Spinoff: Teachers, what would you like to tell parents, but can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And finally, They Don't Pay Me Enough To Do This Anymore. I'm Outta Here.

Thank God. Enough with whiny (and often unionized and tenured) teachers who take summers off and bitch about the pay they receive at a job they CHOSE to take.

And, by the way, the rest of us who work also spend more time at our jobs than we do with our kids. Suck it up or, if you can't handle a real job, do what you're doing - quit.

[Anonymous]

One student at a private school said:
Tell our fathers that they owe us more than their wealth and absense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank God. Enough with whiny (and often unionized and tenured) teachers who take summers off and bitch about the pay they receive at a job they CHOSE to take.

And, by the way, the rest of us who work also spend more time at our jobs than we do with our kids. Suck it up or, if you can't handle a real job, do what you're doing - quit.

Everyone is doing a job they chose. Some value our young people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For your child's sake, please at least make an effort to learn how to speak English.

Ignorant comment.

No, it's not. I teach mostly Latino children and some of their parents speak not ONE WORD of English. It's to their and their child's detriment. I speak Spanish, but as my Kindergarteners move on and up through school, not all of their teachers will be bilingual. The parents must negotiate the school system and because of their lack of English, some of their children's needs won't be met and they will fall through the cracks. Some school systems have Spanish language facilitators, but these positions are being cut back. So it's hardly an ignorant comment. Get a clue.

Exactly. Why don't you ask a kid who constantly has to translate for his/her parents how much they like doing it? And it doesn't just involve face-to-face conversations, but forms, permission slips, emails, etc. DH had to do this growing up (and still has to) and HATED it. His parents refused to learn English. Their skills now are not horrible, but I can't have more than a very simple conversation with either of them. He is the one who has to call for them to get things fixed, help with forms, and other things they would be able to do if they would take classes. And it isn't an issue of money, there are free classes right by them.

p.s.: It's not just Spanish, but other languages as well!

[Anonymous]

"Understand this: The school system's priority isn't in getting your child the best education for him/her, it's in educating all the children with a limited resources. Teachers and administrators may be well meaning, competent, and caring, but you are the only one whose primary role is advocating for the best for your own child."

[Anonymous]

This thread is depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For your child's sake, please at least make an effort to learn how to speak English.

Ignorant comment.

No, it's not. I teach mostly Latino children and some of their parents speak not ONE WORD of English. It's to their and their child's detriment. I speak Spanish, but as my Kindergarteners move on and up through school, not all of their teachers will be bilingual. The parents must negotiate the school system and because of their lack of English, some of their children's needs won't be met and they will fall through the cracks. Some school systems have Spanish language facilitators, but these positions are being cut back. So it's hardly an ignorant comment. Get a clue.

Exactly. Why don't you ask a kid who constantly has to translate for his/her parents how much they like doing it? And it doesn't just involve face-to-face conversations, but forms, permission slips, emails, etc. DH had to do this growing up (and still has to) and HATED it. His parents refused to learn English. Their skills now are not horrible, but I can't have more than a very simple conversation with either of them. He is the one who has to call for them to get things fixed, help with forms, and other things they would be able to do if they would take classes. And it isn't an issue of money, there are free classes right by them.

p.s.: It's not just Spanish, but other languages as well!

I agree. If you think it's an ignorant comment, it's very likely you're not the kid of a person who doesn't know English well.

[Anonymous]

I do tell them when I meet with them. I tell them your son/daughter is not doing well becuase they don't have the support at home. I have their kid for 8 hourse a day, what is going on the rest of the day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And finally, They Don't Pay Me Enough To Do This Anymore. I'm Outta Here.

Thank God. Enough with whiny (and often unionized and tenured) teachers who take summers off and bitch about the pay they receive at a job they CHOSE to take.

And, by the way, the rest of us who work also spend more time at our jobs than we do with our kids. Suck it up or, if you can't handle a real job, do what you're doing - quit.

I worked a 9-12 hour day and only got paid for 6 (per my contract). We get summers off but they are unpaid. I was a good teacher and knew it. Several of my students have thanked me for introducing them to what they want to do for the rest of their lives - photography, and these are students that were not headed for college. They are all now either earning either a BFA in photography (two with full scholarships that I helped them get) or are in a commercial photography program that will track them into a career in the field. I've also convinced several students that were headed for drop-out at age 16 to finish school and consider a technical program if not college, they are now thriving. I've gotten at least two students out of the gangs they were involved in (thus avoiding prison or death). But after four years of dealing with bureaucratic BS, uninvolved and uncaring parents, I've had enough. Don't you think that if teachers were better paid and got better support, the good ones would stay? Most teachers are doing what they are doing because they are invested in their students and care about their futures, but we sure as hell don't get paid enough to do all the extra stuff we do or deal with the bullshit we have to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Read to or with your child 1 hour every day until they are in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Teachers shouldn't assume parents aren't doing anything. My son's preschool just sent out a note reminding parents to feed their children before school, because several children ask for snack as soon as they get to school. I am CERTAIN my child is one of them. He eats breakfast every day. He gets his choice of any of his favorite breakfast foods every day, and he always eats a great breakfast. He's not asking for snack because he's hungry - he's asking because he likes their snacks and he knows they'll give it to him.

But I'm sure there are teachers there who are convinced we just don't care enough to feed our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers shouldn't assume parents aren't doing anything. My son's preschool just sent out a note reminding parents to feed their children before school, because several children ask for snack as soon as they get to school. I am CERTAIN my child is one of them. He eats breakfast every day. He gets his choice of any of his favorite breakfast foods every day, and he always eats a great breakfast. He's not asking for snack because he's hungry - he's asking because he likes their snacks and he knows they'll give it to him.

But I'm sure there are teachers there who are convinced we just don't care enough to feed our kids.

There ARE parents who don't feed their kids in the morning.

[Anonymous]

12:10 here. I'm sure there are some that don't feed their kids. But you shouldn't just assume that is the case. That is my point.

[Anonymous]

And my point is unless they sent the note to ONLY you, then you shouldn't assume that there aren't other parents that are not feeding their kids. They probably sent the note out because a large number of kids appeared to be coming to school hungry (whether they were or not).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And finally, They Don't Pay Me Enough To Do This Anymore. I'm Outta Here.

Thank God. Enough with whiny (and often unionized and tenured) teachers who take summers off and bitch about the pay they receive at a job they CHOSE to take.

And, by the way, the rest of us who work also spend more time at our jobs than we do with our kids. Suck it up or, if you can't handle a real job, do what you're doing - quit.

You're lovely.
I don't whine. I work hard. (BTW, I work summer school too. I've made the same salary for the past five years.) And yes, I know I chose this job, and I take responsibility for my choices. I don't think I indicated otherwise. I chose to teach because I am a kickass teacher. I love children, I can easily establish rapport with children, and I believe in every child's ability to learn. And I make a positive difference in every one of my students' lives.
I should have elaborated on why I'm leaving: I did not realize that those things don't matter to administrators, politicians or the media. I did not realize that everything wrong with education in America would be my fault, and that I would be lumped in with "whiny (and often unionized and tenured) teachers who take summers off and bitch about the pay they receive at a job they CHOSE to take"

I won't "suck it up". I'll change something about what I chose. I'll happily take a job that pays less if it gives me my life back. I'm just really sad that our country is going to lose more great teachers. (It's the crappy ones who stay, btw. The good ones realize that the job isn't worth the weight loss, the tears and the never-ending feeling of not doing enough.)