When does the madness stop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so this is teacher appreciation WEEK!

Why are the kids/families extorted into bringing in gifts?

Isn't their gift their weekly paychecks and/or every holiday off including the entire summer?

Enough already.

Wow, such a nasty individual. I dare you to say that publicly.

Sorry if honesty hurts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am mortified by this thread (and I'm not a teacher). This men and women spend a huge amount of time, HUGE, taking care of and nurturing our most precious loves during the day. They don't get paid appropriately, and almost everyone one, to a man or woman, spends significantly from their own pocket to enhance the classroom with things like tissues and colored pencils. I agree that the PTA "marching orders" can seem overwhelming, but please people, think of an appropriate way to that your child's hero this week. And teachers, can you tell us what some of your favorite Appreciation Week gifts of years past have been?

WRT "they don't get paid appropriate," in this economy, they are getting paid what the market will bear as they enjoy all holidays and summers off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We LOVE our child's teacher as does our child. She has gone above and beyond and spends the majority of the day EDUCATING our kid and does a great job. Our kid WANTS to draw a picture and write a letter to her. And we are happy to do something for the teacher as well. I call smell a troll that started this or just an angry person. Perhaps they don't like their teacher or think they can do better spending their day working full time and education their child along with keeping them safe....Curious if the poster spent any time volunteering in the classroom. I've been able to hear and there and have an entire new appreciation for what teachers do.

You don't make any sense. So you love your teacher and thus feel that gifts are warranted, but if you didn't love your teacher than no?

This is about the madness of a one week long teacher appreciation WEEK!

It's not a thread to complain about a teacher appreciation DAY, if it actually was limited to that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers get paid ok stop the bs

And they get off 3 months for summer.

You obviously didn't learn math from an FCPS teacher. Teacher contracts end in late June and begin in late August. That would be 2 months, which are not only unpaid, but into which many unfunded mandates are included, such as mandatory training. Most teachers spend a good portion of their (unpaid) summer preparing for the next school year.

I agree, the time not under contract is not quite three months. We get paid for 194 days.

I'm the first person to correct misconceptions about our benefits, pay, and job responsibilities, but teachers I work with don't spend most of their summers preparing for the next school year. My wife and I have 27 years with FCPS between us and neither of us have ever had mandatory trainings in the summer. We [i]might[i] spend a few hours on work for school over the summer, but I doubt it.

PP didn't refer to time not under contract. PP claimed we have a three month summer.

Maybe you teach a different grade level, but I spend pretty much every day or winter and spring break grading papers. I have to take classes over the summer for at least 3 of every 5 summers in order to renew my certification. And I spend a LOT of time obmver the summer preparing materials for the next school year. Of you've found a better way to balance work/life, I salute you. Most teachers I work with are in the same boat as me, lugging home work every night, every weekend, and every "vacation".

I understand. What I stated is correct. We are not under contract for just under 3 months in the summer.

I have taught grades 2-4. My DW is also in an elementary school. I have to gain 180 recertification points in 5 years. Two 3 credit courses covers it. I'm not taking one this summer and other than those courses We have NO mandatory training in the summer. If you do, it is because you chose to or couldn't say "no".

My post was specifically about summer. Not days during the school year, or winter and spring breaks. I spend a TON of time during the school year grading and prepping. I just spent two hours prepping poetry. I bring home work every night and weekend, but that's between September and June. What you do in the summer is your choice. We all joke at the end of August how the bag we took home at the end of June was still in the same spot at the end of August.

Thanks for your honesty.

[Anonymous]

Because a teacher is paid to work 194 days, they work 194 days. I am paid to work 245 days per year. If I took summers of that would be a problem.

Do people expect teachers to work the summers?

Can a two starting out teachers buy a house in your neighborhood?

There is no question in my mind that teaching is an important job, and teachers should be better paid.

Teachers are in an artificial economy: there are limited number of school districts around.

The real competition is not in the education industry, but outside: I would love to teach, but I can not really afford the reduction in pay to 1/3 my current salary. Perhaps in a few years, I might make the leap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know, these teachers are helping your kids make your mother's day present/card as we speak!

And I wish they wouldn't. It's not their job. They do enough for my kids already, they don't need to now also do things for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know, these teachers are helping your kids make your mother's day present/card as we speak!

And I wish they wouldn't. It's not their job. They do enough for my kids already, they don't need to now also do things for me.

Come on. Teachers have been doing this since the cave days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because a teacher is paid to work 194 days, they work 194 days. I am paid to work 245 days per year. If I took summers of that would be a problem.

Do people expect teachers to work the summers?

Can a two starting out teachers buy a house in your neighborhood?

There is no question in my mind that teaching is an important job, and teachers should be better paid.

Teachers are in an artificial economy: there are limited number of school districts around.

The real competition is not in the education industry, but outside: I would love to teach, but I can not really afford the reduction in pay to 1/3 my current salary. Perhaps in a few years, I might make the leap.

"Honest Teacher" here.

I am not expected to work summers.

Two teachers starting out cannot afford a house in my neighborhood, but they shouldn't expect to be able to do so. I started off in a 1 bedroom apt. After getting married we bought a 2 bedroom condo and lived there for 8 years. When my child was born we bought a new 3 bedroom home in PW County. Finally, 4 years ago we bought our current home near where we work. We "moved up" in steps.

There was a house just down the street from us that was for sale. Its a nice home in my eyes. I spoke with the realtor during an open house and she was telling me how so many young couples wanted a lot more in a first home.

[Anonymous]

Honest Teacher, if our country had our priorities straight, you and your spouse certainly would be able to afford a home in your school's neighborhood. It's shameful that we pay our teachers so little compared to our lawyers, financiers, sports stars, etc.

I'm also embarrassed by this whole thread. Really? A full page of posts obsessing about AAP...but bringing cookies to your teacher is considered madness?

[Anonymous]

This is embarassing. I hope I'm not friends with the original poster or those who are bashing teachers/PTA. No one is making you do what the PTA is asking. If you truely appreciate your teacher then do WHATEVER you/your child find acceptable to appreciate them this week. SIMPLE AS THAT! If you think the PTA is going to shun you then write them a short letter as to what you are going to do and mentioni that you do appreciate the teacher. PTA in our school is great and they never enforce anything-maybe we are just lucky...

[Anonymous]

Happy teachers usually do a better job in the classroom. I remember my DH taught at a school for a few years and the teachers were miserable. Eventually his school started having problems. Miserable teachers make for a poor learning environment. Do you really want somoene who is miserable and pissed off in charge of your most precious asset?

[Anonymous]

I thought teachers, firefighters, and others who work for the "public good" are granted special mortgages in Fairfax County. I happen to live next to a bunch of teachers. Most of them are married to others who make a lot more money than I do.

On nice days, they are home and sitting on the deck when I return from work. I would like their schedule very much!

Also, teachers around here are paid much more than teachers in other parts of the country. My good friend (with a Masters) started in Fairfax County at $45k. Not a truckload of money but much more than my sister (who also has a Masters) started at in Massachusetts.

[Anonymous]

What does that have to do with Teacher Appreciation week? I was a teacher and I much preferred thoughtfulness throughout the year.

[Anonymous]

I sent in $20.00 towards the teachers gift. I am lucky that my kids have had some really great teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought teachers, firefighters, and others who work for the "public good" are granted special mortgages in Fairfax County. I happen to live next to a bunch of teachers. Most of them are married to others who make a lot more money than I do.

On nice days, they are home and sitting on the deck when I return from work. I would like their schedule very much!

Also, teachers around here are paid much more than teachers in other parts of the country. My good friend (with a Masters) started in Fairfax County at $45k. Not a truckload of money but much more than my sister (who also has a Masters) started at in Massachusetts.[/quote