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New Jersey Teachers Chatboard

How is the situation for teachers in NJ?

by pb

Jun 6, 2011

I was born and raised in South Jersey. I taught school in Cumberland and Gloucester counties up until 1989. I have lived and taught in FL since '89. How is the situation for teachers in NJ now? Situation here in FL is very, very bad for teachers. I would NOT recommend coming to this state to live and teach. I am nearing retirement in the next 3 years, so I am stuck here, but wondered how things were back in my old home state.

view previous comments

Lauren On 6/09/11, Steve wrote: > > If only there was something you can all collectively do.. I > don't know maybe walk off the job and strike? Fight for > your rights.. they won't be handed to you. > > > On 6/08/11, pb wrote: >> To All Who Responded: >> It sounds like the situation for teachers is worse here >> in F...See MoreOn 6/09/11, Steve wrote: > > If only there was something you can all collectively do.. I > don't know maybe walk off the job and strike? Fight for > your rights.. they won't be handed to you. > > > On 6/08/11, pb wrote: >> To All Who Responded: >> It sounds like the situation for teachers is worse here >> in FL than in NJ. It sounds like you still have tenure >> and NO merit pay. >> >> Florida's governor and legislature rammed through >> legislation this spring to remove tenure for new hires >> as of July 1st, a merit pay plan, and ALL state >> employees contributing 3% to their pension. Merit pay >> will take effect in 2014, and IF you want to attempt to >> receive the merit pay(which by the way, is an UNFUNDED >> mandate-so it's already doomed), not only do your >> students have to produce glowing standardized >> test(FCAT) results, BUT if you have tenure, you MUST >> give it up for good. Also, as far as the pension >> contribution goes, most teachers have no problem with >> it, except for the fact that FL ranks 47th in the >> nation for teachers' salaries. Every other southern >> state, except TN, pays their teachers better than FL. >> Also, IF you do not produce a class of brainiacs each >> year for 3 years, your certification will be revoked >> and you will be out of teaching. Oh yes, the climate >> here for teachers is MOST inhospitable. >> >> Due to major budget cuts, all districts are laying off >> folks from cafeteria workers, to bus drivers, to >> teachers. Any teaching openings are being filled by >> tenured teachers whose positions (such as media >> specialist, guidance counselor, reading facilitator) >> were cut for next year. >> >> Why does our governor and legislature seem to despise >> public school teachers so much? Because they wish to >> first, demonize us to the public, demoralize us next, >> and third, drive both good AND bad teachers from the >> classroom or the state. As a result, they can push >> their agenda of privatizing all public schools to the >> masses. WHy privatization? Because they want to: 1. >> reward their corporate contributors who will be awarded >> contracts to operate and profit from the charters 2. >> fully control the content of the curriculum taught to >> charter school students, many of whom in this state are >> minority students (charters in this state are NOT >> required to teach the state standards BUT they still >> have to give the state's standardized test), AND 3. >> reduce the state's educational costs by allowing >> charters to employ uncertified teachers who work for a >> pittance, have little or no benefits or pension, and >> who teach from a script. >> >> Somehow the idiots who run the show in our state >> capital think that, after all of this really BAD >> legislation, FL schools will still produce a prepared >> workforce, ready for the jobs of tomorrow. >> >> Any of you thinking of coming here to find a teaching >> job, PLEASE read the FL chatboard on this website. It >> will be a real eye-opener. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On 6/08/11, ABC's wrote: >>> I agree with Math Teach. I sub and honestly, it has >>> gotten me NOWHERE. The problem in NJ is, so many >>> teachers were laid off last year and still even this >>> year. Positions are being cut left and right. So, the >>> people who are going to get interviews first are the >>> people who were laid off. >>> >>> I also know people who have been subbing for YEARS as >>> daily subs and in long-term positions. They too have >>> gotten nowhere. >>> >>> >>> >>> On 6/08/11, Math Teach wrote: >>>> On 6/08/11, Math Teach wrote: Now for a reply: :) >>>> >>>> Sometimes subbing in a district doesn't even get >>>> you an interview. >>>> >>>> I'm a popular sub in my district (getting >>>> assignments every day). >>>> >>>> I applied for a job in my school twice, and never >>>> got an interview. I majored in math, and am getting >>>> my M.S. in applied math (apparently not good enough >>>> for the education major hiring committee >>>> >>>> So if you are subbing to get a full-time job, be >>>> careful where you spend your time.

Jun 9, 2011

Rachel erhaps I had extremely good luck, but I interviewed for a long term sub position, fulfilled the position, and was asked to return this year. I will be finishing my first full year of teaching, and I am extremely happy. I knew no one in the district in which I work. I had NO connections. My advice is: do whatever you have to do. Sub without being di...See More

Jun 9, 2011

pb Rachel: Congratulations to you. You must be at a school where you are appreciated. I do not mean to sound like I'm a nagging complainer, but you guys and gals in Jersey, DO have it better than the teachers here(FL). I understand that situations for teachers across the country are tough, and seem to be getting tougher each year. I truly feel badly f...See More

Jun 10, 2011

Rachel B: I should have made myself more clear. Since I do not have enough information about teaching in other states, I cannot comment on that. I meant that teachers in NJ complain too much. It is much better pay wise in this state, but it should be. We certainly have a higher cost of living than FL. However, all teachers should be treated with respect a...See More

Jun 14, 2011

PB is right My husband are are (were) teachers in FL. PB is right on. Things here are so bad now we have just got to get out. (and we just moved back to FL last summer!) My husband grew up in NJ and wants us to move north.

I worked with a teacher who left FL and now has a job in NJ. Many of my former co-workers moved to Georgia.

To give you s...See MoreMy husband are are (were) teachers in FL. PB is right on. Things here are so bad now we have just got to get out. (and we just moved back to FL last summer!) My husband grew up in NJ and wants us to move north.

I worked with a teacher who left FL and now has a job in NJ. Many of my former co-workers moved to Georgia.

To give you some perspective: in FL, family health insurance (a terrible plan by the way in our district) would cost us $800 a month. (that does not include dental, vision, or short/long term disability - those are extras if we want them)

Teachers are abused by Principals here and now you will be on annual contract forever! (the entire first year is "probation" now as well) NO tenure ever again. They took away the COLA for the pension, so you'll get a $20,000 pension in year one and you'll still be getting $20,000 twenty years from then (anyone call see that your purchasing power will be nada with any kind of inflation by that time)

Salaries are lower than Mississippi now. Your job automatically ends every June. That's what happened to my husband - we moved back and he had to start back on annual contract. His contract was not renewed because they had to place a tenured teacher into his job in June. He's had 3 interviews this summer, but there are so many teachers fighting for the same scraps now.

I'm ready to go back to my former career in human resources, but the pay is now lower than what I made back in 2001 for the same job!

In any case, we have to get out of FL. Things are just terrible all around down here. There were 2 home-invasions in our little neighborhood. A middle schooler set his girlfriend on fire. A high schooler body-slammed his teacher and then raped a girl on the bus. An illegal ran over and killed a boy at his bus stop. I could go ON and ON like this.

SO we WILL get back to a land with civility and the 4 seasons, one way or another.

On 6/14/11, Rachel wrote: > PB: > I should have made myself more clear. Since I do not have enough > information about teaching in other states, I cannot comment on that. I > meant that teachers in NJ complain too much. It is much better pay wise > in this state, but it should be. We certainly have a higher cost of > living than FL. However, all teachers should be treated with respect and > dignity as we do have the most difficult job in this country. Best of > luck to you. > > On 6/10/11, pb wrote: >> Rachel: >> Congratulations to you. You must be at a school where you are >> appreciated. >> I do not mean to sound like I'm a nagging complainer, but you guys >> and gals in Jersey, DO have it better than the teachers here(FL). I >> understand that situations for teachers across the country are tough, >> and seem to be getting tougher each year. >> I truly feel badly for teachers everywhere. It's enough to deal with >> children who have learning disabilities and/or behavior issues, and >> their parents. When politicians and school administrators add to >> those problems, the life of a teacher can become a living hell. >> Once again, best wishes this coming school year. >> >> >> On 6/09/11, Rachel wrote: >>> Perhaps I had extremely good luck, but I interviewed for a long term >>> sub position, fulfilled the position, and was asked to return this >>> year. I will be finishing my first full year of teaching, and I am >>> extremely happy. I knew no one in the district in which I work. I >>> had NO connections. My advice is: do whatever you have to do. Sub >>> without being disgruntled or bitter. People pick up on attitude, so >>> if you seem bitter or frustrated, everyone will know. I have worked >>> in the private sector and have found it to be an unfulfilling rat >>> race. I truly believe that teachers complain way too much. Be >>> grateful for what you have because there are many who have it a lot >>> worse.

Jul 27, 2011

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