I can't stand the thought of going back to school in a week

[Anonymous]

I didn't realize teaching was an hourly clock punching job. I thought it was a professional position where you put in how ever many hours it takes to get the job done, like other professionals do. Thats how the teachers in my family approach it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I left to teach at private and it changed my life. Total creativity, no paperwork, one meeting a week, 97% direct services, parents who care about education, tons of professional development and respect for the work I do. I get paid the same. If your current environment isn’t working, look around.

Good to hear! Congrats!

I looked years ago and never found anything that was close in pay and benefits. How many years did you teach in public schools before switching? I found the more years one has the tougher it is to make the switch financially.

That’s probably true. I had 10 years but I also was top of the pay scale for my years because I had multiple graduate degrees. I was able to negotiate my salary though, which is something you can’t do in a lockstep system. I ended up getting paid about $5000 more than the initial offer the private school made. I think private school salaries have become more competitive in markets where the public schools pay well. I also know my private likes to hire public school teachers because we’re so grateful. No entitlement...I worked my butt off in public and work equally hard now, but it’s to such better student-oriented ends. It’s win win. If I am fulfilled and exploring my passions, I transmit that to my students. You’re happy putting in extra hours for a passion project—attending yet another useless meeting on the newest tech change, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize teaching was an hourly clock punching job. I thought it was a professional position where you put in how ever many hours it takes to get the job done, like other professionals do. Thats how the teachers in my family approach it.

Who taught you how to write?

the teachers in your family?

the irony . . .

[Anonymous]

Agree this makes teachers sound like hourly workers not professionals. I wouldn’t want you as my kid’s teacher and hope you are not one of the many teachers on DVUM complaining about their salary and when they don’t get good enough presents from parents.

[Anonymous]

Not the OP
It's 42.5. You can't give a bit of slack for rounding to the hour?

Where did he/she say no work was done during lunch? I read they avoid the staff lunch room.

It's a lot less if she isn't working during lunch as she claims. That was my point.

OP stated she no longer works through lunch. Read the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree this makes teachers sound like hourly workers not professionals. I wouldn’t want you as my kid’s teacher and hope you are not one of the many teachers on DVUM complaining about their salary and when they don’t get good enough presents from parents.

Teachers are treated like hourly workers in terms of taking leave and inability to flex any time. Teachers can't take just an hour or two of leave for an appointment or flex their time like most professionals can. Since they need to get substitutes, they have to take either 4 hours (half day) or 8 hours (full day) of leave. Even if they have a 9am appointment and could be at work by 10 they have to get a sub for the whole morning, take the time to write detailed sub plans and take 4 hours of leave. When they are expected to work late, sponsor after school clubs (uncompensated) or required to attend evening school events, there is no overtime pay or option to flex the time. They can't pop out at lunch to run an errand or get lab work done. I consider being treated like a professional to be expected to get the work done but have some leeway with hours when there are other obligations as long as the work is getting done. Teachers are treated more like hourly workers when it behooves the system, but are expected to be "professionals" when it also behooves the system in terms of working above and beyond the contracted hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree this makes teachers sound like hourly workers not professionals. I wouldn’t want you as my kid’s teacher and hope you are not one of the many teachers on DVUM complaining about their salary and when they don’t get good enough presents from parents.

It makes OP sound sensible, rather than overburdened, overstressed, and burned out. I'd like to have her as my DC's teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree this makes teachers sound like hourly workers not professionals. I wouldn’t want you as my kid’s teacher and hope you are not one of the many teachers on DVUM complaining about their salary and when they don’t get good enough presents from parents.

Teachers are treated like hourly workers in terms of taking leave and inability to flex any time. Teachers can't take just an hour or two of leave for an appointment or flex their time like most professionals can. Since they need to get substitutes, they have to take either 4 hours (half day) or 8 hours (full day) of leave. Even if they have a 9am appointment and could be at work by 10 they have to get a sub for the whole morning, take the time to write detailed sub plans and take 4 hours of leave. When they are expected to work late, sponsor after school clubs (uncompensated) or required to attend evening school events, there is no overtime pay or option to flex the time. They can't pop out at lunch to run an errand or get lab work done. I consider being treated like a professional to be expected to get the work done but have some leeway with hours when there are other obligations as long as the work is getting done. Teachers are treated more like hourly workers when it behooves the system, but are expected to be "professionals" when it also behooves the system in terms of working above and beyond the contracted hours.

Excellent post!

[Anonymous]

Exactly. I had an early morning dentist appointment and was maybe an hour late to school but I had to take a half day off. When you only get to he personal day per year, it is ridiculous. I guess I'll be switching dentists since mine starts early and ends early so I can't go after school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. I had an early morning dentist appointment and was maybe an hour late to school but I had to take a half day off. When you only get to he personal day per year, it is ridiculous. I guess I'll be switching dentists since mine starts early and ends early so I can't go after school.

Doesn’t your school has someone on staff for this? We have one school based staff member who covers for meetings or quick appointments. She will also cover a full day is a sub cancels last minute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. I had an early morning dentist appointment and was maybe an hour late to school but I had to take a half day off. When you only get to he personal day per year, it is ridiculous. I guess I'll be switching dentists since mine starts early and ends early so I can't go after school.

Doesn’t your school has someone on staff for this? We have one school based staff member who covers for meetings or quick appointments. She will also cover a full day is a sub cancels last minute.

DP. No, not in our school. If you want to even leave 15 minutes early to get to a doctor appointment then you need to take a half-day.

One teacher on my wing recently had a family emergency (parent had a heart attack). She has been with the system more than 10 years. I don't remember the exact timing but I was told she alerted the principal, got quick coverage for her room (leaving work for the students) and then left the building less than 30 minutes before the end of the school day. She was docked a full half-day of leave. This is a teacher who is never late, she is always at school a good hour before the first bell and she always stays late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree this makes teachers sound like hourly workers not professionals. I wouldn’t want you as my kid’s teacher and hope you are not one of the many teachers on DVUM complaining about their salary and when they don’t get good enough presents from parents.

Teachers are treated like hourly workers in terms of taking leave and inability to flex any time. Teachers can't take just an hour or two of leave for an appointment or flex their time like most professionals can. Since they need to get substitutes, they have to take either 4 hours (half day) or 8 hours (full day) of leave. Even if they have a 9am appointment and could be at work by 10 they have to get a sub for the whole morning, take the time to write detailed sub plans and take 4 hours of leave. When they are expected to work late, sponsor after school clubs (uncompensated) or required to attend evening school events, there is no overtime pay or option to flex the time. They can't pop out at lunch to run an errand or get lab work done. I consider being treated like a professional to be expected to get the work done but have some leeway with hours when there are other obligations as long as the work is getting done. Teachers are treated more like hourly workers when it behooves the system, but are expected to be "professionals" when it also behooves the system in terms of working above and beyond the contracted hours.

Excellent post!

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. I had an early morning dentist appointment and was maybe an hour late to school but I had to take a half day off. When you only get to he personal day per year, it is ridiculous. I guess I'll be switching dentists since mine starts early and ends early so I can't go after school.

Doesn’t your school has someone on staff for this? We have one school based staff member who covers for meetings or quick appointments. She will also cover a full day is a sub cancels last minute.

Haha, no. We can’t even get subs for absences entered into the system days in advance. There are no extra staff members on hand. What is the position of this person in your school?

[Anonymous]

OP, you rock. Good for you for taking care of yourself and your health, and be able to continue to do your job. Kudos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. I had an early morning dentist appointment and was maybe an hour late to school but I had to take a half day off. When you only get to he personal day per year, it is ridiculous. I guess I'll be switching dentists since mine starts early and ends early so I can't go after school.

Doesn’t your school has someone on staff for this? We have one school based staff member who covers for meetings or quick appointments. She will also cover a full day is a sub cancels last minute.

Lol! Do you really think we have a staff members whose FT job is to function as a floating sub?