3% raise for teachers? What a joke FCPS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Increasing pay for teachers won’t solve any problems. They are already paid above the market rate when benefits are considered. The problems most teachers face have to do with work load and managing behaviors. More money might make teachers temporarily happy but won’t add any hours to the day. Nothing will improve. Public schools need to fix the way they do schooling or the system needs a complete overhaul. Maybe software learning with teacher support is the way to go. Or perhaps video learning like Khan Academy is the future.

Speaking as a teacher, more money would absolutely solve many of my problems. Seriously. You would never hear a complaint from me again if I was compensated in a manner comparable to others with my level of education and experience. Forget that, I would stop complaining if you just decreased the gap to $0.80 for every dollar of similarly educated professionals.

So all of those papers that you didn’t have time to grade before would not be fully graded with useful comments? And all of those behaviors interrupting learning would now disappear? And all the scaffolding and differentiations you’d now be able to manage? Doesn’t sound very honest to me.

And how much exactly do you think someone with a B.A. degree ought to make? Do you think you should be paid as much as a doctor or engineer just because there’s a shortage? There’s a shortage of cashiers and store employees too. Should we all get paid 6 figure salaries? You know, like communism?

I am not the PP, but I have posted on this thread.

Higher pay would show that we are respected as professionals, but what I really want is time.

And degrees? I’m closing in on my 2nd advanced degree right now. Almost all of my colleagues have masters degrees.

So again, a Master’s in the Arts is not considered a rigorous degree. This is evidenced by how easy it is for many of your reported colleagues to obtain multiple. A B.S. or B.E. are both generally considered more rigorous than an M.A. In a capitalistic society, pay is based on specialization of the field and difficulty in obtaining the specialized skills (degree). 80,000+ benefits for an elementary teacher is considered well paid by the majority of society.

But you haven’t answered, how much do you think would be fair pay?

The fact that school systems cannot find nor keep teachers suggests that the majority of society does not, in fact, consider $80,000 + benefits to be "well paid." In a capitalist society, wages are determined by the free market, first and foremost. Supply and demand-- the demand for teachers is at an all time high and the supply is at an all time low. You can insult my education and denigrate my skills all you want, but it won't change the basic facts of a free market. Teaching also is a specialized degree, you miserable little turnip, hence the requirement of special license obtained by successful demonstration of specialized skills and knowledge.

You want an answer on fair pay? Okay, per the Economic Policy Institute, the teacher total compensation penalty was 14.2% in 2021. (Since you love telling us how lavish those benefits are.) So, $80,000 * .142 = 11,360. 80,000+11,360=91,360. I think an increase of 14.2% would be fair pay.

+1
Plus, the PP is willing to add a salary bump to those with BS vs BA degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Increasing pay for teachers won’t solve any problems. They are already paid above the market rate when benefits are considered. The problems most teachers face have to do with work load and managing behaviors. More money might make teachers temporarily happy but won’t add any hours to the day. Nothing will improve. Public schools need to fix the way they do schooling or the system needs a complete overhaul. Maybe software learning with teacher support is the way to go. Or perhaps video learning like Khan Academy is the future.

Speaking as a teacher, more money would absolutely solve many of my problems. Seriously. You would never hear a complaint from me again if I was compensated in a manner comparable to others with my level of education and experience. Forget that, I would stop complaining if you just decreased the gap to $0.80 for every dollar of similarly educated professionals.

So all of those papers that you didn’t have time to grade before would not be fully graded with useful comments? And all of those behaviors interrupting learning would now disappear? And all the scaffolding and differentiations you’d now be able to manage? Doesn’t sound very honest to me.

And how much exactly do you think someone with a B.A. degree ought to make? Do you think you should be paid as much as a doctor or engineer just because there’s a shortage? There’s a shortage of cashiers and store employees too. Should we all get paid 6 figure salaries? You know, like communism?

I am not the PP, but I have posted on this thread.

Higher pay would show that we are respected as professionals, but what I really want is time.

And degrees? I’m closing in on my 2nd advanced degree right now. Almost all of my colleagues have masters degrees.

So again, a Master’s in the Arts is not considered a rigorous degree. This is evidenced by how easy it is for many of your reported colleagues to obtain multiple. A B.S. or B.E. are both generally considered more rigorous than an M.A. In a capitalistic society, pay is based on specialization of the field and difficulty in obtaining the specialized skills (degree). 80,000+ benefits for an elementary teacher is considered well paid by the majority of society.

But you haven’t answered, how much do you think would be fair pay?

The fact that school systems cannot find nor keep teachers suggests that the majority of society does not, in fact, consider $80,000 + benefits to be "well paid." In a capitalist society, wages are determined by the free market, first and foremost. Supply and demand-- the demand for teachers is at an all time high and the supply is at an all time low. You can insult my education and denigrate my skills all you want, but it won't change the basic facts of a free market. Teaching also is a specialized degree, you miserable little turnip, hence the requirement of special license obtained by successful demonstration of specialized skills and knowledge.

You want an answer on fair pay? Okay, per the Economic Policy Institute, the teacher total compensation penalty was 14.2% in 2021. (Since you love telling us how lavish those benefits are.) So, $80,000 * .142 = 11,360. 80,000+11,360=91,360. I think an increase of 14.2% would be fair pay.

+1
Plus, the PP is willing to add a salary bump to those with BS vs BA degrees.

He did just spend all that time telling us how people with a BS deserve more than those with a BA because, idk, science has a bigger dick than art? Or is somehow harder or more worthy? He didn't really explain beyond the usual: Blah blah science/masculine/good/worthy art/feminine/bad/useless toxic masculinity bullshit. How dare we point out that a BS in education is a pretty common degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Increasing pay for teachers won’t solve any problems. They are already paid above the market rate when benefits are considered. The problems most teachers face have to do with work load and managing behaviors. More money might make teachers temporarily happy but won’t add any hours to the day. Nothing will improve. Public schools need to fix the way they do schooling or the system needs a complete overhaul. Maybe software learning with teacher support is the way to go. Or perhaps video learning like Khan Academy is the future.

Speaking as a teacher, more money would absolutely solve many of my problems. Seriously. You would never hear a complaint from me again if I was compensated in a manner comparable to others with my level of education and experience. Forget that, I would stop complaining if you just decreased the gap to $0.80 for every dollar of similarly educated professionals.

So all of those papers that you didn’t have time to grade before would not be fully graded with useful comments? And all of those behaviors interrupting learning would now disappear? And all the scaffolding and differentiations you’d now be able to manage? Doesn’t sound very honest to me.

And how much exactly do you think someone with a B.A. degree ought to make? Do you think you should be paid as much as a doctor or engineer just because there’s a shortage? There’s a shortage of cashiers and store employees too. Should we all get paid 6 figure salaries? You know, like communism?

I am not the PP, but I have posted on this thread.

Higher pay would show that we are respected as professionals, but what I really want is time.

And degrees? I’m closing in on my 2nd advanced degree right now. Almost all of my colleagues have masters degrees.

So again, a Master’s in the Arts is not considered a rigorous degree. This is evidenced by how easy it is for many of your reported colleagues to obtain multiple. A B.S. or B.E. are both generally considered more rigorous than an M.A. In a capitalistic society, pay is based on specialization of the field and difficulty in obtaining the specialized skills (degree). 80,000+ benefits for an elementary teacher is considered well paid by the majority of society.

But you haven’t answered, how much do you think would be fair pay?

The fact that school systems cannot find nor keep teachers suggests that the majority of society does not, in fact, consider $80,000 + benefits to be "well paid." In a capitalist society, wages are determined by the free market, first and foremost. Supply and demand-- the demand for teachers is at an all time high and the supply is at an all time low. You can insult my education and denigrate my skills all you want, but it won't change the basic facts of a free market. Teaching also is a specialized degree, you miserable little turnip, hence the requirement of special license obtained by successful demonstration of specialized skills and knowledge.

You want an answer on fair pay? Okay, per the Economic Policy Institute, the teacher total compensation penalty was 14.2% in 2021. (Since you love telling us how lavish those benefits are.) So, $80,000 * .142 = 11,360. 80,000+11,360=91,360. I think an increase of 14.2% would be fair pay.

+1
Plus, the PP is willing to add a salary bump to those with BS vs BA degrees.

He did just spend all that time telling us how people with a BS deserve more than those with a BA because, idk, science has a bigger dick than art? Or is somehow harder or more worthy? He didn't really explain beyond the usual: Blah blah science/masculine/good/worthy art/feminine/bad/useless toxic masculinity bullshit. How dare we point out that a BS in education is a pretty common degree.

Because of course, non-educators know more about the profession than actual educators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Increasing pay for teachers won’t solve any problems. They are already paid above the market rate when benefits are considered. The problems most teachers face have to do with work load and managing behaviors. More money might make teachers temporarily happy but won’t add any hours to the day. Nothing will improve. Public schools need to fix the way they do schooling or the system needs a complete overhaul. Maybe software learning with teacher support is the way to go. Or perhaps video learning like Khan Academy is the future.

Speaking as a teacher, more money would absolutely solve many of my problems. Seriously. You would never hear a complaint from me again if I was compensated in a manner comparable to others with my level of education and experience. Forget that, I would stop complaining if you just decreased the gap to $0.80 for every dollar of similarly educated professionals.

So all of those papers that you didn’t have time to grade before would not be fully graded with useful comments? And all of those behaviors interrupting learning would now disappear? And all the scaffolding and differentiations you’d now be able to manage? Doesn’t sound very honest to me.

And how much exactly do you think someone with a B.A. degree ought to make? Do you think you should be paid as much as a doctor or engineer just because there’s a shortage? There’s a shortage of cashiers and store employees too. Should we all get paid 6 figure salaries? You know, like communism?

I am not the PP, but I have posted on this thread.

Higher pay would show that we are respected as professionals, but what I really want is time.

And degrees? I’m closing in on my 2nd advanced degree right now. Almost all of my colleagues have masters degrees.

So again, a Master’s in the Arts is not considered a rigorous degree. This is evidenced by how easy it is for many of your reported colleagues to obtain multiple. A B.S. or B.E. are both generally considered more rigorous than an M.A. In a capitalistic society, pay is based on specialization of the field and difficulty in obtaining the specialized skills (degree). 80,000+ benefits for an elementary teacher is considered well paid by the majority of society.

But you haven’t answered, how much do you think would be fair pay?

The fact that school systems cannot find nor keep teachers suggests that the majority of society does not, in fact, consider $80,000 + benefits to be "well paid." In a capitalist society, wages are determined by the free market, first and foremost. Supply and demand-- the demand for teachers is at an all time high and the supply is at an all time low. You can insult my education and denigrate my skills all you want, but it won't change the basic facts of a free market. Teaching also is a specialized degree, you miserable little turnip, hence the requirement of special license obtained by successful demonstration of specialized skills and knowledge.

You want an answer on fair pay? Okay, per the Economic Policy Institute, the teacher total compensation penalty was 14.2% in 2021. (Since you love telling us how lavish those benefits are.) So, $80,000 * .142 = 11,360. 80,000+11,360=91,360. I think an increase of 14.2% would be fair pay.

+1
Plus, the PP is willing to add a salary bump to those with BS vs BA degrees.

He did just spend all that time telling us how people with a BS deserve more than those with a BA because, idk, science has a bigger dick than art? Or is somehow harder or more worthy? He didn't really explain beyond the usual: Blah blah science/masculine/good/worthy art/feminine/bad/useless toxic masculinity bullshit. How dare we point out that a BS in education is a pretty common degree.

Because of course, non-educators know more about the profession than actual educators.

+1 Thinking that having an education means you understand education is like thinking that owning a car means you understand how cars work. Yeah, you can use it, but you have no idea what is under the hood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Increasing pay for teachers won’t solve any problems. They are already paid above the market rate when benefits are considered. The problems most teachers face have to do with work load and managing behaviors. More money might make teachers temporarily happy but won’t add any hours to the day. Nothing will improve. Public schools need to fix the way they do schooling or the system needs a complete overhaul. Maybe software learning with teacher support is the way to go. Or perhaps video learning like Khan Academy is the future.

Speaking as a teacher, more money would absolutely solve many of my problems. Seriously. You would never hear a complaint from me again if I was compensated in a manner comparable to others with my level of education and experience. Forget that, I would stop complaining if you just decreased the gap to $0.80 for every dollar of similarly educated professionals.

So all of those papers that you didn’t have time to grade before would not be fully graded with useful comments? And all of those behaviors interrupting learning would now disappear? And all the scaffolding and differentiations you’d now be able to manage? Doesn’t sound very honest to me.

And how much exactly do you think someone with a B.A. degree ought to make? Do you think you should be paid as much as a doctor or engineer just because there’s a shortage? There’s a shortage of cashiers and store employees too. Should we all get paid 6 figure salaries? You know, like communism?

I am not the PP, but I have posted on this thread.

Higher pay would show that we are respected as professionals, but what I really want is time.

And degrees? I’m closing in on my 2nd advanced degree right now. Almost all of my colleagues have masters degrees.

So again, a Master’s in the Arts is not considered a rigorous degree. This is evidenced by how easy it is for many of your reported colleagues to obtain multiple. A B.S. or B.E. are both generally considered more rigorous than an M.A. In a capitalistic society, pay is based on specialization of the field and difficulty in obtaining the specialized skills (degree). 80,000+ benefits for an elementary teacher is considered well paid by the majority of society.

But you haven’t answered, how much do you think would be fair pay?

The fact that school systems cannot find nor keep teachers suggests that the majority of society does not, in fact, consider $80,000 + benefits to be "well paid." In a capitalist society, wages are determined by the free market, first and foremost. Supply and demand-- the demand for teachers is at an all time high and the supply is at an all time low. You can insult my education and denigrate my skills all you want, but it won't change the basic facts of a free market. Teaching also is a specialized degree, you miserable little turnip, hence the requirement of special license obtained by successful demonstration of specialized skills and knowledge.

You want an answer on fair pay? Okay, per the Economic Policy Institute, the teacher total compensation penalty was 14.2% in 2021. (Since you love telling us how lavish those benefits are.) So, $80,000 * .142 = 11,360. 80,000+11,360=91,360. I think an increase of 14.2% would be fair pay.

+1
Plus, the PP is willing to add a salary bump to those with BS vs BA degrees.

He did just spend all that time telling us how people with a BS deserve more than those with a BA because, idk, science has a bigger dick than art? Or is somehow harder or more worthy? He didn't really explain beyond the usual: Blah blah science/masculine/good/worthy art/feminine/bad/useless toxic masculinity bullshit. How dare we point out that a BS in education is a pretty common degree.

Because of course, non-educators know more about the profession than actual educators.

+1 Thinking that having an education means you understand education is like thinking that owning a car means you understand how cars work. Yeah, you can use it, but you have no idea what is under the hood.

I had a potential career changer shadow me for a week years ago (different county). She followed my schedule, sat through meetings, and stayed after to see the grading/planning to prep for the next day.

On day 4, she told me definitively that she won’t become a teacher. It wasn’t the pay that deterred her. It was the absence of down-time during the day and the fact we didn’t get a moment’s rest between obligations. She didn’t even see the work I take home.

You don’t really know what the job requires until you try it out.

[Anonymous]

How can you become a teacher these days? No one wants to pay for college to be a teacher but I think there are people interested. They should incentivize going into the field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can you become a teacher these days? No one wants to pay for college to be a teacher but I think there are people interested. They should incentivize going into the field.

Are you suggesting opening up teaching to people without college degrees?

I teach college-level classes at the high school level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can you become a teacher these days? No one wants to pay for college to be a teacher but I think there are people interested. They should incentivize going into the field.

...incentivize...like ...by paying teachers better? Agreed!

[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:

Anonymous wrote:My private sector company is also giving 3%.

I’m sure your salaries are much higher to begin with.

My child's teacher makes $80k+

Ok. Unless they are married, 80,000 doesn’t get you much in this area. Salaries should match COL.

Well, $80,000 is really for working only 9 months of the year once you take out all those endless summer and winter vacations. So $80k/9*12 = $106,666 on an annualized basis. Plus pension plus lavish benefits.

Where do these teachers work? I want endless summer and winter vacations!

I work 10 months full of 60 hour weeks, and then I’m furloughed for two months.

See, it's this crappy attitude on the part of teachers that has burned a lot of goodwill with parents and the public. The endless summer vacations are obviously a HUGE benefit of your job, and yet you frame it in the most miserable way possible by calling it furlough.

Also many other jobs require 12 months of work full of 60 hour weeks if not more. The truly unique thing about teachers compared to other professions is their seemingly endless ability to whine and think that only they have it hard.

In addition to VRS, summertime is really the only perk. And for some, summer and breaks are a financial strain/stressor.

How is it a vacation if you’re working another job? I know not all teachers do, but almost all of the teachers in their 20s do, as well as a decent percentage of the others.

most 20 year olds don’t get 3 months off a year from work!

Teachers don’t get 3 months off. Nobody has a 12 week summer.

Teachers aren’t paid for 2 months. Let’s get this straight now.

Many teachers have to work another job during the summer. Heck, I started mine last week. I’ll be working 2 jobs until the school year ends.

Let’s get that idea of teachers lazing around out of your head. It isn’t reality.

Np. You definitely get 3 months off. Add up fall, winter, spring breaks plus 2.5 months of summer.

I think what you’re not seeing is that so many of us really want to work part time but our jobs don’t allow for it. I don’t care if I made 3/4 money. At this point I’d like time with my kids. I wanted to be a teacher growing up and I probably should have.

Teaching really isn’t full time pay. But when you’re married with kids, the schedule can be a blessing. I personally have a big issue with school schedules being so short.

+1000. Thank you for bringing some clarity to this discussion.

Also, when you annualize a 3/4 time job, you actually end up with almost $120k. That's a pretty robust salary especially when also considering the pension, 401k retirement match and all those other generous benefits.

One thing that’s frustrating about teaching is the need for repetition:

As I posted before,
I work 40 weeks a year at 60 hours a week:
2400 hours

A full-time (12 month) position at 40 hours a week:
2000 hours

I suppose you can say I work a 12 month position condensed into 10? And then an extra 400 hours on top of that?

I also have a summer job since I don’t get paid enough as a teacher, so I don’t actually have any long, luxurious vacation.

This isn’t a complaint, but you better believe I will correct misconceptions about my profession every time they come up.

And I still have seen nobody here say they’ll join our sinking ship. It’s as if you know it isn’t a good deal? (And I’m worth far more than your “robust” 120K above, a salary I’ll never see, not even if I have 25 years on and a PhD.)

New poster here, I just want to say I don’t believe for an instant that you work close to 60 hours a week on anything close to a routine basis. I say this as someone who has actually worked 60 hour weeks, and who knows several teachers.

60 hours on the clock plus your commute, plus meals, plus sleep… it leaves basically nothing, again I know this having actually done it. I also know teachers and see them living normal life during the school year taking their kids to sports, shopping, working out…

My kids barely even got homework while in FFX schools.

Also, why on earth would you expect to get paid for having a worthless PhD in teaching?

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My private sector company is also giving 3%.

I’m sure your salaries are much higher to begin with.

My child's teacher makes $80k+

Ok. Unless they are married, 80,000 doesn’t get you much in this area. Salaries should match COL.

Well, $80,000 is really for working only 9 months of the year once you take out all those endless summer and winter vacations. So $80k/9*12 = $106,666 on an annualized basis. Plus pension plus lavish benefits.

Where do these teachers work? I want endless summer and winter vacations!

I work 10 months full of 60 hour weeks, and then I’m furloughed for two months.

See, it's this crappy attitude on the part of teachers that has burned a lot of goodwill with parents and the public. The endless summer vacations are obviously a HUGE benefit of your job, and yet you frame it in the most miserable way possible by calling it furlough.

Also many other jobs require 12 months of work full of 60 hour weeks if not more. The truly unique thing about teachers compared to other professions is their seemingly endless ability to whine and think that only they have it hard.

In addition to VRS, summertime is really the only perk. And for some, summer and breaks are a financial strain/stressor.

How is it a vacation if you’re working another job? I know not all teachers do, but almost all of the teachers in their 20s do, as well as a decent percentage of the others.

most 20 year olds don’t get 3 months off a year from work!

Teachers don’t get 3 months off. Nobody has a 12 week summer.

Teachers aren’t paid for 2 months. Let’s get this straight now.

Many teachers have to work another job during the summer. Heck, I started mine last week. I’ll be working 2 jobs until the school year ends.

Let’s get that idea of teachers lazing around out of your head. It isn’t reality.

Np. You definitely get 3 months off. Add up fall, winter, spring breaks plus 2.5 months of summer.

I think what you’re not seeing is that so many of us really want to work part time but our jobs don’t allow for it. I don’t care if I made 3/4 money. At this point I’d like time with my kids. I wanted to be a teacher growing up and I probably should have.

Teaching really isn’t full time pay. But when you’re married with kids, the schedule can be a blessing. I personally have a big issue with school schedules being so short.

+1000. Thank you for bringing some clarity to this discussion.

Also, when you annualize a 3/4 time job, you actually end up with almost $120k. That's a pretty robust salary especially when also considering the pension, 401k retirement match and all those other generous benefits.

One thing that’s frustrating about teaching is the need for repetition:

As I posted before,
I work 40 weeks a year at 60 hours a week:
2400 hours

A full-time (12 month) position at 40 hours a week:
2000 hours

I suppose you can say I work a 12 month position condensed into 10? And then an extra 400 hours on top of that?

I also have a summer job since I don’t get paid enough as a teacher, so I don’t actually have any long, luxurious vacation.

This isn’t a complaint, but you better believe I will correct misconceptions about my profession every time they come up.

And I still have seen nobody here say they’ll join our sinking ship. It’s as if you know it isn’t a good deal? (And I’m worth far more than your “robust” 120K above, a salary I’ll never see, not even if I have 25 years on and a PhD.)

New poster here, I just want to say I don’t believe for an instant that you work close to 60 hours a week on anything close to a routine basis. I say this as someone who has actually worked 60 hour weeks, and who knows several teachers.

60 hours on the clock plus your commute, plus meals, plus sleep… it leaves basically nothing, again I know this having actually done it. I also know teachers and see them living normal life during the school year taking their kids to sports, shopping, working out…

My kids barely even got homework while in FFX schools.

Also, why on earth would you expect to get paid for having a worthless PhD in teaching?

This is an extremely tone deaf post. First off, there are many types of teachers in FCPS. So hours will vary. A high school English teacher is absolutely putting in 60 hour weeks due to all the writing they need to grade. A special ed teacher is probably putting in those hours too. I teach Upper ES and put in on a good week 45-50 hours. I get to work an hour 1/2 before contract starts to get work done because our planning time is abysmal. During conference season and report cards? I probably work 60 hours. I have been teaching 12 years. My first two years I worked more hours because I was new and was learning the ropes.

Just because you see people shuttling their kids to sports doesn’t mean they are not working extra hours once they get home.


I am so thankful to have amazing parents in my school community who see how hard teachers work and show their appreciation.

[Anonymous]

One thing that could happen to encourage more young people to go into teaching is paying for their degree in full at a state school if they can make it through 2 years of teaching.

To the poster who doesn't believe teachers work 60 hours a week:
7 a.m. -arrive at school, prep items, copy things, respond to emails, work on data
8 a.m. -kids arrive
11:00 a.m. -eat lunch while calling a parent and responding to emails, prep items for after lunch, set up a science demo, meet with a colleague about a student, maybe use the restroom and run to the recess door to pick kids up on time, create a chart for the kid who keeps eating the trash out of the trash can
11:50 a.m.- teach
1:00 p.m. -It's supposed to be prep time, but you have meetings 2/3 days you have prep
1:50 p.m. -pick kids up
2:30 p.m. -dismiss kids, talk with parents at pick up, clean up the room, meet with the social worker about another kid, check emails, attend meetings, planning, grading, create a new center, etc, etc, etc.
4:30 p.m. -drive home, pick up kids, make dinner, go to gym, etc
7:00 p.m. -more emails, analyze student writing samples, plan both whole group and small group writing instruction (or math or reading or whatever). Begin writing a grant, or look for a cool 2 minute video to illustrate a science concept or run to target to buy supplies for a project or look for ways to engage a learner who has adhd, etc, etc.
9:00 p.m. Watch TV, go to bed

All that is M-Th. Fridays, I go out for drinks or am exhausted and go to sleep.

Saturdays, I often go into school for 2 hours because there's no one else there making copies and I get a lot of organizational stuff done. Sunday afternoons I'll put in a few hours on some of my whole group planning.

When my kids were little, I remember bringing them to a roller skating party. While they skated, I sat and cut out laminating. I graded papers at sports practices. I once wanted to bring stuff to cut out to a water park (indoors, winter) and my husband put his foot down and said absolutely not.

I used to LOVE teaching. Truly. I left public education this year and will never go back. Not because of the hours. I'm kind of a workaholic and if I love what I'm doing, it's super satisfying to see students thrive because of it. But I was in a situation where I was truly not safe, and I had to leave. I'll be in a fancy private school this fall and anticipate working just as hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing that could happen to encourage more young people to go into teaching is paying for their degree in full at a state school if they can make it through 2 years of teaching.

To the poster who doesn't believe teachers work 60 hours a week:
7 a.m. -arrive at school, prep items, copy things, respond to emails, work on data
8 a.m. -kids arrive
11:00 a.m. -eat lunch while calling a parent and responding to emails, prep items for after lunch, set up a science demo, meet with a colleague about a student, maybe use the restroom and run to the recess door to pick kids up on time, create a chart for the kid who keeps eating the trash out of the trash can
11:50 a.m.- teach
1:00 p.m. -It's supposed to be prep time, but you have meetings 2/3 days you have prep
1:50 p.m. -pick kids up
2:30 p.m. -dismiss kids, talk with parents at pick up, clean up the room, meet with the social worker about another kid, check emails, attend meetings, planning, grading, create a new center, etc, etc, etc.
4:30 p.m. -drive home, pick up kids, make dinner, go to gym, etc
7:00 p.m. -more emails, analyze student writing samples, plan both whole group and small group writing instruction (or math or reading or whatever). Begin writing a grant, or look for a cool 2 minute video to illustrate a science concept or run to target to buy supplies for a project or look for ways to engage a learner who has adhd, etc, etc.
9:00 p.m. Watch TV, go to bed

All that is M-Th. Fridays, I go out for drinks or am exhausted and go to sleep.

Saturdays, I often go into school for 2 hours because there's no one else there making copies and I get a lot of organizational stuff done. Sunday afternoons I'll put in a few hours on some of my whole group planning.

When my kids were little, I remember bringing them to a roller skating party. While they skated, I sat and cut out laminating. I graded papers at sports practices. I once wanted to bring stuff to cut out to a water park (indoors, winter) and my husband put his foot down and said absolutely not.

I used to LOVE teaching. Truly. I left public education this year and will never go back. Not because of the hours. I'm kind of a workaholic and if I love what I'm doing, it's super satisfying to see students thrive because of it. But I was in a situation where I was truly not safe, and I had to leave. I'll be in a fancy private school this fall and anticipate working just as hard.

You realise even if you work every minute of lunch, every minute of 2:30-4:30, and all of the 7-9pm window… that still isn’t a 12 hour day, right?

You aren’t making the point you think you are. I don’t doubt you have worked an 11 hour day, but there is no way you are averaging anywhere close to 11 hours per day, let alone 12.

When I see a time sheet with 12 hours recorded on it I am going to need to know what the person was crashing on, and if you are averaging 12 per day over a year you need to be going over 12 every time you go under.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that could happen to encourage more young people to go into teaching is paying for their degree in full at a state school if they can make it through 2 years of teaching.

To the poster who doesn't believe teachers work 60 hours a week:
7 a.m. -arrive at school, prep items, copy things, respond to emails, work on data
8 a.m. -kids arrive
11:00 a.m. -eat lunch while calling a parent and responding to emails, prep items for after lunch, set up a science demo, meet with a colleague about a student, maybe use the restroom and run to the recess door to pick kids up on time, create a chart for the kid who keeps eating the trash out of the trash can
11:50 a.m.- teach
1:00 p.m. -It's supposed to be prep time, but you have meetings 2/3 days you have prep
1:50 p.m. -pick kids up
2:30 p.m. -dismiss kids, talk with parents at pick up, clean up the room, meet with the social worker about another kid, check emails, attend meetings, planning, grading, create a new center, etc, etc, etc.
4:30 p.m. -drive home, pick up kids, make dinner, go to gym, etc
7:00 p.m. -more emails, analyze student writing samples, plan both whole group and small group writing instruction (or math or reading or whatever). Begin writing a grant, or look for a cool 2 minute video to illustrate a science concept or run to target to buy supplies for a project or look for ways to engage a learner who has adhd, etc, etc.
9:00 p.m. Watch TV, go to bed

All that is M-Th. Fridays, I go out for drinks or am exhausted and go to sleep.

Saturdays, I often go into school for 2 hours because there's no one else there making copies and I get a lot of organizational stuff done. Sunday afternoons I'll put in a few hours on some of my whole group planning.

When my kids were little, I remember bringing them to a roller skating party. While they skated, I sat and cut out laminating. I graded papers at sports practices. I once wanted to bring stuff to cut out to a water park (indoors, winter) and my husband put his foot down and said absolutely not.

I used to LOVE teaching. Truly. I left public education this year and will never go back. Not because of the hours. I'm kind of a workaholic and if I love what I'm doing, it's super satisfying to see students thrive because of it. But I was in a situation where I was truly not safe, and I had to leave. I'll be in a fancy private school this fall and anticipate working just as hard.

You realise even if you work every minute of lunch, every minute of 2:30-4:30, and all of the 7-9pm window… that still isn’t a 12 hour day, right?

You aren’t making the point you think you are. I don’t doubt you have worked an 11 hour day, but there is no way you are averaging anywhere close to 11 hours per day, let alone 12.

When I see a time sheet with 12 hours recorded on it I am going to need to know what the person was crashing on, and if you are averaging 12 per day over a year you need to be going over 12 every time you go under.

I’m the 60-hour PP you don’t believe.

I regularly assign essays and papers. I’m responsible for teaching writing. One stack of essays can take 30 sustained hours to grade. I don’t get time at school to do that, so if happens on my own time. I try to get them back in 2 weeks, with comments.

120 papers x 15 minutes each = 30 hours

I also have smaller assignments I need to grade each week, so maybe another 5 hours there. Planning takes an additional 5-8 a week. Responding to emails, updating reports? 1-2 hours. Teaching in front of a class? 30-33 hours a week.

I work 12-14 hours every weekend in addition to 1-4 hours every M-F night. It’s Memorial Day and I’m waking up before my family to grade so I can see them later today, hopefully for dinner.

It’s so astoundingly arrogant of you to claim I’m lying. You’ve seen teachers out and about? Somehow that’s proof they don’t work?

I have three coworkers who quit this year from my department because they can’t keep the hours. I’m going to quit, too.

Here’s how you can help: don’t assume you know the life of a teacher. Why don’t you shed some of that ignorance (and arrogance) by signing up to sub. It would be a good eye-opener for you, and we could use the help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that could happen to encourage more young people to go into teaching is paying for their degree in full at a state school if they can make it through 2 years of teaching.

To the poster who doesn't believe teachers work 60 hours a week:
7 a.m. -arrive at school, prep items, copy things, respond to emails, work on data
8 a.m. -kids arrive
11:00 a.m. -eat lunch while calling a parent and responding to emails, prep items for after lunch, set up a science demo, meet with a colleague about a student, maybe use the restroom and run to the recess door to pick kids up on time, create a chart for the kid who keeps eating the trash out of the trash can
11:50 a.m.- teach
1:00 p.m. -It's supposed to be prep time, but you have meetings 2/3 days you have prep
1:50 p.m. -pick kids up
2:30 p.m. -dismiss kids, talk with parents at pick up, clean up the room, meet with the social worker about another kid, check emails, attend meetings, planning, grading, create a new center, etc, etc, etc.
4:30 p.m. -drive home, pick up kids, make dinner, go to gym, etc
7:00 p.m. -more emails, analyze student writing samples, plan both whole group and small group writing instruction (or math or reading or whatever). Begin writing a grant, or look for a cool 2 minute video to illustrate a science concept or run to target to buy supplies for a project or look for ways to engage a learner who has adhd, etc, etc.
9:00 p.m. Watch TV, go to bed

All that is M-Th. Fridays, I go out for drinks or am exhausted and go to sleep.

Saturdays, I often go into school for 2 hours because there's no one else there making copies and I get a lot of organizational stuff done. Sunday afternoons I'll put in a few hours on some of my whole group planning.

When my kids were little, I remember bringing them to a roller skating party. While they skated, I sat and cut out laminating. I graded papers at sports practices. I once wanted to bring stuff to cut out to a water park (indoors, winter) and my husband put his foot down and said absolutely not.

I used to LOVE teaching. Truly. I left public education this year and will never go back. Not because of the hours. I'm kind of a workaholic and if I love what I'm doing, it's super satisfying to see students thrive because of it. But I was in a situation where I was truly not safe, and I had to leave. I'll be in a fancy private school this fall and anticipate working just as hard.

You realise even if you work every minute of lunch, every minute of 2:30-4:30, and all of the 7-9pm window… that still isn’t a 12 hour day, right?

You aren’t making the point you think you are. I don’t doubt you have worked an 11 hour day, but there is no way you are averaging anywhere close to 11 hours per day, let alone 12.

When I see a time sheet with 12 hours recorded on it I am going to need to know what the person was crashing on, and if you are averaging 12 per day over a year you need to be going over 12 every time you go under.

I’m the 60-hour PP you don’t believe.

I regularly assign essays and papers. I’m responsible for teaching writing. One stack of essays can take 30 sustained hours to grade. I don’t get time at school to do that, so if happens on my own time. I try to get them back in 2 weeks, with comments.

120 papers x 15 minutes each = 30 hours

I also have smaller assignments I need to grade each week, so maybe another 5 hours there. Planning takes an additional 5-8 a week. Responding to emails, updating reports? 1-2 hours. Teaching in front of a class? 30-33 hours a week.

I work 12-14 hours every weekend in addition to 1-4 hours every M-F night. It’s Memorial Day and I’m waking up before my family to grade so I can see them later today, hopefully for dinner.

It’s so astoundingly arrogant of you to claim I’m lying. You’ve seen teachers out and about? Somehow that’s proof they don’t work?

I have three coworkers who quit this year from my department because they can’t keep the hours. I’m going to quit, too.

Here’s how you can help: don’t assume you know the life of a teacher. Why don’t you shed some of that ignorance (and arrogance) by signing up to sub. It would be a good eye-opener for you, and we could use the help.

It isn’t arrogant to say I don’t believe you, I simply don’t. As I said before I have actually worked those types of hours and know they leave no time or energy for anything else.

If you work 60 hour weeks even occasionally you are a rare exception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can you become a teacher these days? No one wants to pay for college to be a teacher but I think there are people interested. They should incentivize going into the field.

Are you suggesting opening up teaching to people without college degrees?

I teach college-level classes at the high school level.

DP but I think k-6 teaching programs can be possible with a 4 year degree. Education degrees aren’t even all education classes.