627 replies to this topic

[TM70]

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[JMH]

Not only am I looking at your posting time, I am also looking at the amount of time you are logged on. Also, I am comparing your reply times to the reply times of other posters. I was asking if you are currently a teacher because sometimes we have people post looking to start a flame war.

Tenure is a fact. Ask Mr. Mange. It is incredibly difficult to release a poor performing teacher or a teacher with a really bad attitude from their duties. The process is very long.

In the private sector, in a right to work state such as California, you can terminate a person's employment much quicker and easier.

If you are unhappy with your current job and/or pay then look for other options. Find something that makes you want to jump out of bed and start your day. You can always go back to teaching later if you find that is your true calling.

My daughter is a new teacher - her first year. We tried talking her out of this career. We knew how difficult it would be both emotionally and financially. We hope that she proves us wrong and that it turns out to be an awesome career for her.

Find what you really want to do and go for it.

[cw68]

Ha! I knew that was coming. You're looking at the POSTED TIME. Not when I'm writing it. Also, I type every response in Microsoft Word, which allows me to spellcheck and do some basic grammar checking. It only takes a second to cut and paste then post during lunch, recess or afterschool. NICE TRY!!! Trust me, I'm a bit too busy to be writing this during instructional time. Taking a few minutes during lunch, recess and afterschool, like right now to respond is all part of the job. Just another thing to do. And...I can type about as fast as I can speak. Maybe a bit faster...

At least you're thinking...that's good. I like people who think. New ideas are brought about this way.

Hmm, I didn't think the FCUSD server allowed acess to MyFolsom. The principal at our school is locked out from it, at least.

[TM70]

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[cw68]

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Who edited this post?

[mylo]

I just found out one of my coworkers makes more than me. Can I now demand more money?

[cw68]

I just found out one of my coworkers makes more than me. Can I now demand more money?

BTW, nice avatar. Daughter said she's going to kick you out on Sunday, or make you do yard work instead.

[Orangetj]

I just found out one of my coworkers makes more than me. Can I now demand more money?

Sure you can. Of course, you employer will probably just say "What Jim makes is none of your business. Get back to work!"

[akmommy]

Wow, I've been hearing the parents grumbling in my district (not FCUSD) also about "teachers working 6 hour days" and the "you only work 186 days" and I've tried to be understanding of their position. As a parent, I would never know how many days (unpaid) a teacher spends in the summer collaborating with grade level partners and getting the room ready or putting it away for the summer, how many hours are spent each week during "duty-free lunches" tutoring students (unpaid), how many hours a teacher could go with having so much as a bathroom break, how much unreimbursed money a teacher spends to supply students with necessary materials (notebooks, colored pencils, glue sticks, etc) or "extras" such as food for children who come to school hungry or bandaids because the office is out. The list could go on...

Let me describe my day today: per contract, had to be on campus by 7:30, began drop-off duty at 7:45, school began at 8:00, 1st recess 9:20-9:40 (I am one of 3 teachers on the playground for supervision), return to class for instruction from 9:40-11:35. 11:35-12:10 is "duty-free" lunch--however I must make sure that 2 students get to the office to take medication and I have one parent that I call every day during this time to give progress reports for medical reasons. What is left of my 35 min lunch break might include food or a restroom break if I'm lucky, but usually is consumed with standing in line for the 1 copy machine that 29 teachers and 2 secretaries share or gettting supplies ready for the afternoon. Instruction resumed at 12:10 and continued until 2:10. Today, I spent from 2:20 to 3:45 in a student IEP meeting. According to my calculations, that is over an 8 hour day, with only a brief break--and I have still not graded one single paper or done any preparation of supplies for tomorrow. I will take care of grading, parent phone calls, prepping supplies, etc during the 10-15 additional hours per week I spend working that are not included in the above. I do not have prep time, and am responsible for teaching all subjects (no PE specialist for us).

I love my job, I love teaching children how to read, I am terribly attached to many of the families that I have had the pleasure to meet and work with. Most days, I really don't give a rip how much money I make--which is probably one more reason why my co-workers would never want me on the negotiating team. I wish the subject of $ did not need to enter the picture, but it does. I know budgets could be better managed, costs in some areas could be cut, but when the state of California passes down a pot of $ to the districts that includes a COLA for the teachers, and then the district decides not to use it all for teacher salaries, it makes it very difficult to have any respect for the administration. If they are doing it with COLA $, what other $ are they choosing not to use for it's intended purpose?

[DougP]

Wow, I've been hearing the parents grumbling in my district (not FCUSD) also about "teachers working 6 hour days" and the "you only work 186 days" and I've tried to be understanding of their position. As a parent, I would never know how many days (unpaid) a teacher spends in the summer collaborating with grade level partners and getting the room ready or putting it away for the summer, how many hours are spent each week during "duty-free lunches" tutoring students (unpaid), how many hours a teacher could go with having so much as a bathroom break, how much unreimbursed money a teacher spends to supply students with necessary materials (notebooks, colored pencils, glue sticks, etc) or "extras" such as food for children who come to school hungry or bandaids because the office is out. The list could go on...

Let me describe my day today: per contract, had to be on campus by 7:30, began drop-off duty at 7:45, school began at 8:00, 1st recess 9:20-9:40 (I am one of 3 teachers on the playground for supervision), return to class for instruction from 9:40-11:35. 11:35-12:10 is "duty-free" lunch--however I must make sure that 2 students get to the office to take medication and I have one parent that I call every day during this time to give progress reports for medical reasons. What is left of my 35 min lunch break might include food or a restroom break if I'm lucky, but usually is consumed with standing in line for the 1 copy machine that 29 teachers and 2 secretaries share or gettting supplies ready for the afternoon. Instruction resumed at 12:10 and continued until 2:10. Today, I spent from 2:20 to 3:45 in a student IEP meeting. According to my calculations, that is over an 8 hour day, with only a brief break--and I have still not graded one single paper or done any preparation of supplies for tomorrow. I will take care of grading, parent phone calls, prepping supplies, etc during the 10-15 additional hours per week I spend working that are not included in the above. I do not have prep time, and am responsible for teaching all subjects (no PE specialist for us).

I'm sure your day is quite full and prevents you from fully enjoying your life. However, I find it amazing that you feel that your role is unique or particularly burdensome.

I'm certain that there are countless people on this forum that work just as much, or far longer.

Getting to work at 6:00am so that you can have meetings with India and staying until 7:00pm to work with Asia will ring true for a lot of Folsom residents.

In addition, waking at 3:00am for a pager that indicates a problem in Malaysia is not that uncommon.

I know both myself and many, many others who have lived through this for months or years at a time.

The simple 9-5 job does not exist anymore for the vast majority of people.

Given that California is an "at will" state, someone working in private industry can either stick it out or find a better job. The same thing should be true for state employees too.

[Dave Burrell]

I'm sure your day is quite full and prevents you from fully enjoying your life. However, I find it amazing that you feel that your role is unique or particularly burdensome.

I'm certain that there are countless people on this forum that work just as much, or far longer.

Getting to work at 6:00am so that you can have meetings with India and staying until 7:00pm to work with Asia will ring true for a lot of Folsom residents.

In addition, waking at 3:00am for a pager that indicates a problem in Malaysia is not that uncommon.

I know both myself and many, many others who have lived through this for months or years at a time.

The simple 9-5 job does not exist anymore for the vast majority of people.

Given that California is an "at will" state, someone working in private industry can either stick it out or find a better job. The same thing should be true for state employees too.

Key difference is you get paid 75-150k to do those hours, teachers get paid less then half that. I think thats the point they are trying to make.

[akmommy]

Getting to work at 6:00am so that you can have meetings with India and staying until 7:00pm to work with Asia will ring true for a lot of Folsom residents.

In addition, waking at 3:00am for a pager that indicates a problem in Malaysia is not that uncommon.

I know both myself and many, many others who have lived through this for months or years at a time.




Are there people out there that question the number of hours you put in a work week? Do you use your own personal phone and computer to complete you work, without being reimbursed? If you are working on a project, and need to have met a certain goal by the end of the day, have you every run into the problem that whatever you are building is incapable of being worked on because it is "sad" because mommy and daddy were fighting last night or it didn't get fed breakfast?

I was not trying to imply that my situation is unique in any way--rather, I believe it is quite common for the hundreds of teachers in my district, and the teachers I've met in FCUSD who have worked with my children.

[EDF]

Hey there are a lot of folks in this town that are self employed....and don't get anything...except more bills...

most people now work for small companies or are self employed... they don't get COLA's... just because the state is going to send it down stream from time to time....

the few of us that work for the large company here in town don't have any guarantees that teachers get in "tenure"... they can be let go at anytime... and we've had some layoffs... and out sourcing... It's kind of tough to outsource a teaching gig.... at least the way we teach kids today....

therefore teachers really have it about the same or even easier than the rest of us...and they shouldn't be treated any less or better than those of us that pay the taxes...

the last poster who said that they didn't care how much money they got because they loved teaching is just the kind of teacher we want... because teaching is a noble profession that is also a "calling".. much like a pastor or priest...

and in the private sector, you have to constantly keep updated in your field and yea it may be at your own expense... but that's the price you have to pay to stay competitive....

[mylo]

Getting to work at 6:00am so that you can have meetings with India and staying until 7:00pm to work with Asia will ring true for a lot of Folsom residents.

Yes, but it's 5am to meet with London, and 9pm to meet with Sydney and Tokyo.

Then there's the fabulous 2am meetings, so you can meet both of them!

Wait, Jim makes more than me.. I demand a union!

[Robert Giacometti]

I do understand what the teachers are saying about falling behind with the offer they are being given. Its probably going to be difficult for them to get much sympathy from those in the private sector or those who have small businesses.

Anytime you hear about the increase in "productivity" in the work force, that can be translated as employees doing more. Those who work in the private sector can confirm they are working more hours, harder than ever before ( I'm NOT saying teachers aren't) and preforming more tasks. Many are probably paying more out of pocket for their health insurance, than ever before AND many haven't had a raise recently....if they didn't have a reduction in wages.

Anyone in the private sector who works in mid management has the constant fear of the company having bad quarter resulting in their 15 years plus of dedication being tossed away to improve the bottom line. Sadly it happens all the time!

I have many friends who have small businesses, they are struggling too. They get squezzed by big chains, rising costs ( water, sewar, Business license fees) and competition. I personally know some that can NO longer afford to pay for health care costs so they go without insurance....so they can stay in business!

IMHO, even though I understand what the teachers are saying.....I just don't see those in the private sector or those who are struggling in their small businesses to be overly sympathetic to the teachers falling behind with the COLA, when others are not getting any raise at all...but are working for less!