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

    I'm grateful for you defending me, though I'm not sure I need
    defending, but I'm not "Missing MI." I live in MI. I'm a teacher
    here in a Macomb County suburb. I wouldn't move anywhere as long as I
    have a job. I just chimed into the debate because I hate the whole
    "do it for the kids" argument. Highly skilled, valued, well-paid
    professionals DO help the kids. Bleeding-hearts who are only in it
    for the children are usually sub-par teachers. Not always, but they
    think their selfless-motivation is everything and they don't bother...
    y'know, learning how to teach properly.

    I see what administration is doing to non-tenured teachers and try to
    put pressure on us tenured because there are hundreds who want our
    jobs. If we didn't have a strong union here, my job would be
    miserable and I'd probably move on to something else. As I said, that
    would be a bad thing because I'm an excellent teacher. Excellent
    teachers TEACH, they don't gush about helping the children and happily
    play lunch-lady.

    On 3/09/08, i will defend missing mi wrote:
    > I agree with almost everything Missing MI says....Teachers are made
    > to feel that if they are paycheck to paycheck, lunch
    > babysitters "that they got what they asked for" by getting into
    > this profession. Teachers down South are rarely treated with
    > respect. I work at a charter school in MI and mommies don't come
    > into help, we have to eat with our kids. I'm sorry but that
    > doesn't benefit the kids to have a teacher that hasn't had any
    > relief time. Teachers need a break, ask someone "How do you feel
    > about having 25 five year olds from 8-3 everyday?" They will get a
    > priceless look on their face and probably say "No thanks" so while
    > Missing MI complains she has some good points that some people just
    > don't understand. We are professionals and why some of you have
    > lowered your standards I don't know. To Missing MI: you have valid
    > points and I agree whole heartedly with you, but my suggestion,
    > when people get on here, don't say "move out of michigan" that
    > seems to be your answer for everything, i guess just don't be rude
    > and be a little more sensitive to other people's situations.
    >
    >
    > On 3/09/08, Ticked off PROFESSIONAL wrote:
    >> 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!
    >>

     
     

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