To moms who are teachers- does working (day to day hours) fit well with your kids schedule (at K+)?

[Anonymous]

"If you want to be a teacher because you have a fantacy that it is a part-time job, please spare our children. We need good teachers who love to teach, not housewives looking to fill their days."

Yup.

[Anonymous]

Dads are also teachers....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
There is an enormous pool of motivated, well-educated stay-at-home parents who would love to use our skills to improve schools and teach and motivate kids, if we could work when our own kids are in school. It is ridiculous that our current educational system cannot come up with a way to tap this talent.

I'm a teacher with 9 years' experience and am currently an at-home mom and have been having the exact same thought lately. I know a lot of moms and some dads in my same situation. We'd be thrilled to work a 9 to 2 job teaching kids, if only there were some way to make it work with our current educational system.

[Anonymous]

"If you want to be a teacher because you have a fantacy that it is a part-time job, please spare our children. We need good teachers who love to teach, not housewives looking to fill their days."

If I'd been your teacher, I'd have worked with you on your spelling, as well as your sexist attitudes. And I'm a SAHM looking for a job in education that allows me to be at home when my children are at home. Are you better off without me, and the legions of other well-educated men and women who want to help you and your children? Can't two teachers working together (perhaps each working two-thirds time), each of whom can devote themselves completely while they are there, provide a better educational experience to children than one burned-out full-time teacher? The burn-out rate is extremely high among teachers. It is possible that allowing teachers to job-share will ultimately allow teachers to stay in their profession longer, thereby providing students with more experienced educators in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

"If you want to be a teacher because you have a fantacy that it is a part-time job, please spare our children. We need good teachers who love to teach, not housewives looking to fill their days."

If I'd been your teacher, I'd have worked with you on your spelling, as well as your sexist attitudes. And I'm a SAHM looking for a job in education that allows me to be at home when my children are at home. Are you better off without me, and the legions of other well-educated men and women who want to help you and your children? Can't two teachers working together (perhaps each working two-thirds time), each of whom can devote themselves completely while they are there, provide a better educational experience to children than one burned-out full-time teacher? The burn-out rate is extremely high among teachers. It is possible that allowing teachers to job-share will ultimately allow teachers to stay in their profession longer, thereby providing students with more experienced educators in the classroom.

As a former teacher, I don't see how a job share would work out.

[Anonymous]

Really? At the private school my daughters attend, there are two teachers in each classroom. I could easily see one of them coming in early and one staying late; overlapping for much of the school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really? At the private school my daughters attend, there are two teachers in each classroom. I could easily see one of them coming in early and one staying late; overlapping for much of the school day.

They are probably both full-time. Aren't you paying a premium for good classroom ratios and lots of one on one?

How would a public school afford to have 2 teachers work in each classroom?

[Anonymous]

9:55/ 15:54/ 1:03 here-- For the most part, elementary schools are not set up for part time classroom teachers. I looked urgently for a part-time position but found nothing nearby in DC. I even tried to compromise by taking a job as an aid, but as you can imagine, that was an unsatisfactory situation. I can't imagine why a profession dominated by women who emphasize child development wouldn't be more flexible, but I've finally accepted that it isn't and have moved on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dads are also teachers....

Sure, but the number is relatively low and in any event moms bear the brunt of household responsibilities, whether or not dads perceive themselves to be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As a former teacher, I don't see how a job share would work out.

For elementary schools as currently set up, it'd be hard to have part time teachers or job sharing teachers. The exception might be for non-classroom teachers -- ESOL, LD, art, music etc. That depends on the school and program of course.

For middle and high school, I *think* part time teaching jobs shouldn't be so hard.
One teacher teachers the morning science classes, and one the afternoon ones.

I'm guessing the problem lies with unions, and if you offer a lot of part time jobs instead of full time jobs, do you still offer benefits and so on? Because if you offer benefits then it is more expensive to have 2 part-time employees than 1 full time employee -- correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We need good teachers who love to teach, not housewives looking to fill their days.

New poster here -- I think the comment above is unnecessarily combative. I am currently a SAHM, former lawyer, Ivy league grad, currently getting my graduate degree in education. I am looking for a job in education because staying at home has allowed me to teach as a substitute, at Sunday School, and in several part-time positions, and I've realized that I love it.

I don't see why educators can't do more job-sharing. It's a fact that many of those people who love to teach also love to be at home with their children. I am willing to work very hard at being a teacher, but I will not sacrifice being at home when my kids are at home.

There is an enormous pool of motivated, well-educated stay-at-home parents who would love to use our skills to improve schools and teach and motivate kids, if we could work when our own kids are in school. It is ridiculous that our current educational system cannot come up with a way to tap this talent.

I feel this way about many fields, not just teaching. So many SAHMs would love a chance to do some work part time in many fields and it's a shame our current workforce isn't set up to tap into this. I just ranted on the Mother's Day thread about this. I understand some SAHMs enjoy staying home full time and that's fine, but I know some who would love the chance to work a few hours a week if they could have flexible, part time hours, do job sharing, etc. and make some extra money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

As a former teacher, I don't see how a job share would work out.

For elementary schools as currently set up, it'd be hard to have part time teachers or job sharing teachers. The exception might be for non-classroom teachers -- ESOL, LD, art, music etc. That depends on the school and program of course.

For middle and high school, I *think* part time teaching jobs shouldn't be so hard.
One teacher teachers the morning science classes, and one the afternoon ones.

I'm guessing the problem lies with unions, and if you offer a lot of part time jobs instead of full time jobs, do you still offer benefits and so on? Because if you offer benefits then it is more expensive to have 2 part-time employees than 1 full time employee -- correct?

Actually, this wouldn't work so well because most high schools are on block schedules, meaning classes rotate and meet every other day for an hour and a half. So one day I might teach 1st and 3rd blocks (morning classes), but the next I would teach 3rd and 4th blocks (one morning and one afternoon class). Teachers also have planning periods that need to be figured in (although with a part time teacher you often don't get that). What works better in high school is that teachers alternate days, but because of block scheduling that means one week you come in 3 days and another you come in 2 days. And of course on a week with holidays, that gets all messed up. It might work OK if all your kids are in school, but if there is any sort of child care needed, that could be tricky to work out. Working part time is also pretty much as much work as working full time. No, you don't have all the after school responsibilities and meetings perhaps, but you do still usually have 3-4 classes to prep for, which can be as much work as full time with A LOT less pay. For example, in FCPS a teacher who teaches 4 classes in HS is only paid .67 because they are not paid for a planning period. That is only one fewer class than a full time teacher has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We need good teachers who love to teach, not housewives looking to fill their days.

New poster here -- I think the comment above is unnecessarily combative. I am currently a SAHM, former lawyer, Ivy league grad, currently getting my graduate degree in education. I am looking for a job in education because staying at home has allowed me to teach as a substitute, at Sunday School, and in several part-time positions, and I've realized that I love it.

I don't see why educators can't do more job-sharing. It's a fact that many of those people who love to teach also love to be at home with their children. I am willing to work very hard at being a teacher, but I will not sacrifice being at home when my kids are at home.

There is an enormous pool of motivated, well-educated stay-at-home parents who would love to use our skills to improve schools and teach and motivate kids, if we could work when our own kids are in school. It is ridiculous that our current educational system cannot come up with a way to tap this talent.

I feel this way about many fields, not just teaching. So many SAHMs would love a chance to do some work part time in many fields and it's a shame our current workforce isn't set up to tap into this. I just ranted on the Mother's Day thread about this. I understand some SAHMs enjoy staying home full time and that's fine, but I know some who would love the chance to work a few hours a week if they could have flexible, part time hours, do job sharing, etc. and make some extra money.

This is exactly what a lot of working moms do. When you do this you become a working mom. There are a lot of moms on this board who work PT, myself included. 4 days a week 9-3PM. However, if I had stayed fully out of the work force for 5 years as many SAHMs do there is no way I would be making an excellent salary, making this all worth my time. I would not expect to fully hop out of the work force for years then expect to get these kind of amazing hours that I know many women would clammor for. There is simply at least a short term price to pay when you SAH for years. You re-enter the work force pratically entry level again and have to work you way up into the schedule you desire.

[Anonymous]

I think there is a misconception that when you teach you are just teaching those classes. I teach upper school science at a Big 3 private school. There are endless meetings everyone needs to attend that must take place AFTER school (ie kiddie pick up time) so everyone can be there. There is a line of kids asking for help at all hours and you need to be available before/after school for set up, prep, extra help, department meetings, grade level meetings, division meetings etc. Being a teacher is a FULL time job and that is why PART time does not work. Even the people here that are "part time" and I beleive there are 2 teachers in the entire school who are, really arent part time because they are required to be at those meetings. Also for the school with benefits etc. its cheaper to employ one full time teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We need good teachers who love to teach, not housewives looking to fill their days.

New poster here -- I think the comment above is unnecessarily combative. I am currently a SAHM, former lawyer, Ivy league grad, currently getting my graduate degree in education. I am looking for a job in education because staying at home has allowed me to teach as a substitute, at Sunday School, and in several part-time positions, and I've realized that I love it.

I don't see why educators can't do more job-sharing. It's a fact that many of those people who love to teach also love to be at home with their children. I am willing to work very hard at being a teacher, but I will not sacrifice being at home when my kids are at home.

There is an enormous pool of motivated, well-educated stay-at-home parents who would love to use our skills to improve schools and teach and motivate kids, if we could work when our own kids are in school. It is ridiculous that our current educational system cannot come up with a way to tap this talent.

I feel this way about many fields, not just teaching. So many SAHMs would love a chance to do some work part time in many fields and it's a shame our current workforce isn't set up to tap into this. I just ranted on the Mother's Day thread about this. I understand some SAHMs enjoy staying home full time and that's fine, but I know some who would love the chance to work a few hours a week if they could have flexible, part time hours, do job sharing, etc. and make some extra money.

This is exactly what a lot of working moms do. When you do this you become a working mom. There are a lot of moms on this board who work PT, myself included. 4 days a week 9-3PM. However, if I had stayed fully out of the work force for 5 years as many SAHMs do there is no way I would be making an excellent salary, making this all worth my time. I would not expect to fully hop out of the work force for years then expect to get these kind of amazing hours that I know many women would clammor for. There is simply at least a short term price to pay when you SAH for years. You re-enter the work force pratically entry level again and have to work you way up into the schedule you desire.

I think you are responding to me - also a working mom. I work 4 days a week. I feel lucky to have reduced hours - many moms I know want this. Flexible options benefit all moms, and dads, not just SAHMs. As a WM, I am very thankful for my situation, but fearful if I should lose my job I will have to go back to the drawing board and get a normal 9-5 job, 5 day a week. It's not too much to ask to have some decent work options for educated, qualified women who have years of experience, which I do.

You are right in that we, as moms who stayed in the workforce, will probably have more options as our kids get older for PT or flexible work. Aside from my paycheck, which my family depends on, another major reason I wanted to stay in the workforce was keep building experience so I could have even more flexibilitity when my child starts school. Hopefully I will have this but you can't deny there are a lot of unfamily friendly work policies out there. Flexibility is a win-win for all of us, SAHMs, WMs, and for our daughters and future daughter-in-laws.

Luckily I love my job, but if things change the outlook for starting a new job with the hours and flexibility I have now are pretty grim. I have friends who are trying it and not finding stuff.