Posted by bobhornet (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I've seen these early release and other inservice days in person. Meetings (usually meaningless) in the morning, and then long, long lunches. The buildings are pretty quiet in the afternoon--not a lot of work going on. Sorry, Ms. Wilhite; I applaud our teachers for their efforts, but as a person who has worked in the system, I feel confident in saying that these days are a waste of time, money, and potential instructional hours.

Posted by jasonesu (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Way to go Diane, Let him have it. It is about time that teachers stand up and make people listen to them. For people to assume that they know what teachers do without spending time in their footsteps is a big mistake. They don't stop and think about the early morning meetings, after school meetings, school events that you are sometimes required to attend in the evenings. Those evenings during the school year where you are at home finishing up work that you did not have time to do, because a child need special attention or a parent showed up wanting to discuss their childs needs and progress. Those days before your contract starts and after your contract ends that you are at the school getting things ready for the next school year. They don't stop and think about your personal time that TEACHERS spend making sure that the children in this and surrounding communities are taken care of. I am sure that Mr Walker and his staff are compensated for the time that they work. I don't imagine his reporters and photographers cover anything that they are not paid for. Thank You to all the Teachers!!

Posted by madpoet (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree that teachers are overworked and underpaid. But I would think it would be a better system to have an extra full day inservice day a month than early release every week. It would be easier to plan for most parents to find somewhere for their child to be all day then try to get off work early to get them home. I would think this would be especially true of the kids old enough to stay home alone. It would be more productive to have a large block of time to work with than little snatches here and there.

Posted by lyon (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As a parent of two children in school, the early realease is a burden to the working parents. We have to find care for our children or take time off from our work.
These teachers are paid for 12months and only working 9 months of actual work. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate teachers and all what they do for our children.
But take a look at what it does to the working family. There are several days that the kids could be in school, that they aren't.
Why do we start school so early in August and out so late in May? Seems like our school days are being extended and why? If we didn't take so many days off, just maybe the kids would be able to enjoy their summer more.

Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sad to say teaching is on the bottom of the pay scale and on the what is important scale ! I work at one of the schools and we do not have room for teachers to do certain trainings with our students. Many days , there are Teachers working with kids in the hallways sitting on the floor. We tell kids Education is important , but we fail to back that up with the proper resources.

Posted by citizenT (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm sure parents would be happy to let their childrens' academic needs wait for a once a month meeting for the convenience of being able to pick them up at the same time every day.

Posted by citizenT (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Teacher's are not paid to work for 12 months a year. Their contracts state the number of days a year they must work. They are required to have their paychecks spread over a 12 month period. How many other professions won't pay their workers the full pay they earned for one month's work at the time it is earned? It seems like many posters feel that the school's main function is to serve as free daycare instead of providing the best quality education possible to today's children.

Posted by jasonesu (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Citizen, I totally agree. Parents think of schools as their daycare centers and babysitters. Isn't it ashame that a full time daycare provider makes more a year then a teacher. I am glad that someone spoke up about the pay also. Teachers are only paid for the time that their contract states. You know most jobs that there is no work during a certain season, the employees can draw unemployment. Teachers cannot draw unemployment during the summer so if they need to supplement their income that is when they do it and then people in the community complain that they are taking jobs from someone else. Teachers are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

Posted by create (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

True, teaching contracts only cover the period of time that school is in session, August to May, NOT for 12 months as is the common misconception. Also true, teachers cannot draw unemployment during the summer because teachers are advised before they leave for the summer that their services have been retained for the next year. At many districts, teachers are required to inform the district by mid April if they were not planning to return, thus giving the district time to find a replacement.

Posted by quarterback (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The bottom line is teachers are paid well compared to other professions. Plus they get summers off. With the unions I don't think teachers have any room to complain.

Posted by jasonesu (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

quarterback, I do not know what you think well is, but I don't think that a person that has been at a job for more then 20 years that is barely making 40,000 a year is over paid. Also remember the teachers have to pay into the state retirement system at 6% and can not opt out. Also most school districts benefits are not very good, meaning health insurance premiums are well above the public sector. If anyone is over paid it would be pro athletes, but you probably feel that they deserve their multi million dollar contracts.

Posted by Absolute (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I can tell you right now that nurses make similar wages. We don't have summers off, we do dirty hard work all day, and don't get any "early release" days. Many of us also don't get the benefit of a regular M-F schedule, but work nights, evening, weekends, holidays.

Posted by jasonesu (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the RN's that I am related to make much better money then a teacher and most work only 3 12 hour shifts and get paid for 40 hours. I would take that benefit. Now I don't know about LPN'S or nurse aides, I am sure they don't reap the benefits.

Posted by Absolute (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Would teachers mind work every other Chrismas and Thanksgiving? And I can tell that a friend of mine that works at NRH has told me they do not get paid for 40. I know they do in same places, but not here. (as far as I have been told)

My only point is that teachers do not have a monoply on jobs that are under paid and under appreciated.

Posted by Absolute (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh lord, the typos in my post are making my eyes bleed! I am obviously not a teacher!!!!

Posted by jasonesu (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't think that anyone would disagree with you on that. I think that teaching and nursing are 2 professions that it takes very special people to do and you are right neither is paid nor APPRECIATED enough. I could never be neither and will admit it. Both of them have to have care and compassion beyond anything else. I have met a few nurses and teachers that were not in the right profession, but I choose not to judge the majority by the few bad ones out there. Thank You to Nurses and Teachers for all you do!!

Posted by Absolute (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I really do think that nursing and teaching are very similar and very important jobs in our society.

Posted by citizenT (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I haven't seen anywhere on these forums where teachers are complaining about their pay. From what I can see all of the complaints are coming from people that are not teachers.

Posted by ralpheatsbeef (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You all need to be nice, or you'll get detention.

Posted by admireed (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 9:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Do you get a raise for being there or because you produce more?

Posted by Deepthoughts (anonymous) on April 16, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Here is the link to the School District Teacher Contract
http://www.usd253.org/home/inside-usd253...

The salary schedule is on page 11 and it looks like someone with a Master's Degree that has worked 5 years can hit that $40,000 mark. Looking at this salary schedule I would guess there are a lot more teachers making over $40,000 than we think and I'm not saying they shouldn't - I just wanted to offer this website to show what is specifically in the contract. It looks like a teacher with just a Bachelor's Degree can make $40,000 after 10 years. This contract also states that teachers are due a duty free 30 minute lunch. If teachers aren't getting that then they need to be standing up for themselves since this is the contract.

Don't get me wrong - I know many teachers that I think deserve way more than they are getting paid, but I also know several who don't deserve what they are making (in my opinion). The simple truth is - we all choose our professions and have to live with those decisions, so if money is a key issue for a person, perhaps teaching is not the right profession for that person. Every profession has pluses and negatives - unless a person is an hourly employee, most likely somewhere down the line they have worked extra hours that they didn't receive extra compensation for.

Posted by rcakmon (anonymous) on April 16, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't know where bobhornet worked (I'm guessing EMS or EHS) but it's not that way in our building. There are no long lunches. There is a specific schedule and agendas are followed at the meetings. The afternoons are full of meetings unless it is a teacher work day when teachers are working on grades and gradecards. The principal in our building made sure we used our time wisely.

Teachers do use their lunch hour to collaborate and work. There just are not enough hours in the day. Ask the teachers that come early, stay late, and work on the weekend. It's not that easy folks!

Posted by justthinkin (anonymous) on April 16, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Interesting with all the talk of the City employee's and their wage shortcomings that it hasn't shown up here. So, I guess I'll introduce it. My friend is a City employee - over 29 years on the job, salaried & doesn't appear to abuse it (works weekends & evenings to try to keep up) and earns just over $42,450 a year, gets approximately 1/2 the paid health insurance benefit of teachers so therefore pays more out-of-pocket for coverage, purchases many of the supplies needed, contributes 4% to the retirement system, receives way less time off, serves an important purpose, and when taxpayers complain about taxes - the finger points to the City - which hasn't raised their mill levy in how many years while the County & Schools just keep running it up.

I'm not saying teachers are overpaid or over appreciated. I admire them & couldn't and wouldn't do their jobs. I'm saying City employees are underpaid & certainly underappreciated, by the community, by city administration, and particularly by the city commission, and nobody sticks up for them. In 2007 the commission called employees their first priority, in 2008 it's more important to plant flowers and they feel they've addressed 2007 priority by paying an outsider to confirm what employees have been saying - that they are under paid & under benefitted. Maybe City employees need a union so they can get annual raises, too.

Thanks to my teachers who helped me put my thought into run-on sentences.

Posted by jasonesu (anonymous) on April 16, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I know that in the north and south lyon county districts that the cost of a family plan insurance policy out of pocket premium is 700.00 or more a month and the teachers do not get 30 minute lunches. I don't understand why teachers are not eligible for the same insurance that the State employees get since they have to pay into KPERS and all their retirement is controlled by the state.

Posted by tmt (anonymous) on April 16, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm confused, was the story to dispute the reason for having early release, teachers salaries, or the amount of work they do? Its anonymous, teachers are valuable and most of us would not want the job. However I’m pretty sure that teachers are well aware of what their current pay scale is and know about the time and effort that is needed for the job.

I think $40K is a pretty damm good salary for Emporia. I work 52 weeks a year and make half of that. In order for me to increase this wage I know that additional education will be required. I also know that I will be footing that bill by myself – same as teachers do and if my guess is correct any other field.

Early release is a pain in the arse. No I don’t think that I send my kids to school to provide daycare, I send them there to learn. At their ages that IS their job, just like mine is to provide for them by going to my job. When I have to leave my job early once a week that cuts into my work time and I have to then make that up during my personal time. Besides the obvious difference in duties I don’t see how my job requirements and a teacher are any different. We all make personal sacrifices for our job and my time (professional or personal) is not any less valuable than a teachers.

Posted by sciguy (anonymous) on April 16, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"These teachers are paid for 12months and only working 9 months of actual work. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate teachers and all what they do for our children."

Lyon, that is amusing. Teachers are paid for their 10 months of service (early August to late May, usually). Whether that is spread out over 12 months or is paid only August through May makes no real difference.

And during the school year, the 8-hour day is a myth. Many teachers stay well past the end of the contract day (usually a set period of time after students are dismissed) to help students with homework, to teach students who were previously absent, to grade and to finish preparing lessons for the next day. And then when they get home--there's usually more grading to do. Per ACTUAL hour worked, teacher pay is not nearly as generous as it seems (though it is fairly decent these days).

During the summers, teachers aren't all spending the time on vacation for two months. Most take classes that are required for recertification, develop curriculum for new classes, review old lessons and adapt/modify them for the upcoming year, and often spend time in the school preparing equipment and materials.

Posted by jmb232 (anonymous) on April 17, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As about with any public job, they don't get paid enough for what they do. A family member is a para and they have students that have to be attended to at all times just so they can attempt to function. (I know the parents don't have it easy either) But the pay for this and for a teacher and other school empoyees in not where it should be. They work for the good of the child. We all need to appreciate our education employees more. Most of us would not put up with the shenanigans that they have to deal with. Take a moment
to thank a teacher, para, nurse, custodian or administrator!

Posted by starfire (anonymous) on April 17, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

rcakmon: I can assure you there are no long lunches at EMS or EHS either. Exactly one hour is allowed for lunch on in-service days.

greenday: Come on! Teachers do NOT smoke "dooby" before school! Teachers are professional adults and professional adults don't do things that college kids do.

I completely agree with what Mrs. Wilhite had to say and I'm glad she was brave enough to speak out for teachers.

Mr. Walker, I also dare you to follow ANY teacher around for a week solid to see what their life is like. Good luck not dropping from sheer exhaustion at the end of that week.

Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on April 17, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

starfire- I beg to differ. When I was was in High School I knew one (teacher/principal) that did. Its also safe to say they weren't in or fresh out of college either. Before you say something along the lines of that being high school kid gossip about a teacher they didn't like. I saw it first hand. If they were doing it 15 years ago why not now?! So I do KINDA hear where greenday is coming from. I really hate to admit that last part,also. Hell, I know ex-cops that claim to have done it nd then went out on the beat. NO, names will be mentioned. You know slander, liable and being deleted from the posting and all as greenday pointed out earlier in a post. I am truely sorry for smudging your rose colored glasses.