Why do we feed teachers for "staff appreciation" when we have so many families below poverty level?

[Anonymous]

Why do PTSAs demand pies for teachers on Pi Day, and on staff appreciation day and on ... . Well, you get my drift. I see this at a school where many kids are supposedly without the means to have a good meal. So, teachers why don't you tell our PTSA people to make a difference by feeding the needy?

[Anonymous]

Because teachers are a sacred cow. Just watch how many people are going to jump on you for asking this question.

Teachers are paid very fairly (on par with most other well-paid professionals when you compare hour-to-hour), have great work schedules, and good job stability. I am sick of their martyrdom and everyone else's putting them on a pedestal.

[Anonymous]

Personally because they take good care of my children - the people most precious to me in the world. They have my kids' happiness and education in their hands. So when they do a good job I am focused on it an appreciative.

[Anonymous]

I worked in a low SES school and many parents liked to contribute for these types of events, in part because they were grateful for the daily availability of free meals.

[Anonymous]

OP,

Not everyone contributes to the staff appreciation lunches. I do because there is no other collective way to say "Thanks" to them IMHO. You do not have to send anything if this is how you feel. It is not mandatory, you know!

[Anonymous]

So you can't write a thank you note? WTF

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do PTSAs demand pies for teachers on Pi Day, and on staff appreciation day and on ... . Well, you get my drift. I see this at a school where many kids are supposedly without the means to have a good meal. So, teachers why don't you tell our PTSA people to make a difference by feeding the needy?

There is a difference between coming up with $6 for a meal once of twice a year and coming up with $6 every week.

[Anonymous]

Who can't buy a pie?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because teachers are a sacred cow. Just watch how many people are going to jump on you for asking this question.

Teachers are paid very fairly (on par with most other well-paid professionals when you compare hour-to-hour), have great work schedules, and good job stability. I am sick of their martyrdom and everyone else's putting them on a pedestal.

I'm curious. I'm a teacher. I make $80K for 11 months of 60 hours a week, so the equivalent of another profession which pays around $88K for 12 months.

I read on DCUM all the time about how salaries under $100K aren't "middle class". Which other professions do you consider "well-paid" which require advanced degrees, professional certifications, consistent unpaid overtime, and pay under $100K for someone with 20+ years of experience, in this area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because teachers are a sacred cow. Just watch how many people are going to jump on you for asking this question.

Teachers are paid very fairly (on par with most other well-paid professionals when you compare hour-to-hour), have great work schedules, and good job stability. I am sick of their martyrdom and everyone else's putting them on a pedestal.

This is why you'll see revolving doors in this profession - more than you've seen in the past. If you have young kids, hope and pray that there's enough stability in this profession to ensure your children get a solid education.

My "boss," who's half my age, is a disaster. He can't control his low level kids and isn't challenging his high level students. I know b/c they come back to me to complain.

On the flip side, there are some young, dedicated individuals (early to mid-30s) who can't take the pressure of being sandwiched between under-performing or enabled kids and their parents. Add an unsupported layer of admin to the mix, and you're driving off some talented individuals.

So once the "sacred cows" like me leave, you'll see how quickly the profession deteriorates. And you can only thank yourself for being such an ignorant bitch.

[Anonymous]

I am in Va but wanted to weigh in. My mother is visiting now and can not be believe the list of things I rattled off that I need to do for the school.

Last week books for a drive and money for the class basket for the school auction. These week used clothes for soem sort of a clothing exchange and food for parent teach conference days. Next week it is toiletries.

None of these things are a financial hardship but it can be hard to keep up with it all. I agree with the PP, if I were having trouble feeding my family some of these things would be impossible.

My guess is they only do these things at economically diverse schools and count on folks like me and you to participate in everything. I would imagine at schools that have a high FARM percentages these requests are few and far between. I could be wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because teachers are a sacred cow. Just watch how many people are going to jump on you for asking this question.

Teachers are paid very fairly (on par with most other well-paid professionals when you compare hour-to-hour), have great work schedules, and good job stability. I am sick of their martyrdom and everyone else's putting them on a pedestal.

I'm curious. I'm a teacher. I make $80K for 11 months of 60 hours a week, so the equivalent of another profession which pays around $88K for 12 months.

I read on DCUM all the time about how salaries under $100K aren't "middle class". Which other professions do you consider "well-paid" which require advanced degrees, professional certifications, consistent unpaid overtime, and pay under $100K for someone with 20+ years of experience, in this area?

You are not contracted for 60 hours a week. Get serious. Other professions put in hours "after hours" too. And where do you work that you're 11 months a year at 60 hours a week? BS.

PERFECT example of martyrdom.

[Anonymous]

unsupportive, I meant

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because teachers are a sacred cow. Just watch how many people are going to jump on you for asking this question.

Teachers are paid very fairly (on par with most other well-paid professionals when you compare hour-to-hour), have great work schedules, and good job stability. I am sick of their martyrdom and everyone else's putting them on a pedestal.

This is why you'll see revolving doors in this profession - more than you've seen in the past. If you have young kids, hope and pray that there's enough stability in this profession to ensure your children get a solid education.

My "boss," who's half my age, is a disaster. He can't control his low level kids and isn't challenging his high level students. I know b/c they come back to me to complain.

On the flip side, there are some young, dedicated individuals (early to mid-30s) who can't take the pressure of being sandwiched between under-performing or enabled kids and their parents. Add an unsupported layer of admin to the mix, and you're driving off some talented individuals.

So once the "sacred cows" like me leave, you'll see how quickly the profession deteriorates. And you can only thank yourself for being such an ignorant bitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[

This is why you'll see revolving doors in this profession - more than you've seen in the past. If you have young kids, hope and pray that there's enough stability in this profession to ensure your children get a solid education.

My "boss," who's half my age, is a disaster. He can't control his low level kids and isn't challenging his high level students. I know b/c they come back to me to complain.

On the flip side, there are some young, dedicated individuals (early to mid-30s) who can't take the pressure of being sandwiched between under-performing or enabled kids and their parents. Add an unsupported layer of admin to the mix, and you're driving off some talented individuals.

So once the "sacred cows" like me leave, you'll see how quickly the profession deteriorates. And you can only thank yourself for being such an ignorant bitch.

We're homeschooling thanks to the poor quality of teachers/education/administration we saw in both public and private schools. No hoping or praying involved. The system isn't working.

Mass schooling already has deteriorated - I hate to tell you. Too crappy of parents, too much mainstreaming and focusing disproportionate amounts of resources on the kids least likely to achieve, too much job security for teachers/admin, too many unions.

The model just doesn't work today. Most of that isn't teachers, but some of it is (usually under the direction of their union).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because teachers are a sacred cow. Just watch how many people are going to jump on you for asking this question.

Teachers are paid very fairly (on par with most other well-paid professionals when you compare hour-to-hour), have great work schedules, and good job stability. I am sick of their martyrdom and everyone else's putting them on a pedestal.

I'm curious. I'm a teacher. I make $80K for 11 months of 60 hours a week, so the equivalent of another profession which pays around $88K for 12 months.

I read on DCUM all the time about how salaries under $100K aren't "middle class". Which other professions do you consider "well-paid" which require advanced degrees, professional certifications, consistent unpaid overtime, and pay under $100K for someone with 20+ years of experience, in this area?

You are not contracted for 60 hours a week. Get serious. Other professions put in hours "after hours" too. And where do you work that you're 11 months a year at 60 hours a week? BS.

PERFECT example of martyrdom.

We return mid-August (two weeks). We work September- May (4 weeks each, plus "vacation," which isn't paid) and two weeks in June.
10 months

I just worked the entire day today, and tomorrow I'll be at work by 6 am. I usually stay until 3 or 4. When I arrive home, I often bring work with me. PE teachers have it good, I'll admit. But if you teach English or social studies, the planning and grading are so overwhelming that few stay in this profession for long stretches.

It's a terribly draining job where oftentimes the ignorant public finds satisfaction in destroying our reputations.

Good luck keeping good people in this field.

It's a sinking ship and has been for quite some time now.