School cuts hit parents' pockets: Teachers, too, spending more of own money as districts face tight budgets

[KarenCee 3]

*raises hand* I have been one for 14 years. I don't demand high pay...as a matter of fact I haven't demanded anything.

I don't babysit...I educate. I don't teach the way I choose...I have to follow the state mandates. I don't corrupt innocent minds with drivel.

Not all public school educators are money grubbing lazy people. Some of us (GASP!) actually do what we've been hired to do! We actually educate these children! OMG! Imagine that!

Some of us actually love what we do and don't complain about the pay! Can you imagine that too???

Some of us try hard not to take offense when our profession is bashed constantly by the masses who have never set foot in a classroom to teach or volunteer.

Some of us don't complain when we have a child in our classroom whose parents are quite possible illegals. Those kids didn't ask to be here illegally...and they aren't treated "differently" because of it...at least not where I'm from.

Some of us are proud educators...and I am one of them! Bash educators if you will, but the good educators are essential to every career there ever was. Without a good teacher, would you be where you are today?

Wow...that turned into a rant...wasn't my intention though.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I can never go into teaching if the pay isn't on par with my current salary.

[HAL 9000 96]

I'm just curious. This is not a judgement or a rant. I'm sincerely curious. How many of you are public school teachers?

I was for 3 years. Hence I am reserving my comments in this thread.

[NickD 203]

I'm just curious. This is not a judgement or a rant. I'm sincerely curious. How many of you are public school teachers?

I was for 3 years. Hence I am reserving my comments in this thread.

If a teacher was earning $50K per year and allow another $25K for a classroom, with 30 students, average cost per student would be a mere $2,500 per year. The high cost of education was a subject on our call in PBS radio network. It's not the cost of the schools nor the paycheck of the teacher that's driving up the cost to over four times as much, but all those so-called supporting personnel in Madison and the enormous paycheck of the schools administrator. Plus his supporting personnel.

Exactly who is doing all the work, grading papers, lesson plans, and putting up with the brats on a minute to minute basis, and are these teachers actually getting that support from these way overpaid people? Just like our automotive industry picking on the production workers that are doing all the backbreaking work with all those way overpaid executives running up expenses at the nearest country club.

Was in error by stating the teachers parking lot was empty three minutes after the bell rings, about eight-ten cars left, so there are exceptions if only teachers are being picked on. But they are not the cause of our tax burden, it's that overhead that is killing us without a clear definition of exactly what this overhead does.

It's fun driving on the backroads of Wisconsin to see all of the remaining one room classroom buildings left, that is when our taxes were low. All centralized schools now with some kids being bused over 30 miles to school, and with a zig-zag routes they take, some kids have four hours added to their school day just getting back and forth. And they call this progress.

[HAL 9000 96]

I'm just curious. This is not a judgement or a rant. I'm sincerely curious. How many of you are public school teachers?

I was for 3 years. Hence I am reserving my comments in this thread.

If a teacher was earning $50K per year and allow another $25K for a classroom, with 30 students, average cost per student would be a mere $2,500 per year. The high cost of education was a subject on our call in PBS radio network. It's not the cost of the schools nor the paycheck of the teacher that's driving up the cost to over four times as much, but all those so-called supporting personnel in Madison and the enormous paycheck of the schools administrator. Plus his supporting personnel.

Exactly who is doing all the work, grading papers, lesson plans, and putting up with the brats on a minute to minute basis, and are these teachers actually getting that support from these way overpaid people? Just like our automotive industry picking on the production workers that are doing all the backbreaking work with all those way overpaid executives running up expenses at the nearest country club.

Was in error by stating the teachers parking lot was empty three minutes after the bell rings, about eight-ten cars left, so there are exceptions if only teachers are being picked on. But they are not the cause of our tax burden, it's that overhead that is killing us without a clear definition of exactly what this overhead does.

It's fun driving on the backroads of Wisconsin to see all of the remaining one room classroom buildings left, that is when our taxes were low. All centralized schools now with some kids being bused over 30 miles to school, and with a zig-zag routes they take, some kids have four hours added to their school day just getting back and forth. And they call this progress.

I'd love to get that classroom expenses breakdown. You mean a per pupil expense report?

And a teaching salary of 50K per annum. In FL that's around a step 17 (17 years of service) with a Bachelor's degree on a 10 month contract. Go lower with those salary expectations...

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Thank God you're not a teacher, corrupting those innocent minds with your drivel.

Coming from a puny little dweeb like you is laughable.

PS I still have a copy of you pics before you took them down.

Pics of what, Einstein? I have never posted pics anywhere. Try again, tough gay.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Thank God you're not a teacher, corrupting those innocent minds with your drivel.

Coming from a puny little dweeb like you is laughable.

PS I still have a copy of you pics before you took them down.

That's really pretty creepy. Stalk much?

[GabiandVi 34]

I'm just curious. This is not a judgement or a rant. I'm sincerely curious. How many of you are public school teachers?

I was for 3 years. Hence I am reserving my comments in this thread.

If a teacher was earning $50K per year and allow another $25K for a classroom, with 30 students, average cost per student would be a mere $2,500 per year. The high cost of education was a subject on our call in PBS radio network. It's not the cost of the schools nor the paycheck of the teacher that's driving up the cost to over four times as much, but all those so-called supporting personnel in Madison and the enormous paycheck of the schools administrator. Plus his supporting personnel.

Exactly who is doing all the work, grading papers, lesson plans, and putting up with the brats on a minute to minute basis, and are these teachers actually getting that support from these way overpaid people? Just like our automotive industry picking on the production workers that are doing all the backbreaking work with all those way overpaid executives running up expenses at the nearest country club.

Was in error by stating the teachers parking lot was empty three minutes after the bell rings, about eight-ten cars left, so there are exceptions if only teachers are being picked on. But they are not the cause of our tax burden, it's that overhead that is killing us without a clear definition of exactly what this overhead does.

It's fun driving on the backroads of Wisconsin to see all of the remaining one room classroom buildings left, that is when our taxes were low. All centralized schools now with some kids being bused over 30 miles to school, and with a zig-zag routes they take, some kids have four hours added to their school day just getting back and forth. And they call this progress.

I'd love to get that classroom expenses breakdown. You mean a per pupil expense report?

And a teaching salary of 50K per annum. In FL that's around a step 17 (17 years of service) with a Bachelor's degree on a 10 month contract. Go lower with those salary expectations...

That's about what I make and I have 17 years experience and a masters. But, to be fair, that is about the national average. Just nowhere near the average in my state. I'm on the high end of the scale, BUT I can't get much higher, even with a PhD. I will NEVER make above 70K if I remain where I am and work until I die, even if I get a PhD

Teaching has the highest attrition rate of any degreed profession. Teachers are among the most unhealthy people in the world. That's not just coincidence. It is a VERY challenging job in the best of circumstances. Unfortunately, I don't know of any position that is in the best of circumstances, so you get the picture. Obviously there is a plus side, or people like me wouldn't have remained in the profession as long as we do.

[HAL 9000 96]

IMO there's no need for upper level 'managers' and superintendents to be making the outrageous salaries they make to 'run' their districts into the ground. Teachers deserve that kind of money, not the bureaucrats.

[Niels Bohr 72]

IMO there's no need for upper level 'managers' and superintendents to be making the outrageous salaries they make to 'run' their districts into the ground. Teachers deserve that kind of money, not the bureaucrats.

True. The bureaucrats are the killer. One admin has the salary of 3-4 teachers combined.

[Jenn! 918]

I spent 3 months teaching public high school, and I couldn't cut it. I could make twice as much money doing something else and not be sh!t upon all day by delinquents, so when I got offered a job in the private sector, it was a no-brainer. As for discipline in the classroom, why should that be teachers' responsibilities? Children are supposed to be in school to learn. It's the parents' job to make sure kids understand this.

[HAL 9000 96]

I spent 3 months teaching public high school, and I couldn't cut it. I could make twice as much money doing something else and not be sh!t upon all day by delinquents, so when I got offered a job in the private sector, it was a no-brainer. As for discipline in the classroom, why should that be teachers' responsibilities? Children are supposed to be in school to learn. It's the parents' job to make sure kids understand this.

You mean in your district you couldn't paddle parents?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

*raises hand* I have been one for 14 years. I don't demand high pay...as a matter of fact I haven't demanded anything.

I don't babysit...I educate. I don't teach the way I choose...I have to follow the state mandates. I don't corrupt innocent minds with drivel.

Not all public school educators are money grubbing lazy people. Some of us (GASP!) actually do what we've been hired to do! We actually educate these children! OMG! Imagine that!

Some of us actually love what we do and don't complain about the pay! Can you imagine that too???

Some of us try hard not to take offense when our profession is bashed constantly by the masses who have never set foot in a classroom to teach or volunteer.

Some of us don't complain when we have a child in our classroom whose parents are quite possible illegals. Those kids didn't ask to be here illegally...and they aren't treated "differently" because of it...at least not where I'm from.

Some of us are proud educators...and I am one of them! Bash educators if you will, but the good educators are essential to every career there ever was. Without a good teacher, would you be where you are today?

Wow...that turned into a rant...wasn't my intention though.

You have every right to rant. Hats off to all the teachers who made an impact on my life.

[Jenn! 918]

I spent 3 months teaching public high school, and I couldn't cut it. I could make twice as much money doing something else and not be sh!t upon all day by delinquents, so when I got offered a job in the private sector, it was a no-brainer. As for discipline in the classroom, why should that be teachers' responsibilities? Children are supposed to be in school to learn. It's the parents' job to make sure kids understand this.

You mean in your district you couldn't paddle parents?

Ugh, if only I could have. The parents were often worse than their kids - and so many in denial. Accusations that teachers were unfairly targeting their child, as if their kid couldn't possibly be the problem.

[GabiandVi 34]

Pay teachers on their effectiveness in teaching, not on the number of degrees they have. If they can't or won't teach so their students meet the standards, get rid of them just like in the private sector.

Sounds really good in theory, but give me a good measure of effectiveness. Students are not widgets that you can produce more or fewer of if you work harder. They are not numbers in a column that you can add up. Students are humans with free will. They skip breakfast and stay up until 3:00 AM playing video games rather than doing homework and then can't concentrate or stay awake in class. They skip class to have sex in the stairwells. Some are sleeping on the floor at a friends house because their moms, who hate teachers as much as you do and can't control their kids as well as the teachers, have kicked them out. Or they are working full time after school to help keep food on the table for their family. Or they have two kids with another on the way and are worried about texting the baby father about what girl he was seen with in the hall that morning and would rather spit in your face and cause a riot than give up the phone they aren't supposed to have in class in the first place. Should I go on?

Edited July 27, 2009 by GabiandVi