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Florida Teachers Chatboard

Becoming a FL teacher was the worst mistake of my life

by Broke FL Teacher

Jan 18, 2013

...and it suc k s to say that because I love teaching! But with the FRS contribution, pay cuts,furloughs, salary freezes, and now an increase in SS contribution (not to mention merit pay which I guess will freeze my pay for the rest of my life at my current rate unless I trade in my tenure), my paycheck has not once increased in six years of teachi...See More

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Jamie There is however enough money to give Florida business a tax cut of 50% in Scott's plan for 2013 but as a teacher...U don't count and in Florida...you never did...Find a different job? No employment ads saying: "must be certified teacher with 5+ years experience" Its a dead end job...now days only young fools spend $$$ and time to get a BA in Educa...See MoreThere is however enough money to give Florida business a tax cut of 50% in Scott's plan for 2013 but as a teacher...U don't count and in Florida...you never did...Find a different job? No employment ads saying: "must be certified teacher with 5+ years experience" Its a dead end job...now days only young fools spend $$$ and time to get a BA in Education. I read where enrollment in teacher education programs is down over 40% in California....

On 1/18/13, Scooby wrote: > I feel your pain. I was so upset over the pension case > decision, I did not sleep well. When did we and other FRS > state and local government employees become the bad guys? > When the governor and legislature saw a way to balance the > state's budget on our backs, and make us look like > bloodsuckers on the state's coffers, so the public would be on > their side. When someone asks me why I don't frequent their > business anymore, I tell them to thank the governor for taking > the money I used to spend with them. I also feel for current > pensioners who now have NO cost of living increase EVER > again. I have been teaching in Polk for 20+ years, and my > last good year, where I could actually afford to maybe take a > small vacation was 5 years ago. For the past 4 years, my > income has shrunk, due to a lack of a substantial pay raise > (WHEN Polk does see fit to increase salaries, the folks at the > top of the scale only get $500/yr.) inflation and the pension > contribution. I feel like the person re-arranging the deck > chairs on the Titanic. No matter what I do, I am going DOWN > financially. > > > > > On 1/18/13, Broke FL Teacher wrote: >> ...and it suc k s to say that because I love teaching! But >> with the FRS contribution, pay cuts,furloughs, salary >> freezes, and now an increase in SS contribution (not to >> mention merit pay which I guess will freeze my pay for the >> rest of my life at my current rate unless I trade in my >> tenure), my paycheck has not once increased in six years of >> teaching!!! I am not taking about keeping up with >> inflation: I am talking about the actual, literal, numbers >> on my paycheck. Then, add inflation to that: the price of >> gas, groceries, rent, and everything else has increased. My >> highest-paid year was my first one (literally and >> considering inflation BOTH) I have been sinking into a hole >> for the 5 years since. >> >> "But at least you have a job!" everyone reminds me. Yeah, >> whatever. That's like telling an abused woman "at least you >> have a husband!" I can't afford a decent house in FL. I was >> going to buy one if the supreme court ruling went our way, >> since I will finally have an increase on the payscale next >> year due to college courses completed. But now I can see >> them taking more and more out of my paycheck, and I am >> afraid to buy a house and stay in teaching. I am afraid my >> kids won't get good enough VAM scores, and I lose my >> certification, and then my job, and then the house I would >> have bought. My students have always done well on test >> scores in the past, I am confident in my ability to teach, >> but will they get their 'predicted growth' according to >> VAM? It's all so scary to me. >> >> The public doesn't realize we have mortgages, car payments, >> and contribute to the economy as much as private-sector >> employees do. They see us simply as a drain on society, >> instead of the productive, contributing members we are (or >> could be, if they'd stop bleeding us dry!). I am so very, >> very sad today. I am devastated.

Jan 21, 2013

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Elaine On 1/21/13, Jamie wrote: > > There is however enough money to give Florida business a tax cut > of 50% in Scott's plan for 2013 but as a teacher...U don't count > and in Florida...you never did...Find a different job? No > employment ads saying: "must be certified teacher with 5+ years > experience" Its a dead end job...now days o...See More

Jan 21, 2013

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Judge Lewis can see through Scott's lies

by Broke FL Teacher

Jan 18, 2013

We gave the state "$861 million in the 2011-12 budget" with our 3%. How nice of us.

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A+ Money

by otownteacher

Jan 20, 2013

Anyone know when we can expect to receive A+ bonuses? I am in Orange Co. if that matters. Bookkeeper will only say February and not a word more. February is going to be a long month waiting on that money...

Thanks!

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Scooby I agree about sharing with non-instructional folks. While I would love to be super generous with those folks, THEY aren't evaluated on how students fared on FCAT,nor are their jobs in danger. They won't lose their ability to make a living teaching either, by having their certification revoked for poor performing students. Teachers earned that money...See More

Feb 11, 2013

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Ingrid You are correct in all you say. what I think about is: how can we influence the next generation to change majors and pass on becoming a teacher. Perhaps we cold send a letter to the the school newspaper at the school we graduated as a warning to women and men..."don't graduate into this career hole"

On 2/11/13, Scooby wrote: > I agree ...See More

Feb 12, 2013

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Gov Reich Scott

by Pw

Jan 21, 2013

According to the Tampa Trib about 10 days ago, the multi-billion dollar settlement that Florida and other states entered into from the Dept of Justice agreement with GMAC et al for about $10,000,000,000...Florida got about $60million. This settlement was so the Banksters could avoid CRIMINAL prosecution...for Forged Doc, Robo signings etc. The mone...See More

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Possible move to FL

by aturk001

Jan 22, 2013

My husband and I are thinking about moving to Fl this summer. I currently teach Kindergarten in Ohio, but he is active duty military and getting ready to retire so we are looking for somewhere to start over. He is trying to get a JROTC job in the Tampa area and I want to know what teaching is like in this area. Are there jobs available? What's the ...See More

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Broke FL Teacher On 1/26/13, Julian wrote: > > Scooby is being kind I think. In most matters Florida excels at poor > judgement and in the school system, teachers are treated poorly at best. > Pay is about half of what it would be in the northeast and the maximum pay > is about 40% of what is paid in N.E. areas. On of the worst in Tampa Bay > is P...See More

Jan 28, 2013

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Broke FL Teacher On 1/26/13, Aturk001 wrote: > Staying in Ohio is not an option since we both hate it here. I > absolutely hate cold weather and snow. Funny someone mentioned > Alaska because my husband was put on orders to go to Alaska. He > had to either go or retire so we choose to retire. I lived in > Alaska for 3 years and hated it. As far as pa...See More

Jan 28, 2013

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Hillsborough County Moving Schools

by Scott

Jan 23, 2013

My girlfriend is looking to move schools within the school district. I have heard that I would lose all of my tenure, and basically start all over if she moved schools. Is this true?

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wjs On 1/23/13, Scott wrote: > My girlfriend is looking to move schools within the school > district. I have heard that I would lose all of my tenure, > and basically start all over if she moved schools. Is this > true? I think this only happens when you move to a different district. If you are still in the same district, you are still empl...See More

Jan 23, 2013

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BrokeFL Teacher On 1/23/13, wjs wrote: > On 1/23/13, Scott wrote: >> My girlfriend is looking to move schools within the school >> district. I have heard that I would lose all of my tenure, >> and basically start all over if she moved schools. Is this >> true? > I think this only happens when you move to a different > district. If ...See More

Jan 24, 2013

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The $2500 raise

by BrokeFL Teacher

Jan 24, 2013

Okay, I'm sure we all realize this, but in case there's anyone around here who is a little slow Tricky Ricky got this money from our own paychecks. Remember the 3% that is going into the general fund (giving us a surplus) instead of the retirement fund (which Ricky assured us needed to be added to)? Well, there's your $2500 "raise." Remember, he st...See More

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Scooby I will do my utmost to work for the candidate who opposes Scott in 2014. This $2500 is all 'smoke and mirrors.' When T.R. was on TV the other day, touting his wonderful news for teachers, he should have included, "Pay attention to the man behind the curtain." He is playing 'games', just like the wizard.

On 1/25/13, Teri wrote: > Also, ...See More

Jan 25, 2013

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Broke FL Teacher On 1/25/13, Scooby wrote: > I will do my utmost to work for the candidate who opposes Scott > in 2014. This $2500 is all 'smoke and mirrors.' When T.R. was > on TV the other day, touting his wonderful news for teachers, he > should have included, "Pay attention to the man behind the > curtain." He is playing 'games', just like the wi...See More

Jan 28, 2013

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retire in Florida? teach in Florida?

by jason

Jan 26, 2013

I suggest Colorado...Fort Collins is nice... Cost of living is not that much more than Fl Irregular weather...one day 10 degrees the next 60 degrees. Florida is obsolete as a retirement location. Within a year you will naturally stop going to the beach. Mostly the beaches are empty except for tourists.

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French Tchrs 4 day week

by Jean

Jan 26, 2013

A majority of primary schools were closed on Tuesday in the French capital, as angry Paris-region teachers went on strike to protest against President François Hollande’s first major reform to the country’s school system.

The measure, which calls for reducing the amount of class time during the school day and adding an additional hal...See More

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Schools In Hillsborough Cty These Days?

by former USFBull

Jan 26, 2013

I'm a Sped/Interrelated teacher who taught in a Title I school in GA. I might like to move to Florida. I graduated from USF a few decades ago, but BA was in something other than Ed. (got a post bacc. teacher certificate to change careers a few years ago).

How challenging are the behaviors in the Hillsborough schools? Where I taught, the st...See More

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Broke FL Teacher On 1/27/13, Joanne wrote: > Well, according to reports last month. Florida is number one in the > nation. Number one for numbers of the super wealthy Number one for > child poverty...

That is no conincidence. The wealthy want the rest of us to be peasants. The policies of FL favor the 1%.

Jan 28, 2013

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Broke FL Teacher On 1/26/13, former USFBull wrote: > > I'm a Sped/Interrelated teacher who taught in a Title I > school in GA. I might like to move to Florida. I graduated > from USF a few decades ago, but BA was in something other > than Ed. (got a post bacc. teacher certificate to change > careers a few years ago). >

Why would you g...See More

Jan 28, 2013

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