Do private teachers really make a lot less than public teachers? If so...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Privates can pick and choose their students. At my private, they immediately expell students on the first instance of a serious behavior problem (drugs, alcohol, violence) and eventually if they talk back to teachers or have consistent problems which don't resolve. Students have even been expelled for repetitive cheating.

So, less salary for the teachers, but significantly fewer problems. Those kids are sent back to public school.

So what you're saying is that private schools can only exist because public schools exist to take their leftovers. And this is something you are proud of. And nonetheless you enjoy living in a functioning society that would not be possible without public schools.

[Anonymous]

I've done both.

Private school has smaller classes and more engaged parents. Nearly all of my time is teaching, very little bureaucracy. One meeting a week. I did't have to carry the load from other teachers that should be cut loose but are not.

Public schools pay better, have far better benefits and unmatched job security. But, easily half of my time is doing admin and bureaucracy. Lots of meetings.

I'm in public now, I had a health scare and the job permanence, disability and benefits are more important to me now. But I had a ton more fun teaching in private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've known a few PS teachers who moved into a private setting after retiring. So they are receiving their full benefits and making a nice living working 10-months.

It's a win-win.

But they're rare. At this point, the PS systems eat their own and very few newbies stay through retirement.

I'm 10 years out and don't think I can stay for much longer.

+1000 I will definitely be going the private school route. I love teaching and I'm very good at it but the wacky things we have to do to satisfy admin and CO are wearing me down.[/quote


You don't think private school teachers have to do wacky things to satisfy admin (and parents)!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having taught in a "top" DC private and in FCPS, I would openly admit working at the private school was much easier because the school basically screens out any challenging students and teachers don't need to deal with educational compliance issues, like special education and ESOL. Special education is a huge issue -- unless the private focuses on it, don't expect much and if you make a fuss, I've seen many parents pushed out of the private.

There is less accountability as well, so you are free to use whatever materials you want and follow whatever curriculum you felt was necessary. So, the consistency between teachers and courses varied dramatically. FCPS has the pacing guide so it's more consistent. The demands on teachers are greater in FCPS. We're expected to have data and evidence to support our effectiveness. In my private, it was very much staying on people's good sides, not pissing (the right) parents off, and having happy customers, I mean, erm students. I never had to demonstrate my effectiveness in any meaningful way beyond an observation here or there. And my students' performance had no bearing on mine. That's not the case in FCPS.

In terms of money, they pay less because they can. People take it because they aren't licensed or if they are licensed, it's much, much easier work.

Agree with this. Current private school teacher who worked in a public. It's an easier job. I switched because my kids are small and I couldn't handle the demands classroom teachers in public schools have. My private is much, much more laid back in terms of requirements, observations, etc. I'm free to do what I want and don't have to follow the pacing guide like I did at FCPS. Some years, I ended up with a class who could blow through the curriculum, so we did. Others, I had a class with slower kids. Either way, no one cared at what pace progress was being made so long as the kids were learning and showing some growth. They didn't have a benchmark at the private unlike FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Privates can pick and choose their students. At my private, they immediately expell students on the first instance of a serious behavior problem (drugs, alcohol, violence) and eventually if they talk back to teachers or have consistent problems which don't resolve. Students have even been expelled for repetitive cheating.

So, less salary for the teachers, but significantly fewer problems. Those kids are sent back to public school.

So what you're saying is that private schools can only exist because public schools exist to take their leftovers. And this is something you are proud of. And nonetheless you enjoy living in a functioning society that would not be possible without public schools.

NP. I went to Williamsburg and later, Yorktown in the mid-90s. I saw more than a few rich white kids get sent to private schools when they started acting up because their parents didn't want them sent to Langston Hughes. I suspect Arlington was more than happy to see those kids leave the public schools and apparently the private schools were happy to accept the tuition dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Privates can pick and choose their students. At my private, they immediately expell students on the first instance of a serious behavior problem (drugs, alcohol, violence) and eventually if they talk back to teachers or have consistent problems which don't resolve. Students have even been expelled for repetitive cheating.

So, less salary for the teachers, but significantly fewer problems. Those kids are sent back to public school.

So what you're saying is that private schools can only exist because public schools exist to take their leftovers. And this is something you are proud of. And nonetheless you enjoy living in a functioning society that would not be possible without public schools.

No. NP here. Public schools exist to educate everyone because if we didn't educate everyone then our democracy and capitalism-based economy would not remain viable. Private schools are the add-ons. Just because you have a chip on your shoulder doesn't mean that you shouldn't understand the facts. Sure, private schools skim off the top but if all the public schools did a better job then (other than religious) probably most private schools wouldn't have a reason to exist.

Signed, Public School Teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Privates can pick and choose their students. At my private, they immediately expell students on the first instance of a serious behavior problem (drugs, alcohol, violence) and eventually if they talk back to teachers or have consistent problems which don't resolve. Students have even been expelled for repetitive cheating.

So, less salary for the teachers, but significantly fewer problems. Those kids are sent back to public school.

So what you're saying is that private schools can only exist because public schools exist to take their leftovers. And this is something you are proud of. And nonetheless you enjoy living in a functioning society that would not be possible without public schools.

No. NP here. Public schools exist to educate everyone because if we didn't educate everyone then our democracy and capitalism-based economy would not remain viable. Private schools are the add-ons. Just because you have a chip on your shoulder doesn't mean that you shouldn't understand the facts. Sure, private schools skim off the top but if all the public schools did a better job then (other than religious) probably most private schools wouldn't have a reason to exist.

Signed, Public School Teacher

And the PS schools aren't doing what they need to do. I have about 10 years left, and I told my husband - who is two years shy of retiring - that I simply can't do it. We are destroying an entire generation of kids - and placing blame on teachers for doing so.

It's a sick system. I've worn many hats in my system, too. So I've seen dysfunction at all levels. It's not worth my mental health at this point to try to change the system from within.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Privates can pick and choose their students. At my private, they immediately expell students on the first instance of a serious behavior problem (drugs, alcohol, violence) and eventually if they talk back to teachers or have consistent problems which don't resolve. Students have even been expelled for repetitive cheating.

So, less salary for the teachers, but significantly fewer problems. Those kids are sent back to public school.

So what you're saying is that private schools can only exist because public schools exist to take their leftovers. And this is something you are proud of. And nonetheless you enjoy living in a functioning society that would not be possible without public schools.

No. NP here. Public schools exist to educate everyone because if we didn't educate everyone then our democracy and capitalism-based economy would not remain viable. Private schools are the add-ons. Just because you have a chip on your shoulder doesn't mean that you shouldn't understand the facts. Sure, private schools skim off the top but if all the public schools did a better job then (other than religious) probably most private schools wouldn't have a reason to exist.

Signed, Public School Teacher

And the PS schools aren't doing what they need to do. I have about 10 years left, and I told my husband - who is two years shy of retiring - that I simply can't do it. We are destroying an entire generation of kids - and placing blame on teachers for doing so.

It's a sick system. I've worn many hats in my system, too. So I've seen dysfunction at all levels. It's not worth my mental health at this point to try to change the system from within.

Just curious here...what are you going to do instead?

I have 9 years until I'm 55 at which point neither my state or local pensions will be reduced. Before that point I can draw unreduced state at age 52, but the local would be reduced. I wonder daily if I can go another 9 years and keep trying to think of how I can stop in 6.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've done both.

Private school has smaller classes and more engaged parents. Nearly all of my time is teaching, very little bureaucracy. One meeting a week. I did't have to carry the load from other teachers that should be cut loose but are not.

Public schools pay better, have far better benefits and unmatched job security. But, easily half of my time is doing admin and bureaucracy. Lots of meetings.

I'm in public now, I had a health scare and the job permanence, disability and benefits are more important to me now. But I had a ton more fun teaching in private.

Is it easy to go back and forth? Seems that would raise red flags in interviews, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I could afford to work in a private school. I'm so sick of the BS in public school.

How much less per year would a private pay you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I could afford to work in a private school. I'm so sick of the BS in public school.

How much less per year would a private pay you?

I'm not the pp, but I looked into working at a private this past fall. It's one for which a neighbor teaches and coaches. I would take a cut of about $32k. I'm sure that would vary by school.

My DW switched from private to public about ten years ago. She went from about $30k to $60k. The public system started her at step 10 on the pay scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've done both.

Private school has smaller classes and more engaged parents. Nearly all of my time is teaching, very little bureaucracy. One meeting a week. I did't have to carry the load from other teachers that should be cut loose but are not.

Public schools pay better, have far better benefits and unmatched job security. But, easily half of my time is doing admin and bureaucracy. Lots of meetings.

I'm in public now, I had a health scare and the job permanence, disability and benefits are more important to me now. But I had a ton more fun teaching in private.

Is it easy to go back and forth? Seems that would raise red flags in interviews, no?

It is very easy to go back and forth between schools, yes! Most schools are so desperate for good, solid teachers that they will interview anyone. It would not make one whit of difference to most admin in either public or private if a teacher had a series of back-and-forths. I have 15-20 years left. I think that if I wanted to, I could probably work at one new school per year. It would be insane to do that because it is a lot of work to get the rhythm of a new school but it could be done. And I know I would get hired by good schools, too, (certainly this would include the DCUM highly esteemed Big 3 or Big 5). And as the shortage begins to grow this will be more the case. You should see who we've had roll in and out at our school. It blows my mind but administrators are desperate, especially for high need subject areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a teacher and taught at both public and private schools. We moved around a lot with my DH's career. I taught in privates when I couldn't get hired in the public schools. The difference in teacher quality is significant. Overall, public school teachers are dramatically more qualified, better trained, and better teachers. Even in the really good privates I worked in, many of the teachers didn't even have teaching degrees. Some were truly awful. I know people choose private for many reasons. My kids were in private school for several years. But you certainly don't choose private school for better quality teachers.

Some of us don't have a particularly great opinion of education degrees, so don't consider it to be a measure of quality.
https://qz.com/334926/your-college-major-is-a-pretty-good-indication-of-how-smart-you-are/

I am a teacher at a public and I totally agree with this. Every teacher I know who has a degree in education is an idiot. The best teachers all have degrees in the actual subject they teach (this is HS)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a teacher and taught at both public and private schools. We moved around a lot with my DH's career. I taught in privates when I couldn't get hired in the public schools. The difference in teacher quality is significant. Overall, public school teachers are dramatically more qualified, better trained, and better teachers. Even in the really good privates I worked in, many of the teachers didn't even have teaching degrees. Some were truly awful. I know people choose private for many reasons. My kids were in private school for several years. But you certainly don't choose private school for better quality teachers.

Some of us don't have a particularly great opinion of education degrees, so don't consider it to be a measure of quality.
https://qz.com/334926/your-college-major-is-a-pretty-good-indication-of-how-smart-you-are/

I am a teacher at a public and I totally agree with this. Every teacher I know who has a degree in education is an idiot. The best teachers all have degrees in the actual subject they teach (this is HS)

I agree with this concept for the HS teachers, but for lower elementary? A math degree probably won't help much with classroom management in second grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in private, freedom to teach is number one to me. No teaching to tests, fully trusted by administration to impart info as I see fit. Small class sizes with very interested students. Rigorous curriculum, not bogged down by latest trend in the classroom management or pedagogy, which changes just about every year. I love it!

Could you provide info on how do you prepare your classes, how do you teach (if explicit lessons looking at students in the eyes or if leaving kids on the iPads with video games) and how you grade?