Teacher Stress Is Killing My Profession

[socialist]

Many of the armchair experts on this forum have no idea what it is like to be an educator these days. All some of you see is the holidays which cause you to make preposterous assumptions. How many of you have any clue what a typical day for a educator is like? I know the answer to that question. The answer is very few.

Try dealing with kids who spend all their time at home playing Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty. But hey, it's easy to blame the teachers because that is the easy thing to do.....and the gutless thing to do.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/teacher-stress-is-killing-my-profession-1.789436

Edited December 18, 2014 by socialist

[poochy]

Perhaps we need to instill some old fashioned morals and values into these ruffians! Does anyone die when the teacher screws up a lesson plan? No, didn't think so, me 1, teacher 0.

[Bryan]

A teacher's job today is exponentially easier than it was in years gone by. That they are crying about the stress only reinforces the point that today's teachers are lazy whiners who have it far too good. "Stress". What a joke. You don't even know what stress is.

[socialist]

A teacher's job today is exponentially easier than it was in years gone by. That they are crying about the stress only reinforces the point that today's teachers are lazy whiners who have it far too good. "Stress". What a joke. You don't even know what stress is.

When was the last time you set foot in a classroom for longer than one minute, Bryan? I know. It's easier to make generalizations on a message form to score points with your fellow teacher bashing trolls.

[GostHacked]

Got your masters degree yet?

[Bryan]

When was the last time you set foot in a classroom for longer than one minute, Bryan? I know. It's easier to make generalizations on a message form to score points with your fellow teacher bashing trolls.

I spent about 4 hours in my daughter's school yesterday. I'm there volunteering several times a week. Teachers have it VERY easy, it's a plum job. Very few people get paid so much to do so little. Short work day, lots of short work weeks, no stress of any measurable kind, huge pay, lots of holidays. It's a dream job really.

I don't in any way harbour animosity towards those teachers. Good for them, they made a smart career choice that is paying off in spades. My issue is with teachers who complain about how hard done by they are. THOSE teachers need to lose their jobs and work in the real world so that they can see what real stress and tough pay really is.

[AngusThermopyle]

Really socialist, show a little respect. They're educators, not teachers.

[Michael Hardner]

A teacher's job today is exponentially easier than it was in years gone by. That they are crying about the stress only reinforces the point that today's teachers are lazy whiners who have it far too good. "Stress". What a joke. You don't even know what stress is.

There's no way to prove that. The views expressed in that post are just opinions.

[Argus]

There's no way to prove that. The views expressed in that post are just opinions.

Everything on this stupid topic is just opinions. There were a couple of articles in the paper the last couple of days having to do with how stressful law students find the Michael Brown case. Students complain they're too stressed out to take exams and want them postponed. Harvard Law students.

There was another article that some female students at some law schools, including Harvard, don't want to learn about rape laws. They don't want the word used, don't want any discussion around it because they find it too stressful and traumatizing.

Not so very long ago in this country people worked their fingers to the bone day after day for ten hours a day, six days a week for meager salaries in often dangerous jobs. None of them ever decided work was too stressful and they'd have to stay home to recuperate for a few months. People in third world countries still do this, and they're not deciding to go home in large numbers and sit around trembling at the stress.

Too many people today are self-indulgent whiners who feel sorry for themselves every time they break a shoelace.

[socialist]

I spent about 4 hours in my daughter's school yesterday. I'm there volunteering several times a week. Teachers have it VERY easy, it's a plum job. Very few people get paid so much to do so little. Short work day, lots of short work weeks, no stress of any measurable kind, huge pay, lots of holidays. It's a dream job really.

I don't in any way harbour animosity towards those teachers. Good for them, they made a smart career choice that is paying off in spades. My issue is with teachers who complain about how hard done by they are. THOSE teachers need to lose their jobs and work in the real world so that they can see what real stress and tough pay really is.

So what have you seen in the school where you were volunteering?

What kind of volunteering did you do? Warming up lunches?

Edited December 19, 2014 by socialist

[Michael Hardner]

Everything on this stupid topic is just opinions.

I guess so. But the article in the OP posits some ideas of WHY things might arguably be different for teachers today, eg. teachers aren't allowed to discipline students in any real way.

The first sentence of Bryan's post is unprovable and he provides nothing else.

But you're right.

There were a couple of articles in the paper the last couple of days having to do with how stressful law students find the Michael Brown case. Students complain they're too stressed out to take exams and want them postponed. Harvard Law students.

There was another article that some female students at some law schools, including Harvard, don't want to learn about rape laws. They don't want the word used, don't want any discussion around it because they find it too stressful and traumatizing.

Ok.

Not so very long ago in this country people worked their fingers to the bone day after day for ten hours a day, six days a week for meager salaries in often dangerous jobs. None of them ever decided work was too stressful and they'd have to stay home to recuperate for a few months. People in third world countries still do this, and they're not deciding to go home in large numbers and sit around trembling at the stress.

Ok... I get it. This is a "these kids today..." post. I'm in !

Too many people today are self-indulgent whiners who feel sorry for themselves every time they break a shoelace.

Boom. I'm with you. I look forward to when Jr. Employees fail, so I can help them improve. Too many see failure as the end of the universe. You just move on...

[Moonlight Graham]

Many of the armchair experts on this forum have no idea what it is like to be an educator these days.

Have you ever been employed as a K-12 teacher? Ever had to teach your own class every day like the teachers in the article? Didn't think so, so you don't have much of an idea of what it's like to be an educator either, and you have no experience dealing with the stresses of being a full-time teacher leading a class of your own students every day over the course of a year.

[socialist]

Have you ever been employed as a K-12 teacher? Ever had to teach your own class every day like the teachers in the article? Didn't think so, so you don't have much of an idea of what it's like to be an educator either, and you have no experience dealing with the stresses of being a full-time teacher leading a class of your own students every day over the course of a year.

Ummm....yes I do.

[Guest]

I remember when I was growing up, I don't think teachers had much stress. They had all the power, and many of them weren't afraid to use it. Especially the Nuns.

Now, from what I hear, (anecdotally, the odd newspaper article) the kids have all the power. I would be stressed out if I was a teacher too. Probably end up in jail.

[PrimeNumber]

I've heard that stress on teachers can often come from increased class sizes. Having to supervise more people often times means more stress in any job. Maybe the answer is more teachers, lower wages, smaller classes. Statistically students learn better in smaller class environments as well.

[Bryan]

There's no way to prove that. The views expressed in that post are just opinions.

That's just your opinion.

[socialist]

I've heard that stress on teachers can often come from increased class sizes. Having to supervise more people often times means more stress in any job. Maybe the answer is more teachers, lower wages, smaller classes. Statistically students learn better in smaller class environments as well.

So what would you say is a fair salary for an educator with 5, 6, or 7 years of post secondary education?

[Pct2017]

OK, I'll bite. Young Socialist, did you not expressly state that 90% of the public supports teachers or educators or whatever you are currently calling them? Well, reading the comments below the very article that you cited would certainly lead one to believe otherwise. But, I guess if you say that there is that much support for teachers, that must be in the special world that you reside in.

And while I am at it, I just have to ask how it is that you profess to work 70 hours per week and you are also in the process of getting your Masters, how is it that you have all of the time in the world to surf the net and post your special thoughts on this forum for seemingly hours each day. Oh, hang on, I just figured it out. A day is simply longer in your imaginary world.

As for the actual oped piece, it was written 5 years ago. It would be interesting to challenge the author of the piece to provide a list of teachers, er educators, that he knows personally who have died or been toted off to the looney bin in the subsequent years since he penned his whinefest.

[Moonlight Graham]

Ummm....yes I do.

Please explain then.

[PrimeNumber]

So what would you say is a fair salary for an educator with 5, 6, or 7 years of post secondary education?

Well that depends entirely on the amount of new teachers needed to reduce said class sizes. But with reduced class sizes they would unfortunately have to take a pay cut as this obviously means less time planning/preparing.

[socialist]

Well that depends entirely on the amount of new teachers needed to reduce said class sizes. But with reduced class sizes they would unfortunately have to take a pay cut as this obviously means less time planning/preparing.

Then do you also cut back the number of years to become a certified educator. Cut pay and you will attract less qualified prospective teachers. The learners in public schools will be hurt the most.

[Moonlight Graham]

So what would you say is a fair salary for an educator with 5, 6, or 7 years of post secondary education?

Since there's so many teacher's college grads out there with 4-5 years of education and quite a low demand for them, the starting salary for a teacher should be around 40k. Given the market for them (teacher's with little to no experience are extremely easy to replace), that's more than fair. Having a Master's Degree shouldn't guarantee much if any increase in salary, only an increased chance for those grads being hired and retaining their well sought-after jobs. After that, pay scales should vary based on experience and performance. The average teacher with ie: 15-20 years experience should make around 50k to 60k, while experienced teachers who are shown to be truly standout teachers and the best of the best (I only witnessed a small handful of these when I was in school) could make up to 70k-80k. Old dead-wood teachers with years of experience but poor teaching ability and performance should not be rewarded in pay simply because of their years served.

Edit: in fact, when dead-wood teacher's start slipping in their performance their pay should be reduced accordingly. This will help ensure teacher's don't start getting lazy as they progress in years.

Edited December 19, 2014 by Moonlight Graham

[socialist]

People don't want to pay teachers, but don't bat an eye when this nonsense happens.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/retired-north-vancouver-superintendent-john-lewis-re-hired-accused-of-double-dipping-1.2878710

[Ash74]

People don't want to pay teachers, but don't bat an eye when this nonsense happens.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/retired-north-vancouver-superintendent-john-lewis-re-hired-accused-of-double-dipping-1.2878710

This was what I was talking about in other topics about how the money for education is wasted.

Fine, pay the teachers more, give more money for the classroom but keep the bureaucrats and unions out of it. Than we can make a difference in education

Edited December 19, 2014 by Ash74

[PrimeNumber]

Then do you also cut back the number of years to become a certified educator. Cut pay and you will attract less qualified prospective teachers. The learners in public schools will be hurt the most.

Anyone whom earns their degree is qualified, those which are better teachers and/or have higher qualifications will move on to better positions or get raises. Many jobs have a performance based raise scale, teaching should be no different. The fact of the matter is we have enough teachers. The learners will benefit from decreased class sizes. A single adult person can live comfortably in this country on $50,000-$60,000/year.