RANT: Teachers, why are you so whiny?

[Anonymous]

Seems like you share the family gift for complaining, PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skip to links below if you want to read research on this issue. Continue if you want my personal perspective as an attorney who is from a family of elementary and high school teachers.

YES. Thank you. Teachers are striking here in Denver now, carrying ridiculous signs and complaining about pay. The complaint that really gets me is the assertion that most teachers spend their evenings, weekends, vacations, and summers grueling over grades and lesson plans. That claim is simply disingenuous for anyone other than the newest, most obsessively dedicated, or poorly time-managed teachers. My brother is a teacher, lives frugally, and spends his vacations and summers traveling until in-service a few days before classes start. My sister is a teacher and is married to another teacher. Between the two of them, they do quite well and seem to enjoy their fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks just fine. YES, teachers have a tough job dealing with unruly kids and parents. YES, they have to take work home from time to time. But guess what, so do the rest of us, and we do it 50 weeks a year. I am an attorney who works in litigation, so the "stress" of having to spend an evening at a school sporting event (as opposed to hunched over a computer finalizing a brief at 10pm) just isn't all that convincing. And don't get me started about all the hours spent working outside the office. Moreover, when you look at my per hour pay it is not much different than a high school teacher with equal years experience (controlled for 9mo vs 12mo work-year), and I don't have nearly as good of a pension. Fact is, $50K for 9mos work in a profession that requires a bachelors or masters (in education - not organic chemistry, law, medicine, or computer science) is a pretty good gig.

http://www.aei.org/publication/no-teachers-are-not-underpaid/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2014/08/07/low-teacher-pay-and-high-teacher-pay-are-both-myths/#1dca873631af

The funny thing is is once they put in subs and administrative staff in the Denver public schools and everything turned into chaos. Teaching is so easy ! Except so many people are pousy at doing it

If you are a trial attorney, how many hours are you actually standing up and presenting your case? Because I hear all the time that the only thing I do that counts as work is when I am actually teaching. Reading documents (e.g. grading) doesn’t count, talking to key people (e.g. parent teacher conferences or deposing witnesses) doesn’t count, supervising (e.g. school events or opposing arguments) don’t count.

So how many hours? I spend about 765 hours a week standing up presenting. What are your hours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister teaches 5th grade and has for quite a while. Makes excellent money and works less than 40 hours a week. All holidays off as well as Summer break, xmas break, and spring break. Great benefits too. Not seeing her family want for much. Vacation all the time, nice cars.... but.... I hear her complain constantly. Let's break down her wage. For anyone else you'd need to make about $30 an hour and work 50 weeks a year at 40 hours a week to make around 60K. She does this in less than 9 months. How much is she getting an hour??????

That’s an exceptionally low amount of hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skip to links below if you want to read research on this issue. Continue if you want my personal perspective as an attorney who is from a family of elementary and high school teachers.

YES. Thank you. Teachers are striking here in Denver now, carrying ridiculous signs and complaining about pay. The complaint that really gets me is the assertion that most teachers spend their evenings, weekends, vacations, and summers grueling over grades and lesson plans. That claim is simply disingenuous for anyone other than the newest, most obsessively dedicated, or poorly time-managed teachers. My brother is a teacher, lives frugally, and spends his vacations and summers traveling until in-service a few days before classes start. My sister is a teacher and is married to another teacher. Between the two of them, they do quite well and seem to enjoy their fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks just fine. YES, teachers have a tough job dealing with unruly kids and parents. YES, they have to take work home from time to time. But guess what, so do the rest of us, and we do it 50 weeks a year. I am an attorney who works in litigation, so the "stress" of having to spend an evening at a school sporting event (as opposed to hunched over a computer finalizing a brief at 10pm) just isn't all that convincing. And don't get me started about all the hours spent working outside the office. Moreover, when you look at my per hour pay it is not much different than a high school teacher with equal years experience (controlled for 9mo vs 12mo work-year), and I don't have nearly as good of a pension. Fact is, $50K for 9mos work in a profession that requires a bachelors or masters (in education - not organic chemistry, law, medicine, or computer science) is a pretty good gig.

http://www.aei.org/publication/no-teachers-are-not-underpaid/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2014/08/07/low-teacher-pay-and-high-teacher-pay-are-both-myths/#1dca873631af

The funny thing is is once they put in subs and administrative staff in the Denver public schools and everything turned into chaos. Teaching is so easy ! Except so many people are pousy at doing it

If you are a trial attorney, how many hours are you actually standing up and presenting your case? Because I hear all the time that the only thing I do that counts as work is when I am actually teaching. Reading documents (e.g. grading) doesn’t count, talking to key people (e.g. parent teacher conferences or deposing witnesses) doesn’t count, supervising (e.g. school events or opposing arguments) don’t count.

So how many hours? I spend about 765 hours a week standing up presenting. What are your hours?

I’m a teacher. The number of hours in your week far exceed mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just can't feel sorry for teachers. I swear they must learn to complain in school to become a teacher. Our family has at least a half dozen teachers and it is the most annoying thing when we all get together. It's like a game of who can top the other for 'poor me' stories. Hey teachers, 99% of the rest of the workforce who actually work full time+ aren't loving their job and feel underpaid. Everyone would like more money for what they do. But when you don't have to go to work all 12 months of the year and have EVERY holiday and weekend off it's quite difficult to feel sorry for you. You also get Spring Break as well as a few days off at Thanksgiving. Any other job requires you to use vacation time to have time off. Plenty of jobs also make you work holidays or there is mandatory overtime or forced weekends. And oh yeah, there's your Summer where you don't have to work. Whoops, let's not forget about two weeks off at Christmas time. Then there is the fact that teaching is not a physically demanding job. You don't come home exhausted and sore. You're not lifting anything heavy over and over and there's no boss at the end of 8-10 hours telling you you're not going home and you've got 2-4 more hours to go. Or the infamous double shift. Even in skilled jobs there are very physical days and super long hours. Professional jobs are ALWAYS way more hours a day than a teacher puts in. Not to mention the stress. Plus they work year round and have no where near the time off. Salaried positions are usually based at 50 hours a week. A teacher can get to school 5 minutes before it starts and leave as soon as the students are gone. Grading papers is not hard and can be done at school during school hours. Students can do this too. And oh no, you may have conferences twice a year and have to be at school for 11-12 hours in one day for maybe 2-3 days. Ahhhh, most of us do this EVERY week. Then we have the teachers who teach at the same school and the same grade year after year. It's not like you're walking into a mystery every day you come in. And what about benefits, those are damn good if you ask me. Try getting good benefits elsewhere. You've been spoiled and don't realize it. Go out and actually WORK for a few years and then go back to your cush job teaching. You won't complain ever again.

NP
I'm a career changer and you clearly don't know anything. Worked my share of 60 hour weeks with off and on travel and occasionally 2-4 weeks our of country working 14 hour days. Changed to teaching to better match my schedule to my kids for summers off, but I did not anticipate that would be traded for 70 hour work weeks. (In addition to a 50% reduction in my hourly rate.) I'm at school routinely from 7am to 4pm, going non-stop on a zillion tasks, only to leave run family errands and then squeeze in 2-3 hours of grading and planning at night from 8-11p. Plus I generally work 6-12 hours on the weekends grading and planning, depending on my level of desperation. I teach multiple courses and seem to always have something new every year. Other teachers may have less time demands depending on the what they are teaching and the number of kids they have, but there are plenty that work as much as I do. I've overheard my hubby commenting to friends, no, wife is too busy, we won't see her again until June.

I enjoy teaching and there are a lot of benefits which keep me in it for now. I may choose to do something else when my last kid graduates. But let's be clear - teaching is a whole helluva lot more work than many industry jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skip to links below if you want to read research on this issue. Continue if you want my personal perspective as an attorney who is from a family of elementary and high school teachers.

YES. Thank you. Teachers are striking here in Denver now, carrying ridiculous signs and complaining about pay. The complaint that really gets me is the assertion that most teachers spend their evenings, weekends, vacations, and summers grueling over grades and lesson plans. That claim is simply disingenuous for anyone other than the newest, most obsessively dedicated, or poorly time-managed teachers. My brother is a teacher, lives frugally, and spends his vacations and summers traveling until in-service a few days before classes start. My sister is a teacher and is married to another teacher. Between the two of them, they do quite well and seem to enjoy their fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks just fine. YES, teachers have a tough job dealing with unruly kids and parents. YES, they have to take work home from time to time. But guess what, so do the rest of us, and we do it 50 weeks a year. I am an attorney who works in litigation, so the "stress" of having to spend an evening at a school sporting event (as opposed to hunched over a computer finalizing a brief at 10pm) just isn't all that convincing. And don't get me started about all the hours spent working outside the office. Moreover, when you look at my per hour pay it is not much different than a high school teacher with equal years experience (controlled for 9mo vs 12mo work-year), and I don't have nearly as good of a pension. Fact is, $50K for 9mos work in a profession that requires a bachelors or masters (in education - not organic chemistry, law, medicine, or computer science) is a pretty good gig.

http://www.aei.org/publication/no-teachers-are-not-underpaid/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2014/08/07/low-teacher-pay-and-high-teacher-pay-are-both-myths/#1dca873631af

The funny thing is is once they put in subs and administrative staff in the Denver public schools and everything turned into chaos. Teaching is so easy ! Except so many people are pousy at doing it

If you are a trial attorney, how many hours are you actually standing up and presenting your case? Because I hear all the time that the only thing I do that counts as work is when I am actually teaching. Reading documents (e.g. grading) doesn’t count, talking to key people (e.g. parent teacher conferences or deposing witnesses) doesn’t count, supervising (e.g. school events or opposing arguments) don’t count.

So how many hours? I spend about 765 hours a week standing up presenting. What are your hours?

I’m a teacher. The number of hours in your week far exceed mine.

LOL Sorry, I meant a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skip to links below if you want to read research on this issue. Continue if you want my personal perspective as an attorney who is from a family of elementary and high school teachers.

YES. Thank you. Teachers are striking here in Denver now, carrying ridiculous signs and complaining about pay. The complaint that really gets me is the assertion that most teachers spend their evenings, weekends, vacations, and summers grueling over grades and lesson plans. That claim is simply disingenuous for anyone other than the newest, most obsessively dedicated, or poorly time-managed teachers. My brother is a teacher, lives frugally, and spends his vacations and summers traveling until in-service a few days before classes start. My sister is a teacher and is married to another teacher. Between the two of them, they do quite well and seem to enjoy their fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks just fine. YES, teachers have a tough job dealing with unruly kids and parents. YES, they have to take work home from time to time. But guess what, so do the rest of us, and we do it 50 weeks a year. I am an attorney who works in litigation, so the "stress" of having to spend an evening at a school sporting event (as opposed to hunched over a computer finalizing a brief at 10pm) just isn't all that convincing. And don't get me started about all the hours spent working outside the office. Moreover, when you look at my per hour pay it is not much different than a high school teacher with equal years experience (controlled for 9mo vs 12mo work-year), and I don't have nearly as good of a pension. Fact is, $50K for 9mos work in a profession that requires a bachelors or masters (in education - not organic chemistry, law, medicine, or computer science) is a pretty good gig.

http://www.aei.org/publication/no-teachers-are-not-underpaid/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2014/08/07/low-teacher-pay-and-high-teacher-pay-are-both-myths/#1dca873631af

The funny thing is is once they put in subs and administrative staff in the Denver public schools and everything turned into chaos. Teaching is so easy ! Except so many people are pousy at doing it

If you are a trial attorney, how many hours are you actually standing up and presenting your case? Because I hear all the time that the only thing I do that counts as work is when I am actually teaching. Reading documents (e.g. grading) doesn’t count, talking to key people (e.g. parent teacher conferences or deposing witnesses) doesn’t count, supervising (e.g. school events or opposing arguments) don’t count.

So how many hours? I spend about 765 hours a week standing up presenting. What are your hours?

The actual trial is a very small part of litigating. The vast majority of the hours are researching the claims and arguments, drafting and filing pleadings/briefs, engaging in discovery (written questions to opposing counsel, depositions, document reviews) and responding to the other side. Document review, depending on the case, can take weeks and weeks and require a ton of OT. Then there is the preparation of your questions for the other side's witnesses, opening/closing statement, both of which involve moot courts before colleagues (at least where I've worked), and planning out your presentation/strategy. Finally, there are the mediations, status updates, etc. before the court or magistrates.

When I did this as a first year associate in a small firm (so I was VERY much doing all of this work, whether or not I should have been), I did all of it for about $45,000 / year. So far less than most teachers in this area and for much more work. I also had no benefits other than a small amount of paid leave and health care. I was not there for more than a year before getting a much better job with better benefits/pay. But, still worked a lot and made less than teachers in this area for several years.

So, this is not your strongest argument.

I could have gotten a job with bigger firms for more pay but it was just not my scene. I was not meant to be in that environment so I opted for small (and nonprofit/govt work). I knew I'd be paid less for a lot of work but I'd be happier in the long run. You know this as well about teaching.

[Anonymous]

To every teacher out there: whiny are the people here complaining about you!

I am grateful to each and every one of you for educating future generations, all of them. The ones who excel and the ones who struggle. The quiet ones and the loud ones. The challenging behavior ones and the ones who have self-entitled parents. Thank you for the long days, for weekends grading papers and creating challenging and appropriate lesson plans. For keeping an eye out for those who need it, and letting some get away with a little more, because they need that. For feeding the hungry ones, and helping to keep them all safe. And doing all the damn bureaucratic stuff the school system makes you do.

Thank you to all the teachers out there. And please disregard every whiny parent, friend or family member on here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skip to links below if you want to read research on this issue. Continue if you want my personal perspective as an attorney who is from a family of elementary and high school teachers.

YES. Thank you. Teachers are striking here in Denver now, carrying ridiculous signs and complaining about pay. The complaint that really gets me is the assertion that most teachers spend their evenings, weekends, vacations, and summers grueling over grades and lesson plans. That claim is simply disingenuous for anyone other than the newest, most obsessively dedicated, or poorly time-managed teachers. My brother is a teacher, lives frugally, and spends his vacations and summers traveling until in-service a few days before classes start. My sister is a teacher and is married to another teacher. Between the two of them, they do quite well and seem to enjoy their fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks just fine. YES, teachers have a tough job dealing with unruly kids and parents. YES, they have to take work home from time to time. But guess what, so do the rest of us, and we do it 50 weeks a year. I am an attorney who works in litigation, so the "stress" of having to spend an evening at a school sporting event (as opposed to hunched over a computer finalizing a brief at 10pm) just isn't all that convincing. And don't get me started about all the hours spent working outside the office. Moreover, when you look at my per hour pay it is not much different than a high school teacher with equal years experience (controlled for 9mo vs 12mo work-year), and I don't have nearly as good of a pension. Fact is, $50K for 9mos work in a profession that requires a bachelors or masters (in education - not organic chemistry, law, medicine, or computer science) is a pretty good gig.

http://www.aei.org/publication/no-teachers-are-not-underpaid/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2014/08/07/low-teacher-pay-and-high-teacher-pay-are-both-myths/#1dca873631af

The funny thing is is once they put in subs and administrative staff in the Denver public schools and everything turned into chaos. Teaching is so easy ! Except so many people are pousy at doing it

If you are a trial attorney, how many hours are you actually standing up and presenting your case? Because I hear all the time that the only thing I do that counts as work is when I am actually teaching. Reading documents (e.g. grading) doesn’t count, talking to key people (e.g. parent teacher conferences or deposing witnesses) doesn’t count, supervising (e.g. school events or opposing arguments) don’t count.

So how many hours? I spend about 765 hours a week standing up presenting. What are your hours?

The actual trial is a very small part of litigating. The vast majority of the hours are researching the claims and arguments, drafting and filing pleadings/briefs, engaging in discovery (written questions to opposing counsel, depositions, document reviews) and responding to the other side. Document review, depending on the case, can take weeks and weeks and require a ton of OT. Then there is the preparation of your questions for the other side's witnesses, opening/closing statement, both of which involve moot courts before colleagues (at least where I've worked), and planning out your presentation/strategy. Finally, there are the mediations, status updates, etc. before the court or magistrates.

When I did this as a first year associate in a small firm (so I was VERY much doing all of this work, whether or not I should have been), I did all of it for about $45,000 / year. So far less than most teachers in this area and for much more work. I also had no benefits other than a small amount of paid leave and health care. I was not there for more than a year before getting a much better job with better benefits/pay. But, still worked a lot and made less than teachers in this area for several years.

So, this is not your strongest argument.

I could have gotten a job with bigger firms for more pay but it was just not my scene. I was not meant to be in that environment so I opted for small (and nonprofit/govt work). I knew I'd be paid less for a lot of work but I'd be happier in the long run. You know this as well about teaching.

Whoosh.

[Anonymous]

Guess what suckers? I'm a teacher & I love my job.

And sometimes your kids act like a-holes.

And many times, the parents do.

And most times, everyone acts rationally.

But when you complain that I'm a lazy fat cat on anonymous blog sites, I stop listening to you & remember that you are NOT MY BOSS. NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU THINK.

Sorry your lives suck,
XOXO
-A devoted teacher who has worked 25 years and doesn't give a flying effe what you think of me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skip to links below if you want to read research on this issue. Continue if you want my personal perspective as an attorney who is from a family of elementary and high school teachers.

YES. Thank you. Teachers are striking here in Denver now, carrying ridiculous signs and complaining about pay. The complaint that really gets me is the assertion that most teachers spend their evenings, weekends, vacations, and summers grueling over grades and lesson plans. That claim is simply disingenuous for anyone other than the newest, most obsessively dedicated, or poorly time-managed teachers. My brother is a teacher, lives frugally, and spends his vacations and summers traveling until in-service a few days before classes start. My sister is a teacher and is married to another teacher. Between the two of them, they do quite well and seem to enjoy their fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks just fine. YES, teachers have a tough job dealing with unruly kids and parents. YES, they have to take work home from time to time. But guess what, so do the rest of us, and we do it 50 weeks a year. I am an attorney who works in litigation, so the "stress" of having to spend an evening at a school sporting event (as opposed to hunched over a computer finalizing a brief at 10pm) just isn't all that convincing. And don't get me started about all the hours spent working outside the office. Moreover, when you look at my per hour pay it is not much different than a high school teacher with equal years experience (controlled for 9mo vs 12mo work-year), and I don't have nearly as good of a pension. Fact is, $50K for 9mos work in a profession that requires a bachelors or masters (in education - not organic chemistry, law, medicine, or computer science) is a pretty good gig.

http://www.aei.org/publication/no-teachers-are-not-underpaid/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2014/08/07/low-teacher-pay-and-high-teacher-pay-are-both-myths/#1dca873631af

The funny thing is is once they put in subs and administrative staff in the Denver public schools and everything turned into chaos. Teaching is so easy ! Except so many people are pousy at doing it

If you are a trial attorney, how many hours are you actually standing up and presenting your case? Because I hear all the time that the only thing I do that counts as work is when I am actually teaching. Reading documents (e.g. grading) doesn’t count, talking to key people (e.g. parent teacher conferences or deposing witnesses) doesn’t count, supervising (e.g. school events or opposing arguments) don’t count.

So how many hours? I spend about 765 hours a week standing up presenting. What are your hours?

The actual trial is a very small part of litigating. The vast majority of the hours are researching the claims and arguments, drafting and filing pleadings/briefs, engaging in discovery (written questions to opposing counsel, depositions, document reviews) and responding to the other side. Document review, depending on the case, can take weeks and weeks and require a ton of OT. Then there is the preparation of your questions for the other side's witnesses, opening/closing statement, both of which involve moot courts before colleagues (at least where I've worked), and planning out your presentation/strategy. Finally, there are the mediations, status updates, etc. before the court or magistrates.

When I did this as a first year associate in a small firm (so I was VERY much doing all of this work, whether or not I should have been), I did all of it for about $45,000 / year. So far less than most teachers in this area and for much more work. I also had no benefits other than a small amount of paid leave and health care. I was not there for more than a year before getting a much better job with better benefits/pay. But, still worked a lot and made less than teachers in this area for several years.

So, this is not your strongest argument.

I could have gotten a job with bigger firms for more pay but it was just not my scene. I was not meant to be in that environment so I opted for small (and nonprofit/govt work). I knew I'd be paid less for a lot of work but I'd be happier in the long run. You know this as well about teaching.

Whoosh.

I don't see how that's a "whoosh" situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skip to links below if you want to read research on this issue. Continue if you want my personal perspective as an attorney who is from a family of elementary and high school teachers.

YES. Thank you. Teachers are striking here in Denver now, carrying ridiculous signs and complaining about pay. The complaint that really gets me is the assertion that most teachers spend their evenings, weekends, vacations, and summers grueling over grades and lesson plans. That claim is simply disingenuous for anyone other than the newest, most obsessively dedicated, or poorly time-managed teachers. My brother is a teacher, lives frugally, and spends his vacations and summers traveling until in-service a few days before classes start. My sister is a teacher and is married to another teacher. Between the two of them, they do quite well and seem to enjoy their fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks just fine. YES, teachers have a tough job dealing with unruly kids and parents. YES, they have to take work home from time to time. But guess what, so do the rest of us, and we do it 50 weeks a year. I am an attorney who works in litigation, so the "stress" of having to spend an evening at a school sporting event (as opposed to hunched over a computer finalizing a brief at 10pm) just isn't all that convincing. And don't get me started about all the hours spent working outside the office. Moreover, when you look at my per hour pay it is not much different than a high school teacher with equal years experience (controlled for 9mo vs 12mo work-year), and I don't have nearly as good of a pension. Fact is, $50K for 9mos work in a profession that requires a bachelors or masters (in education - not organic chemistry, law, medicine, or computer science) is a pretty good gig.

http://www.aei.org/publication/no-teachers-are-not-underpaid/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2014/08/07/low-teacher-pay-and-high-teacher-pay-are-both-myths/#1dca873631af

The funny thing is is once they put in subs and administrative staff in the Denver public schools and everything turned into chaos. Teaching is so easy ! Except so many people are pousy at doing it

If you are a trial attorney, how many hours are you actually standing up and presenting your case? Because I hear all the time that the only thing I do that counts as work is when I am actually teaching. Reading documents (e.g. grading) doesn’t count, talking to key people (e.g. parent teacher conferences or deposing witnesses) doesn’t count, supervising (e.g. school events or opposing arguments) don’t count.

So how many hours? I spend about 765 hours a week standing up presenting. What are your hours?

The actual trial is a very small part of litigating. The vast majority of the hours are researching the claims and arguments, drafting and filing pleadings/briefs, engaging in discovery (written questions to opposing counsel, depositions, document reviews) and responding to the other side. Document review, depending on the case, can take weeks and weeks and require a ton of OT. Then there is the preparation of your questions for the other side's witnesses, opening/closing statement, both of which involve moot courts before colleagues (at least where I've worked), and planning out your presentation/strategy. Finally, there are the mediations, status updates, etc. before the court or magistrates.

When I did this as a first year associate in a small firm (so I was VERY much doing all of this work, whether or not I should have been), I did all of it for about $45,000 / year. So far less than most teachers in this area and for much more work. I also had no benefits other than a small amount of paid leave and health care. I was not there for more than a year before getting a much better job with better benefits/pay. But, still worked a lot and made less than teachers in this area for several years.

So, this is not your strongest argument.

I could have gotten a job with bigger firms for more pay but it was just not my scene. I was not meant to be in that environment so I opted for small (and nonprofit/govt work). I knew I'd be paid less for a lot of work but I'd be happier in the long run. You know this as well about teaching.

Whoosh.

I don't see how that's a "whoosh" situation.

Because the point is that the actual part of standing up and teaching is a small part of what I do.

You research to craft your arguments, and I research the curriculum I'm expected to teach.

You plan and organize what you're going to say, and practice in moot court. I plan and organize my lessons.

You gather data by deposing witnesses. I gather data by meeting with parents, and related service providers.

You review tons of documents. So, do I. I also grade the documents I review.

You mediate, and I do too, in I.E.P. meetings.

You draft and file complaints. I draft and file IEP's, and field trip permission forms, and all sorts of other forms.

When someone says "Teachers only work 5 hours a day 9 months a year" it makes as much sense as someone saying "Ms. Lawyer only worked 2 hours yesterday. The rest of the time she was just reading stuff, or listening to people talk.".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To every teacher out there: whiny are the people here complaining about you!

I am grateful to each and every one of you for educating future generations, all of them. The ones who excel and the ones who struggle. The quiet ones and the loud ones. The challenging behavior ones and the ones who have self-entitled parents. Thank you for the long days, for weekends grading papers and creating challenging and appropriate lesson plans. For keeping an eye out for those who need it, and letting some get away with a little more, because they need that. For feeding the hungry ones, and helping to keep them all safe. And doing all the damn bureaucratic stuff the school system makes you do.

Thank you to all the teachers out there. And please disregard every whiny parent, friend or family member on here!

Thank you so much. Believe me, we appreciate parents like you. I just had a full day of parent teacher conferences and it went fairly well. It's great when we can work together as a team so that your child is successful and happy in the classroom. You make the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister teaches 5th grade and has for quite a while. Makes excellent money and works less than 40 hours a week. All holidays off as well as Summer break, xmas break, and spring break. Great benefits too. Not seeing her family want for much. Vacation all the time, nice cars.... but.... I hear her complain constantly. Let's break down her wage. For anyone else you'd need to make about $30 an hour and work 50 weeks a year at 40 hours a week to make around 60K. She does this in less than 9 months. How much is she getting an hour??????

You do realize that your sister does a lot of work on the evening and weekends, right?

[Anonymous]

The only teachers I know who work 40hrs a week are no longer teachers. I feel great if I work 50 hrs a week but it is usually more like 55 hrs. Some people like the PPs think that teaching is easy and all of us are just doing it wrong. They end up quitting when they realize it is MUCH more difficult than they imagined. I write lesson plans for my week on Sunday mornings. It takes 5-6 hrs and then I prep the materials early Monday morning. I usually grade on Friday night. Many of my planning periods are used up in meetings and meetings about meetings. I am usually physically exhausted by the end of most days. Teaching little kids isn’t easy on the back. I love teaching but the rest of it is too much. The MIA parents, the testing, the ridiculous admin, etc. I used to work on a law firm and it was cake compared to this gig.