A sample of how 'hard' teachers have it

[sarsipias1234]

No you don't, you want teachers that will do it for poverty wages because YOU LIKE MONEY and don't want to pay taxes for their pay/benefits.

By the way, why do work and are you doing it free or at poverty wages?

My income is at the poverty level and I love what I do.

I make approximately $11,000 a year which I am able to get by on very comfortably with smart purchases and lean living.

I help people. That is what motivates me and gives me some hope that tomorrow will better than today.

I cannot get this satisfaction out of money. I grew up in a real small town where money meant nothing and hard work, empathy, compassion and honesty meant everything.

 

[Engineer]

The only way to fire a teacher in California is through a court case. A district it self cannot fire a teacher. You need a judge another 3rd party to BOTH agree to fire the teacher. If only one agrees then the teacher cannot be fired for any reason. Cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to fire a single teacher. It is rediculous.

For the record, I think that crap like that should be removed. While teachers do face tremendous challenges day to day, there is no reason that it takes an act of congress to remove a truly bad teacher.

 

[Engineer]

My income is at the poverty level and I love what I do.

Good for you. What is that?

 

[sarsipias1234]

I help people! And the synergy I create with the people I help provides my meager income.

This is what I do. I help. This is the only thing that makes me happy.

I give more than I take overall.

This is necessary for humans to be truly happy people.

What do you do for a living?

I have had over 100 jobs over my 25 years working so I have no one skill set.

 

[D-Man]

My area. Drivers ED teacher Masters degree Salary $137,000 70% Retirement pay all get 3% increases every year
Asst District Super 3-22% raises pension spiking $374,000 70% Retirement
Athletics Coach Masters Degree $190,000 70% Retirement Collecting Retirement went to coach at another School.
What we have are Public Employees who serve the Union First and the Public 2nd
this is going to turn bad really soon as we see the decline of revenue in many towns. In Illinois. In the two Districts in my area the IEA/NEA gave concessions to save hundreds of teaching jobs. It is going to get worse. Also in Illinois the whole state pays for the pensions. So the poorer districts get screwed big time.
I am not at all for bashing teachers but there comes a point where we need to have as taxpayers some control over what the school boards agree to on our behalf. Look at the starting pay for new teachers if they had to take loans to get their teaching degree their starting pay is very low.
We need an overhaul

 

[Engineer]

I help people! And the synergy I create with the people I help provides my meager income.

This is what I do. I help. This is the only thing that makes me happy.

I give more than I take overall.

This is necessary for humans to be truly happy people.

What do you do for a living?

That doesn't tell me what you do but fair enough.

As for me...EE specializing (for nearly 20 years) as a Controls/Automation Engineer. Thought my name would have given it away! :biggrin:


I bring good things to life (and a few crappy ones too)

 

[yottabit]

Hey, I knew a guy who was a helicopter pilot for Steve Forbes, he got paid $300k a year and only actually had to fly around a few times per month

Let's ban helicopters!

 

[sarsipias1234]

That doesn't tell me what you do but fair enough.

As for me...EE specializing (for nearly 20 years) as a Controls/Automation Engineer. Thought my name would have given it away! :biggrin:


I bring good things to life (and a few crappy ones too)

I do many different things as I am trained in many different fields. My dad was a machinist, carpenter, electrician, and an airplane mechanic so I follow his example of having many skills.

I have finished almost 3 years of a physics degree and plan to complete my degree someday.

The California college is system is excellent but too expensive for most to afford these days.

When I started college the costs were $4,332 per year. Today the cost is $13,000 per year. I know for sure I won't be able to afford to complete college in california. I will have to move to another state.

 

[sarsipias1234]

Hey, I knew a guy who was a helicopter pilot for Steve Forbes, he got paid $300k a year and only actually had to fly around a few times per month

Let's ban helicopters!

Just like Donald Trump he pays a lot of money to get the best pilots so they minimize death by gravity.

Donald Trump pays an American Airline pilot a lot of money alone because he was the top pilot at American Airline.

Are all the high school teachers the top of their class? They all can't be number one.

 

[theeedude]

You forget one main difference. Billionaires do not take one cent from tax payer's pocket but teacher's salary and pension (public school teachers) come from tax payer's pocket.

If you privatize education and market supply and demand determines that teacher should get this level of pay and benefit, nobody should say a word about it. But if they are part of the political special interest group, backed by union, and their salary is not based on their skills and market demand/supply but purely political push and shove, and that political push and shove impact us and our tax money, then of course everyone should have a say in this.

Having said that, I don't think teacher's salary is too high. It is the pension that is problematic, this goes for every other public workers. Defined benefit pension scheme is the worst invention ever for public workers. This "defined benefit" is often used by politicians to buy votes during elections. And every time the benefit is increased, no corresponding revenue source is identified. Tax payers is left holding the bag for all these political bribery.

Pension should just be a money management program, you have define contribution, you have your 401k, and whatever you put in plus the interest, will be your retirement money. No more, no less. No political promises, not tax payer subsidies.

So basically your argument is that because teachers provide a public service they should not have too nice of a pension. Are you against nice pensions for the military as well, or just teachers?

 

[rchiu]

So basically your argument is that because teachers provide a public service they should not have too nice of a pension. Are you against nice pensions for the military as well, or just teachers?

1. Go ahead and give public workers all the pension they want, but keep in mind that a) can the tax payers afford it? and b) is there higher priority/more productive items those tax money can go to?

2. Most private sector workers don't have defined benefit pension. We do not get a percent of our salary, we contribute to our pension and retirement plans, and we get what we contributed plus interest. We the private sector workers contribute to the country, economy the same way was the public worker. What makes public workers more "deserving" than the private sector workers? Why is military, teachers, more deserving of a "nice" pension for life?

3. We see time and time again, how defined benefit pension bankrupts companies, and now states and the country. What solutions do you have to solve the money problem with these defined benefit pension? Or all you care about is "nice" pension for everyone but don't care if your country goes bankrupt or not?

 

[smitbret]

My parents are both teachers in a Public Junior High School. If had known then, what I know now, I would have gone in to teaching. Ultimate stability, government benefits, annual raises even in a downturned economy. I don't feel sorry for teacher's at all. They may work harder than most government employees, but they certainly have it much easier than typical private sector.

 

[theeedude]

1. Go ahead and give public workers all the pension they want, but keep in mind that a) can the tax payers afford it? and b) is there higher priority/more productive items those tax money can go to?

2. Most private sector workers don't have defined benefit pension. We do not get a percent of our salary, we contribute to our pension and retirement plans, and we get what we contributed plus interest. We the private sector workers contribute to the country, economy the same way was the public worker. What makes public workers more "deserving" than the private sector workers? Why is military, teachers, more deserving of a "nice" pension for life?

3. We see time and time again, how defined benefit pension bankrupts companies, and now states and the country. What solutions do you have to solve the money problem with these defined benefit pension? Or all you care about is "nice" pension for everyone but don't care if your country goes bankrupt or not?

Maybe private sector employees deserve defined benefit pensions too.

 

[sarsipias1234]

Maybe private sector employees deserve defined benefit pensions too.

Maybe the 36,615 people who died from starvation in one day in 2001 deserved food too!

On Tuesday September 11, 2001, at least 35,615 of our brother and sisters died from the worst possible death, starvation. Somewhere around 85% of these starvation deaths occur in children 5 years of age or younger. Why are we letting at least 30,273 of the most beautiful children die the worst possible death everyday? Every 2.43 seconds another one of our fellow brothers and sisters dies of starvation. Starvation doesn't just happen on Tuesday September 11, 2001, it happens everyday, 365 days per year, 24 hours per day, it never stops.

That's a quote from:http://www.starvation.net/

We are absolutely insane and absurd to be so selfish when so many human beings are dying from starvation.

I think about this every day of my life. I do what I can to help by giving more than I take.

 

[Red Dawn]

My parents are both teachers in a Public Junior High School. If had known then, what I know now, I would have gone in to teaching. Ultimate stability, government benefits, annual raises even in a downturned economy. I don't feel sorry for teacher's at all. They may work harder than most government employees, but they certainly have it much easier than typical private sector.

The only time I feel sorry for them is when the Right attacks them to make political hay. How iwould you feel if your profession was made a boogeyman by one of the Political Parties?Well that's what's happened to Teachers. The only reason why the Republicans are doing it is because Teachers and their Unions usually support the Democrats, the only reason and if the Republicans say different then they are lying as usual.

 

[alkemyst]

My biggest problem with teachers is there are so few good ones and most act as if they are America's saviors.

When discussing their salaries and benefits they simply lie and make shit up as if we are clueless. I assume this comes from them being teachers and usually 'right' on most things they talk about to others.

When confronted on 'annual raises', they will say that's a lie and in the end admit "well yes, we get a cost of living adjustment...but that is not a raise."

when confronted on 'time in service raises', they will insist that's a lie and only works in the military.

It's no different than the goverenment workers crying about how bad they have it and there really isn't a 'pension' anymore. They use 'private sector' paychecks to show how little they make. Well those 'private sector' examples are usually government contractors which also make more than most real 'private sector' counterparts as well.

I have found in the end, today's people will find the position that pays them what they are worth 80% of the time. The other 20% are either lazy or afraid to speak up / make changes.

Teachers are jumping on this bandwagon because they see potential increase earnings to come from it.

In reality, if they just rose to the occassion and put America back on the map and ended this F school drama, I am sure the 'people' would kick a few extra greenbacks their way. Unfortunately, they have all the excuses:

1) it's the parents
2) it's their friends
3) it's having no budget
4) it's having no time
5) it's because they have unrealistic goals
... ad infinitum

 

[Red Dawn]

My biggest problem with teachers is there are so few good ones and most act as if they are America's saviors.

When discussing their salaries and benefits they simply lie and make shit up as if we are clueless. I assume this comes from them being teachers and usually 'right' on most things they talk about to others.

When confronted on 'annual raises', they will say that's a lie and in the end admit "well yes, we get a cost of living adjustment...but that is not a raise."

when confronted on 'time in service raises', they will insist that's a lie and only works in the military.

It's no different than the goverenment workers crying about how bad they have it and there really isn't a 'pension' anymore. They use 'private sector' paychecks to show how little they make. Well those 'private sector' examples are usually government contractors which also make more than most real 'private sector' counterparts as well.

I have found in the end, today's people will find the position that pays them what they are worth 80% of the time. The other 20% are either lazy or afraid to speak up / make changes.

Teachers are jumping on this bandwagon because they see potential increase earnings to come from it.

In reality, if they just rose to the occassion and put America back on the map and ended this F school drama, I am sure the 'people' would kick a few extra greenbacks their way. Unfortunately, they have all the excuses:

1) it's the parents
2) it's their friends
3) it's having no budget
4) it's having no time
5) it's because they have unrealistic goals
... ad infinitum

No teachers are scared because they are under attack by LIARS like you

 

[alkemyst]

No teachers are scared because they are under attack by LIARS like you

Yeah having F schools was a total fabrication. My bad y0.

 

[Red Dawn]

Yeah having F schools was a total fabrication. My bad y0.

Motivated Students supported by their parents always do well y0

 

[alkemyst]

Motivated Students supported by their parents always do well y0

Like I said, teachers today totally punk out and say they are incapable of teaching because of the parents.

Since the start of school there have always been uninterested parents. Teachers of the past (and some today) overcome that major setback by spurring the interest of the child. Today they just grumble and do cookie cutter / ineffective lesson plans that rarely get updated (even though they are constantly working on them).

It's pathetic.

 

[Engineer]

Like I said, teachers today totally punk out and say they are incapable of teaching because of the parents.

Since the start of school there have always been uninterested parents. Teachers of the past (and some today) overcome that major setback by spurring the interest of the child. Today they just grumble and do cookie cutter / ineffective lesson plans that rarely get updated (even though they are constantly working on them).

It's pathetic.

It's not just parents, it having no real ability to control your classroom (i.e. no real punishment) and the fact that you can't keep any children out of the classroom because of laws like No Child Left Behind (Every child held behind).

It's a no win situation....

 

[alkemyst]

It's not just parents, it having no real ability to control your classroom (i.e. no real punishment) and the fact that you can't keep any children out of the classroom because of laws like No Child Left Behind (Every child held behind).

It's a no win situation....

don't hear about the teachers bitching about that though, makes their job easier.

"pay us more monies please though"

 

[Exterous]

My parents are both teachers in a Public Junior High School. If had known then, what I know now, I would have gone in to teaching. Ultimate stability, government benefits, annual raises even in a downturned economy. I don't feel sorry for teacher's at all. They may work harder than most government employees, but they certainly have it much easier than typical private sector.

Perhaps in your area that is not the case across the country. My wife has lost her job several times over the last couple of years. A local school district fired ALL teachers with less than 7 years in the district last year. I don't think that counts as ultimate stability. As for your annual raises - your blanket statment does not hold true across the country. My wife's pay HAS GONE DOWN the last two years. 3% pay cut last year, 2% pay cut this year. No step increase. So certainly no annual raises even in a downturned economy there

But hey - it's easier to point at all teachers and make negative blanket statements isn't it?

When confronted on 'annual raises', they will say that's a lie and in the end admit "well yes, we get a cost of living adjustment...but that is not a raise."

As I said above - a lot of districts have frozen step increases over the last few years meaning no cost of living increase either

 

[Exterous]

don't hear about the teachers bitching about that though, makes their job easier.

"pay us more monies please though"

You must not talk to a lot of teachers then. It most certainly does not make their job easier. It is so far to the opposite of 'makes the job easier' it's not even funny

 

[alkemyst]

I think you are heavily biased in this. There was probably more to the reason your wife was the one that kept getting fired time after time and got the pay decreases.

What districts have had verifiable pay freezes and have also had the average salary per teacher go down?

What these usually are for is to get the dead weight to leave under their own accord and then the rest get bumped up.

This is the same as bringing a third person in when there is only enough hours for two full time people. Usually the slacker is the first to just quit.