Somebody Said this earlier - Page 1

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/03/daley-were-a-country-of-whiners.html

 

While I do agree that as a whole, Americans have become whiners, I think that it also applies to other countries.  I disagree with what Daley said about teachers only working 6 hours a day!  I'm a teacher and he has no idea how many hours outside of school teachers spend working on lesson plans, research, grading papers, going to meetings, etc.  I probably put in at least 50 hours a week as a teacher.  And yes, I even have to work on my curriculum over the summer.  What so many people don't realize is that teachers put in a lot of hours working outside of the classroom!  It is not an easy job and has a high burn out rate.

Did you know that math teachers are "imported" from India to teach high schoolers in our inner cities! I would like to hear what they are whining about after a few years.

Also, what does that say about the future for educated workers in India? All this outsourcing! I can't imagine a more boring job than working at a boiler room/ call center. I'd be whining my ass off if that's as good as it gets.

Never heard of importing math teachers from India--where did you get that information?

In the CT Post, they did an article on the problem of attracting math and science teachers to the higher grades in the inner city. Also, if I remember, I think there was one teacher from India who got the parents and kids up in arms when he filed a complaint when the administrators altered the grades he gave out as being too low. He ended up being vindicated.

... Oh and I don't think it is the teacher's or their work week that is overloading the money boat... it is all those Administrator's with the balloonlike salaries and pensions and other perks unknown to the private sector.

Blame the working class seems to be the flavor of the month. Don't suppose fighting wars all over the world , no bid contracts being awarded to big business has anything to do with the economy do you.
Hank

The real middle class can't afford to pay the specialty deals the Unions have maintained. It is bankrupting the working poor who are the real ones bankrolling these perks--- that have been eroded for them. IMO

You know it doesn't surprise me if the inner cities are importing teachers since the pay is much lower for the teaching profession than other professions and we aren't treated as professionals.  I'm a biology teacher at a private school.  It's so true about the administrators!  They make so much more money than teachers and they put most of the work on the backs of the teachers!  We don't have teaching unions in my state so I can't really make a comment on them since I have never been in one.  However, I think teachers will become scarce in the years ahead because of all of the red tape from the government, low pay, and long hours.  I don't think it is fair to base someone's salary or job security on their student's test scores.  Teachers should not be held responsible for what student's may lack in the way of intelligence or prior knowledge that was not taught to their students by previous teachers.  For example, student A has a low IQ and does not score well on his/her standardized test---why is the teacher held responsible?  Or, student B did not have a good math teacher in a previous grade and does not score well in math on a standardized test.   Student C has learning disabilities and does not test well.   You get the point.   Believe it or not, teaching is a very stressful job because they (teachers) are held responsible for many things beyond their control and have to answer to parents and administrators.  I've been in it for 15 years and if I were younger, I would get out of it in a heartbeat.  Most of my fellow teachers feel the same way and many young teachers don't stay in it after 3 or 4 years.  

If a student has a low IQ, shouldn't he/she be in special education?

If the student did not have a good math teacher previously, than the teacher should be fired.  Obviously, the student should not have advanced to a higher math class.

A student with learning disabilities should definitely be in special education.

Where you teach, do you have tenure (job for life) after 3 years?

The Unions are the PROBLEM and have been for years.   I think Unions are OK for the Private Sector only.