What Teacher's Make

[teacher_jessica]

After recently suffering through someone who thought my profession was one that was all about ease and fun (my student teacher who I had to exit, AKA fail, two weeks ago) I have been reflecting a lot on how the general public must view what I do.  I really do think that a lot of people think my job is easy and hey, I get holidays and summers off (

Comments

[lovetanisha]

That guy was a little too intense for me, but I ABSOLUTELY think of teaching as one of the most important and difficult jobs out there. I'm surprised to hear that there is a perception that teaching is "easy." Maybe it's because in the mental health field we have a lot of exposure to the school system and most of my contacts/friends are in that field. I worked in schools for 3 years and I know that those breaks are WELL deserved...they always seemed to come about the time that it seemed impossible to keep going! Not because of the kids, but the system. It's exhausting and you have to try to do so much with so little in terms of funding and resources and there is so much "passing of the buck," particularly if you are a good teacher...I mean as in, the buck gets passed to you. It's total crap that they divide your salary so that the school district is making money off the interest! Anyway, in a VERY roundabout way I just wanted to say that I *truly* admire what you do! There are some not-so-great teachers out there and I'm glad

[teacher_jessica]

You're totally right, the guy is over the top (big time) but he makes me chuckle. I guess I was just surprised to have someone who wanted to go into education walk into my classroom with such an idiotic perception of what a teacher does and what makes you a good teacher. I guess some people are just ignorant and it's one of those facts of life that are hard to accept.

[lovetanisha]

I can't believe I forgot to post this when I originally replied, but speaking of people who have an idiotic perception of what it takes to be a teacher...one of my aunts is a teacher in New York state. She had a student teacher several years ago, and at one point she asked him to take home some homework to grade for her. When he returned with it she could see that all the grades were A's and there were no comments on the papers, although as she looked through them it was quite obvious that they were NOT all A work. She confronted him and he replied, "well, what do you expect? I can't read!" Honestly. This guy was a student teacher in a third grade classroom and he could. not. read. Apparently at some point in New York there was a law that all students had to have equal access or something like that, so essentially you weren't limited by learning disabilities, instead you'd get a one-to-one aide all the way through university, which is what this guy had. I twas particularly scary when my cousin, who had many learning

[hannabb]

I agree with you Jessica, there are parts of being a teacher that can never be taught. I sincerely believe that the best teachers are born, it is a talent that happens.

When I "retired" from teaching I was appalled by how many people asked me "but you are giving up your summer! But then you have to work past 3:00" Yeah that is what teaching is all about, summer and getting off early.

When I was teaching I was up all night creating lesson plans, emailing parents, updating my website etc...I actually worked more.
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Being a teacher is amazing - thank you for being a good one. We need more.

[oct142006bride]

haha! Yes he was over the top but part of me wanted to stand up and clap and say "Hallelujah!"

You know I always stay quiet and laugh inside when people say I have the easiest and most ideal job. They comment that I'm so lucky to get off at 3:00 and have so much vacation time. Umm..hello...excuse me, but I deserve that vacation time. You wanna trade jobs with me and teach my kids one day so you understand why teachers get this vacation time? hehe.

Tomorrow's my last day! YAY!

Yes, people have no idea....

[bakerpeabody]

Send your student teacher to junior high when she has to care about 120 students...not just 20+...so that means 120 parent teacher conferences if they all show up(luckily they don't). Junior High teachers in AZ(the three districts I worked in at least) are required to sponser an afterschool club(for no extra pay). Get to call parents about fun stuff like your daughter showing her breast at recess to the boys for $5 a flash. Or the kid who stabbed someone with a broken protractor and then peed on him. I spent on average $4K of my own money each year on chemistry supplies because we didn't have any. We were required to serve on a district commitee(again no pay). We had to keep a website that had our lesson plans and objectives for the week. Homework assignments and had to have their grades posted weekly...all 120 of them. All of this is not done on my 35 minute prep, oddly enough...I was lucky to make it to the bathroom

[littlecindy]

i think photobucket will let you upload videos and post them directly into a post!