Private school teachers, please answer this question honestly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that new grads coming into the DC area rank MCPS as first pick followed by HCPS, then PGCPS, and some of the affluent counties in Viginia in similar order. Private schools are not highly ranked by the young, motivated newer teachers.

The best teachers can handle any situation. Just b/c you can teach in a private school doesn't make you stellar. Being successful in a public school does say quite a bit about you, however.

Really?

I know preschool teachers who would hate high school and visa versa. My friend teaches emotionally disturbed children and it is a gift. Not every teacher can do that. I can teach Math but hate English.

WHAT are you talking about?

I teach English but am not certified nor am I interested in math. I wasn't talking about content area or grade level - esp. levels, as teachers are usually certified in early childhood, elementary or secondary.

I'm talking about the demands placed upon teachers in the public system. Are you telling me that I - an English teacher with on level grade 9 and AP 12, with classes of 30 students (or more) - won't find private school to be a piece of cake? Oh - I'll add in that we're high FARMs/high ESOL.

If you're a successful public school educator, making the switch to private is easy.

Yes. That is what I am saying. While you base your knowledge on your stereotyping of what you believe a private school is I am saying that even though you are a good teacher in a FARMs/high ESOL school you may not be able to be as successful at the LAB school.

Your gift may be helping FARM kids but when you deal with a bunch of super intense high anxiety parents you may want to drink tequilla until you are comatose.

You may be certified in English and love to teach liturature you may not be as successful at English grammar. So I believe that you are a fabulous teacher and I thank you for your hard work because I actually believe Education is one of the most important ways to make a childs life fulfilling. I do not believe that just becuase you are successful where you work now that we could transplant you into any private school (or public for that matter) and you would be just as successful.

Oh and by the way if you think you can teach my special needs child to read you are hired.

Who said I was SPED certified and ready to hit the LAB school? apples and oranges

But if you take me from my school and put me at Sidwell, I'll do just fine, thank you. I will say, however, that when I've co-taught SPED and ESOL inclusion WITH A CERTIFIED TEACHER, I was stellar! And I learned quite a bit from my colleagues.

Private school, while it has its issues with helicopter parents, is an easy route. One of my peers in my master's program, who taught at a small private, observed me one day to see if she wanted to make the switch. Guess what? It was TOO MUCH WORK, she said.

You either have it, or you don't. And tell me how how many students are teachers responsible for at LAB? I had 27 in my inclusion class, almost evenly divided - and 32 ESOL students, heavy on males.

[Anonymous]

I guess we will never know since you probably won't take the pay cut. But that is a sampling of 2 so really telling of nothing. I also think my nephew who teaches at a charter schoold in DC thinks your job would be a piece of cake too.

It's just about vantage points.

[Anonymous]

Lab schoold is private and on this forum all privates are lumped together and that is the problem they all different. So you could not teach at lab - how about mclean or sienna

[Anonymous]

I did just that a few years ago, from a Big Three. The benefits are better, the pay is similar, the politics are much better, and the parents don't treat me like The Help.

Best move I ever made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did just that a few years ago, from a Big Three. The benefits are better, the pay is similar, the politics are much better, and the parents don't treat me like The Help.

Best move I ever made.

You were actually qualified to teach in public? I didn't think private teachers had the same qualifications as public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did just that a few years ago, from a Big Three. The benefits are better, the pay is similar, the politics are much better, and the parents don't treat me like The Help.

Best move I ever made.

You were actually qualified to teach in public? I didn't think private teachers had the same qualifications as public.

Yes, I was, and am, certified - have a masters degree in education.

[Anonymous]

Re. 20:48 - another private school teacher here with MA in Ed and certifications from multiple states. My school doesn't require but prefers a Masters.

[Anonymous]

(I've posted earlier on this thread.)

I teach at one of the smaller independent schools.
Certification course work after M.Ed.
Certified in several states
National Teacher Exam/Praxis scores (general ed, elementary ed & subject area) all top notch.

We're not all as ignorant as you seem to think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:(I've posted earlier on this thread.)

I teach at one of the smaller independent schools.
Certification course work after M.Ed.
Certified in several states
National Teacher Exam/Praxis scores (general ed, elementary ed & subject area) all top notch.

We're not all as ignorant as you seem to think.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess we will never know since you probably won't take the pay cut. But that is a sampling of 2 so really telling of nothing. I also think my nephew who teaches at a charter schoold in DC thinks your job would be a piece of cake too.

It's just about vantage points.

To whom are you addressing this statement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess we will never know since you probably won't take the pay cut. But that is a sampling of 2 so really telling of nothing. I also think my nephew who teaches at a charter schoold in DC thinks your job would be a piece of cake too.

It's just about vantage points.

To whom are you addressing this statement?

The person who said... Are you telling me that I - an English teacher with on level grade 9 and AP 12, with classes of 30 students (or more) - won't find private school to be a piece of cake?

[Anonymous]

On why people send kids to private: some public schools really aren't very good. Fewer than 50% of the kids proficient at reading and math at their grade level, focus on law and order for little elementary school kids, lousy facilities, little recess and what they have on a 5th of an acre of asphalt, short lunch time at some ridiculous hour of the morning, and low parental involvement. That is our local public elementary, and I want something else for my kid.

Kid's private school teachers have masters degrees.

I wish our public were great, and I'd be happy to send DC there...but it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess we will never know since you probably won't take the pay cut. But that is a sampling of 2 so really telling of nothing. I also think my nephew who teaches at a charter schoold in DC thinks your job would be a piece of cake too.

It's just about vantage points.

To whom are you addressing this statement?

The person who said... Are you telling me that I - an English teacher with on level grade 9 and AP 12, with classes of 30 students (or more) - won't find private school to be a piece of cake?

really?

We're a high school of over 1200 with 50% FARMs and high ESOL population. I don't think he'd want to trade with us, as it's very draining - especially when resources are gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess we will never know since you probably won't take the pay cut. But that is a sampling of 2 so really telling of nothing. I also think my nephew who teaches at a charter schoold in DC thinks your job would be a piece of cake too.

It's just about vantage points.

To whom are you addressing this statement?

The person who said... Are you telling me that I - an English teacher with on level grade 9 and AP 12, with classes of 30 students (or more) - won't find private school to be a piece of cake?

really?

We're a high school of over 1200 with 50% FARMs and high ESOL population. I don't think he'd want to trade with us, as it's very draining - especially when resources are gone.

Everybody wants to think they have it harder. It's a never ending battle. My job is harder than your job. That's what I mean about vantage point - from your vantage point - you imagine that your job is the hardest teaching job. We will never know - even if you change and it is easier that is just the opinion of 1 person. Another person on this thread moved from private to public and is loving the change.

He teaches HS- I am sure you could share war stories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess we will never know since you probably won't take the pay cut. But that is a sampling of 2 so really telling of nothing. I also think my nephew who teaches at a charter schoold in DC thinks your job would be a piece of cake too.

It's just about vantage points.

To whom are you addressing this statement?

The person who said... Are you telling me that I - an English teacher with on level grade 9 and AP 12, with classes of 30 students (or more) - won't find private school to be a piece of cake?

really?

We're a high school of over 1200 with 50% FARMs and high ESOL population. I don't think he'd want to trade with us, as it's very draining - especially when resources are gone.

So your arguement is not private vs. public - you believe your job is harder than most public schools in the nation also.

So some public school teachers are not qualified to teach at schools like Lab and McClean.
Some public school teachers have a very draining and resource lacking situation to teach in (whiich in and of itself is a arguement to send you kids to private.)
Many privates require Masters degrees.