Teachers just can’t seem to get any respect in our society. Why is that? I think one of the main reasons is the length of their work year. With all the vacations and holidays they end up working less than half a year. What other job gets a twenty week vacation the first year in? I know the blame for that does not rest entirely with teachers. I imagine many would prefer to work longer, for more pay of course (although per hour they are probably some of the best paid people around) :).
Another possible reason teachers can’t get respect is maybe their unions. They seem to be much too focused the teachers and less for the students. I’m sure there are those teachers out there who adamantly disagree with that but from the general population standpoint greedy teacher’s unions is the general perception like it or not. Don’t get me wrong I am very much in favor of unions, they are the primary reason we used to have such a prominent middle class in this country. But it seems all unions and particularly the teachers unions have a PR problem in that they maybe need to soften their edges a little bit.
Another possibility why teachers can’t get respect is that they are seen to be very unworldly compared to the rest of us. For the most part they come right out of college and into a classroom. As a result they really don’t fully understand what the world outside classroom doors. Don’t get me wrong, I admire the job most teachers do in the world today. They must teach under some of the worst conditions. I personally don’t think I could hack it in today’s teachers world.
Teachers have one of the most important jobs there is and that is to prepare the next generation to take their place in the world. They have the opportunity to shape the next Einstein, Gandhi, U.S. president, and everyone in between. Lets just hope they are up to it and people get out of their way and let them accomplish that task. I applaud today’s teachers but they need more respect.
RJ's Corner 
Yes, unions have tainted the image of teachers with their strident power plays and influence on politicians. I also know that when I was in school there were not nearly so many college educated parents in the community as there are now. We tended to revere the teachers due to their more extensive education and position. Todays population in general is far more educated and may not consider teachers any smarter than they are…and in many cases they may feel superior to their children’s teacher. Having cushy union generated benefits can lead to envy by those who have less but work just as hard. Just a thought on my part. And of course we are not living in an age of “respect” in any regard…coarseness and incivility rule the day. I would say we should treat a lot of people with more respect…not just teachers.
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Thanks for your usual wise words Jane. Yeah, this seems to be the age of loss of respect. I saw a survey recently that said that about 80% of those polled say that etiquette is no longer necessary; in other words it is now deemed not necessary to be polite to each other.
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I teach 180 days a year. That is About 50 less than the average salaried worker. . I am required to take at least one college type course every year(out of my pocket). Summer workshops cover about a month. I am not sure where anyone gets that I work half a year. Most other professions pay their people to get further education OTJ. Teachers keep Universities from going under during the summer!
About a half of teachers are covered by unions. The AFT rules the East and West Coasts with iron fists. Their teachers salaries range from $50-$100,000 a year. Almost all of us in middle states range from $28,000 to $55,000 a year. I am in my 30th year as a teacher and clear a bit over $43,000 a year. So far I have spent a bit under $1,000 purchasing supplies for my classroom.
You might think my day is 8:25-3:25. My day usually begin with lesson plans at 7:45 and tutoring at 8. I get 28 minutes for lunch and am too far from the bathroom to go between passing periods (which are four minutes long). I have three meetings daily during plan time. I help with the volley ball team after school (receiving $17. A day when I do). My lesson plans took six hours on Monday (usually a Sunday event). I never leave school before 4:30. Today I was at school from7:28 (clock in because teachers always cheat time) until 6:15.
My school requires me to talk to every parent at least once a semester. (I have always done this). Since most of my parents work, I phone 130 people between 5:30 and 8:30 at night. I call several parents many more times than that. I have to input 130 grades at least three times a week. This amount of paper shuffle takes about 20 min per clas IF I am not reading the papers. To respond to 130 students takes about an hour per class (3-4 min per student.) If I miss a spelling error or an incomplete sentence I am accused of not doing my job.
I teach about 40 students with special needs- from mentally handicapped,to autistic, to learning disabled, to hearing impaired, to blind, to emotionally disturbed. I am expected to make sure they are receiving information in the best way possible for them. I am not allowed to send a disruptive student out of my class unless they show signs of physical danger to others. That means if they choose to speak out- I have to figure out a way to turn the attention of the other 29 students from them to my material.Of course, I am to make sure the disrupter also gets equal time for learning as well.
I need to know my content like the back of my hand because there is almost always a parent who knows more, and would like to have some verbal contest with me in front of their child. My favorite response is that I may not know that answer, but I can look it up.
Why do I continue in a profession that people write such articles about me? Articles that imply I am
not worth respecting?
I do it for the kids. My students are now doctors, lawyers, businessowners, homemakers, CIA people;), Veterarians, soldiers, sailors,Marines, missionaries, politicians, even a mayor. Some struggle to make it to the end of the day, others make the end of the day better for others.
Currently I am teaching Life Skills. Maybe if a few of today’s politicians tookmy class they would know how to care for others AND balance a budget!
Btw- I was retired, but the lack of teachers is so great they called me the day before school started and asked me to teach this year. If Jane thinks it is such a cushy job, try It for a week. We are in terrible need of substitutes!
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Janette, I did not say it was a cushy job. I said it had cushy benefits gained thru union bargaining. As you know, I worked in elementary schools for 22 years…not as a teacher, but with teachers. I know it’s not easy. I have known many many teachers and many of them agree that in spite of the negatives they have it pretty good…that’s why they stay. My point is that other occupations require long hours, travel, dealing with difficult people, etc… and they don’t have the benefits that unionized teachers do. All jobs require work….not just teaching. I think unions and their pricey lobbyists have too much influence and power over politicians and they stand in the way of change and reform that would help teachers as well as students. In an ideal world we would be able to give everyone everywhere the same level of security and benefits that union members get…and of course that will never happen.
I do apologize if you feel personally attacked, I never meant to do that.
I do respect you and your profession.
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Thanks for all of this front-lines information Janette. Teaching special needs kids I’m sure is very challenging but it looks like you are well up to the task. The accomplishments of your kids is extraordinary and I certainly applaud you for that.
Much of what you describe is very typical of todays world.
Let’s see 180 days into a 365 day years is less than 50% and having nine extra weeks vacation a year is something else. Most struggle just to get to just 3 weeks after ten years tenure.
With 20% less time worked salaries for teachers is pretty high compared to industry averages for those with college degrees. Medium annual income for college educated is about $45,000 pre-tax (with two weeks vacation compared to nine for teachers)
Even when I was in the business world over twelve years ago I was typically at work at 7AM and left at 5 – 6PM and then often spent six hours on Sunday doing things that I did not have time for at work. So things looked pretty similar to each other. Given that employers are sucking so much from their workers now I don’t imagine that has changed much.
The one major perk that you get that most never achieve is that you were able to see much of the fruits of your work. To say I helped shape the lives of young people would be very rewarding to me as I’m sure it is to you.
I certainly salute you as a teacher. It is perhaps the noblest profession around as far as I am concerned. Maybe that is another PR problems teaches have in not letting people know that there is a drastic need for substitute teachers. I’m sure that there are literally thousands of college educated people out of a job right now that could fill those spots, even as a part-time substitute. But then again I imagine that the teachers unions have put so many restrictions on it that most would not qualify. (Don’t get upset here I am just jerking your chain a little) :)
Thanks again for sharing a little more of your life with us….
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