CHATBOARD MAILRING LESSONS
SUBMIT POST ALL POSTS TOP POSTS
Share | Print | Report Post MI Teachers Chatboard
Search Teachers.Net
Advanced
Quick Links: Set
Subscribe to MI-Teachers
Hot Now...
• August 2008 Gazette
• Teacher Tech Center
• The Lesson Bank
Most Popular
• Set Your Quick Links
• Chat Center
• All Chatboards
• Lesson Bank
• Teacher Mailrings
• Project Center
• Classified Ads
• Live Chat & Meetings
Select by
• State/Region
• Grade Level
• Curriculum
• Interest Group
• Teaching Method
Special Topics
• Technology
• Languages
• Hot Topics
• Career Center
• Distance Learning
• Fundraising
• Tutoring Center
• Teacher's Bookshelf
• Free Printables
• Classroom Photos
• Meeting Archive
• Teaching Articles
• Library
• Web Tools
• Webring
• Search
• Advertise
 


Re: Missing Michigan
Posted by Ticked off PROFESSIONAL on 3/09/08

    On 3/08/08, Teacher wrote:
    > We can talk about how teachers are
    > not paid like professionals and all the stuff we have to put up
    > with all night long....but the reason we choose this job is
    > because we want to make a difference in the lives of kids.

    I absolutely hate this arguement. Its so flawed and full of crap!
    How dare you presume to know why I, or anyone else, went into
    teaching.

    In no profession is there a universal reason why everyone went
    into the profession. This includes teaching. Some cops, for
    instance, went into their field because they had an intrinsic,
    altruistic motivation to help people and fight crime. Others went
    in because they like uniforms and think carrying a gun is cool.
    Now that doesn't mean that the uniform/gun guy isn't a great cop,
    and that the "help people" guy is off the force in a year.

    Its the same thing in our field. Some went in for all the
    intrinsic, "save-the-world" stuff, and some like me wanted a
    steady job with decent pay, benefits, retirement, and summers off.

    Now guess what?? I'm a freaking great teacher! I've never had
    anything under an "Excellent" evaluation, even on my first year.
    I teach sped and have taken kids who at 15 can't read, can't even
    start the Gates-MacGinitie, and taken them to reading at the 8th
    grade level by the time they're 18. I've had parents cry in my
    office in gratitude. Yeah, I've had my failures, but I'd take my
    8 years of teaching, stack it up against everyone else, and
    guarantee you I'm well above average in the "making a difference"
    catagory.

    Guess what? Many of the people who started with me who were going
    to help every child and save the world are not teaching anymore!
    They realized they can't save the world in a high school, and that
    they can't impact every single kid, so they got frustrated and
    left!

    Don't you dare say teachers who have the backbone to demand decent
    treatment and wages aren't good at their job! Not wanting to
    watch kids at lunch doesn't make us bad teachers! It makes us bad
    cafeteria employees, but certainly not bad teachers! My not
    wanting to watch kids throw fries at each other, FOR NO PAY, does
    not make me uncaring. It just means I have some self respect for
    myself and my profession.

    In my experience, the bleeding hearts are crying in the teaching
    lounge because some kid told him/her to F-off, while the more
    pragmatic of us would brush that off and teach. When people feel
    valued as professionals, they put forth a good effort and expect
    fair treatment and compensation back. Thats a good system! When
    people feel like they're doing charity work, they loose their
    enthusiasm when they realize the streets aren't paved with gold
    and eventually quit. You want volunteers teaching kids? People
    pure of heart? Then have a bunch of mommies come in to donate
    their time and see how well they teach. See how long they keep
    coming in too!

     
     

You are on the MI CHATBOARD:   LATEST POSTS   ALL POSTS   SUBMIT POST

Sponsors  

New Moms Wanted!
Join the community for new and expecting moms. Check out Maternityville.com Maternity Chat!

Free Lesson Plans
Thousands of lesson plans and curriculum ideas! teachers.net/lessons

Teaching Jobs
Thousands of teaching jobs and other jobs in education - visit jobs.teachers.net

Check out the latest additions to the Lesson Bank...
 
Google
 
Web Teachers.Net
Click here
  Site Map: Home Search Teaching Jobs Classifieds Lessons Contacts PR Advertise
  © 1996 - 2008. All Rights Reserved. Please review our Terms of Use, Mission Statement, and Privacy Policy.