Chicago Teachers

CryBoy

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Nov 12, 2000
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Just pointing out more issues...

"We" somehow believe that everyone should go to college. I have been in this game for a very long time. College isn't for everyone. We need to bring back more vocational tracks.

Right or wrong, good or bad... You guys do realize that other countries don't have the extra curricula activities that we have in the U.S. Football is king in Texas. While our boys are spending 2 to 3 hours a day on the practice field, the Chinese are hitting the books. Our marching band routinely practices up to 3 hours a day. We have cheerleaders and drill teams. Kids in other countries just concentrate on academics.
 

Bigten

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Just got home... Contract time is 7:15 to 3:15. I normally arrive at 6:45 and leave at 4:15. Today is Friday so I leave a little bit early.

Back to the topic... None of my colleagues ever complained salaries. My health insurance premium from the district for a family of four is close to $700/month and that's the bottom tier. Guess what? I don't complain about that. Guys? It's not the money. We have all learned to live within our means. We don't have a merit pay system here in Arlington. It will never work. Teachers will turn on each other. Rookie teachers will drown. Everyone will want Pre-AP or AP classes. I don't have the answers but here is part of the problem... Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach. Those that can't teach go back to school and get an administrative degree and tell teachers how to teach.
Sorry, i have to disagree with you on this one. Maybe I am an exception to the rule? Taught 8 years, assistant principal/atheletic director 3 years then principal for 5 years. Now I am back in the classroom. Ask anyone that I worked with while I was principal and they will tell you that I was side by side with them the whole way. I got out of the administrative position because of the political B.S. and wanted to do things right. Loved teaching when I first left it and enjoy it today. Tough times with tough kids but you have to love it to do it. There are terrible people in all positions.
 

hawkeye

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Jun 29, 2000
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Do thier job 2 weeks and you will figure it out. Think about how many kids come to school with 2 idots on drugs for parents--GL:0008 :facepalm:
 

BuckwheatJWN

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Seems like there are a lot of teachers, ex teachers, etc debating this issue. My question is"Isn't education better served by putting it in the hands of the states?" Just give reasons for or against please. Don't make it political
 

UGA12

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Between The Hedges
Sorry, i have to disagree with you on this one. Maybe I am an exception to the rule? Taught 8 years, assistant principal/atheletic director 3 years then principal for 5 years. Now I am back in the classroom. Ask anyone that I worked with while I was principal and they will tell you that I was side by side with them the whole way. I got out of the administrative position because of the political B.S. and wanted to do things right. Loved teaching when I first left it and enjoy it today. Tough times with tough kids but you have to love it to do it. There are terrible people in all positions.

I cant speak for cryboy, but the majority of admins(especially assistants) that I have dealt with over the years have been as we described. As you said, there are many fine people in admin positions and my situation is obviously just one experience, but from what I have experienced "theory" trumps "reality" the further one moves up the chain of command.
 

Bigten

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I cant speak for cryboy, but the majority of admins(especially assistants) that I have dealt with over the years have been as we described. As you said, there are many fine people in admin positions and my situation is obviously just one experience, but from what I have experienced "theory" trumps "reality" the further one moves up the chain of command.

Hate to hear that......it should be a collaborative approach by EVERYONE. :toast:
 

CryBoy

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Hate to hear that......it should be a collaborative approach by EVERYONE. :toast:

Absolutely agree...about collaboration. In 22 years, I have worked under many assistant principals (evaluators). Of course in any field, there are good and crappy leaders. I didn't mean to generalize in my earlier post. I was just referring to it as a possible issue. An example is our current district math coordinator. This individual received her teaching certificate just 5 years ago. She was unsuccessful as a teacher, went and got her administrative degree, and is now designing tests and writing math curriculum guides for the district. Believe me, this person has no business writing test questions that she cannot solve. Anyway... I think the bigger issue here is the state standards. Who is making all these executive decisions in Austin?

There are lots and lots of issues in our education system. I can share what I see on the battle field, but I don't have the solutions.

Thank you for your ideas and thoughts.
 

Bigten

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It is crazy times when any pay increase is based on one test.... One test that is skewed for a certain percentage of failure. I understand what you are saying, I think we are all getting frustrated. Hang in there, as I am sure you will, and just remember why we got in this profession.
 

GENO

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Jan 5, 2002
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Only thing I have been able to figure out from the whole mess, is after the strike is resolved CTU needs to send that union boss, Karen Lewis I think her name is to NYC, cause she looks like she been drinking too many super sized high sugar soft drinks. Might be a health problem totally unrelated to caloric consumption but still couldn't hurt right? That should give some new fodder for the discussion :mj07:

How you'all been? Man I have missed using that smiley more than I realize. Pretty much back-burnered this sports chase, still have some season win props pending but been enjoying my grandkids a lot more since May when I pulled the plug.

I figure teaching inter-city like police work sucks, still think they need to tighten their belts. Dad tells me that during the depression they had to have a GOOD do-with-outer, commonsense is taught in which grade level?

Auto parts world is a battle too, been getting hours cut and sales bonus down 12 to 20 plus percent, celebrated my Dad's 97th last month, he like Peter Schiff saw this mess coming, even though he did not finish the 8th grade my Grandfather(born 1867) became disabled, he more than anyone I know places a high value on education, because does not have much of one. I dumped my under water house in Aug 2007 via short sale, paid off all my VISA & MasterCards. Cut to the bone for 3 years even to the point that I dropped cable. Drive a paid off 2006 GMC mid-size pick up, go deer hunting every year regardless of my bank account.

I went to a rural southern Ohio school, taught by non-union teachers, chased off three english teachers in high school, was honor roll thru first six, got involved in hunting, fishing, trapping in junior high turned into a "C" student, thought I was gonna farm the rest of my life and was #60/120 students in grad class. Best part was I did not have to head to Nam like several of my older classmates that did not go to college. Most have done a lot better than me and I am happy for them, some via profession, nurse, teacher, or union or non-union factory work.

Raised four kids, sent them to small catholic school, worked two bingo nights a month while most only worked one. Did maintence and janitor work in evens most of the summer to build credits to cover the tuition that wife and I could not afford. Really feel it paid off, one son works for major cell carrier, another is having a tough time with a service company locally he does in home work and paid by the job(plumber). The two daughters are both RN's. Oh the stories they can tell about those parents on drugs that land in the hospital.

We all have a different perspective based on our seat in the arena of life, and few of us can go under the hood and make a different call with the assistance of the replay booth.

Best to all, and I will try to stop in every now and then to give a view from the foxhole, cause it really is a battle out there like GW says. The times they are a changing like Mr Dylan said, and "May God Bless" like Red always said!

PS anyone really concerned about my spelling or sentence composition feel free to cut and paste and correct, much appreciated :0074
 
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