Teachers put in plenty of extra time

52°

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 10:00 PM

I appreciate Mr. Hubbuch's remarks on teachers' remuneration [Teachers are too rich? Viewpoints, Feb. 8]. I would just like to add a few more comments to his.

In the high school district where I taught and from which I retired, we were required to have accumulated 60 additional hours beyond the master's degree, not just 45 hours, before we reached the top of the salary scale.

All of our course work was at our own expense and on our own time, which meant night classes after teaching all day, and/or coursework during the summers. Many of us added a subject area, as well as advanced work in our major subject.

In order to continue to be certified to teach by the Illinois State Board of Education, teachers are required to continue accumulating credits in their area by attending classes, workshops, seminars and other professional activities. They must acquire hours in special education relating to their content area — that is, how to adapt the subject area for all types of learners and students with disabilities and different learning styles.

Regarding the school work day, in my experience I found that a great many teachers put in many more hours in a day than are required by their contracts. We actually figured out that in the course of our 10-month school year, we worked the equivalent amount of time that others worked in a normal 50-week year.

Most teachers bring papers home to grade on a regular basis during breaks, weekends, and holidays, not to mention attending to all the parent contacts, extracurricular activities, professional meetings, etc. Summer vacations were often devoted to all the extra course work we needed and wanted to do.

Nowadays, more teachers are required to teach larger classes (there isn't even enough space in a normal room for more than 30 desks), more sessions — six instead of the usual five. Some also have to give up preparation time to travel between schools in a district.

Still, I consider myself privileged to have been able to teach my students for so many years. I could not have chosen a more fulfilling career.

Patricia Olderr
Oak Park

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Unfortunately

Posted: Saturday, February 25th, 2012 11:30 AM

@Parent. You are correct, but in my experience, the devil with your suggestion is in the details. As you know, our households don't always match the rest of society. What "model" is most similar to what you are suggesting? Private schools. When families pay for education they are much more invested in the process. Is "choice" then something to consider? It is anything but perfect, but do the pros outweigh the cons? Until then, we need to focus on your 10:39 post. Problem? Union "protections!"

Parent

Posted: Saturday, February 25th, 2012 10:24 AM

I am not a teacher, I am a Parent of a d97 and a d200 student. How about this: let's hold parents accountable for their children's behavior and academic progress. We can not place all the blame on failing students on the teachers. We have homework policies in our home, get the work done then you can play or goof off. We read to and then with our kids from a very early age, we set a foundation for or children's success and they have taken it from there. Take some personal responsibility please

Parent

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 10:39 PM

Most teachers do a good job. However, until teachers are accountable, all teacher are at risk of being equated with those who don't do a good job. Accountability will be good for the good teachers. Only those who aren't really doing the job will be in jeopardy. It's time the unions stop defending all teachers just because they are teachers and start working with the community on identifying and fostering the behaviors and skills demonstrated by "good" teachers.

ref

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 10:21 AM

My son's teachers are available for tutorials at 7 each morning, at lunch, and after school. All the harping about parking lots emptying out at 3 are BS. I am very grateful for the one-on-one these teachers are giving in addition to class time.

OPRF Guy

Posted: Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 5:46 PM

CONT.is it OK to wonder if the public workforce pay scale is out of balance to the ave citizen? Why can we not pay teachers more yet move the ones under 45 to Social Security and a 401K? For those that say the problem is that we all need to demand teacher's style pay and benefits, be real. The Global economy has more to do in changing that then anything. So I ask Patricia and other dedicated teachers, are you one of us citizens on SS or are you a special class who's pay can not be questioned?

OPRF Guy

Posted: Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 5:37 PM

Thank you Patricia. However your article misses the larger point being argued on these pages the last few weeks. I understand someone will post "teachers have it easy." Please ignore their silliness. The question most are asking is the retirement benefits and pay fair given the changes our economy has had? In general a non-public sector worker has seen no wage growth, home equity down and increases in copays. Let alone no defined benefit at retirement. Is it ok to discuss the differences?

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