Anonymous wrote:Because teachers unions are against pay and job security based on performance (results). In the real world, we get fired if we don't deliver.

Um, teachers do get fired if they don't deliver. The teacher whose position I took was fired. He was put on a PIP and didn't improve and now he is gone. Now, our district has merit pay so if my students don't make a predetermined amount of progress by January when they take the annual test, that may impact my ability to get a raise. So I get 4 whole months to prepare them to take this test. I may earn highly effective on my evaluations but if my students don't "perform" to the district's satisfaction, it doesn't matter.

I very much respect teachers and think they provide an extremely valuable service to our society, but education programs in college consistently have the lowest SAT scores and give out the highest grades. I started as an elementary ed major and I'm sorry, but those were hands down, some of the easiest classes I've ever taken.

I'm a teacher and I watch this video at least once a week to remind me why I do what I do:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are pretty dumb, so the people who are drawn to kids are usually the same way.

Speak for your own kids.

Don't have any. See above.

I am a teacher but I am also a mom. I can look at the situation from both sides. From my teacher perspective I know there are many (most) incredible, very intelligent, and dedicated teachers in classrooms. The come early, stay late, and care deeply for students. They not only love teaching and enjoy students they also love the content they teach. They are excited to try new strategies. There are a smaller number of teachers just holding on for retirement, do not really understand the content (in ES), or have lost the love of being in a room filled with children.

As a parent who has a child with the latter type of teacher for the past two years I am angry and sad. If it were not for my experiences over 10 years in schools I might begin to look down on teachers too. It would be easy to think that if 2 out of 4 teachers that my child has had have been bad then half of all teachers are bad. This would be my only perspective.

I encourage all parents to give each teacher a chance. There are many of us who chose teaching that had every opportunity to make it in another career. Instead, we spend each day doing what we love and hopefully making a difference in children's lives.

Anonymous wrote:Kids are pretty dumb, so the people who are drawn to kids are usually the same way.

Speak for your own kids.

Kids are pretty dumb, so the people who are drawn to kids are usually the same way.

I really think it is this Dc area where people do that. Where I grew up in a rural midwest town, there were many farmers and retail or tradespeople. Teachers were not looked down upon. They were respected and their word was believed over the kids if they reported back to the parents about a problem.

There are so many highly paid people in this area that many feel they rank higher than teachers. Our society estimates value by the salaries people are paid.

As a group, they complain more than anyone else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because teachers unions are against pay and job security based on performance (results). In the real world, we get fired if we don't deliver.

Teachers deal more with the real world than you'd ever know. It's funny that you think your office/cube has anything to do with the real world.

A+ answer!

And I'm a tough grader.

It's one of those things that unless/until you've done it, you really don't have any idea.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because teachers unions are against pay and job security based on performance (results). In the real world, we get fired if we don't deliver.

Teachers deal more with the real world than you'd ever know. It's funny that you think your office/cube has anything to do with the real world.

A+ answer!

And I'm a tough grader.

Anonymous wrote:Because teachers unions are against pay and job security based on performance (results). In the real world, we get fired if we don't deliver.

I have job security, asshole, yes.

However, I am now taking a break after making a small dent in a stack of papers that 124 of my students turned in last week.

I'm sure you work as hard as I do over your weekend.

And I still have weekly planning to do.

"Why do so many educated professionals look down on teachers?"

When teachers act professional, and are well educated, I don't look down on them.

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, aside from liberal arts majors, Ed is the easiest pathway to a degree. This is followed up by a union gig. How many top 20-50% students in your graduation class went on to teach?

It's such an easy job, with summers off, and few requirements to enter, and the salary is top notch... you wonder why more people aren't clamoring to be teachers!

Anonymous wrote:On the other hand, the education "reformers" in America tend to be disingenuous - they may point to Finland, but then they call for less professional autonomy and the "proletarianization" of teaching.

Could you elaborate?