers into one big bag of worthless debris, reconsider what you're saying. Some of us (and more than you'd think)are really just doing the best we can under the circumstances we are dealt. And if you are so dissatisfied with things, get up from your computer, quit complaining and get out there and try to do something positive to change things.

Welcome to Free Republic.

Not sure if you're male or female but if you're female it's worse here than you think. Not only are you a lazy good-for-nothing teacher but you're a money grubbing lazy whiner who can't hold a candle to Russian or Asian women.

If you're a guy, and especially if you like to hunt and fish, you'll be fully accepted as one of the guys within a few years!

There is no hope for you if you're a liberal! LOL

BTW we need some teachers 'from the trenches' on these threads! Stick around.

Hi WHESS, welcome to FR.

I read so much frustration in your post. Tell me more...;)

Seriously, generalizing is human nature. It stands to reason that most FR posters were educated in public schools. Most probably liked more than a few of their teachers, but many have a bad perception of public schooling today.

Sort of sounds like how people feel about Congress. Most people polled say they like their own representatives, but disdain the remainder.

Bad news sells. Given the drivebymedia's focus on bad news, it stand to reason that it drives public perception of public schools. The frequency of illegal sexual conduct of those teachers who cannot keep their hands to themselves does not help public perception. It does not take too many of such incidents to paint the entire system - you included - rightly or wrongly. Why? Because it deals with the care of children.

Anyway, stay on FR and educate the rest of us. Again, welcome.