“Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Teachers have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives.”
~ Andy Rooney
The other day, I called in to my friend Christopher Gabriel’s radio show to talk about education. He was discussing class size and some of the other issues and challenges facing teachers in this economy, and it got me thinking. Actually, I’ve been thinking a lot about teachers since the football season started.
That’s right – football makes me think of education, or rather, it makes me think about the skewed value system we have here in America. Now, I know we are not alone in this regard, but that doesn’t make it any less ridiculous — and I really do think it’s ridiculous. We glorify athletes, but think nothing about complaining about teachers or bemoaning the state of our education system without doing anything about it. And putting kids in private or charter schools is not doing anything to improve our education system, but rather offering band-aids for individual kids/parents.
Consider this: according to ESPN, the average salary for teachers in one Texas school district was $42,400, while the average salary for football coaches in the same district was $73,804. Seems fair, right?!
The average public school teacher in the US makes $46,752. This is obscene. Not only have they gone to college and often graduate school, but they have gotten certificates and kept-up their mandatory continuing education requirements, which more often than not are courses they have to take on top of their incredible workloads during the school year.
Contrary to popular belief, teachers work very long hours, often staying after school for several hours for mandatory meetings, after-school activities, and to do more work. In the evenings they grade papers, work on lesson plans, and go out and buy supplies with their own money. That’s right — they buy their own supplies. Staplers, classroom decorations, and very often, whatever they might need to do a particular lesson they have planned. All of that comes out of their own pockets. Can you imagine if your boss required you to buy your own office supplies to do your job?
So, you are saying, “But they knew what they were getting into when they signed up for this.” Perhaps, but somehow I doubt it.
The reality of teaching in the No Child Left Behind era and in today’s society is very different that anything a soon-to-be teacher could fathom. A bit of student teaching can’t prepare them for the reality, and their love of children and desire to do good will only help keep the blinders in place for so long. But those blinders will fall away and we will continue to lose teachers and make it more difficult to get college students to pursue a degree in education. And who could blame them?
The question is: what can we do about it? If you are a parent with school-aged children, how can you support the teachers in your school district and work with your child’s teacher? These folks are up against so many hurdles and are not being given the tools, support, or resources to overcome them, so why would they stay? Would you?
Oh yeah, and if you are reading this, thank a teacher, not a football player. Just sayin’.
See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru
RT @balmeras NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru – http://bit.ly/ntr3q Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day #edu #parent
RT @balmeras NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru – http://bit.ly/ntr3q Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day #edu #parent
http://bit.ly/ntr3q Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day from @balmeras
LOVE the Andy Rooney quote at the top, it really puts it all into perspective.
I completely agree with you top to bottom… the inequity of how we pay our teachers, police, fire fighter, etc. is something I’ll never understand!
I heard you on The Christopher Gabriel Program and you sounded fabulous… have you thought of The Grass Stain Guru radio program? Just sayin’.
RT @balmeras: NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru – http://bit.ly/ntr3q Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day #edu (Thank you!)
Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day | The Grass Stain Guru: Can you imagine if your boss required you to bu.. http://bit.ly/4mxm0J
Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day | The Grass Stain Guru: Can you imagine if your boss required you to bu.. http://bit.ly/4mxm0J
RT @alisonkerr: RT @balmeras NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru – http://bit.ly/ntr3q Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day #edu #parent
NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru – http://bit.ly/ntr3q Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day #edu #parent
NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru – http://bit.ly/ntr3q Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day #edu #parent
If you are reading this tweet, thank a teacher: http://bit.ly/ntr3q
As a former teacher I can testify that teachers work long hours, stay after school, take lots of work home, and spend a lot of their own money on things for the classroom – sometimes on things for the students.
I think the best way to show support for your child’s teacher is to teach your child to respect the teacher. Teach your child that his teacher is in authority and to follow the classroom and school rules. If you don’t agree with things the teacher is doing, discuss it with the teacher – don’t badmouth the teacher in front of your kid.
I know there will be some who will have a horror stories about a teacher who behaved totally inappropriately, but the majority of teachers out there love kids and have their best interests at heart. Remember that.
Bethe and Wendy, I couldn’t agree more. One way I’ve supported teachers in the past is to respect them for what they do and show genuine appreciation of their efforts. So many parents now question what teachers do on a day-to-day basis. Teachers have enough work without dealing with parents on top of everything else. Sometimes a heart-felt note or letter is just what the doctor ordered.
Go for the radio program!
RT @balmeras: If you are reading this tweet, thank a teacher: http://bit.ly/ntr3q|| A comparison that makes you think
It is so sad to me that our priorities are so misplaced. We spend billions of dollars bailing out bankers who made really bad choices, but we think that education is too expensive! I really hope that people will begin to wake up to this inequity and many more. We have to start speaking out and demanding that teachers receive a better deal.
RT @balmeras NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru – http://bit.ly/ntr3q Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day #edu #parent
http://bit.ly/ntr3q Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day from @balmeras
RT @balmeras: NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru – http://bit.ly/ntr3q Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day #edu (Thank you!)
Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day | The Grass Stain Guru: Can you imagine if your boss required you to bu.. http://bit.ly/4mxm0J
Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day | The Grass Stain Guru: Can you imagine if your boss required you to bu.. http://bit.ly/4mxm0J
RT @alisonkerr: RT @balmeras NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru – http://bit.ly/ntr3q Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day #edu #parent
If you are reading this tweet, thank a teacher: http://bit.ly/ntr3q
RT @balmeras: If you are reading this tweet, thank a teacher: http://bit.ly/ntr3q|| A comparison that makes you think
Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day http://bit.ly/ntr3q (vi @balmeras) (lookin at you, mom!)
Thank you! Thank you!
As a teacher of thirty-four years it’s nice to hear a supportive voice. I teach because my students are worth the effort. I spend my time and money because my students are worth the effort. I created and maintain an outdoor classroom because my students are worth the effort. Wake up America your children are worth the effort!!!
Reality Check: Teacher Appreciation Day http://bit.ly/ntr3q (vi @balmeras) (lookin at you, mom!)
Why is the most important job in the US the least funded? http://retwt.me/mSJa
Hear hear!! I’ve been online less since school started in part because I am working my butt off to support my son’s teacher. I am a room parent. I volunteer in the classroom. I work on a committee to raise additional funds for the school. Nothing and I do mean nothing is more important than educating our kids. Kudos to all the teachers you there. You inspire me.
Thanks for this great post! I’m in my 7th year of teaching and am helping a new student teacher this year. I teach high school science, and I do buy a lot for my classroom. I just think of how much I could make if I had pursued a career in pharmaceuticals with my biology degrees. But then again, it wouldn’t be a job I love and I wouldn’t have the wonderful job security that I do (now that I’m tenured).
I can say, however, that football coaches around here only make a stipend on top of their teaching salary (if they’re a teacher) of less than $5000. And that’s the head coach. I personally always thought that’s a ton of work for not so much money.
Beanie — you rock!
Thanks for all the great comments folks. And HUGE thanks to Chuck for coming back year after year to teach those kids to love to learn!
Cheers- Bethe
Thanks, Abbie. Yes, not all coaches make that — certainly Texas takes the High School football VERY seriously.
Keep up the great work!! Cheers- Bethe
Why is the most important job in the US the least funded? http://retwt.me/mSJa