Enroll Child in Public School = Open Wallet Please

Also, all of the teachers that I know who leave by 3 have school-aged children themselves at home. The teachers who work the longest hours are younger, newer and have no small children. The older teachers...are out the door usually too.

Then they take it home. Even my step mother stayed late / took work home 20+ years into the job ... and she taught 2nd grade. Even though they may teach the same grade for years and years and years, the requirements change, the kids change, and there are more papers to grade, etc. I remember grading papers with her when I was 10 (back when she was my mom's friend and would babysit me), and watching her grade papers when I was 20.

And forget about the hours! Think of what they're dealing with (also varies greatly by locale). DH's cousin teaches in the inner city of Chicago, and has 7 year olds that tell her to "watch your back, bitch". In the more affluent areas, you get kids that think they are entitled to anything / everything --- and have to deal with the parents too. We expect these people to make certain our children are academically competitive and ready to face college (and get into the right one).

There are some that are in it for the summers off, and take full advantage of the hours (on paper). But I think the majority of them are really dedicated and truly, truly underpaid.

And to think - I started this thread to complain about the schools picking my pockets dry!!!!!

And forget about the hours! Think of what they're dealing with (also varies greatly by locale). DH's cousin teaches in the inner city of Chicago, and has 7 year olds that tell her to "watch your back, bitch".

[ellie]

From an elementary teacher’s perspective, it’s practically impossible to do all the things a good teacher needs to do in the stated contract hours (except for substitute teaching maybe). Even in my seventh year of teaching kindergarten in public schools, it didn’t get any easier in terms of time commitment…for many reasons. Meeting the needs of 30+ children, with varying backgrounds and different needs, IMO, cannot be an 8-3 sort of job.

Like Jenn said, children change, standards change….A school district’s “one size fits all” curriculum has to be tailored and supplemented CONSTANTLY… the 30 minutes of prep time before and after school hours doesn’t provide the time needed to make these assessments, write anecdotal records, adapt curriculum, prep materials across different subject areas…and then there’s district/staff meetings, IEP (individualized education plan) meetings, grade level meetings, parent conferences…

I always went in early, stayed late, brought work home every night, and worked weekends…but didn’t mind because I LOVED my job. I suppose a teacher could work 8-3, but I don’t know many that do.

And to think - I started this thread to complain about the schools picking my pockets dry!!!!!

I know, Jenn! I laughed as I read this thread and saw how it evolved! Maybe it should be moved to the debates forum!

[rockgirl]

In my sixth year teaching high school science... I love my job. The pay is not that great but it is enough to keep me there. I coach sports teams, work during the summer, tutor, mentor new teachers and am department chair.... add it all up to number of hours worked and I make about minimum wage. Scary but it's still fun. I love being with the kids and they have made me laugh harder than any comedian there is. Most teachers would offer the same opinion that the kids are why they come back year after year and NOT the money. ohh and in NYS you MUST get a masters degree within your first 5 yrs of initial certification.

As far as expenses at the high school level... it is getting pricey. Review books are the only contributing cost to my class at $9.50 this year a price increse of 1$ from last year (greedy text companies)!!! If you add up all the regents review books for the average student it would be about $40-50. There are no fees for athletics or transportation.

There is an education crisis looming.... the problem is everyone points the finger at someone else with no action or proactive decisions being made. It will get worse before it gets better. Hopefully you all are located within districts that are forward moving. Not every district is created equal and that goes for private schools too. I attended both private and public schools as a student and additionally have taught in both public and private schools. Besides being paid substantially different salaries both places have the same basic problem.... how can we do more for these kids with less and less resources each year?

When I taught elementary school I spent a ton of my own money (before the tax law went into effect). I was there by 7:00 am and left no earlier than 6pm somtimes 8:00 pm if I had meetings...and there are meetings for everything. I went to school every summer to keep my certificate and paid for it all myself (with the help of my VISA). There are good and bad teachers but 99% of the people I worked with were awesome and were there late with me too. We all had Master's degrees and were still treated like idiots by a lot of parents because "we were just teachers." It is frustrating to be treated badly when you are giving everything to help their child and 26 other kids learn what they need to learn and grow into healthy functioning adults.
Now that I have a child in school I see it from the other side and I think I would be frustrated sometimes too if I didn't have a background to draw from.

Hmm....my mom was a teacher in Michigan for 15 years (3rd grade and 6th grade) and never stayed after 4:30pm. It must vary from state to state.