Berge, I wasn't referencing all teachers. I meant some of them (obviously.) I was merely refuting your dissection of Mencken's quote. I had my share of good ones, and my share of bad ones. The bad ones were laughable in their ineptitude, and for a variety of reasons. To some extent, I DID teach myself the basics (including long division, via headphones.) I would have absolutely no problem telling them that they were inept.
10 percent of teachers are exceptional, they should receive exceptional pay. 10 percent of teachers are incompetent, they should be dismissed. The other 80 percent are various degrees of average and they receive various degrees of average pay. Seems like a good system to me. It kind of works that way in every profession. But there may be a separate issue. If teaching or any other job is stressful, emotionally demanding, and financially and intellectually unrewarding . . . you somestimes must pay them more than they are worth or you can't fill the positions. It is in nobody's interest for the teaching ranks in our kids schools to become entirely populated with teachers on the low side of average. One must compete with the salaries available to bright people with teachers qualitifcations in the open market in order to retain the best and the brightest. Balance is the key.
a first year teacher in east baton rouge makes 29k. The means clearing 20-23k after taxes. Most of these teachers are paying 2-4k every year for the first 10 years to pay off school loans. Several hundred dollars or more each year on supplies (not just for the teacher, but for the students as well, because the school board doesnt foot the bill). 9 months is actually closer to 10 because teachers dont leave when the students do and they go back earlier. A typical middle school teacher goes in at 6:30, gets off anywhere between 3 and 5, goes home (if they dont coach), grades papers for a few hours (6 periods with 25 students in each class, alot of papers), designs lessons (yes, any decent teacher actually comes up with lesson plans.. the ones who dont are typically the older teachers who had no business in the classroom anyway.. before no child left behind, you had parents with no college educations teaching at some schools.. and lesson plans must consider many things; learning styles, individual students with specials needs, time constraints from the new "comprehensive curriculum", aligning lessons to standards and grade level expectations, etc...), phone calls with parents, etc... Some people say that teachers are glorified babysitters... babysitters, per hour worked, actually can make more money than a teacher... The first thing an education student is told is that if they are going into teaching for the money and the summer off, they should change majors. A teacher has to be someone who is willing to go to school for 4 years (plus most are expected to get a master's) and not make alot of money... that the stress level for such low compensation will drive out those who arent in it for the students... A teacher is similar to a soldier.. they serve out of a feeling of responsibility for the welfare of our country and its citizens. THis is one of the reasons that more than half of all teachers change professions before their 5th year.. Most of these are the ones that wanted that summer off but realized that the work was more than they were willing to do for the low compensation.. sadly, the rest are the good teachers who care about their profession but just cant afford to provide for their families while earning pay that borders the poverty line (some parishes in LA pay teacher less tha 20k BEFORE TAXES).
The 9 month point is complete BULL****! Having a mother that is a teacher I know for a fact that she and most teachers use the summer to get ready as far as making lesson plans and getting stuff not provided by the school for their rooms. The extra stuff students like to mess around with. Teachers are not paid enough across the board, some parishes get more than others as with the same as some states. But on an average across the nation teachers pay is subpar. The only reason I plan on getting my teachers degree after I get out the Army is because I am getting out on a MEB and will recieve a % of pay so what I get paid is of no concern. BUT there are alot of good teachers out there that dont get what they should.
Because it hasnt reached the point of no return yet, its getting there with having 30+ students in one class. When La started the "we dont care what kind of a degree you have just come and teach" because we need teachers is a major sign that the supply is running out. The demand will never go down will never change because there will always be kids that need to be taught. But each year there are fewer teaching degrees being earned and at some point the pay will have to increase to entice people back to the career. See there are ways right now that they can get around not paying teachers better, but they are running out of excuses.
good question.. there is a low supply of teachers in louisiana yet they arent paid as a rare commodity... thats why teachers are leaving louisiana in droves... thats why a large percentage of the teachers in louisiana are underqualified... the good ones that stay are staying because they love this state and they want to make it better, despite the insulting salary.. as in all things, you get what you pay for...
OK, Guys lets hear from a teacher. And that teacher would be me, Heather. First, No offense, but I REALLY HATE that quote "Those who can do, those who can not teach". Well, lets see I believe that I can do both and do it very well. And I guess it hits a nerve because I am a teacher (math and technology), my father is a teacher (math, chemistry and physics), my grandmother was a teacher (English, yuck) as well as my great-aunt, great-uncle and great-grand father were teachers. They are and were excellent teachers that were very well respected by their peers, students and the community. I went into teaching because I wanted to make a difference. I saw how my Dad made a difference with the kids and how he helped many that would have been lost. I did not go into teaching because of the money. It would be totally idiotic to think that someone does, but then again… I could be wrong. I became a teacher at the age of 32. This is beginning my sixth year of teaching. Before that I graduated LSU in 93 with a General Studies Degree. I still really didn’t know what I wanted to do. So, I went into retail management with K & B. I worked hard, had no weekends off at all, no holidays, etc., but I really liked it. Then Rite Aid bought out K & B and made us all salaried, which reduced our pay while they demanded that we work 6-7 days a week, 60 or more hours. Knowing that this was not what I wanted (because I wanted to make a difference like my Dad) I went back to school and got an Alternative Certification degree to teach Math at the secondary level or High School. I also had to pass three tests before I could even take the other two to be a certified teacher as well as the first year teacher program by the state. Funny thing is that nothing really changed from Rite Aid to being a teacher except I was just happier and more satisfied with my new career. I made the same pay, worked the same days and hours. I must say teaching is the hardest thing that I have ever done. Even now I worry about my students (120 of them) and if they are eating and sleeping. I have to be a role model for my students. I have to lead by example. I have to discipline them, get cussed out sometimes and threatened. I also have to sometimes be a mother and a father, stay in at lunch in case someone needs tutoring in the lunch lab, teach content to them and make sure they understand during and sometimes after class, contact parents by phone and mail, do lesson plans, research and stay current on technology and math, follow the state GLEs, follow the national standards, follow the Comprehensive Curriculum, take attendance and enter it in the computer and grade book, grade 120 papers and respond to them, enter them into the computer and my grade book, work athletic games, open house, do duty, be the head of the math department, be the tech facilitator and hold hands in technology and teach students to fix computers at the school, keep the school network and computers running, help publish the school newsletter, make sure the school web site is done correctly, sit on the district discipline board, sit on the school improvement board, come in during the summer because something is wrong with a computer, or come in a week before all the other teachers to take all the students ID’s, go above and beyond what is in my job description as teacher, and lastly, love and care for my students and do what I can to prepare them for the real world and testing in the spring, while not trying to teach to the test and making sure that their education is first. Oh, yeah and getting a Masters Degree in Educational Technology at the same time with a 4.0. Never, once have I complained about what I do. Get frustrated, yes. I have not once been offered extra pay above my teachers salary, nor have I asked for it. I do not get paid extra for being head of the math department, help with technology or sit on committees or the extra week or days that I put in. Also, I take my work home with me and spend Sundays grading papers, not to mention the extra hours after school. And yes, I get paid for 9 months that is spread out over a year. They hold money out of each check so we get paid once a month, YES, once a month for twelve months. I could choose not to do any of this and still get paid the same salary. But, then I think as you say I would be one of the ones that just teach because I can not do. Is it any wonder why some do not want to do? Oh yeah lets not forget that we buy 95% of our own supplies and sometimes our own air conditioner if we want one. I totally understand that there are teachers this quote applies to and that these are the ones that spoil the whole barrel. However, I really get sick and tired of hearing everyone lump all teachers in the same barrel. No, we are not all equal, but I believe that my profession gets a bum rap unlike other professions. There are second-rate doctors, lawyers, nurses, etc. and even pro athletes (which I personally feel are highly overpaid for what they do) just like teachers. I am not saying that teachers deserve the same pay as pro athletes, but pro athletes sure as hell do not deserve millions for what they do even if they do it well. But, then again this is the society in which we live. I personally do not think that there is any profession that deserves to make millions unless you earn it and invest it wisely. Once again I did not go into teaching for the money, but it would be nice to make a little more for those of us that can "do". Especially, with a masters degree. The saying walk a mile in my shoes applies to each and everyone on of us. Beside, HL Mencken is an idiot. And I am glad I got that off my chest and hope I did not offend anyone. So I am sure I will get bashed now for my views and opinions. Heather P.S. -Sorry for the typos (damn computer, ). I always joke that I am a math teacher and not an English teacher. I am a horrible speller so I rely on my computer a lot. :shock: Some times it shows. :nope:
Of course not Heather. We all know that some teachers are very good & make an impact on lots of kids life. Surely each & every one of us has had atleast one teacher in our life that has impacted us in some way. You are right, teachers in general might get a bad rap for the flaws of some. But unlike with other professions, I seem to have had far more bad teachers than good ones...
You own a company that makes cars... you feel that, though you want the cars you make to be good, you also feel that you should pay the people who build your cars the least you possible can, an amount much, much lower than what your competition pays. Because you dont pay well, most of the skilled workers leave for the other companies. THe one's who stay are the ones who had a parent that worked for you, or that live near the factory, and they feel certain ties to the company and they want to improve it. Because of your low pay, many of the workers you are forced to hire know nothing about cars, or they are people who built, say, houses, but couldnt find a job, so you hire them to build your cars because they have at least built somethign before. As you ship our your cars, you see them break down. The few cars that do work well, because they were built by your few remaining skilled workers, are used to drive to the competition's car lot...
