Wash Post article on Montgomery County salaries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8% raises would be insane...especially for a teacher who has summers off and a tremendous amount of vacation days (winter and spring break, holidays).

Many of us work over our breaks - planning and grading.

I know you don't care, which is fine with me. I'm not here to "compete" with you. I'm a career changer. So I know what working 12 months is like.

I will say, however, that many of us took these jobs fully aware of the fact that we'd be hitting 6 figures after TWENTY YEARS. Yes, that's how long it took me to make that much. I'm also factoring in two advanced degrees.

Having said that, while this job takes away some time from my kids - as in quality time b/c I'm planning and grading - I'm still around. I'm physically present. We spend our breaks together and we're home (two teacher HH) to meet the buses. I wouldn't trade this time with my kids for anything. never dread summers either!

We all choose jobs that fit our personalities and lifestyles. I was a teacher long before I had kids, but it's the best fit for our family.

So to all of the "haters," as my kids would say, hate away. If we get a raise, I'll be thrilled. If not, I'll still love the job despite the fact that it's the most difficult career I've ever had.

I never understood the "hate" people on DCUM show teachers. Anything... even teacher appreciation week and they are up in arms. I absolutely love my child's teacher. It's amazes me what my little kindergartener is able to do now. I think teachers is sorely, sorely underpaid.

$90k for less than ten months work isn't underpaid...especially when you factor in a pension and Cadillac health care benefits (low copay, no deductible).

[Anonymous]

I'm very pro-teacher, but I also live in the real world -- where the entire world economy has slowed significantly. 8% raises are out of line.

[Anonymous]

I am an MCPS teacher who is leaving the public school system. I am sick of performing at a very high level while others coast and make the system look terrible. I believe there should be incentives and rewards for teachers who do good work, as opposed to uniform raises for all. I wish it were easier to get rid of bad teachers. Instead, the good ones flee, because the system is stuck in mediocrity and the wonderful teachers resent that the system equally rewards the great and the awful teachers. I also think the county should start tracking school retention numbers. If you want to see whether a school has decent leadership, evaluate the number of high-achieving professionals who are leaving. That will speak volumes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an MCPS teacher who is leaving the public school system. I am sick of performing at a very high level while others coast and make the system look terrible. I believe there should be incentives and rewards for teachers who do good work, as opposed to uniform raises for all. I wish it were easier to get rid of bad teachers. Instead, the good ones flee, because the system is stuck in mediocrity and the wonderful teachers resent that the system equally rewards the great and the awful teachers. I also think the county should start tracking school retention numbers. If you want to see whether a school has decent leadership, evaluate the number of high-achieving professionals who are leaving. That will speak volumes.

Curious -- where are u going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the "hate" stems from jealousy.

We have a great gig. We make an actual difference in peoples' lives. If you ask anyone who has had the biggest impact on your life, I bet you more than 50% of people would say a teacher or coach is that person.

Add that, to the fact we have eight consecutive weeks off and snow days, and we are not liked. They think we should be paid minimum wage as glorified babysitters.

We all had career day - some of us were smart and chose to become teachers.

So which is it: it's a sweet gig, or it's such a demanding job that you deserve to paid a premium?

For me, it is one in the same.

Aren't most people happiest when they are working hard? I could never "coast" and be happy. I am rewarded when my hard, demanding work pays off, which is when I see growth from my students and get wonderful notes from parents about how their child has improved because of my class.

So, why shouldn't I be paid an above average wage? We have masters degrees. We work 50 or more hours per week (for 10 months). We see results. Why should we settle for $50k salaries, which we couldn't afford to live off of if we stayed in MoCo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the "hate" stems from jealousy.

We have a great gig. We make an actual difference in peoples' lives. If you ask anyone who has had the biggest impact on your life, I bet you more than 50% of people would say a teacher or coach is that person.

Add that, to the fact we have eight consecutive weeks off and snow days, and we are not liked. They think we should be paid minimum wage as glorified babysitters.

We all had career day - some of us were smart and chose to become teachers.

So which is it: it's a sweet gig, or it's such a demanding job that you deserve to paid a premium?

Why does it have to be one or the other? There are obvious advantages to a teaching career. And teachers should get paid enough so that good teachers want to teach in your school district. "Deserving" has nothing to do with teachers' salaries, just like it has nothing to do with your salary, my salary, or anybody else's salaries.

-not a teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:8% raises would be insane...especially for a teacher who has summers off and a tremendous amount of vacation days (winter and spring break, holidays).

I would love to see you teach for one year and see if you felt the same way. I hope you don't have kids too. Wouldn't you want your children having a highly qualified teacher teaching your children getting paid what they deserve?

Teaching is one of many professions that are extremely underpaid for their work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They don't get paid over the summer..

I know. They get paid for ten months and essentially work closer to nine months.

My friend earns over $90k...that's $10k a month.

That's your friend. There are several teachers that don't make that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8% raises would be insane...especially for a teacher who has summers off and a tremendous amount of vacation days (winter and spring break, holidays).

Many of us work over our breaks - planning and grading.

<a bunch of stuff snipped>

But people in private industry work weekends and way past 8 hours a day. I'm the daughter of a teacher and my mother worked plenty when she wasn't "supposed" to. This argument is weak. It's not like teaching is the only profession that requires overtime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's back breaking but you are also home for bus pickup? Doesn't sound so tough. I'm happy if I'm home for dinner.

Try managing 130 kids each day in a school that's 75% FARMs.

If you can do it - meet their needs on a daily basis - then you deserve a raise, too.

your choice to enter that specific career

If you're that unhappy with your choice, make a change. But please don't enter teaching. There are enough negative people bashing our field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8% raises would be insane...especially for a teacher who has summers off and a tremendous amount of vacation days (winter and spring break, holidays).

Many of us work over our breaks - planning and grading.

<a bunch of stuff snipped>

But people in private industry work weekends and way past 8 hours a day. I'm the daughter of a teacher and my mother worked plenty when she wasn't "supposed" to. This argument is weak. It's not like teaching is the only profession that requires overtime.

fine

I didn't say I'm in this as a competition. People make choices.

I teach. Others choose law or medicine or engineering or communications.

I've been on the other side. I commuted about 2.5 hours each day and worked 9 to 5. Now my commute is 30 minutes. My husband is at work in 20 minutes.

Again, we're doing what's best for our family. But I'm not making $200K on my own. I have friends who make that much or more.

again, choices

I'm surprised by your attitude, however - considering you're the child of a teacher. I would think you would have more respect for the profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the "hate" stems from jealousy.

We have a great gig. We make an actual difference in peoples' lives. If you ask anyone who has had the biggest impact on your life, I bet you more than 50% of people would say a teacher or coach is that person.

Add that, to the fact we have eight consecutive weeks off and snow days, and we are not liked. They think we should be paid minimum wage as glorified babysitters.

We all had career day - some of us were smart and chose to become teachers.

So which is it: it's a sweet gig, or it's such a demanding job that you deserve to paid a premium?

For me, it is one in the same.

Aren't most people happiest when they are working hard? I could never "coast" and be happy. I am rewarded when my hard, demanding work pays off, which is when I see growth from my students and get wonderful notes from parents about how their child has improved because of my class.

So, why shouldn't I be paid an above average wage? We have masters degrees. We work 50 or more hours per week (for 10 months). We see results. Why should we settle for $50k salaries, which we couldn't afford to live off of if we stayed in MoCo?

Did you know that starting salaries for legal aid lawyers in DC and MD are just under $50k? Those lawyers come out of law school in significant debt and dedicate their career to working with homeless people, at risk youth, etc. They work 12 months of the year. And they don't get 8% raises.

I think people have a distorted view of salaries and benefits.

Take your salary and divide it by ten. Then take a legal aid lawyer's salary and divide it by twelve. Teachers are paid much more. With summers off, teachers have the option of picking up a seasonal gig (summer school, tutoring, camps)---increasing your income even more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8% raises would be insane...especially for a teacher who has summers off and a tremendous amount of vacation days (winter and spring break, holidays).

Many of us work over our breaks - planning and grading.

<a bunch of stuff snipped>

But people in private industry work weekends and way past 8 hours a day. I'm the daughter of a teacher and my mother worked plenty when she wasn't "supposed" to. This argument is weak. It's not like teaching is the only profession that requires overtime.

fine

I didn't say I'm in this as a competition. People make choices.

I teach. Others choose law or medicine or engineering or communications.

I've been on the other side. I commuted about 2.5 hours each day and worked 9 to 5. Now my commute is 30 minutes. My husband is at work in 20 minutes.

Again, we're doing what's best for our family. But I'm not making $200K on my own. I have friends who make that much or more.

again, choices

I'm surprised by your attitude, however - considering you're the child of a teacher. I would think you would have more respect for the profession.

I respect the profession, but nobody likes a whiner.

My MIL is a retired teacher, and she understands that she has a pension and Cadillac health benefits that most of peers do not. She recognizes that she was able to be home for the bus stop pick up and off on summers, while her peers did not. She has never whined about her profession, her pay, or her benefits.

Can you name another profession where people whine as much? I can't. Does the teachers lounge foster such kvetching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8% raises would be insane...especially for a teacher who has summers off and a tremendous amount of vacation days (winter and spring break, holidays).

Many of us work over our breaks - planning and grading.

I know you don't care, which is fine with me. I'm not here to "compete" with you. I'm a career changer. So I know what working 12 months is like.

I will say, however, that many of us took these jobs fully aware of the fact that we'd be hitting 6 figures after TWENTY YEARS. Yes, that's how long it took me to make that much. I'm also factoring in two advanced degrees.

Having said that, while this job takes away some time from my kids - as in quality time b/c I'm planning and grading - I'm still around. I'm physically present. We spend our breaks together and we're home (two teacher HH) to meet the buses. I wouldn't trade this time with my kids for anything. never dread summers either!

We all choose jobs that fit our personalities and lifestyles. I was a teacher long before I had kids, but it's the best fit for our family.

So to all of the "haters," as my kids would say, hate away. If we get a raise, I'll be thrilled. If not, I'll still love the job despite the fact that it's the most difficult career I've ever had.

I never understood the "hate" people on DCUM show teachers. Anything... even teacher appreciation week and they are up in arms. I absolutely love my child's teacher. It's amazes me what my little kindergartener is able to do now. I think teachers is sorely, sorely underpaid.

[u]

PLUS 1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's back breaking but you are also home for bus pickup? Doesn't sound so tough. I'm happy if I'm home for dinner.

Try managing 130 kids each day in a school that's 75% FARMs.

If you can do it - meet their needs on a daily basis - then you deserve a raise, too.

your choice to enter that specific career

If you're that unhappy with your choice, make a change. But please don't enter teaching. There are enough negative people bashing our field.

I'm pretty sure we switched to 2.0 because not all of the kids were having their needs met. Glad to hear that problem has been resolved.