Comments by cdl84
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Posted on March 12 at 12:25 p.m.
After reading many comments, I think alot of people have the wrong idea of what teachers actually work.
First of all, they don't work 9 mos with 3 mos off. If you check the calendar, teachers report back the beginning of August and work through May. (this year they go back after Memorial Day due to the snow day). If my calculations are correct, that leaves only June and July off. This also does not take into account teachers going in a week or two early to start getting their rooms ready, which they do NOT get paid for! Some teachers are in their rooms getting ready on their own time in July!
Teachers have contracts that they sign, and only get paid for the days that they work according to the school calendar. (student contact days plus inservices and workdays) They do NOT get paid holidays like Christmas and spring break. Any days off during the year that are not scheduled as a school day or inservice day they are not getting paid for. I get tired of hearing about teachers getting "two weeks off at Christmas and spring break." True they do not work during those breaks, but they are also not getting paid! To be honest, they need that time to recharge their batteries! (and spend time with their families)
If you have not been in a classroom in awhile,you have no idea about how much pressure is on teachers. They don't work a 9-5 job. They are there before school, after school, weekends, you name it! Not just doing lesson plans, but grading, looking at test scores and data on kids, making up plans on how to best fit their needs and report to the principal. The paperwork and data teachers have to deal with these days is unbelievable!!!
They attend meetings they do not get paid for, attend school activities that they do not get paid for, "volunteer" and serve on committees that meet outside the school day that they do not get paid for....the list goes on and on.
Teachers also pay for many school related things out of their own pocket because classroom budgets are so low!! (and will be lower next year probably!) It adds up fast! I know of several teachers who kept track of their receipts and expenditures out of their own pocket, and were shocked to see that it was over $1,000!!! How many doctors, lawyers, and other professionals do that? Probably none, and their salaries are much higher than teachers!
Teachers are some of the most overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated professionals that I know of! School is not what it was, and teaching has changed tremendously. It's strenous and stressful, and hearing the community complain only adds to the stress! We are going to see a high case of teacher burnout if we don't take care of our teachers!
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Posted on May 7 at 2:38 p.m.
Not to take away ANYTHING from the people who won the Hopkins awards (I am sure they are all deserving) I noticed that only ONE elementary classroom teacher received an award! Why? How can you justify dividing 3 awards between 6 elementary schools when the high school gets 3 awards every year? I know that many, many deserving teachers were nominated! It's disheartening!!!
On Surprise for the teachers