Sorry you're poor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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I'm a teacher and recently attended 2 retirement parties for fellow teachers. We started talking and out of appr. 50 teachers and admins in attendance, only 2 or 3 people did not have at least one Master's degree (they were new teachers who had just started working on their Master's degrees). Most of us had 2 Master's degrees and the 2 people retiring had 3 each. I do not know many other professions with such highly educated people. It bothers me how our profession is generally looked down upon. When I lived in Arlington, my DD was eligible for the free preschool program there due to my low income. My friend teaches in NY and her kids are eligible for free lunch there. So yes, we are "poor" but please don't lump us into the same category as others who have not worked our tails off in school for many, many years and continue to do so.


Really enough of "I'm a teacher and I have all of these master's degrees" crap. The master's degress you have are the equivalent of underwater basketweaving or fingerpainting. You do not learn anything important but only more kidding minding strategies. Try learn something useful like applied math, physics, computer science, nursing or anything that will get you a high paying job. I don't care if you teach math, physics, computer science or nursing. Those who can do, those who can't teach. Learn something worth being paid for.

Clearly, you were rejected from an M.Ed program. It's ok, not everyone is good enough to be a teacher.

No, I knew where the money was and have a PhD in biochemistry. But then Bill Cosby had a doctorate in education and made some money.

Self taught in bio-chemistry, that's awesome. I'm impressed that you started teaching yourself in kindergarten, and clearly did a great job in self-guided home study, to go all the way through to a Ph.D. That's really impressive.

Yes, I believe my last M.Ed, teacher was for 5th year civics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spoken like a true member of the nouveau riche.


And you wonder why we dont accept you.

x2

[Anonymous]

Is this the thread about the douchebag who thinks that a Mercedes makes you a big shot?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this the thread about the douchebag who thinks that a Mercedes makes you a big shot?

It is.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It is a common misconception in America that just because someone is poor, then that is their fault.

Everyone is under the belief that in this country of ours, EVERYONE who wants to make it CAN.

And those that do not make it, only do not make it due to fault of their own.

That in America, EVERYONE has a shot at the brass ring.

This is the American Myth. It is pure mythology folks.

Why? For the obvious reason. Do the math.

Because theoretically speaking, there are not enough decent jobs in this country for EVERY single person in this country.

It just isn't possible for each and every single American in our country to hold a decent job here. It could never happen. And anyone who says it could is dreaming.

Well, yes, but that is not in contradiction to saying those who work hardest and are smartest are bound to end up better off than those who do not, barring some major bad luck (like being hit by a car crossing the street and turning into a vegetable).

When I was a cild, my family immigrated here with nothing but two suitcases each and less money than it would take to pay a month of rent on a crappy apartment. Knowledge of English at the time varied from very basic to nonexistent. Guess what? Every single one of my family members is currently middle class or upper middle class - the adults worked hard and made the way, the children studied hard (in practical fields) and then worked hard. I also have a number of immigrant friends with similar stories. As far as I and people around me are concerned, the American dream works fine.

Just curious, pp. How much did the government help you and your family? What kind of benefits did you receive? SNAP? Subsidized housing? Anything?

Well, the Government let us in, which was huge. We relied in large part on private charity for people of our background and some family that was here already, but we also did receive food stamps for about 6 months and health care.

I want to make clear that I have zero problem with social net programs like snap, medicare, housing assistance etc. Not just because they helped my family but on general principles - I don't believe people should be hungry or homeless or ill because they cannot or are unable to work. I just wanted to post to say that the attitude that if you start out poor, you will end up poor is not really correct.

You have one anecdote. The bolded view actually has studies. Poverty is generational. You had family help. What was your life like where you were from? Was your family educated? Stable?

Family help? They let us crash with them for a few weeks. Many people have family help if that's all that is. They hardly paid for us. Also, I have more than one anecdote since I know a lot of immigrants with the same stories. My family was educated but I would think the fact that we had no English and did not know how society worked would even out that advantage. I also have friends whose families were not educated when they came over. They just worked hard - all those families are self-supporting now. Even everyone born in generational poverty does not stay that way - majority do, not all. I believe in personal responsibility. There is always some excuse why you can't do as well, but that's just what that is - an excuse. The point is, there is no 'bad rich guy cabal' keeping the poor down despite their best efforts - you can overcome your circumstances or you can not. You are not doomed to stay poor forever. You will though, if all you do is throw yourself a pity party about how you did not get the same opportunities in life as a millionaire's child.

I come from a line of generational poverty. You have no idea what you're talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

No, I knew where the money was and have a PhD in biochemistry. But then Bill Cosby had a doctorate in education and made some money.

What do you do with your PhD in biochemistry? I'm curious to know if what you do with your PhD in biochemistry is as important for society as teaching, or whether it's just personally lucrative.

Manage a bio-defense project for a DoD contractor. You decide if it is as important as whatever it is you teach when you aren't taking days off for lesson planning, marking days, parent teacher conferences or the six weeks in the summer

Really? There's no way that managing a project for a DoD contractor is as important or beneficial to society as teaching children. I'm sure it pays a whole lot better, though. Very nice for you.