Have the teachers gotten worse over the years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The newer teachers are the ones going into with a healthier attitude about taking personal and such days. Good for them.

We get one personal day per year and 15 sick days. We can use three unused sick days as personal days. Our district only pays us for 1/4 of our unused sick days so yeah, we are going to use them because otherwise, we will forfeit them. If the district would pay us for more than 1/4 of them, maybe we wouldn’t use them. I have over 100 unused sick days and I’m going to use them because I can. Teaching is a job and if I dropped over dead in the middle of class, my district wouldn’t care. You can’t take it with you so I’m telling my days as I go.

Right, and it’s a job that only requires you to be there for 180 days per year. Seems like that leaves plenty of personal time left in the year. 16 sick days is insane.

DP and no. Students are there 180 days a year. We have additional workdays on top of that. Many contracts are for 195 days.

And teachers are exposed to everything. I had the flu this year and it took me out for a week. Trust me; you didn’t want me near your child then.

We are also parents and we have to take off when our own children have fevers, which is something else that can’t be helped.

We are parents and humans first. Teachers second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Since when are weddings and family reunions M-F during the school year? Kids are dropped off at colleges usually before k-12 school year starts and always on weekends. Again- teachers have more time off than literally any other profession

A Friday evening on the west coast (with a Thursday evening rehearsal dinner) when I live here requires that I take leave.

Her move-in date seven states away was on a Tuesday after school began.

Don’t presume to know somebody else’s life. You’ll be proven wrong almost every time.

And as I said before: I will no longer sacrifice my family, especially since I will never give enough to make certain people happy. This was a lesson I wish I learned at the start of my career.

Right. Right. The vast majority of these types of things are happening on weekends or time off already. There is zero reason to habitually miss class time for stuff like this

I think you’re missing the point.

Nobody says they are doing these things habitually. The comments upthread, however, argue that teachers have lost respect and credibility because they use their personal leave for things like Disney, etc.

There are many teachers who sacrifice far too much of their own lives. They grade every night. They skip activities on weekends to stay home and plan. They RSVP “no” to important life events for fear of taking leave.

I am a mentor teacher and I routinely tell younger teachers to go to that wedding or attend that family event. We need to normalize that teachers are parents / children / community members first and teachers second. When teachers find balance, they tend to stay in the profession. And that is far more important than whether a teacher takes a day of leave here or there for personal reasons.

With the extensive breaks and time off teachers have- I have a hard time believing there are many occurrences beyond once in a blue moon where a teacher needs to be absent from the school day for an important life event. 99% of important events happen on weekends and over holiday break times

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Since when are weddings and family reunions M-F during the school year? Kids are dropped off at colleges usually before k-12 school year starts and always on weekends. Again- teachers have more time off than literally any other profession

A Friday evening on the west coast (with a Thursday evening rehearsal dinner) when I live here requires that I take leave.

Her move-in date seven states away was on a Tuesday after school began.

Don’t presume to know somebody else’s life. You’ll be proven wrong almost every time.

And as I said before: I will no longer sacrifice my family, especially since I will never give enough to make certain people happy. This was a lesson I wish I learned at the start of my career.

Us too. And since teachers don’t prioritize presence over life events, I certainly see absolutely no reason our family should.

You should prioritize family, too. See how that works? Mutual respect.

I regularly work with students who are absent for family reasons. I tutor after school and I create independent units that travel well.

You can make this an altercation or we can work together.

Altercation? What is wrong with you?

What happens is the kid comes home and says they had a sub. They spent the day on a laptop.

Parents sigh and roll their eyes.

A week later the teacher— who hasn’t spent more than a total of three days with the kid between absences and days off— wants to be seen as an authority by the kids and parents. It just doesn’t work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Since when are weddings and family reunions M-F during the school year? Kids are dropped off at colleges usually before k-12 school year starts and always on weekends. Again- teachers have more time off than literally any other profession

A Friday evening on the west coast (with a Thursday evening rehearsal dinner) when I live here requires that I take leave.

Her move-in date seven states away was on a Tuesday after school began.

Don’t presume to know somebody else’s life. You’ll be proven wrong almost every time.

And as I said before: I will no longer sacrifice my family, especially since I will never give enough to make certain people happy. This was a lesson I wish I learned at the start of my career.

Right. Right. The vast majority of these types of things are happening on weekends or time off already. There is zero reason to habitually miss class time for stuff like this

I think you’re missing the point.

Nobody says they are doing these things habitually. The comments upthread, however, argue that teachers have lost respect and credibility because they use their personal leave for things like Disney, etc.

There are many teachers who sacrifice far too much of their own lives. They grade every night. They skip activities on weekends to stay home and plan. They RSVP “no” to important life events for fear of taking leave.

I am a mentor teacher and I routinely tell younger teachers to go to that wedding or attend that family event. We need to normalize that teachers are parents / children / community members first and teachers second. When teachers find balance, they tend to stay in the profession. And that is far more important than whether a teacher takes a day of leave here or there for personal reasons.

It’s not a day here and there. Teachers are gone a ton. Every single year my kid has a sub at least once per month or more. That’s ridiculous.

+1. My parents were both teachers. They didn't take time off during the school year, unless they were sick. By the time they retired THEY had lost respect for other teachers in part because of changes like that. That's the reality of the situation. I respect teachers who actually show up and do the job, but they're few and far between these days.

Ultimately, you get the respect you earn. If the people who actually see the product of your work (parents) don't respect you, that's means you don't deserve it.

[Anonymous]

Maybe teachers wouldn’t need to take so much time off if the job was what it was 20+ years ago. It’s not.

[Anonymous]

Most of our new teachers aren’t traditionally trained anymore. Their student teaching is maybe 4 weeks during summer school and then they have their own classroom. It’s not nearly enough preparation and they tend to not last long. Most quit by the end of the first or second year. Sometimes they quit in the first year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The newer teachers are the ones going into with a healthier attitude about taking personal and such days. Good for them.

We get one personal day per year and 15 sick days. We can use three unused sick days as personal days. Our district only pays us for 1/4 of our unused sick days so yeah, we are going to use them because otherwise, we will forfeit them. If the district would pay us for more than 1/4 of them, maybe we wouldn’t use them. I have over 100 unused sick days and I’m going to use them because I can. Teaching is a job and if I dropped over dead in the middle of class, my district wouldn’t care. You can’t take it with you so I’m telling my days as I go.

16 days of 180 is an insane level of absenteeism.

Says someone who is not having kids cough and sneeze in their face on the regular.

I rarely use my full allotment of sick leave, but you’d better believe I’m taking it for flu, lice, scabies, and stomach flu. If standing up makes me want to die, I am taking my paid leave benefit. If my own children need me to care for them because they have the flu or strep, I
M taking my paid benefit. That is not insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe teachers wouldn’t need to take so much time off if the job was what it was 20+ years ago. It’s not.

Exactly this. Exactly this.

I’ve been teaching for over 20 years. Every year is harder and every year is more stressful. I feel it in my back, my jaw, and my clenched muscles. This isn’t healthy.

And the downtrodden and defeated teachers in the faculty lounge? It wasn’t like this at the start of my career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Since when are weddings and family reunions M-F during the school year? Kids are dropped off at colleges usually before k-12 school year starts and always on weekends. Again- teachers have more time off than literally any other profession

A Friday evening on the west coast (with a Thursday evening rehearsal dinner) when I live here requires that I take leave.

Her move-in date seven states away was on a Tuesday after school began.

Don’t presume to know somebody else’s life. You’ll be proven wrong almost every time.

And as I said before: I will no longer sacrifice my family, especially since I will never give enough to make certain people happy. This was a lesson I wish I learned at the start of my career.

Right. Right. The vast majority of these types of things are happening on weekends or time off already. There is zero reason to habitually miss class time for stuff like this

I think you’re missing the point.

Nobody says they are doing these things habitually. The comments upthread, however, argue that teachers have lost respect and credibility because they use their personal leave for things like Disney, etc.

There are many teachers who sacrifice far too much of their own lives. They grade every night. They skip activities on weekends to stay home and plan. They RSVP “no” to important life events for fear of taking leave.

I am a mentor teacher and I routinely tell younger teachers to go to that wedding or attend that family event. We need to normalize that teachers are parents / children / community members first and teachers second. When teachers find balance, they tend to stay in the profession. And that is far more important than whether a teacher takes a day of leave here or there for personal reasons.

It’s not a day here and there. Teachers are gone a ton. Every single year my kid has a sub at least once per month or more. That’s ridiculous.

+1. My parents were both teachers. They didn't take time off during the school year, unless they were sick. By the time they retired THEY had lost respect for other teachers in part because of changes like that. That's the reality of the situation. I respect teachers who actually show up and do the job, but they're few and far between these days.

Ultimately, you get the respect you earn. If the people who actually see the product of your work (parents) don't respect you, that's means you don't deserve it.

Did they take off when you were sick?

My guess? They took more time than you think they did.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes the powers they be want teachers to manipulate the numbers then they are discarded. They used to say the union protected teachers but I didn't feel that was the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe teachers wouldn’t need to take so much time off if the job was what it was 20+ years ago. It’s not.

Exactly this. Exactly this.

I’ve been teaching for over 20 years. Every year is harder and every year is more stressful. I feel it in my back, my jaw, and my clenched muscles. This isn’t healthy.

And the downtrodden and defeated teachers in the faculty lounge? It wasn’t like this at the start of my career.

So…you need to take additional days off because you don’t feel like working? Many people have harder more stressful jobs and still show up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe teachers wouldn’t need to take so much time off if the job was what it was 20+ years ago. It’s not.

Exactly this. Exactly this.

I’ve been teaching for over 20 years. Every year is harder and every year is more stressful. I feel it in my back, my jaw, and my clenched muscles. This isn’t healthy.

And the downtrodden and defeated teachers in the faculty lounge? It wasn’t like this at the start of my career.

So leave. Complaining endlessly has never once improved anyone’s circumstances and this endless litany of (often astonishingly privileged) woe from teachers has made everyone immune.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers in my childhood (I’m a millennial so, boomers and some Gen X taught me) had much much more authority and dignity. Its all about social media. Teachers now have their Disney vacations on their Insta, are complaining constantly in group chats, post begging links to Facebook. None of that makes the parent body respect them, which obviously impacts how students see them. By high school the students are mocking them too.

In my childhood if you saw a teacher out in public it was an event. Now everyone knows everything that they did at the weekend and it leads to disdain.

I don't see how a teacher posting about their Disney vacation makes one lose respect for them. We're allowed to have our own lives outside of the classroom. The mysticism you mention (that seeing a teacher in public was an "event") comes from the childish idea that teachers belong in one environment: the classroom. If social media did anything at all, it simply exposed teachers as fellow human beings. I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

The real problem you expose is that parents might seem comfortable mocking teachers in front of their children. I'm a Gen X teacher. I model respect in my home. If you're witnessing parents mocking teachers, and therefore encouraging their children to be equally rude, then that's not a "teacher" problem. That's a family relationship problem.

Because its while the class is taught by a sub and the school is preaching about absences.

This doesn’t bother me. Teachers are professionals and they are entitled to leave.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that teachers must sacrifice their own lives because they work with children. We don’t treat other professions like that.

And the “school” is not the “teacher.” Don’t get the two confused.

This bothers me. Teachers get 10+ weeks off in the summer, 1 week for spring break, 2 weeks for Xmas, MLK day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, mid winder break, a few others in there as well. That should be the time they use for vacations, routine health appts, and whatever other personal matters that need attention. Just as kids are expected to be in school daily and to plan their vacations and Dr appt around time off. Obv they should get sick days and days for emergent reasons- but my child’s first grade teacher went on a week vacation during the school year. Plus a bunch of other random days she took off during the year. That’s ridiculous

I’m a teacher and I no longer feel guilty for using my leave. I did for many years. I missed weddings and family reunions. I missed the opportunity to see my own child’s major presentation on her college campus. I missed taking her to college in the first place. I never used my leave because I was afraid of how I would be perceived, putting my own family above my students.

I no longer do that. My family comes first, as it should. If all things are equal, I’ll arrange my family vacations during the summer. But if an event happens during the school year, I’m going to be there.

I regret the many times I put work first. I’m a mother before I’m a teacher, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Since when are weddings and family reunions M-F during the school year? Kids are dropped off at colleges usually before k-12 school year starts and always on weekends. Again- teachers have more time off than literally any other profession

A Friday evening on the west coast (with a Thursday evening rehearsal dinner) when I live here requires that I take leave.

Her move-in date seven states away was on a Tuesday after school began.

Don’t presume to know somebody else’s life. You’ll be proven wrong almost every time.

And as I said before: I will no longer sacrifice my family, especially since I will never give enough to make certain people happy. This was a lesson I wish I learned at the start of my career.

Right. Right. The vast majority of these types of things are happening on weekends or time off already. There is zero reason to habitually miss class time for stuff like this

I think you’re missing the point.

Nobody says they are doing these things habitually. The comments upthread, however, argue that teachers have lost respect and credibility because they use their personal leave for things like Disney, etc.

There are many teachers who sacrifice far too much of their own lives. They grade every night. They skip activities on weekends to stay home and plan. They RSVP “no” to important life events for fear of taking leave.

I am a mentor teacher and I routinely tell younger teachers to go to that wedding or attend that family event. We need to normalize that teachers are parents / children / community members first and teachers second. When teachers find balance, they tend to stay in the profession. And that is far more important than whether a teacher takes a day of leave here or there for personal reasons.

It’s not a day here and there. Teachers are gone a ton. Every single year my kid has a sub at least once per month or more. That’s ridiculous.

+1. My parents were both teachers. They didn't take time off during the school year, unless they were sick. By the time they retired THEY had lost respect for other teachers in part because of changes like that. That's the reality of the situation. I respect teachers who actually show up and do the job, but they're few and far between these days.

Ultimately, you get the respect you earn. If the people who actually see the product of your work (parents) don't respect you, that's means you don't deserve it.

Did they take off when you were sick?

My guess? They took more time than you think they did.

Truly amazing that you’ve suddenly become a greater authority than the poster on her own childhood and her own parents.

[Anonymous]

They have left. We have vacancies every year and they usually aren’t filled with a teacher. They’re filled with the subs parents complain about. Even the subs don’t last so then you get the problem of revolving subs. Some of the subs have no experience and just stare at their phones all day. Be careful what you suggest because you just might get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe teachers wouldn’t need to take so much time off if the job was what it was 20+ years ago. It’s not.

Exactly this. Exactly this.

I’ve been teaching for over 20 years. Every year is harder and every year is more stressful. I feel it in my back, my jaw, and my clenched muscles. This isn’t healthy.

And the downtrodden and defeated teachers in the faculty lounge? It wasn’t like this at the start of my career.

So leave. Complaining endlessly has never once improved anyone’s circumstances and this endless litany of (often astonishingly privileged) woe from teachers has made everyone immune.

This is a thread about teachers. You should expect that some of them are going to explain the working conditions to you. These aren’t expressions of resentment or anger; they are merely explanations of working conditions. Would I express this elsewhere? No. Does it belong here? Yes.

And if we all leave — because trust me when I say the majority of us feel this way — who would you replace us with? This shortage exists because of the very working conditions you don’t want to hear about. There aren’t people lining up for these jobs right now, so telling those of us who are passionate enough to endure these conditions to leave seems like a bad call.