The Misconception of Teachers?

[Summers]

Okay, I had to get up early today to watch my sisters since my mom had Jury Duty.

To get to the chase I went onto a radio station by accident. The DJ was saying how much teachers get paid, and that they should stop complaining and whining about it since they get 46,000 a year. That is very high. You usually wont get that high unless you have been in the profession a long time, and tenure. He never said where he got his figures from, so I called in on this discussion.

I started to tell him the things he was saying were false. Such as, the homework, state standards, No Child Left Behind Act, and to give him a senerio of what I have to go through. Which is helping students learn and to be good citizens to over 100 students with different personalities, and learning rates.

I'm kept telling him that one teacher cant do it all. Its a group effort to help teach a child. For an instance, I had a long-term sub job and I kept in contact with the parents by email. It helped a lot for the child. He said "Its not my job to do that..its yours. You dont know crap." And hangs up.

I was so frustrated. I told my 15 yr. old sister about the DJ, and she says "Oh, him. He always gets his facts wrong, and he is always mean.".

What do all you think? On the topic? DJ?

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

I'm right there with you with you when it comes down to it.

People have misconceptions that teachers are the mainline between the student and learning. People just seem to think that it goes from us directly to them, but there has to be more of a group connection. Having not really been in a classroom as a teacher or a sub as of yet, but I know the crowds well enough and planning on teaching high school - I already know there are students that don't want to be there and parents that really don't care at all.

As for the DJ, just another person with a slanted view of the world. Probably hasn't been in school and years and just shouts his perspective, whether people like it or not.

[VersesBatman]

People have no idea how much work it is to be a teacher. People think it's easy because you summer off and your hours are short.

That's further than the truth. 46,000 sounds good, but people don't take in account that any teaching supplies must be paid out of their own pockets. That includes the decorations for the walls and bulletine boards. After school is mostly spent correcting papers and sometimes they must take classes and seminars.

[Hartski]

Boycott his radio station and tell everyone you know to do the same.

[Summers]

Originally posted by LexLuthorMetropolis
I'm right there with you with you when it comes down to it.

People have misconceptions that teachers are the mainline between the student and learning. People just seem to think that it goes from us directly to them, but there has to be more of a group connection. Having not really been in a classroom as a teacher or a sub as of yet, but I know the crowds well enough and planning on teaching high school - I already know there are students that don't want to be there and parents that really don't care at all.

As for the DJ, just another person with a slanted view of the world. Probably hasn't been in school and years and just shouts his perspective, whether people like it or not.

That's one of the biggest misconceptions that its all the teachers. That's one of the reason California school system isnt that good. I'm part of this big batch of new teachers coming in 2008 since many are going into retirement in that year.

There are really bad teachers. There is no doubt about that, but the DJ was saying "You guys get summers off and weekends." Its a hard, but rewarding job. A lot of money for the students come from the teacher's pay to provide for the students because the districts dont distribute the pay apprioaitely.

He was mind was already set to begin with, so being me I go into the Lion's Den like usual lol.


Originally posted by VersesBatman
People have no idea how much work it is to be a teacher. People think it's easy because you summer off and your hours are short.

That's further than the truth. 46,000 sounds good, but people don't take in account that any teaching supplies must be paid out of their own pockets. That includes the decorations for the walls and bulletine boards. After school is mostly spent correcting papers and sometimes they must take classes and seminars.

Exactly, VB.

In that long term sub. I spent about 50 dollars on school supplies because the office was all out of it. It was no biggie to me because I wanted to.

You have to constantly go to school for workshops, classes, and anything that will help students learn. Sometimes workshops and classes can be paid by the district, but not always. At least not the one I'm at.

I love to teach. I love to see a student's face click on when they get a concept. I made this awesome lesson plan on The Russian Revoultion.

Why is there such a misconception?


Originally posted by Hartski
Boycott his radio station and tell everyone you know to do the same.

Already done. Its another reason why I listen to my hard rock and pop stations. At least those DJs do their research on the subject.

[VersesBatman]

Pure ingnorance. To some, teaching is glorified babysitting.

[smallvillefanforlife]

yeah but the teachers always complain that they dont get enough money

i couldnt do it though kids are pretty bad always fighting in school sometimes the teachers get hit and they bring in guns wouldnt take the chance sorry if i ofend anyone

[VersesBatman]

They have a reason to complain about money.

[smallvillefanforlife]

exactly its hectic being a teacher

[Summers]

Originally posted by smallvillefanforlife

i couldnt do it though kids are pretty bad always fighting in school sometimes the teachers get hit and they bring in guns wouldnt take the chance sorry if i ofend anyone

That's actually "the" reason my father is afraid of me going into the profession.

Teachers do complain. We all do. There is a lot of politics involved I might add.

The DJ just didnt want to acknowledge the other side. He wasnt being objective at all.

[smallvillefanforlife]

yeah there are two sides i agree with why teachers complain they have to use their own money for stuff bugets are bad now

[VersesBatman]

Some teachers have to choose between buying supplies and paying bills.

[Summers]

I said that to the DJ he said I was "bogus" lol.

Budgets are very bad now. Oregon is actually in worst shape than California is.

[smallvillefanforlife]

thats sad cause school is really important its how everyone gets jobs no school and then everyones pretty dumb, thered be no doctors, lawyers, "teachers" they're just spending it on other stuff i live in indiana and they are trying to buy a new football stadium in the millions they are cutting every where people are really mad, they even opened up a new casino to make more money

[Summers]

Doesnt make sense does it?

[smallvillefanforlife]

crazy obveous they dont know what they're doing

[4EverSmallville]

As a profession, I hold teaching in very high regard. Teaching isn't just giving kids homework and grading it. There are so many more elements to it. I personally have learned so much from my teachers outside the world of academics. I still remember advice I got from some of my earlier teachers, lol. Teachers have to deal with kids with different backgrounds, attitudes, learning capabilities...it's a wonder they stay sane.

I always thought that teachers were short-changed as far as salaries go; I remember asking one of my teachers why they worked for so little money (I was in grammar school, I hadn't really worked on subtlety yet lol) and she told me that teaching students and watching them grow is a far greater reward.

Anyone who can maintain an attitude like that deserves a fitting salary for a noble job that I consider one of the most difficult out there. I find suggesting that a teacher shouldn't have the right to complain about their own salary totally disrespectful to them and the job they do.

[smallvillefanforlife]

i agree

[Summers]

Originally posted by 4EverSmallville
As a profession, I hold teaching in very high regard. Teaching isn't just giving kids homework and grading it. There are so many more elements to it. I personally have learned so much from my teachers outside the world of academics. I still remember advice I got from some of my earlier teachers, lol. Teachers have to deal with kids with different backgrounds, attitudes, learning capabilities...it's a wonder they stay sane.

I always thought that teachers were short-changed as far as salaries go; I remember asking one of my teachers why they worked for so little money (I was in grammar school, I hadn't really worked on subtlety yet lol) and she told me that teaching students and watching them grow is a far greater reward.

Anyone who can maintain an attitude like that deserves a fitting salary for a noble job that I consider one of the most difficult out there. I find suggesting that a teacher shouldn't have the right to complain about their own salary totally disrespectful to them and the job they do.

*clasps*

Well said.

[MBCorp]

Originally posted by 4EverSmallville
As a profession, I hold teaching in very high regard. Teaching isn't just giving kids homework and grading it. There are so many more elements to it. I personally have learned so much from my teachers outside the world of academics. I still remember advice I got from some of my earlier teachers, lol. Teachers have to deal with kids with different backgrounds, attitudes, learning capabilities...it's a wonder they stay sane.

I always thought that teachers were short-changed as far as salaries go; I remember asking one of my teachers why they worked for so little money (I was in grammar school, I hadn't really worked on subtlety yet lol) and she told me that teaching students and watching them grow is a far greater reward.

Anyone who can maintain an attitude like that deserves a fitting salary for a noble job that I consider one of the most difficult out there. I find suggesting that a teacher shouldn't have the right to complain about their own salary totally disrespectful to them and the job they do.


Nicely put.:)


That DJ sounds like a complete idiot. He's just one of those loudmouth types who like to spout off about stuff they know nothing about just to get attention. You can't reason with people like that, it's like talking to a brick wall. That's why I never listen to those type of radio programs. I'd like to stick that guy in a classroom and see how well he teaches.:p

Teaching is a very demanding job, which is one of the reasons why when I get my teaching certificate I'm thinking of going into library science and becoming a school librarian (like Giles!) Well, that and a variety of other reasons.

[sstray72]

I'm upset that your job is so underrated and underappreciated. I believe that teaching is one of the most demanding and important jobs out there. It's appalling to me that this country holds its entertainment in higher regard than it's education. It's appalling that funding for public education could EVER be cut for whatever reason. Teachers go through so much, I applaud them.

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

Originally posted by 4EverSmallville
As a profession, I hold teaching in very high regard. Teaching isn't just giving kids homework and grading it. There are so many more elements to it. I personally have learned so much from my teachers outside the world of academics. I still remember advice I got from some of my earlier teachers, lol. Teachers have to deal with kids with different backgrounds, attitudes, learning capabilities...it's a wonder they stay sane.

I always thought that teachers were short-changed as far as salaries go; I remember asking one of my teachers why they worked for so little money (I was in grammar school, I hadn't really worked on subtlety yet lol) and she told me that teaching students and watching them grow is a far greater reward.

Anyone who can maintain an attitude like that deserves a fitting salary for a noble job that I consider one of the most difficult out there. I find suggesting that a teacher shouldn't have the right to complain about their own salary totally disrespectful to them and the job they do.

Exactly the way I feel.

[VersesBatman]

I admire people that can teach kids. I don't know how they do it.

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

Patience and a sense of humor - that's at least the way I take it.

[Summers]

That's how I do it. Humor is a necessity IMO.

[Chi Town]

I find it funny that a man who gets paid to spout his personal views to a mass audience can camplain that teachers have it easy.
I had this same fight with my father in law when he complained about teachers getitng pay rasies. He dosen't have any more kids in school so he didn't want to pay the tax.
I then pointed out that more money=better schools=better housing prices.

a) I guess people also don't look at the fact that they are paying people to ensure their children future. How much is it worth?

b) teachers today have so much crap to contend with: Parents, kids with no respect, bad name from a few others.

c) teachers dont get paid during the summer and have to work their buts of to get tenure.

d) not all teachers teach in afflunet surburbia. Think about the inner city teachers. Thats dedication.

[sstray72]

Originally posted by Chi Town

d) not all teachers teach in afflunet surburbia. Think about the inner city teachers. Thats dedication.

That's what I call dedication! Some teachers have to do their jobs with degrading facilities, out-of-date and falling apart text books, kids who bring weapons to school and so much more! Not to mention that they have the pressure of improving their students' performance or their funding will get cut all in the name of "no child left behind." :rolleyes:

[MBCorp]

Originally posted by Chi Town
I find it funny that a man who gets paid to spout his personal views to a mass audience can camplain that teachers have it easy.
I had this same fight with my father in law when he complained about teachers getitng pay rasies. He dosen't have any more kids in school so he didn't want to pay the tax.
I then pointed out that more money=better schools=better housing prices.

a) I guess people also don't look at the fact that they are paying people to ensure their children future. How much is it worth?

b) teachers today have so much crap to contend with: Parents, kids with no respect, bad name from a few others.

c) teachers dont get paid during the summer and have to work their buts of to get tenure.

d) not all teachers teach in afflunet surburbia. Think about the inner city teachers. Thats dedication.

Those are some really excellent points, Chi Town. A lot of people don't realize that when teachers get the summers off they are basically being laid off. You don't get paid during the summer.

[leeanachs07]

That is going on at my school district. We are having cutbacks on stuff like sports and busses and they say its because our teachers get paid way to high. People in our area has had to vote about 4 times so fare trying to pass a levy to add money onto peoples laxes ...and if it failes there going to start cutting teachers, sports ext. They say its because we 'have taken our school and everything for granted ..we are lucky to have all these things that other schools would die for'. So now were paying for going to a good school. idiots!

[Chesay]

Teachers are undervalued for the difficult job they are paid so minimally to do. The paperwork required for attendance, daily lesson plans, grades, etc. is very time consuming and demanding. Discipline has become almost non-existent and there are few options available anymore, especially when parents side with the child regardless. Violence and weapons being brought to school make the job almost like a battlefield.

Where I live the plea is constantly made for more taxes so the schools will benefit, but that plea no longer works because the money is never used for the schools as promised. If the schools got all the tax revenue that has been collected using their name, the schools would be lacking in nothing instead of falling down. They found the funds to build a first class sports arena however. Go figure.

[Atomic girl]

In 1985 I looked into teaching after I graduated from college. It was $27,000 per year for a full year of teaching (9 months) in California. I ended up not teaching, but my engineering job that was 12 months a year ended up being less money per year, $25,000. My job was also more than 40 hours a week. I found that teaching paid better than most jobs that people who graduated from college were getting. If you factor in that you can work summer school if you want and there are opportunities to coach a sport, etc., then the pay goes up accordingly and is a much better deal than almost any other entry level job in industry.

A good teacher should get paid accordingly, but there are some teachers not worth getting paid at all and the profession should do a better job of weeding out the bad teachers. And teachers should not get tenure. I've seen too many teachers work for the first ten years and then give up when they don't have to worry about performing anymore. These are our kids, and they shouldn't get shortchanged because a teacher knows that they can not be fired*. Most jobs require you work well all the time, and even less get the kind of job security that teachers can get.

Teachers may well be undervalued, but there are other professions that are more undervalued. While more money for the schools may be nice, I don't see the fundamental problem with schools having anything to do with money. Many private schools get the job done with less money. And pretty much anybody will have to buy some sort of supplies for their job that are not compensated and can not be written off on taxes.


* While this may not be the majority of teachers, it becomes that when your child ends up with one of them. One whole year having to deal with this is one year too many. And every school my children have been at, has had at least one teacher that other parents have warned me about. So it's known that the teacher is not performing well and nothing can be done about it. That's a shame. That's when I see parents, who are able to, pull their child out of public school and send them to private school.

[moviefan2k4]

In all honesty, I strongly doubt I'd make a very good teacher. When I was in junior high (about 15 years ago), one of my biggest problems wasn't the instructors, but the other students. I was the school's resident "punching bag", or so it seemed at the time. I was always being chased, insulted, or physically assaulted by others, many of whom barely even knew me (assuming they did at all). I think a rough estimate would be that I was beaten up at least once a week, and that's playing it safe. What did the teachers do about this? the same things my family and other adults did: nothing. I was told to report all such incidents to my teachers, but their response was always the same: "If I didn't see it, it didn't happen". they said it the same way, nearly every time...almost as if they'd been coached to do so. I didn't know how to fight for myself, and to be honest I didn't believe my life was worth defending at the time anyway.

My point with all of this is that now, as a 29-year-old man, my first impulse with any troublemakers or "slackers" wouldn't be to call their parents: it would be to wring their necks myself. My elders used to tell me about the days when kids had genuine respect (and even a healthy amount of fear) for their teachers, but those times have sadly gone away. Now, if a teacher even dares to tell a kid to behave, there's multiple governemnt and school institutions breathing down their neck...and the kids know it. The "bad kids" will tell any lie, and discredit anyone to keep themselves out of trouble...and that's why I'm almost completely certain I'd be a bad teacher. The first time anyone threw anything at someone, or cussed anyone out, I'd have the desire to shove the offender against the wall, literally.

[27CDruid]

Web address or email for this DJ please. Id like to send him an email.

Honestly im sick of all the pressure and **** that gets thrown at teachers. Yeah some teachers struggle to fulfill there jobs but is it any wonder? They are constantly trying and juggle school childrens educations as class sizes get bigger, and the government chains them to the floor with red tape! It sure doesn't help that a sizable number of school inspectors are made up of people who tried and failed to become teachers.

Hey suits. Maybe you should stop pumping money in for IT in schools and just double the number of teachers which would cost less!?

And if anyone has any doubt about how difficult it is to be a teacher, go check which job sector has the worst mental health record.