I teach. I am not in a union. I work more than 9 months of the year. The calendar that was posted above is a student calendar, NOT a teacher’s calendar. On early release days teachers are required to undergo any number of trainings or conferences. More are required during the summer. I work from 7-5, Monday through Friday, and sometimes I still have to take work home. Work that is unpaid. There is no such thing as overtime. I do pay for many, many things for my classes out of my own pocket. I guarantee that most people couldn’t do my job. Why do you think there is such a high turnover rate among teachers? Most people quit within 7 years.
I don’t complain about my pay and I don’t earn anywhere near the national average. My district requires that teachers earn a masters degree in order to remain employed. I didn’t become a teacher for the pay. I didn’t become a teacher for the “time off.” In fact, I never even planned on becoming a teacher. I took a substitute teaching job after I graduated so that I would have some income until I got the job that I wanted. That was the plan, anyway. That is, until the first assignment that I had. The first time that I was able to show a student how to understand a concept that she had been having trouble with, I knew that this was the job that I would do for the rest of my life.
Yes, I do get more time off than most people. I won’t apologize for that. If you want that amount of time off as well, become a teacher yourself. If you do so, be prepared to have many, of not most of your preconceptions about teaching not only challenged, but changed. It isn’t easy, but it can be extremely rewarding. Falling into the trap of painting an entire group with broad brush generalizations is a piss poor liberal tactic and people here should know better. I teach in Texas and most of the people that I work with are conservatives who voted against 0bama.
I'm a teacher too.
But I've not a degree in that field.
I do have a degree though...and have been a clinical instructor....
I did serve as the principal of my girls home schooling. But my wife...a non college educated woman basically taught both of them. I did some...but my wife was the ramrod. She did a great job!!
My girls are both very well rounded educated smart realistic Conservative young professional women now.
I'm pretty happy with the results...
And I continue to be a "teacher"...in my field and in my life.
What is the Retirement Plan you have? What are the Medical Benefits that you have?
Are there ANY means used to test teachers' effectiveness, with a penalty of dismissal for poor performance (i.e., students who can't pass Standardized Tests, AND, cannot pass the SAT Tests, for example).
I agree, there are a few that still teach because they WANT to teach, but far too many are in the field that couldn't survive in a private sector/non-union job, due to lack of performance and production....that's just the way it is today, and the mandatory Degree requirements do NOT mean a teacher is competent; it merely means they've passed exams that prove that they passed an exam, no more, no less. I'm un-impressed with Academic Credentials, as I've seen the bulk of the recent College-Educated "intellectuals" who I wouldn't hire as custodians.
What is the Retirement Plan you have? What are the Medical Benefits that you have?
Are there ANY means used to test teachers' effectiveness, with a penalty of dismissal for poor performance (i.e., students who can't pass Standardized Tests, AND, cannot pass the SAT Tests, for example).
I agree, there are a few that still teach because they WANT to teach, but far too many are in the field that couldn't survive in a private sector/non-union job, due to lack of performance and production....that's just the way it is today, and the mandatory Degree requirements do NOT mean a teacher is competent; it merely means they've passed exams that prove that they passed an exam, no more, no less. I'm un-impressed with Academic Credentials, as I've seen the bulk of the recent College-Educated "intellectuals" who I wouldn't hire as custodians.
Well said...very well said.