Re: Another Perspective
Posted by Older Teacher on 3/14/08

The only thing that I think Missing MI needs to understand (and I said this
before, so forgive me for sounding like a broken record) is how lucky she (and
all of us teachers are). I was in legal aid law and worked at small law firms
(yes, as a lawyer) for 7 years before I began teaching. I never made more than
$35,000 per year, so when I was 32 (like MM is now), I made about $15k less
than she does now. I had no vacations...because lawyers are a dime a dozen,
taking vacation could mean that you weren't "dedicated" and therefore
replacable. There are no contracts and can be fired for any reason, or no
reason (like when my boss told me that he wanted a "partner" who could "take
the clients golfing and get busines"...he said this to me after I spent 2 years
working 8-6 every day, not getting mileage reimbursed, taking only 2 sick days
and 1 vacation and making a whopping $33,000 per year). Most people in their
30s don't make $50,000. (My husband does make over $70k with OT, but he works
7-5 every day and hardly ever gets time off and has been with the company for
10 years).

I am grateful for my teaching job every single day of my life. I teach in
Detroit Public Schools and make around $50k, more than I've ever made in my
life. I love my job and I am so, so grateful to be here! As dorky as this
sounds, even if I won the lottery, I wouldn't quit. (Well, I'd have to think
about it, I guess :))

My point is (and again, I know I've said this before, so forgive me), is that I
think teachers should have gratitude, at least some time. When I was making my
low $30,000s salary, I would have bubbled in 4000 bubbles if that's what my
boss told me to do. I wouldn't have been happy, but if I complained, he could
have replaced me in a heartbeat with the dozens of lawyers who would have
jumped at the chance to do any kind of legal work.

I'm going to get creamed for this, but here we go...I often think that teachers
should have to do something else before they begin teaching. At least everyone
would know what the "other world" is like...no contracts, no vacations, crap
work, etc.

I am just offering another perspective....


On 3/13/08, Missing MI wrote:
> Hey Ticked Off!
> I loved your post! You are so right. I would have made $70,000 in MI this
> year with 9 years of experience and a Master's Degree. I make $50,000
> here. And I pay at least $2000 more on health insurance a year. The cost
> of living is not less. I mean gas is a bit cheaper, but our rent is more
> than our mortgage was in MI. And we pay more for milk! And we have the
> stinking ad valorem tax here for cars. The cost of living in other parts of
> GA may be less than in MI, but not this part of GA. The GA guy got really
> pissed at me too. All I am doing is stating facts. Less money, more work.
> Less prep time, more paperwork. More working hours, less teaching hours.
> Less challenging curriculum. Less snow-and I love it!!!!

Posts on this thread, including this one

• Leaving Michigan, 3/07/08, by Northern Grad.
• Re: Leaving Michigan, 3/07/08, by Chicagomark.
• Re: Leaving Michigan, 3/07/08, by Missing MI.
• Re: Grand Rapids?, 3/08/08, by Torn.
• Re: Missing Michigan, 3/08/08, by Teacher.
• Re: Missing Michigan, 3/08/08, by In Defense.
• Re: Grand Rapids?, 3/08/08, by Grand rapids public has not settled contract yet.
• Re: Missing Michigan, 3/08/08, by You have some shallow standards..
• Re: Missing Michigan, 3/08/08, by CJC.
• Re: Missing Michigan, 3/09/08, by Ticked off PROFESSIONAL.
• Re: Missing Michigan, 3/09/08, by i will defend missing mi.
• Re: Your sterotypes make you look very small!, 3/09/08, by trey.
• Re: Your sterotypes make you look very small!, 3/09/08, by Marie.
• Re: Missing Michigan, 3/09/08, by Ticked off....
• Re: Your sterotypes make you look very small!, 3/09/08, by ticked off in Michigan.
• Re: Your sterotypes make you look very small!, 3/10/08, by Try again to get it right please..
• Re: Your sterotypes make you look very small!, 3/10/08, by Actually I can compare...
• Re: to TICKED OFF!, 3/10/08, by Teacher.
• Re: Your sterotypes make you look very small!, 3/10/08, by Marie.
• Re: Your sterotypes make you look very small!, 3/10/08, by Ticked off!!!.
• Re: Your sterotypes make you look very small!, 3/11/08, by You are wrong on your info. Experience is the answer..
• Re: Your sterotypes make you look very small!, 3/11/08, by Ticked off.
• Re: Ticked off, 3/11/08, by Blake T..
• Re: Your sterotypes make you look very small!, 3/13/08, by goldy.
• Re: The guy from GA is a pain!!, 3/13/08, by Missing MI.
• Re: I love you, Ticked Off!!, 3/13/08, by Missing MI.
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/14/08, by Older Teacher.
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/16/08, by Missing MI.
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/16/08, by You Win.
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/17/08, by ....
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/18/08, by Missing MI.
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/18/08, by ....
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/18/08, by Mark.
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/18/08, by Missing MI.
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/19/08, by ....
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/19/08, by Mark.
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/19/08, by Me.
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/20/08, by ....
• Re: Another Perspective, 3/20/08, by mark.
• Re: Leaving Michigan, 5/06/08, by Michelle.

 
 
 

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