Unpopular opinion: DCPS teachers are super well paid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(I don't think it was you who said it, but I can scroll through the last pages to find it, and provide an explanation for why it triggered me.)

Here's another quote: "The job simply can’t be done in 40 hours. It can’t. It isn’t set up to be sustainable. What other professional is expected to give 30-35 hours of presentations a week with absolutely no time at work dedicated to preparing these presentations or debriefing after them?"

Let's get real here. The school day is 6.5 hours. Teachers generally are expected to arrive 40 minutes early. Teachers also have a lunch period within this 6.5 hours and a dedicated planning period within this 6.5 hours.

So, at most, teachers are available to teach for 5 hours per day. So, that's at most 25 hours per week, yet the poster exclaims they're supposed to present for 30-35 hours per week.

In the private and public sector, lunch doesn't count as work time, by the way. And neither does commuting, in case people are including that in their calculations.

The day is 7.5 hours for teachers. It is 37.5 hours a week, if you leave on time and arrive on time.

I’m very much tired of posts that can’t simply look up work hours. It’s pathetic. Lunch for ES teachers is 45 minutes. Planning is work, why are you even mentioning that like it’s not work? So you’d like your child’s teacher to just make things up as they go? Sounds great to me! No differentiation, intentional planning/pacing, no looking at data? Sweet. I’ll just sit in front of the class a read from a standardized scripted lesson book. How are my students doing? Well who cares? :roll:

I saw that post and had to remind myself it was written by somebody who doesn’t know. I’m in front of students 28 hours a week. (I snorted when I saw “dedicated planning” above. That’s when I’m covering vacancies.) I do nearly all my grading and prep at home.

As you admit, you’re in front of students 28 hours per week. Yet your fellow teacher implored us all that it is so hard to do 30-35 hours of presentations per week. Do you see how this is gaslighting parents?

Is it? Because I’m the same poster. I cover OTHER classes, too. Hence the spread. There are my classes, and then there are vacancies. Guess who covers those since we don’t have subs? Me! So my “on stage” hours can vary widely based on my school’s needs each week. So, no gaslighting here. Just truth.

If teaching is so good, join us! PLEASE! Then I can go back to just teaching my own classes, which is enough work by itself. Will you join us? Then you can have summers off! Is that enticing enough?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, you say you're shocked at our views, but what are your views of the IRS and the DMV? Or service employees?

You want to be respectful but the parts where service wasn't what you hoped for are the parts you tend to remember. It's kind of human nature.

IRS and DMV employees are part of bureaucratic machinery that is debatably efficent. The correlary here is DCPS Central office employees (and federal agency employees).

i do agree that the unpaid summer person is not helping the cause. It's very annoying. When I was a teacher the vast majority of my colleagues took the summers off. Maybe they would do to a special training for a couple weeks. It's totally fine and it's fine to own up to that.

I'm a fed who has posted earlier, and people dump all over feds on this site, too. But I don't care because I like my job and what I do.

I do also agree the "summers off" vs. "summers unpaid" is really splitting hairs and just seems like gratuitous whining. I can't think what a luxury it would be for me to have *a choice* about whether to work or not in the summer. Maybe I would work most summers but take just one or two off during my kids' childhood so we could do extended travel. But I don't have that option because by the time I use my annual leave for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break (which teachers all get off), I only have at most another week or two by summer.

Btw, we also pay contributions for our pensions.

I’m one of the “unpaid summers” posters. What you are failing to acknowledge is that some of us can’t afford a summer off. When you make $70K and you’re a single mother, for example, summer isn’t the luxury you’re envisioning. For some, it’s a mad dash to summer employment (teaching summer school, working retail…).

So what you call “gratuitous whining” is actually a problem for some of us. I’d prefer year-round work for the stability it would provide. See how grass can be greener?

Teacher here. Would you prefer to work in a school system that goes year round without many breaks but that paid more? (I wouldn't. Teaching full time, even with federal holidays, winter and spring break nearly kills me. Though I'd LOVE to work in a school that was 6 weeks on 1 week off all year, with an additional 2 weeks for Christmas and summer for the same pay.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, you say you're shocked at our views, but what are your views of the IRS and the DMV? Or service employees?

You want to be respectful but the parts where service wasn't what you hoped for are the parts you tend to remember. It's kind of human nature.

IRS and DMV employees are part of bureaucratic machinery that is debatably efficent. The correlary here is DCPS Central office employees (and federal agency employees).

i do agree that the unpaid summer person is not helping the cause. It's very annoying. When I was a teacher the vast majority of my colleagues took the summers off. Maybe they would do to a special training for a couple weeks. It's totally fine and it's fine to own up to that.

I'm a fed who has posted earlier, and people dump all over feds on this site, too. But I don't care because I like my job and what I do.

I do also agree the "summers off" vs. "summers unpaid" is really splitting hairs and just seems like gratuitous whining. I can't think what a luxury it would be for me to have *a choice* about whether to work or not in the summer. Maybe I would work most summers but take just one or two off during my kids' childhood so we could do extended travel. But I don't have that option because by the time I use my annual leave for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break (which teachers all get off), I only have at most another week or two by summer.

Btw, we also pay contributions for our pensions.

I’m one of the “unpaid summers” posters. What you are failing to acknowledge is that some of us can’t afford a summer off. When you make $70K and you’re a single mother, for example, summer isn’t the luxury you’re envisioning. For some, it’s a mad dash to summer employment (teaching summer school, working retail…).

So what you call “gratuitous whining” is actually a problem for some of us. I’d prefer year-round work for the stability it would provide. See how grass can be greener?

Teacher here. Would you prefer to work in a school system that goes year round without many breaks but that paid more? (I wouldn't. Teaching full time, even with federal holidays, winter and spring break nearly kills me. Though I'd LOVE to work in a school that was 6 weeks on 1 week off all year, with an additional 2 weeks for Christmas and summer for the same pay.)

I would love that! I’m all for year-round school. I can’t imagine that would go over well with many people, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(I don't think it was you who said it, but I can scroll through the last pages to find it, and provide an explanation for why it triggered me.)

Here's another quote: "The job simply can’t be done in 40 hours. It can’t. It isn’t set up to be sustainable. What other professional is expected to give 30-35 hours of presentations a week with absolutely no time at work dedicated to preparing these presentations or debriefing after them?"

Let's get real here. The school day is 6.5 hours. Teachers generally are expected to arrive 40 minutes early. Teachers also have a lunch period within this 6.5 hours and a dedicated planning period within this 6.5 hours.

So, at most, teachers are available to teach for 5 hours per day. So, that's at most 25 hours per week, yet the poster exclaims they're supposed to present for 30-35 hours per week.

In the private and public sector, lunch doesn't count as work time, by the way. And neither does commuting, in case people are including that in their calculations.

The day is 7.5 hours for teachers. It is 37.5 hours a week, if you leave on time and arrive on time.

I’m very much tired of posts that can’t simply look up work hours. It’s pathetic. Lunch for ES teachers is 45 minutes. Planning is work, why are you even mentioning that like it’s not work? So you’d like your child’s teacher to just make things up as they go? Sounds great to me! No differentiation, intentional planning/pacing, no looking at data? Sweet. I’ll just sit in front of the class a read from a standardized scripted lesson book. How are my students doing? Well who cares? :roll:

I saw that post and had to remind myself it was written by somebody who doesn’t know. I’m in front of students 28 hours a week. (I snorted when I saw “dedicated planning” above. That’s when I’m covering vacancies.) I do nearly all my grading and prep at home.

As you admit, you’re in front of students 28 hours per week. Yet your fellow teacher implored us all that it is so hard to do 30-35 hours of presentations per week. Do you see how this is gaslighting parents?

Do you see how there are differences among the jobs of teachers? Some teachers are being bullied at their schools and do not get full planning, so they are teaching. But planning is part of teaching. I’m afraid that there are people who try to pull things out of their a** and not plan. I feel sorry for people who don’t think that the time it takes to create something should not count as work.
Crying gaslight just because you were caught saying something nasty doesn’t work. Just admit you do not like teachers and do not feel like we should ever complain or want better for ourselves. That’s fine, I can do that with my colleagues. Because when teachers feel safe and satisfied it will only benefit the students. There is no way that satisfaction in employment would hurt a business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again with the "woe is me" act. You're not alone. You're not special. This notion you have that the rest of us wake up, kick our heels up on our desks, and watch the clock until 5pm rolls around is mistaken.

Nasty, nasty, nasty.

If you hate teachers, home school.

No one said they hate teachers. They said DC teachers are well paid. And several DC teachers agreed with that.

Others that don't agree are explaining why teaching is apparently harder than any other job, even if they do get two months off, plus multiple other breaks.

I AM one of the teachers who agreed we are paid well. ‘Super well paid’ implies it’s too much, OPs replies have also been nasty.
Send me the posts that have said ‘teaching is harder than any job’

We have said it’s a hard job, thus a shortage is present even in DCPS where we are paid well.

Teachers work on average 196 days per year minimum or more. The average American works 260 so looks like those breaks in between do not make a difference. Yes we have 2 months of unpaid time where we can choose not to work- if we make enough.
I am not saying that is not a plus but sometimes it’s not if you want to make more money in your regular job.

Teachers in DCPS are allowed to say our jobs are hard, we do not need to be gaslit by random parents in a forum. You may say your job is hard too, no one to my knowledge has stated, ‘your job is easy compared to being a teacher.’ Your job may be harder. But until you work for DCPS for a few years at a title 1 school you will not know the toxic environment teachers may go through. I will not know the things you may go through but I’d never gaslight police officers for example and say ‘well you can get up to a month of paid leave and 2 weeks of holiday pay, also you get a 25k sign on bonus and can retire in only 25 years.’ That discredits how stressful their jobs could be, depending on their stations. It discredits the risks that come with their jobs that are obvious and the ones the average person may not know about.

Thank you! You are amazing.

The question was whether DCPS teachers are paid well, and the bottom line is that comparing a 10-month salary to a 12-month salary is apples and oranges. If teachers want to make the point that their salaries are too low, it is disingenuous not to acknowledge that part of the reason they appear lower is because of the unpaid summers off.

To the question of whether DCPS teachers are paid relatively well compared to other locations, I think that has been established. Teachers may feel that it is still not enough, but objectively, yes, DCPS teachers are highly paid compared to their peers.

Why are you stating only half of the point of this post?
Which was to say teachers do not deserve appreciation in the form of gifts. If parents WANT to give them then why not?
Also the post said 9 months, which is untrue. The post said MOST teachers make 130k, which is untrue. The average is 90k.

So the bottom line is not simply are we paid well? Reading these comments the bottom line really seems to be ‘do teachers deserve it?’ ‘Is teaching even really a hard job?’ And ‘teachers do not deserve to say their job is hard because of XYZ.’
It is clear many non teacher parents do not think so. Even though you all do not know what working for DCPS is like and the full scope of the various types of teachers jobs and responsibilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again with the "woe is me" act. You're not alone. You're not special. This notion you have that the rest of us wake up, kick our heels up on our desks, and watch the clock until 5pm rolls around is mistaken.

Nasty, nasty, nasty.

If you hate teachers, home school.

No one said they hate teachers. They said DC teachers are well paid. And several DC teachers agreed with that.

Others that don't agree are explaining why teaching is apparently harder than any other job, even if they do get two months off, plus multiple other breaks.

I AM one of the teachers who agreed we are paid well. ‘Super well paid’ implies it’s too much, OPs replies have also been nasty.
Send me the posts that have said ‘teaching is harder than any job’

We have said it’s a hard job, thus a shortage is present even in DCPS where we are paid well.

Teachers work on average 196 days per year minimum or more. The average American works 260 so looks like those breaks in between do not make a difference. Yes we have 2 months of unpaid time where we can choose not to work- if we make enough.
I am not saying that is not a plus but sometimes it’s not if you want to make more money in your regular job.

Teachers in DCPS are allowed to say our jobs are hard, we do not need to be gaslit by random parents in a forum. You may say your job is hard too, no one to my knowledge has stated, ‘your job is easy compared to being a teacher.’ Your job may be harder. But until you work for DCPS for a few years at a title 1 school you will not know the toxic environment teachers may go through. I will not know the things you may go through but I’d never gaslight police officers for example and say ‘well you can get up to a month of paid leave and 2 weeks of holiday pay, also you get a 25k sign on bonus and can retire in only 25 years.’ That discredits how stressful their jobs could be, depending on their stations. It discredits the risks that come with their jobs that are obvious and the ones the average person may not know about.

Thank you! You are amazing.

The question was whether DCPS teachers are paid well, and the bottom line is that comparing a 10-month salary to a 12-month salary is apples and oranges. If teachers want to make the point that their salaries are too low, it is disingenuous not to acknowledge that part of the reason they appear lower is because of the unpaid summers off.

To the question of whether DCPS teachers are paid relatively well compared to other locations, I think that has been established. Teachers may feel that it is still not enough, but objectively, yes, DCPS teachers are highly paid compared to their peers.

Why are you stating only half of the point of this post?
Which was to say teachers do not deserve appreciation in the form of gifts. If parents WANT to give them then why not?
Also the post said 9 months, which is untrue. The post said MOST teachers make 130k, which is untrue. The average is 90k.

So the bottom line is not simply are we paid well? Reading these comments the bottom line really seems to be ‘do teachers deserve it?’ ‘Is teaching even really a hard job?’ And ‘teachers do not deserve to say their job is hard because of XYZ.’
It is clear many non teacher parents do not think so. Even though you all do not know what working for DCPS is like and the full scope of the various types of teachers jobs and responsibilities.

OP's point was that parents face pressure to give gifts under the guise that teachers are poorly paid. So that is what is being refuted. Many have come on this thread to say they make far less than DCPS teachers and don't want to feel pressured to give extra if the underlying justification is that teachers don't make enough. Giving gifts should be, as you said, because parents want to, not because they feel compelled. I appreciate the teachers that said they don't expect gifts anyhow, and that simply a note of gratitude is welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again with the "woe is me" act. You're not alone. You're not special. This notion you have that the rest of us wake up, kick our heels up on our desks, and watch the clock until 5pm rolls around is mistaken.

Nasty, nasty, nasty.

If you hate teachers, home school.

No one said they hate teachers. They said DC teachers are well paid. And several DC teachers agreed with that.

Others that don't agree are explaining why teaching is apparently harder than any other job, even if they do get two months off, plus multiple other breaks.

I AM one of the teachers who agreed we are paid well. ‘Super well paid’ implies it’s too much, OPs replies have also been nasty.
Send me the posts that have said ‘teaching is harder than any job’

We have said it’s a hard job, thus a shortage is present even in DCPS where we are paid well.

Teachers work on average 196 days per year minimum or more. The average American works 260 so looks like those breaks in between do not make a difference. Yes we have 2 months of unpaid time where we can choose not to work- if we make enough.
I am not saying that is not a plus but sometimes it’s not if you want to make more money in your regular job.

Teachers in DCPS are allowed to say our jobs are hard, we do not need to be gaslit by random parents in a forum. You may say your job is hard too, no one to my knowledge has stated, ‘your job is easy compared to being a teacher.’ Your job may be harder. But until you work for DCPS for a few years at a title 1 school you will not know the toxic environment teachers may go through. I will not know the things you may go through but I’d never gaslight police officers for example and say ‘well you can get up to a month of paid leave and 2 weeks of holiday pay, also you get a 25k sign on bonus and can retire in only 25 years.’ That discredits how stressful their jobs could be, depending on their stations. It discredits the risks that come with their jobs that are obvious and the ones the average person may not know about.

Thank you! You are amazing.

The question was whether DCPS teachers are paid well, and the bottom line is that comparing a 10-month salary to a 12-month salary is apples and oranges. If teachers want to make the point that their salaries are too low, it is disingenuous not to acknowledge that part of the reason they appear lower is because of the unpaid summers off.

To the question of whether DCPS teachers are paid relatively well compared to other locations, I think that has been established. Teachers may feel that it is still not enough, but objectively, yes, DCPS teachers are highly paid compared to their peers.

Why are you stating only half of the point of this post?
Which was to say teachers do not deserve appreciation in the form of gifts. If parents WANT to give them then why not?
Also the post said 9 months, which is untrue. The post said MOST teachers make 130k, which is untrue. The average is 90k.

So the bottom line is not simply are we paid well? Reading these comments the bottom line really seems to be ‘do teachers deserve it?’ ‘Is teaching even really a hard job?’ And ‘teachers do not deserve to say their job is hard because of XYZ.’
It is clear many non teacher parents do not think so. Even though you all do not know what working for DCPS is like and the full scope of the various types of teachers jobs and responsibilities.

OP's point was that parents face pressure to give gifts under the guise that teachers are poorly paid. So that is what is being refuted. Many have come on this thread to say they make far less than DCPS teachers and don't want to feel pressured to give extra if the underlying justification is that teachers don't make enough. Giving gifts should be, as you said, because parents want to, not because they feel compelled. I appreciate the teachers that said they don't expect gifts anyhow, and that simply a note of gratitude is welcome.

I need to meet these teachers who demands gifts, they must have multiple children and be a single parent to demand such things. Even then it’s not professional.

Also 90k is average pay for those who have a degree or a certain trade in DC. Yes, many people make way less but many also make way more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again with the "woe is me" act. You're not alone. You're not special. This notion you have that the rest of us wake up, kick our heels up on our desks, and watch the clock until 5pm rolls around is mistaken.

Nasty, nasty, nasty.

If you hate teachers, home school.

No one said they hate teachers. They said DC teachers are well paid. And several DC teachers agreed with that.

Others that don't agree are explaining why teaching is apparently harder than any other job, even if they do get two months off, plus multiple other breaks.

I AM one of the teachers who agreed we are paid well. ‘Super well paid’ implies it’s too much, OPs replies have also been nasty.
Send me the posts that have said ‘teaching is harder than any job’

We have said it’s a hard job, thus a shortage is present even in DCPS where we are paid well.

Teachers work on average 196 days per year minimum or more. The average American works 260 so looks like those breaks in between do not make a difference. Yes we have 2 months of unpaid time where we can choose not to work- if we make enough.
I am not saying that is not a plus but sometimes it’s not if you want to make more money in your regular job.

Teachers in DCPS are allowed to say our jobs are hard, we do not need to be gaslit by random parents in a forum. You may say your job is hard too, no one to my knowledge has stated, ‘your job is easy compared to being a teacher.’ Your job may be harder. But until you work for DCPS for a few years at a title 1 school you will not know the toxic environment teachers may go through. I will not know the things you may go through but I’d never gaslight police officers for example and say ‘well you can get up to a month of paid leave and 2 weeks of holiday pay, also you get a 25k sign on bonus and can retire in only 25 years.’ That discredits how stressful their jobs could be, depending on their stations. It discredits the risks that come with their jobs that are obvious and the ones the average person may not know about.

Thank you! You are amazing.

The question was whether DCPS teachers are paid well, and the bottom line is that comparing a 10-month salary to a 12-month salary is apples and oranges. If teachers want to make the point that their salaries are too low, it is disingenuous not to acknowledge that part of the reason they appear lower is because of the unpaid summers off.

To the question of whether DCPS teachers are paid relatively well compared to other locations, I think that has been established. Teachers may feel that it is still not enough, but objectively, yes, DCPS teachers are highly paid compared to their peers.

Why are you stating only half of the point of this post?
Which was to say teachers do not deserve appreciation in the form of gifts. If parents WANT to give them then why not?
Also the post said 9 months, which is untrue. The post said MOST teachers make 130k, which is untrue. The average is 90k.

So the bottom line is not simply are we paid well? Reading these comments the bottom line really seems to be ‘do teachers deserve it?’ ‘Is teaching even really a hard job?’ And ‘teachers do not deserve to say their job is hard because of XYZ.’
It is clear many non teacher parents do not think so. Even though you all do not know what working for DCPS is like and the full scope of the various types of teachers jobs and responsibilities.

OP's point was that parents face pressure to give gifts under the guise that teachers are poorly paid. So that is what is being refuted. Many have come on this thread to say they make far less than DCPS teachers and don't want to feel pressured to give extra if the underlying justification is that teachers don't make enough. Giving gifts should be, as you said, because parents want to, not because they feel compelled. I appreciate the teachers that said they don't expect gifts anyhow, and that simply a note of gratitude is welcome.

I need to meet these teachers who demands gifts, they must have multiple children and be a single parent to demand such things. Even then it’s not professional.

Also 90k is average pay for those who have a degree or a certain trade in DC. Yes, many people make way less but many also make way more.

90k in a job with the other benefits of a DCPS teaching job is NOT average in DC. That's what many of you don't seem to understand. Many of us make about the same as DCPS teachers but with limited time off and no pension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again with the "woe is me" act. You're not alone. You're not special. This notion you have that the rest of us wake up, kick our heels up on our desks, and watch the clock until 5pm rolls around is mistaken.

Nasty, nasty, nasty.

If you hate teachers, home school.

No one said they hate teachers. They said DC teachers are well paid. And several DC teachers agreed with that.

Others that don't agree are explaining why teaching is apparently harder than any other job, even if they do get two months off, plus multiple other breaks.

I AM one of the teachers who agreed we are paid well. ‘Super well paid’ implies it’s too much, OPs replies have also been nasty.
Send me the posts that have said ‘teaching is harder than any job’

We have said it’s a hard job, thus a shortage is present even in DCPS where we are paid well.

Teachers work on average 196 days per year minimum or more. The average American works 260 so looks like those breaks in between do not make a difference. Yes we have 2 months of unpaid time where we can choose not to work- if we make enough.
I am not saying that is not a plus but sometimes it’s not if you want to make more money in your regular job.

Teachers in DCPS are allowed to say our jobs are hard, we do not need to be gaslit by random parents in a forum. You may say your job is hard too, no one to my knowledge has stated, ‘your job is easy compared to being a teacher.’ Your job may be harder. But until you work for DCPS for a few years at a title 1 school you will not know the toxic environment teachers may go through. I will not know the things you may go through but I’d never gaslight police officers for example and say ‘well you can get up to a month of paid leave and 2 weeks of holiday pay, also you get a 25k sign on bonus and can retire in only 25 years.’ That discredits how stressful their jobs could be, depending on their stations. It discredits the risks that come with their jobs that are obvious and the ones the average person may not know about.

Thank you! You are amazing.

The question was whether DCPS teachers are paid well, and the bottom line is that comparing a 10-month salary to a 12-month salary is apples and oranges. If teachers want to make the point that their salaries are too low, it is disingenuous not to acknowledge that part of the reason they appear lower is because of the unpaid summers off.

To the question of whether DCPS teachers are paid relatively well compared to other locations, I think that has been established. Teachers may feel that it is still not enough, but objectively, yes, DCPS teachers are highly paid compared to their peers.

Why are you stating only half of the point of this post?
Which was to say teachers do not deserve appreciation in the form of gifts. If parents WANT to give them then why not?
Also the post said 9 months, which is untrue. The post said MOST teachers make 130k, which is untrue. The average is 90k.

So the bottom line is not simply are we paid well? Reading these comments the bottom line really seems to be ‘do teachers deserve it?’ ‘Is teaching even really a hard job?’ And ‘teachers do not deserve to say their job is hard because of XYZ.’
It is clear many non teacher parents do not think so. Even though you all do not know what working for DCPS is like and the full scope of the various types of teachers jobs and responsibilities.

OP's point was that parents face pressure to give gifts under the guise that teachers are poorly paid. So that is what is being refuted. Many have come on this thread to say they make far less than DCPS teachers and don't want to feel pressured to give extra if the underlying justification is that teachers don't make enough. Giving gifts should be, as you said, because parents want to, not because they feel compelled. I appreciate the teachers that said they don't expect gifts anyhow, and that simply a note of gratitude is welcome.

I need to meet these teachers who demands gifts, they must have multiple children and be a single parent to demand such things. Even then it’s not professional.

Also 90k is average pay for those who have a degree or a certain trade in DC. Yes, many people make way less but many also make way more.

90k in a job with the other benefits of a DCPS teaching job is NOT average in DC. That's what many of you don't seem to understand. Many of us make about the same as DCPS teachers but with limited time off and no pension.

There are plenty of openings. If the benefits package is appealing to you, then apply to teach. Help reverse the growing teacher shortage.

Here’s the link that will get you started:
https://dcps.dc.gov/page/teacher-certification-and-licensing

You don’t need a teaching license to apply. Take the Praxis and enroll in a teacher preparation program.

It’s time for people on this thread to stop talking and take action. If you want the same benefits as a teacher, then what’s stopping you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again with the "woe is me" act. You're not alone. You're not special. This notion you have that the rest of us wake up, kick our heels up on our desks, and watch the clock until 5pm rolls around is mistaken.

Nasty, nasty, nasty.

If you hate teachers, home school.

No one said they hate teachers. They said DC teachers are well paid. And several DC teachers agreed with that.

Others that don't agree are explaining why teaching is apparently harder than any other job, even if they do get two months off, plus multiple other breaks.

I AM one of the teachers who agreed we are paid well. ‘Super well paid’ implies it’s too much, OPs replies have also been nasty.
Send me the posts that have said ‘teaching is harder than any job’

We have said it’s a hard job, thus a shortage is present even in DCPS where we are paid well.

Teachers work on average 196 days per year minimum or more. The average American works 260 so looks like those breaks in between do not make a difference. Yes we have 2 months of unpaid time where we can choose not to work- if we make enough.
I am not saying that is not a plus but sometimes it’s not if you want to make more money in your regular job.

Teachers in DCPS are allowed to say our jobs are hard, we do not need to be gaslit by random parents in a forum. You may say your job is hard too, no one to my knowledge has stated, ‘your job is easy compared to being a teacher.’ Your job may be harder. But until you work for DCPS for a few years at a title 1 school you will not know the toxic environment teachers may go through. I will not know the things you may go through but I’d never gaslight police officers for example and say ‘well you can get up to a month of paid leave and 2 weeks of holiday pay, also you get a 25k sign on bonus and can retire in only 25 years.’ That discredits how stressful their jobs could be, depending on their stations. It discredits the risks that come with their jobs that are obvious and the ones the average person may not know about.

Thank you! You are amazing.

The question was whether DCPS teachers are paid well, and the bottom line is that comparing a 10-month salary to a 12-month salary is apples and oranges. If teachers want to make the point that their salaries are too low, it is disingenuous not to acknowledge that part of the reason they appear lower is because of the unpaid summers off.

To the question of whether DCPS teachers are paid relatively well compared to other locations, I think that has been established. Teachers may feel that it is still not enough, but objectively, yes, DCPS teachers are highly paid compared to their peers.

Why are you stating only half of the point of this post?
Which was to say teachers do not deserve appreciation in the form of gifts. If parents WANT to give them then why not?
Also the post said 9 months, which is untrue. The post said MOST teachers make 130k, which is untrue. The average is 90k.

So the bottom line is not simply are we paid well? Reading these comments the bottom line really seems to be ‘do teachers deserve it?’ ‘Is teaching even really a hard job?’ And ‘teachers do not deserve to say their job is hard because of XYZ.’
It is clear many non teacher parents do not think so. Even though you all do not know what working for DCPS is like and the full scope of the various types of teachers jobs and responsibilities.

OP's point was that parents face pressure to give gifts under the guise that teachers are poorly paid. So that is what is being refuted. Many have come on this thread to say they make far less than DCPS teachers and don't want to feel pressured to give extra if the underlying justification is that teachers don't make enough. Giving gifts should be, as you said, because parents want to, not because they feel compelled. I appreciate the teachers that said they don't expect gifts anyhow, and that simply a note of gratitude is welcome.

I need to meet these teachers who demands gifts, they must have multiple children and be a single parent to demand such things. Even then it’s not professional.

Also 90k is average pay for those who have a degree or a certain trade in DC. Yes, many people make way less but many also make way more.

90k in a job with the other benefits of a DCPS teaching job is NOT average in DC. That's what many of you don't seem to understand. Many of us make about the same as DCPS teachers but with limited time off and no pension.

There are plenty of openings. If the benefits package is appealing to you, then apply to teach. Help reverse the growing teacher shortage.

Here’s the link that will get you started:
https://dcps.dc.gov/page/teacher-certification-and-licensing

You don’t need a teaching license to apply. Take the Praxis and enroll in a teacher preparation program.

It’s time for people on this thread to stop talking and take action. If you want the same benefits as a teacher, then what’s stopping you?

I normally hate this talking point as a teacher but there are really a few people so dug in trying to tell us how good we have it that I have to hit a +1 here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again with the "woe is me" act. You're not alone. You're not special. This notion you have that the rest of us wake up, kick our heels up on our desks, and watch the clock until 5pm rolls around is mistaken.

Nasty, nasty, nasty.

If you hate teachers, home school.

No one said they hate teachers. They said DC teachers are well paid. And several DC teachers agreed with that.

Others that don't agree are explaining why teaching is apparently harder than any other job, even if they do get two months off, plus multiple other breaks.

I AM one of the teachers who agreed we are paid well. ‘Super well paid’ implies it’s too much, OPs replies have also been nasty.
Send me the posts that have said ‘teaching is harder than any job’

We have said it’s a hard job, thus a shortage is present even in DCPS where we are paid well.

Teachers work on average 196 days per year minimum or more. The average American works 260 so looks like those breaks in between do not make a difference. Yes we have 2 months of unpaid time where we can choose not to work- if we make enough.
I am not saying that is not a plus but sometimes it’s not if you want to make more money in your regular job.

Teachers in DCPS are allowed to say our jobs are hard, we do not need to be gaslit by random parents in a forum. You may say your job is hard too, no one to my knowledge has stated, ‘your job is easy compared to being a teacher.’ Your job may be harder. But until you work for DCPS for a few years at a title 1 school you will not know the toxic environment teachers may go through. I will not know the things you may go through but I’d never gaslight police officers for example and say ‘well you can get up to a month of paid leave and 2 weeks of holiday pay, also you get a 25k sign on bonus and can retire in only 25 years.’ That discredits how stressful their jobs could be, depending on their stations. It discredits the risks that come with their jobs that are obvious and the ones the average person may not know about.

Thank you! You are amazing.

The question was whether DCPS teachers are paid well, and the bottom line is that comparing a 10-month salary to a 12-month salary is apples and oranges. If teachers want to make the point that their salaries are too low, it is disingenuous not to acknowledge that part of the reason they appear lower is because of the unpaid summers off.

To the question of whether DCPS teachers are paid relatively well compared to other locations, I think that has been established. Teachers may feel that it is still not enough, but objectively, yes, DCPS teachers are highly paid compared to their peers.

Why are you stating only half of the point of this post?
Which was to say teachers do not deserve appreciation in the form of gifts. If parents WANT to give them then why not?
Also the post said 9 months, which is untrue. The post said MOST teachers make 130k, which is untrue. The average is 90k.

So the bottom line is not simply are we paid well? Reading these comments the bottom line really seems to be ‘do teachers deserve it?’ ‘Is teaching even really a hard job?’ And ‘teachers do not deserve to say their job is hard because of XYZ.’
It is clear many non teacher parents do not think so. Even though you all do not know what working for DCPS is like and the full scope of the various types of teachers jobs and responsibilities.

OP's point was that parents face pressure to give gifts under the guise that teachers are poorly paid. So that is what is being refuted. Many have come on this thread to say they make far less than DCPS teachers and don't want to feel pressured to give extra if the underlying justification is that teachers don't make enough. Giving gifts should be, as you said, because parents want to, not because they feel compelled. I appreciate the teachers that said they don't expect gifts anyhow, and that simply a note of gratitude is welcome.

I need to meet these teachers who demands gifts, they must have multiple children and be a single parent to demand such things. Even then it’s not professional.

Also 90k is average pay for those who have a degree or a certain trade in DC. Yes, many people make way less but many also make way more.

90k in a job with the other benefits of a DCPS teaching job is NOT average in DC. That's what many of you don't seem to understand. Many of us make about the same as DCPS teachers but with limited time off and no pension.

There are plenty of openings. If the benefits package is appealing to you, then apply to teach. Help reverse the growing teacher shortage.

Here’s the link that will get you started:
https://dcps.dc.gov/page/teacher-certification-and-licensing

You don’t need a teaching license to apply. Take the Praxis and enroll in a teacher preparation program.

It’s time for people on this thread to stop talking and take action. If you want the same benefits as a teacher, then what’s stopping you?

I don't want to be a teacher. I like my job, which has other benefits that keep me there. Every job has its pros and cons. The whole point of this thread is that actually teacher salaries in DCPS are more of a pro than a con because they are much higher than teacher salaries elsewhere, and higher than many other jobs right here in DC. It's like teachers are afraid if they acknowledge this truth, it will mean they have no standing to complain about classroom conditions or anything else. That's not true. You can acknowledge the pay is high while still wanting more pay or better conditions. Just be aware that not everyone will be sympathetic if they are working many more hours all year round for less pay and fewer benefits (pensions, health insurance) than DCPS teachers have. And especially if they are parents who make less but are constantly getting pressured to chip in for gift cards and supplies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again with the "woe is me" act. You're not alone. You're not special. This notion you have that the rest of us wake up, kick our heels up on our desks, and watch the clock until 5pm rolls around is mistaken.

Nasty, nasty, nasty.

If you hate teachers, home school.

No one said they hate teachers. They said DC teachers are well paid. And several DC teachers agreed with that.

Others that don't agree are explaining why teaching is apparently harder than any other job, even if they do get two months off, plus multiple other breaks.

I AM one of the teachers who agreed we are paid well. ‘Super well paid’ implies it’s too much, OPs replies have also been nasty.
Send me the posts that have said ‘teaching is harder than any job’

We have said it’s a hard job, thus a shortage is present even in DCPS where we are paid well.

Teachers work on average 196 days per year minimum or more. The average American works 260 so looks like those breaks in between do not make a difference. Yes we have 2 months of unpaid time where we can choose not to work- if we make enough.
I am not saying that is not a plus but sometimes it’s not if you want to make more money in your regular job.

Teachers in DCPS are allowed to say our jobs are hard, we do not need to be gaslit by random parents in a forum. You may say your job is hard too, no one to my knowledge has stated, ‘your job is easy compared to being a teacher.’ Your job may be harder. But until you work for DCPS for a few years at a title 1 school you will not know the toxic environment teachers may go through. I will not know the things you may go through but I’d never gaslight police officers for example and say ‘well you can get up to a month of paid leave and 2 weeks of holiday pay, also you get a 25k sign on bonus and can retire in only 25 years.’ That discredits how stressful their jobs could be, depending on their stations. It discredits the risks that come with their jobs that are obvious and the ones the average person may not know about.

Thank you! You are amazing.

The question was whether DCPS teachers are paid well, and the bottom line is that comparing a 10-month salary to a 12-month salary is apples and oranges. If teachers want to make the point that their salaries are too low, it is disingenuous not to acknowledge that part of the reason they appear lower is because of the unpaid summers off.

To the question of whether DCPS teachers are paid relatively well compared to other locations, I think that has been established. Teachers may feel that it is still not enough, but objectively, yes, DCPS teachers are highly paid compared to their peers.

Why are you stating only half of the point of this post?
Which was to say teachers do not deserve appreciation in the form of gifts. If parents WANT to give them then why not?
Also the post said 9 months, which is untrue. The post said MOST teachers make 130k, which is untrue. The average is 90k.

So the bottom line is not simply are we paid well? Reading these comments the bottom line really seems to be ‘do teachers deserve it?’ ‘Is teaching even really a hard job?’ And ‘teachers do not deserve to say their job is hard because of XYZ.’
It is clear many non teacher parents do not think so. Even though you all do not know what working for DCPS is like and the full scope of the various types of teachers jobs and responsibilities.

OP's point was that parents face pressure to give gifts under the guise that teachers are poorly paid. So that is what is being refuted. Many have come on this thread to say they make far less than DCPS teachers and don't want to feel pressured to give extra if the underlying justification is that teachers don't make enough. Giving gifts should be, as you said, because parents want to, not because they feel compelled. I appreciate the teachers that said they don't expect gifts anyhow, and that simply a note of gratitude is welcome.

I need to meet these teachers who demands gifts, they must have multiple children and be a single parent to demand such things. Even then it’s not professional.

Also 90k is average pay for those who have a degree or a certain trade in DC. Yes, many people make way less but many also make way more.

90k in a job with the other benefits of a DCPS teaching job is NOT average in DC. That's what many of you don't seem to understand. Many of us make about the same as DCPS teachers but with limited time off and no pension.

There are plenty of openings. If the benefits package is appealing to you, then apply to teach. Help reverse the growing teacher shortage.

Here’s the link that will get you started:
https://dcps.dc.gov/page/teacher-certification-and-licensing

You don’t need a teaching license to apply. Take the Praxis and enroll in a teacher preparation program.

It’s time for people on this thread to stop talking and take action. If you want the same benefits as a teacher, then what’s stopping you?

I don't want to be a teacher. I like my job, which has other benefits that keep me there. Every job has its pros and cons. The whole point of this thread is that actually teacher salaries in DCPS are more of a pro than a con because they are much higher than teacher salaries elsewhere, and higher than many other jobs right here in DC. It's like teachers are afraid if they acknowledge this truth, it will mean they have no standing to complain about classroom conditions or anything else. That's not true. You can acknowledge the pay is high while still wanting more pay or better conditions. Just be aware that not everyone will be sympathetic if they are working many more hours all year round for less pay and fewer benefits (pensions, health insurance) than DCPS teachers have. And especially if they are parents who make less but are constantly getting pressured to chip in for gift cards and supplies.

And yet the high pay (that most teachers don’t actually receive) still isn’t enough to keep teachers here.

It’s almost like teachers know the benefits don’t outweigh the extremely poor working conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again with the "woe is me" act. You're not alone. You're not special. This notion you have that the rest of us wake up, kick our heels up on our desks, and watch the clock until 5pm rolls around is mistaken.

Nasty, nasty, nasty.

If you hate teachers, home school.

No one said they hate teachers. They said DC teachers are well paid. And several DC teachers agreed with that.

Others that don't agree are explaining why teaching is apparently harder than any other job, even if they do get two months off, plus multiple other breaks.

I AM one of the teachers who agreed we are paid well. ‘Super well paid’ implies it’s too much, OPs replies have also been nasty.
Send me the posts that have said ‘teaching is harder than any job’

We have said it’s a hard job, thus a shortage is present even in DCPS where we are paid well.

Teachers work on average 196 days per year minimum or more. The average American works 260 so looks like those breaks in between do not make a difference. Yes we have 2 months of unpaid time where we can choose not to work- if we make enough.
I am not saying that is not a plus but sometimes it’s not if you want to make more money in your regular job.

Teachers in DCPS are allowed to say our jobs are hard, we do not need to be gaslit by random parents in a forum. You may say your job is hard too, no one to my knowledge has stated, ‘your job is easy compared to being a teacher.’ Your job may be harder. But until you work for DCPS for a few years at a title 1 school you will not know the toxic environment teachers may go through. I will not know the things you may go through but I’d never gaslight police officers for example and say ‘well you can get up to a month of paid leave and 2 weeks of holiday pay, also you get a 25k sign on bonus and can retire in only 25 years.’ That discredits how stressful their jobs could be, depending on their stations. It discredits the risks that come with their jobs that are obvious and the ones the average person may not know about.

Thank you! You are amazing.

The question was whether DCPS teachers are paid well, and the bottom line is that comparing a 10-month salary to a 12-month salary is apples and oranges. If teachers want to make the point that their salaries are too low, it is disingenuous not to acknowledge that part of the reason they appear lower is because of the unpaid summers off.

To the question of whether DCPS teachers are paid relatively well compared to other locations, I think that has been established. Teachers may feel that it is still not enough, but objectively, yes, DCPS teachers are highly paid compared to their peers.

Why are you stating only half of the point of this post?
Which was to say teachers do not deserve appreciation in the form of gifts. If parents WANT to give them then why not?
Also the post said 9 months, which is untrue. The post said MOST teachers make 130k, which is untrue. The average is 90k.

So the bottom line is not simply are we paid well? Reading these comments the bottom line really seems to be ‘do teachers deserve it?’ ‘Is teaching even really a hard job?’ And ‘teachers do not deserve to say their job is hard because of XYZ.’
It is clear many non teacher parents do not think so. Even though you all do not know what working for DCPS is like and the full scope of the various types of teachers jobs and responsibilities.

OP's point was that parents face pressure to give gifts under the guise that teachers are poorly paid. So that is what is being refuted. Many have come on this thread to say they make far less than DCPS teachers and don't want to feel pressured to give extra if the underlying justification is that teachers don't make enough. Giving gifts should be, as you said, because parents want to, not because they feel compelled. I appreciate the teachers that said they don't expect gifts anyhow, and that simply a note of gratitude is welcome.

I need to meet these teachers who demands gifts, they must have multiple children and be a single parent to demand such things. Even then it’s not professional.

Also 90k is average pay for those who have a degree or a certain trade in DC. Yes, many people make way less but many also make way more.

You get that this is the same thing teachers are complaining about, right? Saying "but surely most parents DO make much more than teachers"? Tons of people in "helping" and nonprofit fields do not, even with grad degrees. Several of my grad school friends have, in fact, switched to teaching!

I agree that it's not professional to expect large cash gifts from parents but I've fortunately only run into this expectation on DCUM. I consider teachers valuable professionals with similar levels of education and compensation to myself, and on top of that they're public employees, we have ethics rules. We stick with handmade cards from kids and positive emails to principals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again with the "woe is me" act. You're not alone. You're not special. This notion you have that the rest of us wake up, kick our heels up on our desks, and watch the clock until 5pm rolls around is mistaken.

Nasty, nasty, nasty.

If you hate teachers, home school.

No one said they hate teachers. They said DC teachers are well paid. And several DC teachers agreed with that.

Others that don't agree are explaining why teaching is apparently harder than any other job, even if they do get two months off, plus multiple other breaks.

I AM one of the teachers who agreed we are paid well. ‘Super well paid’ implies it’s too much, OPs replies have also been nasty.
Send me the posts that have said ‘teaching is harder than any job’

We have said it’s a hard job, thus a shortage is present even in DCPS where we are paid well.

Teachers work on average 196 days per year minimum or more. The average American works 260 so looks like those breaks in between do not make a difference. Yes we have 2 months of unpaid time where we can choose not to work- if we make enough.
I am not saying that is not a plus but sometimes it’s not if you want to make more money in your regular job.

Teachers in DCPS are allowed to say our jobs are hard, we do not need to be gaslit by random parents in a forum. You may say your job is hard too, no one to my knowledge has stated, ‘your job is easy compared to being a teacher.’ Your job may be harder. But until you work for DCPS for a few years at a title 1 school you will not know the toxic environment teachers may go through. I will not know the things you may go through but I’d never gaslight police officers for example and say ‘well you can get up to a month of paid leave and 2 weeks of holiday pay, also you get a 25k sign on bonus and can retire in only 25 years.’ That discredits how stressful their jobs could be, depending on their stations. It discredits the risks that come with their jobs that are obvious and the ones the average person may not know about.

Thank you! You are amazing.

The question was whether DCPS teachers are paid well, and the bottom line is that comparing a 10-month salary to a 12-month salary is apples and oranges. If teachers want to make the point that their salaries are too low, it is disingenuous not to acknowledge that part of the reason they appear lower is because of the unpaid summers off.

To the question of whether DCPS teachers are paid relatively well compared to other locations, I think that has been established. Teachers may feel that it is still not enough, but objectively, yes, DCPS teachers are highly paid compared to their peers.

Why are you stating only half of the point of this post?
Which was to say teachers do not deserve appreciation in the form of gifts. If parents WANT to give them then why not?
Also the post said 9 months, which is untrue. The post said MOST teachers make 130k, which is untrue. The average is 90k.

So the bottom line is not simply are we paid well? Reading these comments the bottom line really seems to be ‘do teachers deserve it?’ ‘Is teaching even really a hard job?’ And ‘teachers do not deserve to say their job is hard because of XYZ.’
It is clear many non teacher parents do not think so. Even though you all do not know what working for DCPS is like and the full scope of the various types of teachers jobs and responsibilities.

OP's point was that parents face pressure to give gifts under the guise that teachers are poorly paid. So that is what is being refuted. Many have come on this thread to say they make far less than DCPS teachers and don't want to feel pressured to give extra if the underlying justification is that teachers don't make enough. Giving gifts should be, as you said, because parents want to, not because they feel compelled. I appreciate the teachers that said they don't expect gifts anyhow, and that simply a note of gratitude is welcome.

I need to meet these teachers who demands gifts, they must have multiple children and be a single parent to demand such things. Even then it’s not professional.

Also 90k is average pay for those who have a degree or a certain trade in DC. Yes, many people make way less but many also make way more.

90k in a job with the other benefits of a DCPS teaching job is NOT average in DC. That's what many of you don't seem to understand. Many of us make about the same as DCPS teachers but with limited time off and no pension.

You can look up DC statistics. Many jobs pay more than 90 as well. It is actually the same. Teachers pay into pension. And you are not reading posts.
Teachers do not get extra time off, summer is unpaid. If you are talking about holidays, it doesn’t equate to another month off, based on the average days other people work.
You can look for a job that is 10 months, there are jobs from home or partly from home. On average people work 260 days, teachers it’s 196. 2 months less.

So it’s you who refuses to remain obtuse. And before you cry about why I can post, I had minor surgery today and I’m out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again with the "woe is me" act. You're not alone. You're not special. This notion you have that the rest of us wake up, kick our heels up on our desks, and watch the clock until 5pm rolls around is mistaken.

Nasty, nasty, nasty.

If you hate teachers, home school.

No one said they hate teachers. They said DC teachers are well paid. And several DC teachers agreed with that.

Others that don't agree are explaining why teaching is apparently harder than any other job, even if they do get two months off, plus multiple other breaks.

I AM one of the teachers who agreed we are paid well. ‘Super well paid’ implies it’s too much, OPs replies have also been nasty.
Send me the posts that have said ‘teaching is harder than any job’

We have said it’s a hard job, thus a shortage is present even in DCPS where we are paid well.

Teachers work on average 196 days per year minimum or more. The average American works 260 so looks like those breaks in between do not make a difference. Yes we have 2 months of unpaid time where we can choose not to work- if we make enough.
I am not saying that is not a plus but sometimes it’s not if you want to make more money in your regular job.

Teachers in DCPS are allowed to say our jobs are hard, we do not need to be gaslit by random parents in a forum. You may say your job is hard too, no one to my knowledge has stated, ‘your job is easy compared to being a teacher.’ Your job may be harder. But until you work for DCPS for a few years at a title 1 school you will not know the toxic environment teachers may go through. I will not know the things you may go through but I’d never gaslight police officers for example and say ‘well you can get up to a month of paid leave and 2 weeks of holiday pay, also you get a 25k sign on bonus and can retire in only 25 years.’ That discredits how stressful their jobs could be, depending on their stations. It discredits the risks that come with their jobs that are obvious and the ones the average person may not know about.

Thank you! You are amazing.

The question was whether DCPS teachers are paid well, and the bottom line is that comparing a 10-month salary to a 12-month salary is apples and oranges. If teachers want to make the point that their salaries are too low, it is disingenuous not to acknowledge that part of the reason they appear lower is because of the unpaid summers off.

To the question of whether DCPS teachers are paid relatively well compared to other locations, I think that has been established. Teachers may feel that it is still not enough, but objectively, yes, DCPS teachers are highly paid compared to their peers.

Why are you stating only half of the point of this post?
Which was to say teachers do not deserve appreciation in the form of gifts. If parents WANT to give them then why not?
Also the post said 9 months, which is untrue. The post said MOST teachers make 130k, which is untrue. The average is 90k.

So the bottom line is not simply are we paid well? Reading these comments the bottom line really seems to be ‘do teachers deserve it?’ ‘Is teaching even really a hard job?’ And ‘teachers do not deserve to say their job is hard because of XYZ.’
It is clear many non teacher parents do not think so. Even though you all do not know what working for DCPS is like and the full scope of the various types of teachers jobs and responsibilities.

OP's point was that parents face pressure to give gifts under the guise that teachers are poorly paid. So that is what is being refuted. Many have come on this thread to say they make far less than DCPS teachers and don't want to feel pressured to give extra if the underlying justification is that teachers don't make enough. Giving gifts should be, as you said, because parents want to, not because they feel compelled. I appreciate the teachers that said they don't expect gifts anyhow, and that simply a note of gratitude is welcome.

I need to meet these teachers who demands gifts, they must have multiple children and be a single parent to demand such things. Even then it’s not professional.

Also 90k is average pay for those who have a degree or a certain trade in DC. Yes, many people make way less but many also make way more.

You get that this is the same thing teachers are complaining about, right? Saying "but surely most parents DO make much more than teachers"? Tons of people in "helping" and nonprofit fields do not, even with grad degrees. Several of my grad school friends have, in fact, switched to teaching!

I agree that it's not professional to expect large cash gifts from parents but I've fortunately only run into this expectation on DCUM. I consider teachers valuable professionals with similar levels of education and compensation to myself, and on top of that they're public employees, we have ethics rules. We stick with handmade cards from kids and positive emails to principals.

Are you in the dcps teacher group? Are you part of our union?
Then you cannot assert you know better than me what we are complaining about.

I can assure that the majority of us are not complaining and saying parents should be grateful for their pay.
We are fighting for our rights, we primarily make comparisons to other districts, not unrelated jobs.

And tell me where I said, ‘parents surely do make more.’