Johnston County Schools out after MLK

Thank you so much for letting us know here. I wasn't aware of it but hey, it's a great time to go to Disney during that week (less crowds and off season rate) so I'm thinking we're going to FL to visit my mother and visit one of Disney park for a day or two.

 

Well said All Children First -- thank you -- I average 9 to 10 hours a day at school -- and know many who average more -- and still lug papers home to grade -- call parents on my home time -plan my next lesson or unit--- it all comes with what I do -- I try hard to use my time wisely -- please don't begrudge me a workday or two --back in the day the paper trail for students wasn't so lengthy -- the number of meetings and conferences wasn't as high-- I know its frustrating to parents for a variety of reasons -- but if you want to understand -- pick a teacher you think is a good one and follow him or her for a week -- maybe then you will have a little better understanding of workdays and planning periods, and their importance...

 

Why is MLK a holiday that calls for a day off from school...but President's day, celebrating our founders, is not?

 

Didn't your school cover the civil rights movement?

 

Understand that my comments are not toward all teachers and I did sub for elem thru HS. A few times I subbed for a week at a time and there were a few teachers there that they stayed the whole time every day. I don't blame the teachers for this or begrudge them some time, I said the school system and I thanked the teachers for their work and dedication. If you read, I did say that you had to follow what the school system set for you, but....there are days I and my husband work long hours and do not get that many days off a year and there have been times in my jobs and I know others that have had to take work home with them. Whether it is a teacher, a mechanic, or whatever, people choose what they do and they know what is involved when they choose their field. Teachers get summers off, for the most part, my job, my husbands, nor a lot of people get the summer off. Grant it, you have to make arrangements for you pay, but.... My main point is that kids are not getting the education that they need, which is the basics. The school system wants to throw out all these other things. Yes, kids need to know computers, and I have no problem with that, but just don't agree with some of the other things.

I only have one left in school and she is a freshman this year, but still, I hate to see how things are going to be when my grandkids are in school. Personally, I think school should be year round (and before someone bashes me on this, I have known lots of kids, including some of my family members that have gone year round and loved it), and wear uniforms. Kids don't forget as much, teachers get their breaks, with uniforms teachers do not have to be clothes monitors (again, I now how a child dresses falls on the parents to buy the right clothes, but have known a few kids that wear what their parents want them to wear out the door and change once out of parent's sight), and can concentrate on teaching.

Teaching is a hard job and it calls for a lot of dedication. Meetings, conferences, etc are all part of the job, as are meetings, long hours sometimes, classes are a part of mine and many others, but it is part of the job.

Again, don't think I am putting teachers down or anything like that, because I am not. With doing substitute teaching, I know it is difficult and I have expressed my graditude for what teachers do...I don't think I could do it full time, I just expressed my opinion on things I don't agree with, so please don't take offense, for these are just MY OPINIONS. I do think teachers need to be paid better, and be able to get the materials they need for teaching. I think that sometimes, too much is placed on a teacher and too much is placed on the students and that too much is being placed on being politically correct on things, like playing tag or an elementary student giving a teacher a hug or 2 friends giving each other a hug.... Do I understand some of the reasoning, some....do I think sometimes it is taken too far, yes sometimes.... I guess I just long for a time gone by where kids could be kids, they were taught right from wrong, how to read, do math, spell, write, etc and life was simpler. I know times have changed, the world is different, but doesn't mean I have to like it or agree with it, I just have to live with it and try to do what I can to make things a little better and hope I do make a difference.

I am sorry if I upset anyone or if someone felt I was knocking them as a teacher and what they do, for I wasn't....It is just the school system in general. Please accept my apolgy if I did step on anyone's toes, for I didn't mean to. I usually don't get into too much stuff like this, but with so much going on, I guess doing this keeps my mind off other things.

Again, please accept my apology if I offended.

 

Yes.

Why is MLK day a holiday with schools off...when President's day, celebrating the founders of this nation, is not?

 

Well here you go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidents_day

 

Somebody threw a fit probably. :boxing:

 

I want a HG day :hurray::hurray::hurray:

 

So...Why is MLK day a holiday with schools off...when President's day, celebrating the founders of this nation, is not?

 

I take it you can't read?

 

I read fine...and you?

 

Pretty good, but the bifocals are a little hard to get used to.

 

Sounds like a question to ask of those in Congress who voted for it, again, representing their constituencies and deciding for us. And that sounds perilously like the school board deciding for us what they think we need to do. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

FF...I think that Clayton Sassy hit the nail on the head. I do take exception to your suggesting that teachers get the summer off. If only it were so... After the students are out, there are quite a few requirements for teachers to do..and then there are those that have to be done prior to school beginning again. With the calendar as it is, I figure that C6 has about 6 weeks, all totaled. BTW, teachers do NOT get paid for the summer period when they are not teaching.

Right now, she is still grading papers and developing a writing plan for her grade level. She was at school at 745, got home at 5, had dinner, and at 830 started into it again. From 5-8, our DD got her attention. 8-830 was DD's tub time, hair stuff, and then some snuggle time, then bed. At 830, C6 got back into her teacher mode
where she has remained. I expect that tonight will be like most school nights, that we'll retire at 11, only to do it all again tomorrow. Since she started her Monday work on SUNDAY night at 830, I figure she's earned an evening without much interruption, hence my presence here.

Tomorrow..745 until school bus time, then a grade level meeting until 530 or so...and this goes on for one meeting or conference or another until Friday. We have our date night on Friday, the one chance I get to have some time with her, for myself. I jealously guard our date night. Saturday thru Sunday night at bedtime for DD, is all about DD. And, yet, the system expects her to do so many things to stay current and up to date.

I am in awe of her passion and professionalism for teaching your children. She and her colleagues deserve the best we can offer. Most of them give their best daily. I will admit that there are some who appear to "phone it in." In their defense, I will say that I know of NO teacher got into the gig because of the luxurious lifestyle it affords (sad laughter), and they got into it because of their passion for teaching. If that passion was not not nurtured, or the teacher feels unsupported -by parents and/or admin- it's easy to see how they lose their desire to make a difference.

 

come on

I don't need a reminder sent home. Use the calendar on the JC schools website. I keep a hard copy at work and one in my planner. try it.

 

Whose the goose and whose the gander?

Why should teachers- or any one - get paid when they aren't working? No one I know in the Private sector gets paid for 6 weeks they don't work.

I hear teachers complain about this frequently...that they only make "X" amount per year. And I've heard them complain because they don't get paid for the time they are off in the summer. I've heard $44,000 a year salary (average after 10 years) quoted for this area, but if someone has a more precise figure, feel free to share it.

Using that figure and your 6 weeks quote above:

• Teachers that earn $44,000 actually earn a pay rate of $50,285.00 a year but they only earn it for the 10.5 months they are working.
  
• They aren't working for "$44,000 a year", because for 6 weeks out of that year, they are not working.

Most in the private sector that receive salary, work until 5:00 or later, not 3:30. When I am able to talk a teacher into staying past 3:30 - which is often a losing battle - for a meeting after school, the school is deserted, with teacher doors closed, locked and classrooms dark. The parking lot is deserted. There are not many teachers there after 3:30.

Many of us private sector salaried workers work considerably past 5:00 on many days and then take work home. Most salaried workers who work at the pay rate quoted above, work at least 50 hours per week if not more. If we don't, our employer will find someone who will. We aren't protected by tenure. So teachers working outside school hours is not a hardship that other salaried workers don't also have.

As many of us can, I can relate. My boss is in from CA and he made it clear that we can all plan to be there tomorrow night at least until 9:00. I typically roll into the door around 6:30 or so, and I too have to cook dinner, supervise homework, take care of offspring, and do the household chores.

And as a parent, I appreciate her dedication. But it's important to remember that those of us who are also out there giving our best daily, working long hours in the private sector also have kids to take care of, and households to take care of, and work to bring you all the things your family needs and using our skills and expertise in our fields to do it - just as teachers do. Our skills, expertise, dedication to our work responsibilities and our effort and sacrifices, do not count for any less than a teacher's, and the insinuation that I hear from some teachers and their advocates that our hard work is not comparable is a bit insulting.

Teachers with your wife'd dedication are wonderful. But so are those of us who work in the private sector to provide you and your family with the services and products you need. You fulfill a need we and our families have, and we fulfill those needs you and your family have.

Teachers must deal with unruly students, uncooperative parents, and not enough hours in the day. Those of us in the private sector must deal with unruly clients and rude customers, and not enough hours in the day. Teachers fulfill vital needs in our society, but so do private sector employees.

 

no offense taken and no apology needed -- I do understand the frustrations that come with public education-- I have two high school aged children -- I see and live the issues from both sides of the fence --

 

Magnolia (and others) ... if you think being a teacher is such a cush job with great pay and hours ... get the training and go teach. Don't be surprised when your bubble is burst with the reality of what the job really entails.

 

Teacher's don't make the workdays and holidays, they just observe them (and deserve them). I would say you might need to direct your question to your Congressman or perhaps 'Google' it. I am sure there is an answer out there for you.

 

She doesn't want an answer, she just wants to make a point - it's "reverse discrimination," and she won't take any other explanation.