Why does no one acknowledge how overworked teachers are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does that mean, No one is acknowledging? It's all anyone talks about!

+2 I’m literally so tired of hearing teachers complain

You chose to come online to complain about people complaining, just as an fyi. You don't have to do that

NP, but it's ev.ery.where. On FB. On the apps my kids' teachers use, on major news sites, etc. Constantly seeing whining about how their job is so uniquely hard.

They remind me of emo teenagers: "no one will understand me! my life is just so, so hard, and so difficult. You see, I am unique in human history--a noble beautiful soul simply put upon."

Like ugh, go listen to Imagine Dragons and let the rest of us live in peace.

We are leaving don't worry

That’s why I don’t get some of the responses on this thread. There have been many attempts to explain why the teaching profession is in crisis. They haven’t been complaints; instead, they have been detailed explanations of why teaching does have some unique challenges.

Instead of listening to the people who are in the profession, several posters need to disparage teachers at every turn. Who loses? Eventually we all do. I just found out YET ANOTHER department member is quitting. We’ve turned over 80% of our department in 4 years, and the replacements can’t do it. They are quitting, too. Who is going to teach?

We are leaving because we can, and we are finding easier jobs that pay more. Don’t believe us? It doesn’t matter. We are watching our coworkers do it, so we know it’s quite possible.

We lowered our hiring standards again for next year. I don’t have much hope, and I know that means more parents are going to have their children transferred into my class to avoid the unqualified replacements. I’ll then feel even more overwhelmed than I do now, and I’ll eventually fold.

No, what people are taking issue with is the idea that claim that a) no one ever acknowledges that teachers feel overworked and b) that being a teacher is harder than anything else (or, as one PP claimed, involves doing literally every other job in the world). The drama and exaggeration is the issue. Also, people DO acknowledge that teachers feel overwhelmed; as stated, if anything this point is over hammered in

Why are you still complaining about this on page 68? Who are you trying to win points with.

Same question to you…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does that mean, No one is acknowledging? It's all anyone talks about!

+2 I’m literally so tired of hearing teachers complain

You chose to come online to complain about people complaining, just as an fyi. You don't have to do that

NP, but it's ev.ery.where. On FB. On the apps my kids' teachers use, on major news sites, etc. Constantly seeing whining about how their job is so uniquely hard.

They remind me of emo teenagers: "no one will understand me! my life is just so, so hard, and so difficult. You see, I am unique in human history--a noble beautiful soul simply put upon."

Like ugh, go listen to Imagine Dragons and let the rest of us live in peace.

We are leaving don't worry

That’s why I don’t get some of the responses on this thread. There have been many attempts to explain why the teaching profession is in crisis. They haven’t been complaints; instead, they have been detailed explanations of why teaching does have some unique challenges.

Instead of listening to the people who are in the profession, several posters need to disparage teachers at every turn. Who loses? Eventually we all do. I just found out YET ANOTHER department member is quitting. We’ve turned over 80% of our department in 4 years, and the replacements can’t do it. They are quitting, too. Who is going to teach?

We are leaving because we can, and we are finding easier jobs that pay more. Don’t believe us? It doesn’t matter. We are watching our coworkers do it, so we know it’s quite possible.

We lowered our hiring standards again for next year. I don’t have much hope, and I know that means more parents are going to have their children transferred into my class to avoid the unqualified replacements. I’ll then feel even more overwhelmed than I do now, and I’ll eventually fold.

No, what people are taking issue with is the idea that claim that a) no one ever acknowledges that teachers feel overworked and b) that being a teacher is harder than anything else (or, as one PP claimed, involves doing literally every other job in the world). The drama and exaggeration is the issue. Also, people DO acknowledge that teachers feel overwhelmed; as stated, if anything this point is over hammered in

Why are you still complaining about this on page 68? Who are you trying to win points with.

Same question to you…

well you are making a redundant argument. Add something new or lets lock this thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does that mean, No one is acknowledging? It's all anyone talks about!

+2 I’m literally so tired of hearing teachers complain

You chose to come online to complain about people complaining, just as an fyi. You don't have to do that

NP, but it's ev.ery.where. On FB. On the apps my kids' teachers use, on major news sites, etc. Constantly seeing whining about how their job is so uniquely hard.

They remind me of emo teenagers: "no one will understand me! my life is just so, so hard, and so difficult. You see, I am unique in human history--a noble beautiful soul simply put upon."

Like ugh, go listen to Imagine Dragons and let the rest of us live in peace.

because...wait for it.......IT IS.

you don't have to read or respond just more along and let the big adults talk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good god. Education schools are not sending their best…to DCUM

welcome to trolls 101

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does that mean, No one is acknowledging? It's all anyone talks about!

+2 I’m literally so tired of hearing teachers complain

You chose to come online to complain about people complaining, just as an fyi. You don't have to do that

NP, but it's ev.ery.where. On FB. On the apps my kids' teachers use, on major news sites, etc. Constantly seeing whining about how their job is so uniquely hard.

They remind me of emo teenagers: "no one will understand me! my life is just so, so hard, and so difficult. You see, I am unique in human history--a noble beautiful soul simply put upon."

Like ugh, go listen to Imagine Dragons and let the rest of us live in peace.

We are leaving don't worry

That’s why I don’t get some of the responses on this thread. There have been many attempts to explain why the teaching profession is in crisis. They haven’t been complaints; instead, they have been detailed explanations of why teaching does have some unique challenges.

Instead of listening to the people who are in the profession, several posters need to disparage teachers at every turn. Who loses? Eventually we all do. I just found out YET ANOTHER department member is quitting. We’ve turned over 80% of our department in 4 years, and the replacements can’t do it. They are quitting, too. Who is going to teach?

We are leaving because we can, and we are finding easier jobs that pay more. Don’t believe us? It doesn’t matter. We are watching our coworkers do it, so we know it’s quite possible.

We lowered our hiring standards again for next year. I don’t have much hope, and I know that means more parents are going to have their children transferred into my class to avoid the unqualified replacements. I’ll then feel even more overwhelmed than I do now, and I’ll eventually fold.

Who do you think is ultimately orchestrating the overall insanity we now have in our public schools?

Anyone?

[Anonymous]

I hear all this, but when my kids tell me one of their teachers is constantly absent, I wonder... These guys barely work 180 days and are constantly out on personal leave. This one teach has missed 1-2 days per week all year. Others seem to be out a few times a month. If I missed work this much, I'd get fired.

[Anonymous]

I sometimes think the constant refrain that teachers are overworked and underpaid is simply a very longterm negotiating tactic. Since teachers must renegotiate their contracts over and over, it is best for them to maintain the perception that teachers are all working very long hours and never get paid enough. There will never be a time when that narrative does not serve their interests and they can say "you know what, I actually think I'm paid pretty fairly for the work I do, and that my job has a lot of upside that is not possible in other jobs." Even if that is true for most teachers I know, there is simply no advantage to admitting it when you know your union will be going in to negotiate a raise or benefits or certain working conditions sometime in the next few years.

But I wish this argument was directed at the people who control how much teachers are paid and what their working conditions are (administrators and politicians). Instead it's just directed at parents and that's why there's conflict over it. Like as a parent, I really appreciate all my kid's teachers. I want them to be paid well and I want their working conditions to be as good as possible since in most cases, those are also my kid's learning conditions. So yeah, I will advocate for better facilities and better resources. And I want qualified, well compensated teachers who are not burned out and miserable.

But I have limited control. I get to vote for a few politicians who make these decisions, and it seems even when I vote for the ones endorsed by the teachers unions or who seem very invested in public education, it's still always a problem.

So yes, I acknowledge that teachers work hard (I think how overworked they are is dependent on the teacher, the school, the district, and merits comparison to some other jobs where people also work very hard) and deserve to be well compensated. But I don't pay teachers. Go yell at the mayor, the school board, the state board of education, the district office, etc. I do not sign your checks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes think the constant refrain that teachers are overworked and underpaid is simply a very longterm negotiating tactic. Since teachers must renegotiate their contracts over and over, it is best for them to maintain the perception that teachers are all working very long hours and never get paid enough. There will never be a time when that narrative does not serve their interests and they can say "you know what, I actually think I'm paid pretty fairly for the work I do, and that my job has a lot of upside that is not possible in other jobs." Even if that is true for most teachers I know, there is simply no advantage to admitting it when you know your union will be going in to negotiate a raise or benefits or certain working conditions sometime in the next few years.

But I wish this argument was directed at the people who control how much teachers are paid and what their working conditions are (administrators and politicians). Instead it's just directed at parents and that's why there's conflict over it. Like as a parent, I really appreciate all my kid's teachers. I want them to be paid well and I want their working conditions to be as good as possible since in most cases, those are also my kid's learning conditions. So yeah, I will advocate for better facilities and better resources. And I want qualified, well compensated teachers who are not burned out and miserable.

But I have limited control. I get to vote for a few politicians who make these decisions, and it seems even when I vote for the ones endorsed by the teachers unions or who seem very invested in public education, it's still always a problem.

So yes, I acknowledge that teachers work hard (I think how overworked they are is dependent on the teacher, the school, the district, and merits comparison to some other jobs where people also work very hard) and deserve to be well compensated. But I don't pay teachers. Go yell at the mayor, the school board, the state board of education, the district office, etc. I do not sign your checks.

I appreciate most of what you said but if I had even a penny every time someone posted on here about how they pay our salaries I'd never need to work again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does that mean, No one is acknowledging? It's all anyone talks about!

+2 I’m literally so tired of hearing teachers complain

You chose to come online to complain about people complaining, just as an fyi. You don't have to do that

NP, but it's ev.ery.where. On FB. On the apps my kids' teachers use, on major news sites, etc. Constantly seeing whining about how their job is so uniquely hard.

They remind me of emo teenagers: "no one will understand me! my life is just so, so hard, and so difficult. You see, I am unique in human history--a noble beautiful soul simply put upon."

Like ugh, go listen to Imagine Dragons and let the rest of us live in peace.

because...wait for it.......IT IS.

you don't have to read or respond just more along and let the big adults talk

But no, it isn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear all this, but when my kids tell me one of their teachers is constantly absent, I wonder... These guys barely work 180 days and are constantly out on personal leave. This one teach has missed 1-2 days per week all year. Others seem to be out a few times a month. If I missed work this much, I'd get fired.

Do you know where they are? I started teaching 11 yrs ago. In the last 5 years, I’m out of the building on mandatory trainings at least 8 days each year. It’s ridiculous. How do you know they are out on personal leave?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes think the constant refrain that teachers are overworked and underpaid is simply a very longterm negotiating tactic. Since teachers must renegotiate their contracts over and over, it is best for them to maintain the perception that teachers are all working very long hours and never get paid enough. There will never be a time when that narrative does not serve their interests and they can say "you know what, I actually think I'm paid pretty fairly for the work I do, and that my job has a lot of upside that is not possible in other jobs." Even if that is true for most teachers I know, there is simply no advantage to admitting it when you know your union will be going in to negotiate a raise or benefits or certain working conditions sometime in the next few years.

But I wish this argument was directed at the people who control how much teachers are paid and what their working conditions are (administrators and politicians). Instead it's just directed at parents and that's why there's conflict over it. Like as a parent, I really appreciate all my kid's teachers. I want them to be paid well and I want their working conditions to be as good as possible since in most cases, those are also my kid's learning conditions. So yeah, I will advocate for better facilities and better resources. And I want qualified, well compensated teachers who are not burned out and miserable.

But I have limited control. I get to vote for a few politicians who make these decisions, and it seems even when I vote for the ones endorsed by the teachers unions or who seem very invested in public education, it's still always a problem.

So yes, I acknowledge that teachers work hard (I think how overworked they are is dependent on the teacher, the school, the district, and merits comparison to some other jobs where people also work very hard) and deserve to be well compensated. But I don't pay teachers. Go yell at the mayor, the school board, the state board of education, the district office, etc. I do not sign your checks.

I don't completely disagree with you, however... one of the most stressful aspects for me when I was a teacher (special ed) was dealing with the parents. Maybe even the most stressful thing some years. It was never about the money for me.

I thought we were completely underpaid (I taught in NC) but my husband made plenty so it wasn't something that would have made me consider leaving. The parents though? Definitely made leaving an easy choice. If parents were more understanding that it's virtually impossible to do it perfectly, especially in a position like special ed, I think you'd have more high quality staff sticking around.

Instead the ones I saw sticking it out were people with no other choices and/or just didn't care that much so if parents tried to give them a hard time it really didn’t faze them at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes think the constant refrain that teachers are overworked and underpaid is simply a very longterm negotiating tactic. Since teachers must renegotiate their contracts over and over, it is best for them to maintain the perception that teachers are all working very long hours and never get paid enough. There will never be a time when that narrative does not serve their interests and they can say "you know what, I actually think I'm paid pretty fairly for the work I do, and that my job has a lot of upside that is not possible in other jobs." Even if that is true for most teachers I know, there is simply no advantage to admitting it when you know your union will be going in to negotiate a raise or benefits or certain working conditions sometime in the next few years.

But I wish this argument was directed at the people who control how much teachers are paid and what their working conditions are (administrators and politicians). Instead it's just directed at parents and that's why there's conflict over it. Like as a parent, I really appreciate all my kid's teachers. I want them to be paid well and I want their working conditions to be as good as possible since in most cases, those are also my kid's learning conditions. So yeah, I will advocate for better facilities and better resources. And I want qualified, well compensated teachers who are not burned out and miserable.

But I have limited control. I get to vote for a few politicians who make these decisions, and it seems even when I vote for the ones endorsed by the teachers unions or who seem very invested in public education, it's still always a problem.

So yes, I acknowledge that teachers work hard (I think how overworked they are is dependent on the teacher, the school, the district, and merits comparison to some other jobs where people also work very hard) and deserve to be well compensated. But I don't pay teachers. Go yell at the mayor, the school board, the state board of education, the district office, etc. I do not sign your checks.

In my 30 years teaching in VA, there has never been any negotiating of contracts. I believe that ended around 1972 or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does that mean, No one is acknowledging? It's all anyone talks about!

+2 I’m literally so tired of hearing teachers complain

You chose to come online to complain about people complaining, just as an fyi. You don't have to do that

NP, but it's ev.ery.where. On FB. On the apps my kids' teachers use, on major news sites, etc. Constantly seeing whining about how their job is so uniquely hard.

They remind me of emo teenagers: "no one will understand me! my life is just so, so hard, and so difficult. You see, I am unique in human history--a noble beautiful soul simply put upon."

Like ugh, go listen to Imagine Dragons and let the rest of us live in peace.

because...wait for it.......IT IS.

you don't have to read or respond just more along and let the big adults talk

But no, it isn't.

You have firsthand experience? When is the last time you taught a class and were observed doing so? Have you taught 10 years and also did another profession you could compare it to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes think the constant refrain that teachers are overworked and underpaid is simply a very longterm negotiating tactic. Since teachers must renegotiate their contracts over and over, it is best for them to maintain the perception that teachers are all working very long hours and never get paid enough. There will never be a time when that narrative does not serve their interests and they can say "you know what, I actually think I'm paid pretty fairly for the work I do, and that my job has a lot of upside that is not possible in other jobs." Even if that is true for most teachers I know, there is simply no advantage to admitting it when you know your union will be going in to negotiate a raise or benefits or certain working conditions sometime in the next few years.

But I wish this argument was directed at the people who control how much teachers are paid and what their working conditions are (administrators and politicians). Instead it's just directed at parents and that's why there's conflict over it. Like as a parent, I really appreciate all my kid's teachers. I want them to be paid well and I want their working conditions to be as good as possible since in most cases, those are also my kid's learning conditions. So yeah, I will advocate for better facilities and better resources. And I want qualified, well compensated teachers who are not burned out and miserable.

But I have limited control. I get to vote for a few politicians who make these decisions, and it seems even when I vote for the ones endorsed by the teachers unions or who seem very invested in public education, it's still always a problem.

So yes, I acknowledge that teachers work hard (I think how overworked they are is dependent on the teacher, the school, the district, and merits comparison to some other jobs where people also work very hard) and deserve to be well compensated. But I don't pay teachers. Go yell at the mayor, the school board, the state board of education, the district office, etc. I do not sign your checks.

In my 30 years teaching in VA, there has never been any negotiating of contracts. I believe that ended around 1972 or so.

Most people don’t want to teach in that environment, understandably.

I live in a wealthy township school district in Pa, and it’s tough to get a non-substitute teaching gig in a suburban or small city school district around here. I’ve known young people over the years who couldn’t find a teaching job around here and moved to Va and then found one easily. Pay & benefits are terrible in Va. Other southern states too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does that mean, No one is acknowledging? It's all anyone talks about!

+2 I’m literally so tired of hearing teachers complain

You chose to come online to complain about people complaining, just as an fyi. You don't have to do that

NP, but it's ev.ery.where. On FB. On the apps my kids' teachers use, on major news sites, etc. Constantly seeing whining about how their job is so uniquely hard.

They remind me of emo teenagers: "no one will understand me! my life is just so, so hard, and so difficult. You see, I am unique in human history--a noble beautiful soul simply put upon."

Like ugh, go listen to Imagine Dragons and let the rest of us live in peace.

because...wait for it.......IT IS.

you don't have to read or respond just more along and let the big adults talk

But no, it isn't.

You have firsthand experience? When is the last time you taught a class and were observed doing so? Have you taught 10 years and also did another profession you could compare it to?

I do, yes. It is not uniquely difficult.