Comments on: Nobody Works Harder Than Teachers! You Sure About That? http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/nobody-works-harder-than-teachers-you-sure-about-that/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: proudlmshttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/nobody-works-harder-than-teachers-you-sure-about-that/#comment-6517 proudlms Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:00:39 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=488#comment-6517 It is very obvious that the author of this article is very proud that it is one of the most commented articles on this site!! Kudos to you. You should also be proud that you had teachers who worked hard to educate you so that you have the ability to write such an article.<br><br>Teacher do work hard and yes it is extremely stressful. I agree that when a person in the medical profession makes a mistake that it could be life-threatening. However, when a teacher makes a mistake we also have a huge impact on a child's life. I remember numerous nights not be able to sleep because I hadn't been able to get through to "little Johnny" and he wasn't reading. Not being able to read is life altering. Many times we have parents who refuse to help their children at home (It takes a village) or parents who were not capable of helping their children. We are often responsible for life-altering decisions--that is stressful. <br><br>Administration makes demands that teachers often feel are not in the best interest of students, but may make schools look good on paper. However, we know the children are missing out. (teaching to the test to assure good scores) We are caught between a rock and a hard place.<br><br>Teaching doesn't end at 4:00. I attend meetings, tutor, attend college classes,grade papers, sponsor clubs or athletic teams. Teachers take calls at night from parents and often sacrifice time with their own families to assist one of their students.<br><br>To be a career teacher it does take passion. I have taught for 25 years. I have a masters, several cerifications and a specialist degree. I make what many of my friends did when they took their first job out of college. I love the educational field, but do I encourage my own children to go into it. No. I want more for them, especially the respect they deserve for doing a job well. It is very obvious that the author of this article is very proud that it is one of the most commented articles on this site!! Kudos to you. You should also be proud that you had teachers who worked hard to educate you so that you have the ability to write such an article.

Teacher do work hard and yes it is extremely stressful. I agree that when a person in the medical profession makes a mistake that it could be life-threatening. However, when a teacher makes a mistake we also have a huge impact on a child's life. I remember numerous nights not be able to sleep because I hadn't been able to get through to “little Johnny” and he wasn't reading. Not being able to read is life altering. Many times we have parents who refuse to help their children at home (It takes a village) or parents who were not capable of helping their children. We are often responsible for life-altering decisions–that is stressful.

Administration makes demands that teachers often feel are not in the best interest of students, but may make schools look good on paper. However, we know the children are missing out. (teaching to the test to assure good scores) We are caught between a rock and a hard place.

Teaching doesn't end at 4:00. I attend meetings, tutor, attend college classes,grade papers, sponsor clubs or athletic teams. Teachers take calls at night from parents and often sacrifice time with their own families to assist one of their students.

To be a career teacher it does take passion. I have taught for 25 years. I have a masters, several cerifications and a specialist degree. I make what many of my friends did when they took their first job out of college. I love the educational field, but do I encourage my own children to go into it. No. I want more for them, especially the respect they deserve for doing a job well.

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]]> By: Miss Mhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/nobody-works-harder-than-teachers-you-sure-about-that/#comment-5810 Miss M Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:45:04 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=488#comment-5810 Good afternoon all. This is my first time visiting this site and I have yet to read the other "controversial" article, so I apologize if I restate anything that has already been said. However, I want to chip in my two cents' worth. I do not want to say "no one works harder than teachers." One reason is because there are lousy teachers out there who don't do squat and are just collecting paychecks until retirement, and they sure don't deserve any kudos for that. The other reason is because there are individuals in other professions who work as hard or harder, and it wouldn't be fair to say otherwise simply because they don't teach. However, anyone who groups individuals together based on their professions and then makes generalized statements must be at best uninformed and at worst an idiot. (Specifically referring to the charming individual above who said teachers need to try a "real hard" job.) :) There are good teachers and bad teachers. There are good doctors and bad doctors. There are good business people and bad business people. There are varying degrees between "good" and "bad" in all professions. It makes no sense to lump everyone together and make blanket statements. I for one usually work 12 hours a day, even though I don't get paid for the extra time. I teach middle school band, so that means a ton of other responsibilities most other teachers don't have to worry about. (For example, washing and organizing uniforms, multiple fundraisers throughout the year, multiple performances, maintaining about $20,000 worth of instruments every year, etc.). The chorus director next door to my room usually works equally long days. Our jobs are in fact very difficult (neither one of us is taking the summer "off" and we are both going in over the summer without pay to do work), BUT we knew that getting into this. So we deal with it because we know down the line we will reap the rewards when our kids can make music together. However, I still want to brutally beat anyone who tells me my job is easy and I need to get a "real" job. Maybe try doing what I do for a year or more before letting anything that ignorant come out of your mouth. Good afternoon all. This is my first time visiting this site and I have yet to read the other “controversial” article, so I apologize if I restate anything that has already been said. However, I want to chip in my two cents’ worth.

I do not want to say “no one works harder than teachers.” One reason is because there are lousy teachers out there who don’t do squat and are just collecting paychecks until retirement, and they sure don’t deserve any kudos for that. The other reason is because there are individuals in other professions who work as hard or harder, and it wouldn’t be fair to say otherwise simply because they don’t teach.

However, anyone who groups individuals together based on their professions and then makes generalized statements must be at best uninformed and at worst an idiot. (Specifically referring to the charming individual above who said teachers need to try a “real hard” job.) :) There are good teachers and bad teachers. There are good doctors and bad doctors. There are good business people and bad business people. There are varying degrees between “good” and “bad” in all professions. It makes no sense to lump everyone together and make blanket statements.

I for one usually work 12 hours a day, even though I don’t get paid for the extra time. I teach middle school band, so that means a ton of other responsibilities most other teachers don’t have to worry about. (For example, washing and organizing uniforms, multiple fundraisers throughout the year, multiple performances, maintaining about $20,000 worth of instruments every year, etc.). The chorus director next door to my room usually works equally long days. Our jobs are in fact very difficult (neither one of us is taking the summer “off” and we are both going in over the summer without pay to do work), BUT we knew that getting into this. So we deal with it because we know down the line we will reap the rewards when our kids can make music together. However, I still want to brutally beat anyone who tells me my job is easy and I need to get a “real” job. Maybe try doing what I do for a year or more before letting anything that ignorant come out of your mouth.

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]]> By: Miss Khttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/nobody-works-harder-than-teachers-you-sure-about-that/#comment-4148 Miss K Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:46:36 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=488#comment-4148 Agree with you 100% Joel, just somewhat scoffing at today's poster who had that what's-the-problem-you-get-off-work-3pm mentality. I am definitely not mistreated, and thankful for my career and what I am blessed to do everyday. I cannot or would not want to collect the trash in my city nor build anything in it, nor work a graveyard shift for anybody! However, I would not try to tell people who do that that they need to stop complaining... Agree with you 100% Joel, just somewhat scoffing at today’s poster who had that what’s-the-problem-you-get-off-work-3pm mentality. I am definitely not mistreated, and thankful for my career and what I am blessed to do everyday. I cannot or would not want to collect the trash in my city nor build anything in it, nor work a graveyard shift for anybody! However, I would not try to tell people who do that that they need to stop complaining…

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/nobody-works-harder-than-teachers-you-sure-about-that/#comment-4132 Joel Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:28:11 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=488#comment-4132 Miss K, It sounds to me like you see underappreciation as a huge downside to teaching. While the effectiveness of teaching may take longer to see, we get a whole lot more appreciation than most workers do. For instance, it takes much less time to see a stack of boxes get loaded onto a truck than it does to see a concept being taught. But how many people do you think truly express their appreciation to all of the people who work in your district warehouse? On a daily basis, it';s probably even. But what about those Christmas gifts and end of year gifts that we get? Do you think we get less of those than the manual laborers even in the school district? Cafeteria employees? Custodians? Security? What about the secretaries? Many of these people work at 1/3 of the pay of even a first-year teacher! Do you honestly think that they have 2/3 less of the problems and complaints that we have? Are we underappreciated? Probably so. Are we mistreated? Not even remotely. I do enjoy this discussion! Miss K,

It sounds to me like you see underappreciation as a huge downside to teaching. While the effectiveness of teaching may take longer to see, we get a whole lot more appreciation than most workers do.

For instance, it takes much less time to see a stack of boxes get loaded onto a truck than it does to see a concept being taught. But how many people do you think truly express their appreciation to all of the people who work in your district warehouse? On a daily basis, it’;s probably even. But what about those Christmas gifts and end of year gifts that we get?

Do you think we get less of those than the manual laborers even in the school district? Cafeteria employees? Custodians? Security? What about the secretaries?

Many of these people work at 1/3 of the pay of even a first-year teacher! Do you honestly think that they have 2/3 less of the problems and complaints that we have? Are we underappreciated? Probably so. Are we mistreated? Not even remotely.

I do enjoy this discussion!

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]]> By: Miss Khttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/nobody-works-harder-than-teachers-you-sure-about-that/#comment-4126 Miss K Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:19:10 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=488#comment-4126 Wow--and what do you do exactly? Most outsiders think teachers "have got it made," because of the schedule they have, but to them I say trade places with a teacher for a day and see how it works out for you. Those people have no idea what it's like to spend countless hours preparing engaging and intriguing lessons for apathetic kids, some of whose parents send them to school and 'hope that everything works out for the best,' expecting teachers to raise the kids or otherwise make corrections and teach lessons that should have come from home. Despite this however, I do love teaching though aware of these glaring realities. I hope you read this article in full and grasped the dualities that were given in the discussion. Naturally, no one should attempt to judge another's situation if they haven't been through it, and there are clearly some jobs that I would never want to do--but to anyone who talks about teachers and their complaints, I BEG you to sub a day or two in my classroom. Wow–and what do you do exactly? Most outsiders think teachers “have got it made,” because of the schedule they have, but to them I say trade places with a teacher for a day and see how it works out for you. Those people have no idea what it’s like to spend countless hours preparing engaging and intriguing lessons for apathetic kids, some of whose parents send them to school and ‘hope that everything works out for the best,’ expecting teachers to raise the kids or otherwise make corrections and teach lessons that should have come from home. Despite this however, I do love teaching though aware of these glaring realities. I hope you read this article in full and grasped the dualities that were given in the discussion. Naturally, no one should attempt to judge another’s situation if they haven’t been through it, and there are clearly some jobs that I would never want to do–but to anyone who talks about teachers and their complaints, I BEG you to sub a day or two in my classroom.

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]]> By: sharonhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/nobody-works-harder-than-teachers-you-sure-about-that/#comment-4123 sharon Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:53:54 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=488#comment-4123 Yes!!!!! Why are there all these complaints from teachers. Try going out and working in a real HARD job!!! Yes!!!!!

Why are there all these complaints from teachers. Try going out and working in a real HARD job!!!

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]]> By: Stengel99http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/nobody-works-harder-than-teachers-you-sure-about-that/#comment-2401 Stengel99 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:55:57 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=488#comment-2401 Joel, you've struck a nerve with me and apparently a lot of other people with your topic here. One thing that makes teaching different than other professions is that while teaching, you're always "on." There is always a group of students in front of you to control, to lead, to teach. By contrast, I remember back to my office job days and the truth was that I could work as hard as I wanted or be as lazy as I could get away with. No one really kept track of my actions from moment to moment, so I could slack off or take a little extra time doing mundane tasks if I wanted. All the while, I believe I was a respected employee, and worked a little harder and was a little more effective and successful than average. Granted, some teachers are lazy and let their classes go wild, but it's unlikely those teachers are really successful. So I guess my point is that it's easier to get away with being lazy in some other professions than in teaching. Joel, you’ve struck a nerve with me and apparently a lot of other people with your topic here.
One thing that makes teaching different than other professions is that while teaching, you’re always “on.” There is always a group of students in front of you to control, to lead, to teach. By contrast, I remember back to my office job days and the truth was that I could work as hard as I wanted or be as lazy as I could get away with. No one really kept track of my actions from moment to moment, so I could slack off or take a little extra time doing mundane tasks if I wanted. All the while, I believe I was a respected employee, and worked a little harder and was a little more effective and successful than average. Granted, some teachers are lazy and let their classes go wild, but it’s unlikely those teachers are really successful.
So I guess my point is that it’s easier to get away with being lazy in some other professions than in teaching.

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/nobody-works-harder-than-teachers-you-sure-about-that/#comment-2391 Joel Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:54:36 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=488#comment-2391 <a href='#comment-2388' rel="nofollow">@Randy</a> - I agree. As I've said frequently through the comments here, as well as in <a href="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/teaching-part-time-job-at-full-pay-wages/" rel="nofollow">the original article</a>, I flat out disagree with the idea that teachers work harder than anyone else. I admire you for your dedication to pursuing your dream of owning your own business! The world needs more hard-working entrepreneurial types like you! @Randy – I agree. As I’ve said frequently through the comments here, as well as in the original article, I flat out disagree with the idea that teachers work harder than anyone else.

I admire you for your dedication to pursuing your dream of owning your own business! The world needs more hard-working entrepreneurial types like you!

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]]> By: Randyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/nobody-works-harder-than-teachers-you-sure-about-that/#comment-2388 Randy Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:34:08 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=488#comment-2388 Being self employed, I work from 4am to 8pm seven days a week. Rain or shine, snow, sleet or hail. I take one week vacation if I'm lucky. I'm in the groundskeeping business, so it is hard physical labor. ARE YOU SURE that no one works harder than teachers? I think I work harder. Being self employed, I work from 4am to 8pm seven days a week. Rain or shine, snow, sleet or hail. I take one week vacation if I’m lucky. I’m in the groundskeeping business, so it is hard physical labor. ARE YOU SURE that no one works harder than teachers? I think I work harder.

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/nobody-works-harder-than-teachers-you-sure-about-that/#comment-2381 Joel Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:52:33 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=488#comment-2381 <a href='#comment-2380' rel="nofollow">@Nikki Fontaine</a> - I totally agree with you here! I take the summer off. I enjoy bad weather days. I enjoy three day weekends. I enjoy spring break and Christmas break and all that stuff. I agree that there are a lot of people who need to find different employment venues. I also have seen more than my fair share of teachers who retired two or three or a dozen years too late. Us teacher folks seem to have this sense of obligation to continue helping out as long as we can. Even to the point that we fail to notice when the "help" is not helpful! I guess that's why there will never be a shortage of teachers who sign up for summer school... @Nikki Fontaine – I totally agree with you here! I take the summer off. I enjoy bad weather days. I enjoy three day weekends. I enjoy spring break and Christmas break and all that stuff.

I agree that there are a lot of people who need to find different employment venues. I also have seen more than my fair share of teachers who retired two or three or a dozen years too late.

Us teacher folks seem to have this sense of obligation to continue helping out as long as we can. Even to the point that we fail to notice when the “help” is not helpful! I guess that’s why there will never be a shortage of teachers who sign up for summer school…

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