tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post8144271417204579583..comments2023-10-23T09:23:22.051-04:00Comments on Your Schools: N.C. teacher pay: Worse than Mississippi?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-49076911179869424852014-04-01T05:40:44.179-04:002014-04-01T05:40:44.179-04:00Is there any other profession where you are expect...Is there any other profession where you are expected to arrive early for meetings, work all day without so much as a lunch break (we supervise the kids and sit with them at lunch) stay late for more meetings, take work home, and still be told your not doing enough?? Oh I forgot to mention the planning period I never see because i'm covering other classes during planning and the fact that I am trained to only need two 30 second bathroom breaks a day since thats the only time I can get away from the kids during the day. I will say, i'm fullfilling the obligations of my teach grant them i'm seeking employment else where, where i'm paid a living wage and i get to sit down to eat lunch. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-55498203481636067792014-01-07T11:07:42.312-05:002014-01-07T11:07:42.312-05:00"Teacher Compensation" does not equal gr..."Teacher Compensation" does not equal gross salary. These statistics are misleading and frankly scaremonger tactics. Teacher Compensation = salary + benefits + years of experience - cost of living. The cost of living if NC is low relative to other states, we have a younger teaching population in terms of years taught (further deflating what our avg "salary" looks like), and benefits packages are much nicer than many states. Here is a 2009 report that outlines this data by the numbers and compares it among states. In 2009, NC was estimated to be the 14th best teacher compensated state in the country.<br /><br />http://www.johnlocke.org/research/show/spotlights/218 Daniel Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-18920883543962329132013-12-05T10:26:19.376-05:002013-12-05T10:26:19.376-05:00As a teacher that has been in a REAL classroom and...As a teacher that has been in a REAL classroom and dealing with REAL students from the REAL world for over two decades I can attest, its gonna be a bumpy ride. I personally love my job, love my students, and advocate for them in every way possible. I spend nearly a thousand dollars a year out of pocket for things that frankly wouldn't happen otherwise that directly benefits these children. All that being said, a recent study shows a staggering 73% of NC teachers would leave the profession if the opportunity arises. More precisely they would leave the state or the profession. I wonder what WILL happen if that study is even remotely accurate. What happens if just 1/4 of those people find a way out? Given a teacher population of 94,000, if just 1/4 of that 73% leaves, NC will be looking at a teacher shortage of just shy of 18,000 teachers. Think about that impact. Think of the irreversible HARM that will be done to not only our school age population but our culture and future as well. 18,000 teachers represents one half of a million children without teachers. What will NC look like with over 500,000 kids losing out on a fair and equitable education? How many of those children will end up as drop out statistics or even worse? How many lives will be destroyed? Yes ladies and gentlemen, it IS that serious. We may very well be on the cusp of the greatest societal catastrophe in the state's history. Hopefully however, most teachers will swallow hard and keep coming back for more abuse. Hopefully......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-10561802398137762432013-09-30T20:53:11.294-04:002013-09-30T20:53:11.294-04:00Attitude? Your's is obviously nasty! Do you wa...Attitude? Your's is obviously nasty! Do you walk in a room with 25 or more children 5-10 years old every morning before 8:00 and here their ailments that no one the morning of...all the while making sure all you're going g to do in that day is printed on the walls for people to see? Your objectives of the day... and get 3 or more emails of something that has to be turned in ... I. 2 hours. ...and teach... and do assessments which is all the state of NC has teachers doing ...assesses more than we re allowed to teach. Miss teaching days for demanded workshops.. complete and meet with parents about PEPS... and keep data notebooks... mentor children... or the county will come down on our principal. Out of 30 days... at my school, We may have a total of 10-12 days of teaching time. Yet, NC law says now all 3rd graders must be proficient readers by the end of this year. That's a miracle waiting to happen. When some read 10 words a minute. But they came to kindergarten unprepared And still play catch up. You shut up... you have no clue! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-25255880501308688052013-09-27T15:16:18.593-04:002013-09-27T15:16:18.593-04:00A lot of this argument is about respect. How much...A lot of this argument is about respect. How much do we respect the teachers of North Carolina? Teachers spend several hours with children every day. Do we want them to work hard and make a difference in childrens' lives or do we want them to push paper, kill time, and babysit? North Carolina, this is your choice. It is not the pay that is the real problem. It is the attitude towards education and the future. I taught in North Carolina's public schools for five years. My experience has shown me that there is little respect or genuine support for teachers. I understand that schools do not generate a profit in the present, but what about the future? Money talks. What teachers are paid and how they are evaluated shows a lot about the way North Carolina feels about education. Teachers are expected to take additional credits to remain certified, to maintain communication with all parents, to have effective lesson plans prepared for all subjects, to teach precisely the latest curriculum in a timely manner, to ensure students are engaged, to constantly update academic records, to monitor students' progress, to accommodate to every student's need, to push each student's intellectual capacities, and to provide emotional support. Also in any given day there are administrator meetings, department meetings, and parent-teacher conferences. Administrators are truly too busy to help teachers, unless they are evaluating them. Therefore, all teachers must face these challenges alone. There are things teachers do for students that go unnoticed. For example, teachers often provide encouragement, a letter of recommendation, tutoring-time, or advice for college. Teachers volunteer for fund-raisers, after-school programs, and coaching. There are several other things teachers have the opportunity to do for children, and would be more willing to do with the right support from the community and the government. The economy is not in a great place right now, but how about a little respect for the people that have a direct influence on your children? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-51517368359163557282013-09-27T14:16:08.391-04:002013-09-27T14:16:08.391-04:00Then you should quit!!!! It's not the children...Then you should quit!!!! It's not the childrens fault , don't take it out on them! Shame on youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-37452683108296137092013-09-25T21:33:49.495-04:002013-09-25T21:33:49.495-04:00Vowed?
Vowed? <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-57688252726551900772013-09-25T20:07:32.247-04:002013-09-25T20:07:32.247-04:00I have been an NC teacher for 24 years and I get p...I have been an NC teacher for 24 years and I get paid less than 50k a year. (the amount someone commented that teachers with less than 10 years of experience should be making) I will always give my best; I love teaching and I adore the children I work with. <br /><br />But working in NC as a teacher right now is disheartening. I thought I'd work till I was 65 in public education... I won't be now. Staff has been cut every year for the past 8 years. I watched a teacher in tears today because she is unable to do what needs to be done for an 8 year old reading on a kindergarten level. It's not that she doesn't want to, or that she won't do everything she can to help the child. It's that she doesn't have enough support and there is no money to get the support she needs. She has 24 other children to worry about as well, and the support staff has been cut back again this year. <br /><br />Another poster commented on cutting administration staff... that's been done. Payroll works with only 3 people now (I'm in one of the largest systems in the state), Top administration has been cut. Our superintendent has made it a point to cut from the top first and leave as many teachers and assistants in classrooms. With all the paperwork and accountability (the later not being a bad thing but it takes time) having administration to take some of that load off of classroom teachers is important. <br /><br />Anyone mentioning unfunded mandates... THATS IT! It is a wonderful Utopia to say that all children will be on grade level. But that's just what it is, especially if we don't have the people we need to work with the students. The quote from the grandfather at the end of the article is perfect... I want to hug him for "getting it" Thank you sir... you are my hero.<br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03959384471514152182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-33484626558095674032013-09-25T15:52:02.441-04:002013-09-25T15:52:02.441-04:00Forget school teachers and schools. Fire them all ...Forget school teachers and schools. Fire them all and close them all. Let their parents babysit and educate their own children.<br /><br />After a few weeks of that you will find everyone voting for teacher salary increases because even their own parents do not want to put up with their offspring.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-65586035535056434792013-08-17T14:59:03.385-04:002013-08-17T14:59:03.385-04:00Like most things in life, you get what you pay for...Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. As a teacher in NC, I can personally say that teachers are overworked and underpaid. I am also forced to spend so much of my own money if I want basic things like pencils, paper, or basic office supplies in my classroom. If we only respected teachers like we do NFL or NBA payers. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-37530767843544967692013-08-14T07:29:40.446-04:002013-08-14T07:29:40.446-04:00I am curious, why the push so deep and hard for th...I am curious, why the push so deep and hard for these testing standards, do the results really mean anything. Follow the money, someone is making big bucks putting these tests together. I am certain that the administrators get a bump in pay if test scores rise, and I do mean all administrators, its only logical. Teaching assistants do literally twice the work of most of the teachers, yet get nothing but scraps. Thats tragic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-83599918429108930442013-08-12T17:18:55.666-04:002013-08-12T17:18:55.666-04:00Teachers have not had a raise in 7 years....lets s...Teachers have not had a raise in 7 years....lets see how how many of you would still keep the same job if YOU were in their shoes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-84441664838812081722013-08-07T22:35:16.160-04:002013-08-07T22:35:16.160-04:00I have heard many comments about it is about the k...I have heard many comments about it is about the kids. I am a teacher and love my students in many different ways. What folks tend to not recognize is teachers have families to support as well, and not paying them a livable wage does hurt their students, because many of us have to have a second job. Would a doctor say, I want to make not as much because it is about the patient, NO. Would a top executive say, no raise for me because it is about the customer, NO. I have a small house, 2 old vehicles, and a great family, but may have to leave teaching because I cannot afford to stay in it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-29897766032252861292013-07-30T12:36:29.010-04:002013-07-30T12:36:29.010-04:00The really sad thing is, (of course I can only spe...The really sad thing is, (of course I can only speak for my county), but we have such wonderful teachers! I believe they teach because they have such a passion for it, not because the pay. But they have to support or help support their family just like everyone else. Our schools have been failing our children as a whole for years, and it looks like instead of improving its just going to get worse. It's not just teachers either. My husband works for the Department of Transportation, which is considered a state job also. He just got his first raise in seven years, and many of the employees actually make less after their raise because of the increase in taxes. While these workers aren't educating our children they are putting their lives in danger on nearly daily basis. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-78882742225094415892013-07-30T05:19:36.588-04:002013-07-30T05:19:36.588-04:00The lack of compassion by many on the far right is...The lack of compassion by many on the far right is disturbing, but not surprising. Teacher should be compensated to the level of value they give to the community. The pitiful amount they receive is unconscionable.<br />Truly, this problem is long standing, not just a republican issue. though the probability of a fix by the present regime is dismal. <br />Thank you, Mrs. Medlock, Mrs. Snead, Mrs Henry, Mrs. Hanks, Mrs. Bishop, Mrs Medlock, Mrs. Sara Smith, and Mr. Widenhouse. You helped make me who I am.Sam Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-19362428469904780542013-07-30T01:47:15.490-04:002013-07-30T01:47:15.490-04:00Not all schools are eligible to benefit effectivel...Not all schools are eligible to benefit effectively from CC. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-69522820571614387342013-07-29T23:01:39.759-04:002013-07-29T23:01:39.759-04:002:22
The first 6 years of the program, Classroom ...2:22<br /><br />The first 6 years of the program, Classroom Central received over $13 MILLION in donations<br /><br /><b>Classroom Central opened its doors on October 8, 2002, and currently serves more than 126 schools, 6,482 teachers, and 86,000 students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg and surrounding districts. In the six years that the organization has been in existence, more than $13 million in free school supplies has been distributed.</b>Wiley Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966764080565903720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-78967191136064657462013-07-29T21:29:10.851-04:002013-07-29T21:29:10.851-04:00Dear Thom,
Thanks for your emails telling me abou...Dear Thom,<br /><br />Thanks for your emails telling me about your upcoming plans and asking for a contribution to your campaign.<br /><br />Unfortunately, my teacher's salary doesn't allow for any extra expenditures, so it's either pay the bills or send money to you. Guess you can see my conundrum.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-30963927806505176582013-07-29T16:30:31.402-04:002013-07-29T16:30:31.402-04:00The teacher complaint is about what they take home...The teacher complaint is about what they take home. My question is, what does a teacher cost? There are health care premiums, matching SS and medicare taxes. And a pension program that will probably be a future burden for all school systems.<br /><br />So I propose that we give teachers a chance to opt out of the pension program and take the money and do what they want with the extra cash.<br /><br />I know that teachers are asked to do much paper work. <b>But you choose to teach, you might end up retired for more years that you teach </b> and that is a sweet deal. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-90699126261942198352013-07-29T16:05:23.308-04:002013-07-29T16:05:23.308-04:00The slide in teacher salaries began under Democrat...The slide in teacher salaries began under Democratic administrations. That said, did you really expect Republicans to fix the problem? Now teachers have no raise plus no tenure plus no extra pay for higher qualifications plus no "incentive plan" in place plus money going to private schools. Most white public school teachers I know vote Republican. Can someone explain that to me? bobcat99https://www.blogger.com/profile/18142256800210851185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-88951726404027795672013-07-29T15:33:41.948-04:002013-07-29T15:33:41.948-04:00@ 2:02, you may not have gotten a raise this year,...@ 2:02, you may not have gotten a raise this year, and I truly hate that for you. I don't wish not getting paid a fair salary or not getting a cost of living increase on anyone. Teachers have only had a 1.2% raise in the last 6 years. Most teachers do not actually "get summers off" as you put it. Most of us have to work summer jobs in order to be able to pay bills, purchase items for our classrooms that are not provided, put money in the savings, put money back for vacations, Christmas, etc. We also attend professional development as well as continuing education courses, most of which we pay for, in order to become better at the job we love. Oh, and FYI, for those who may be wondering, we do not get paid during the summer like most think we do. We have to have money taken out of our paycheck put back for summer paychecks, or save it on our own. But thanks for showing us just how much you care! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-75772615284513926622013-07-29T15:23:49.362-04:002013-07-29T15:23:49.362-04:00How long has Kevin Huffman even lived here? He do...How long has Kevin Huffman even lived here? He doesn't know N.C. so don't let him tell us what to do!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-87164567371071852872013-07-29T14:55:03.244-04:002013-07-29T14:55:03.244-04:00@ Anonymous who used Teacherportal: Outdated info...@ Anonymous who used Teacherportal: Outdated information on Teacherportal at the moment. Mississippi gave teachers pay raises. N.C. cut both teacher pay and teacher benefits, and also yanked job security. We ARE last as a result of the recent legislative vote. Just give Teacherportal time to catch up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-25233011046668486942013-07-29T14:45:34.610-04:002013-07-29T14:45:34.610-04:00We will get what we pay for. With a 16% drop in r...We will get what we pay for. With a 16% drop in real salary over the past 12 years, how can we begin to expect to keep our best teachers? Now we are dead last in the country. They are already leaving the state!<br />They will be replaced with Teach for America teachers who are not even real teachers and won't be for 2 years after they are hired. They will learn on the job, using our kids as guinea pigs. Is that what we really want? We are on the road to last place not just in teacher salaries, but in education period.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-34523826032356670452013-07-29T14:39:36.450-04:002013-07-29T14:39:36.450-04:00"I oftentimes look at my personal children wh..."I oftentimes look at my personal children who suffer because I have to take care of other people's children first; ensuring their safety, education, and personal situations are taken care of before I leave for the day. They did not sign up for my career but I sincerely love what I do every day and hope to show them what it is to love your career. <br /><br />I would never sacrifice my students because they are my children. However, the state of North Carolina (my home state where I went to school K-12 through college) has sent a clear message over the years; educators are not valuable (anyone can do the job so to speak). <br /><br />Very well stated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com