<p>Oh, I’m happy to have time to take classes! I know full well that it’s a perk. </p>
<p>Garland, I’m not criticizing you or your comments. I’m just stating what I hear myself. Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound judgmental.</p>
<p>And I’d go to the beach, but I burn so easily…:)</p>
<p>Oh, me too. I go anyway, but there’s not enough sunscreen in the world…!</p>
<p>Seriously, as I said, I love teachers, half my friends are, my H is, but in this contentious economy, especially, I really want to say to some–“um, those comments are *not *helping!”</p>
<p>I may yet quit my job to go back to adjuncting and take my summers back, but I’d go from making not quite starting teachers’s salary, to less than half, and haven’t figured out how to afford to do so yet.</p>
<p>I’m a teacher and I truly appreciate having the summer off. I am in grad school right now and take some of the weighty classes in the summer. I am also an artist and manage to do my artwork in the summer more than I can in the winter. That is a great benefit.</p>
<p>I do understand when people cringe at any complaining from teachers about their vacation time. I try not to do that. I will say this though. Teachers, like other people, made a career choice. Those that resent teachers could have chosen teaching as a career but didn’t. It’s not like we won the lottery!</p>
<p>Ha ha…summer off? I work in a school. Summer “off” will be taken up with curriculum writing and professional development throughout the summer…plus a recertification for CPR done at my school. It’s not exactly a whole summer of vacation.</p>
<p>Still…it is a nice difference from the regular school year schedule. And I’m looking forward to it…assuming I get all of my end of year “stuff” done in a timely fashion.</p>
<p>EPTR–like I said, I don’t resent teachers. I resent teachers complaining about going back to work (though after the complaining, invariably comes the “you coulda done it too” comment. I swear there’s a manual somewhere…:))</p>
<p>“EPTR–like I said, I don’t resent teachers. I resent teachers complaining about going back to work (though after the complaining, invariably comes the “you coulda done it too” comment. I swear there’s a manual somewhere…)”</p>
<p>Garland, how did you find out about the “manual”?! It is supposed to be top secret. They give it out when we get out teaching license along with the holiday theme sweaters, corduroy jumpers with the apple applique and the clogs. :)</p>
<p>I had to call our CPA today with a question, and their voice mail informed me that they are on ‘summer hours’, only open Tues., Wed., and Fri.</p>
<p>Huh???</p>
<p>^^^
Well, I do know a few CPAs and the work seven days a week during tax season so maybe it evens out.</p>
<p>I work 7 days a week during the school year, often 11-12 hours many of those days. I need the time off to rejunvenate, but could use more.</p>
<p>I work at a school but I really love my job and have been working summer school for the past 6 years. Admittedly, I’d go crazy staying home - but not everybody is like me!</p>
<p>I love my job. Really, really love it. I’d do it for much less than it pays because I’m blessed with a spouse who has a decent income.</p>
<p>That said, I don’t really have the summer off (even though my salary reflects a 3 month lay-off). I am taking 2 summer classes on my own time.</p>
<p>My husband changed careers just before the economic meltdown, banking to education. His work hrs at the bank were 9-6:30. Grueling and unrewarding work. He now works as a teacher in a school system, 8-30-3:15. He has been on cloud nine ever since. He does summer school because we need the income. However I am also jealous of the vacations and snow days that he gets. But every now and then he complains about going back to work after a long break, but it just the usual grumbling after being off for awhile, however he really loves his job.</p>
<p>Ahhh. Snow days. Those are the best. This thread is reminding of some of the great benefits of a teaching job. There is nothing like that 5 am call saying school is called off, snuggled in bed listening to the sound of snow hitting the glass window.</p>
<p>I have one particular relative who, for a long time, worked two days a week as a visiting nurse. She would get so bent out of shape when one of my school vacations was approaching or summer vacation. She had five days off every week but would still give me a hard time when I had time off. </p>
<p>I have seen many people in my school community go to teaching a second career later in life. Many of them do so, in part, because of the hours and the fact that it makes them available during their children’s time off.</p>
<p>When I think back on my decision to become a teacher, I don’t remember giving any thought at all to the great hours. I chose the work because it suited me and made me happy. But…the hours certainly help on those days that are harder than others.</p>
<p>YAY!! High School teacher here too! Can’t wait. Graduation is next week and then I’m off until Labor Day. Of course, we get a salary that’s about 3/4 of what a full year’s job would command. But it’s worth it.</p>
<p>Franglish–if it makes you feel better, I guarantee you make more than me (with a 12 months job which requires a masters). so enjoy your time! :)</p>
<p>Teacher bashing–gotta love it. An innocent topic related to enjoy the institution of SUMMER turns into a b***h session about teachers–gotta love it!</p>
<p>My BFF/next door neighbor/very-hard-working high school teacher is allowed to leave her school at 3:30, but works hours upon hours at home while planning and marking papers. She always takes classes and workshops during the summer months and is constantly looking for ways to improve the strategies, etc. being offered to her kids. A previous post remarked that her husband had left a very demanding job to go into education…implies that teaching is not demanding. Well, there are a few hundred thousand teachers who just might disagree with that implication! Obviously there are some teachers who have more papers to mark/preparation than others, but let’s not split hairs! There weren’t so many complaints back in the day when teacher salaries were so low, when male teachers made twice the money as females…</p>
<p>We all chose our majors with eyes wide open! It’s not the teacher’s fault they have their summers off–it’s part of the typical public school system in this country. I’m actually glad my salary isn’t hashed and re-hashed in public forum and members of the public don’t complain about MY meager pay raise! The teachers in my area work hard and do a great job. If that’s not the case in your area…What are you doing to make it better? Are you on committees or school boards?</p>
<p>Rutgersmamma–where’s the teacher bashing here??? As I’ve said, my H is a teacher, many of my friends are, and I support NJ teachers. Who is bashing? :(</p>
<p>Not complaining here about most teachers- but I will complain about the superintendent.
Making $100,000 more than the governor- and less to show for it.</p>