Monday Morning B!tchfest

Agradley

sunlavender:

Agradley:

1.  I never said I was upset about my pay.  Actually I said the opposite, I was simply telling you that teachers don't get an automatic raise every year.

2.  I can make my point without name calling.  It simply makes me feel better.

3.  And you're right, we are payed with tax dollars.  But just because you pay taxes, still doesn't make you an expert in all things education.

1. When did I say that I thought that teachers get a raise every year? Can you please reference where you think I said that?

2. I actually chuckled at this.  Fair enough.

3. I never claimed to be an expert in all things education.  I will say that I'm an expert in all things tax related though.  And for someone who is paying almost 40% of their salary in taxes I think its only fair that I'm allowed to have an opinion.  Do I think teachers are overpaid? No.  Do I think they are underpaid? No.  Do I think they need 5 years maternity leave? No.  

Agradley

CiderWench:

Agradley:

CiderWench:

Agradley said:

That has absolutely nothing to do with a teachers salary and everything to do with your expenses at the time.

My sister is a lawyer and makes 80k a year.  Her husband was in physiotherapy school, they had a mortgage and two kids.  They also qualified for support.  I still think she gets paid well.  Also she works 60+ hours a week, does a lot of pro bono work for an abused women's center and she gets barely any holidays.  

I have never seen her out picketing.

Wrong again, princess. In Mississippi receiving government assistance is based almost entirely on your gross income and how many people are in the household. They don't give a sh?t about your "expenses."

I think its completely insane that you think this is because your teachers salary was too low and not because you had a husband in school and three children to support. 

You're right. Living on $28,000 a year is a dream for anyone.

I just looked up entry level salaries for teachers in the U.S.A.  You totally just made up that figure.  

CiderWench

Look up entry level for Mississippi. It's gone up since I started. I made around $32,000 and took home around $28,000. When my husband began teaching here in 2002, he started at just above $26,000 a year.

Agradley

CiderWench:

Look up entry level for Mississippi. It's gone up since I started. I made around $32,000 and took home around $28,000. When my husband began teaching here in 2002, he started at just above $26,000 a year.

You can't say your salary is $28,000 when it's $28,000 take home.  That is actually ridiculous that you even said that.  

And that is entry level.  So you thought it was a good idea to send your husband to school when you have three kids, in your first years of teaching?  And then you have the gall to complain about how much teachers make.  WOW.

Are you sure your a teacher?  

sunlavender

Agradley:

sunlavender:

Agradley:

1.  I never said I was upset about my pay.  Actually I said the opposite, I was simply telling you that teachers don't get an automatic raise every year.

2.  I can make my point without name calling.  It simply makes me feel better.

3.  And you're right, we are payed with tax dollars.  But just because you pay taxes, still doesn't make you an expert in all things education.

1. When did I say that I thought that teachers get a raise every year? Can you please reference where you think I said that?

2. I actually chuckled at this.  Fair enough.

3. I never claimed to be an expert in all things education.  I will say that I'm an expert in all things tax related though.  And for someone who is paying almost 40% of their salary in taxes I think its only fair that I'm allowed to have an opinion.  Do I think teachers are overpaid? No.  Do I think they are underpaid? No.  Do I think they need 5 years maternity leave? No.  

I was responding to when you said, "That being said, I'm not entirely sure what it is like in the States, but here a teacher's salary increases automatically as they gain more seniority. I'm pretty sure its one of the only jobs I know of where an employee will get a raise regardless of job performance." 

You're right, you didn't say every year.  My point was it wasn't automatic (in cases such as I mentioned previously) and that it wasn't given every year simply because of increased seniority.

And the maternity leave thing must be Canadian.  We get maternity leave here, but we have to use our sick days for it.

Agradley

sunlavender:

Agradley:

sunlavender:

Agradley:

1.  I never said I was upset about my pay.  Actually I said the opposite, I was simply telling you that teachers don't get an automatic raise every year.

2.  I can make my point without name calling.  It simply makes me feel better.

3.  And you're right, we are payed with tax dollars.  But just because you pay taxes, still doesn't make you an expert in all things education.

1. When did I say that I thought that teachers get a raise every year? Can you please reference where you think I said that?

2. I actually chuckled at this.  Fair enough.

3. I never claimed to be an expert in all things education.  I will say that I'm an expert in all things tax related though.  And for someone who is paying almost 40% of their salary in taxes I think its only fair that I'm allowed to have an opinion.  Do I think teachers are overpaid? No.  Do I think they are underpaid? No.  Do I think they need 5 years maternity leave? No.  

I was responding to when you said, "That being said, I'm not entirely sure what it is like in the States, but here a teacher's salary increases automatically as they gain more seniority. I'm pretty sure its one of the only jobs I know of where an employee will get a raise regardless of job performance." 

You're right, you didn't say every year.  My point was it wasn't automatic (in cases such as I mentioned previously) and that it wasn't given every year simply because of increased seniority.

And the maternity leave thing must be Canadian.  We get maternity leave here, but we have to use our sick days for it.

But it is automatic.  I mean it's basically 100% that a teacher will get a raise after the first 5 years, if not less, regardless of merit.  That was the point I was making.  

Anyway I think teachers should be able to get raises just like everyone else, I don't disagree there, I just think there should be some sort of evaluation system.  I think that the teacher who puts in a huge amount of blood, sweat and tears into his/her job should make more than the teacher who does the bare minimum, regardless of their seniority.   

In any job, there are people who are weak.  They are usually weeded out to make room for better, hard working employees.  Don't you think that it would be better to have a new but passionate teacher than a more experienced but lazy teacher? I don't really think that's unwarranted.  

The maternity thing was Canadian.  It was one of the teacher's union's demands in the negotiations for a better contract.  

I think it's stupid that you have to use your sick days for mat leave, but I think that maternity leave in general is too short in the U.S.A.  

spacepotatoes

sunlavender:

I was responding to when you said, "That being said, I'm not entirely sure what it is like in the States, but here a teacher's salary increases automatically as they gain more seniority. I'm pretty sure its one of the only jobs I know of where an employee will get a raise regardless of job performance." 

You're right, you didn't say every year.  My point was it wasn't automatic (in cases such as I mentioned previously) and that it wasn't given every year simply because of increased seniority.

And the maternity leave thing must be Canadian.  We get maternity leave here, but we have to use our sick days for it.

Mat leave can be up to 1 year, but that's not entirely a part of the teaching contract, it's an Employment Insurance benefit. How much leave you get and the pay for that leave depends on how many insurable hours you've worked and your salary. You apply for the benefit same way you would if you got laid off and were collecting EI.

Some employers will top up those benefits for a certain period of time, which would be in the contract.

hopeful808

Agradley:

CiderWench:

Look up entry level for Mississippi. It's gone up since I started. I made around $32,000 and took home around $28,000. When my husband began teaching here in 2002, he started at just above $26,000 a year.

You can't say your salary is $28,000 when it's $28,000 take home.  That is actually ridiculous that you even said that.  

And that is entry level.  So you thought it was a good idea to send your husband to school when you have three kids, in your first years of teaching?  And then you have the gall to complain about how much teachers make.  WOW.

Are you sure your a teacher?  

Her husband might not have had a choice in going back to school.

While teaching certification standards are done state by state in the US, in my state the standards for certification are complicated. To first obtain your teaching certificate you need a bachelor's degree in the appropriate field(s) of education, passing all needed standardized exams in my state we take PRAXIS, and complete a series of field work/student teaching, and some other things. That gets you an Initial Educator Certificate that expires in 5 years. In order to obtain the next level of certification (which must be done to keep teaching) you need to have started grad school for education and then you have several years to finish your masters. 

So, I will have to go back to school in the fall, but since I teach full time I will be taking classes part time  for a long time. Am I wrong for not holding off having kids until that is done? Keep in mind that if I ever move out of state I have to obtain proper certification in that state which could mean having to go back to school again to take more classes or pass other standardized exams which means taking more classes to be prepared to take them. 

hopeful808

spacepotatoes:

sunlavender:

I was responding to when you said, "That being said, I'm not entirely sure what it is like in the States, but here a teacher's salary increases automatically as they gain more seniority. I'm pretty sure its one of the only jobs I know of where an employee will get a raise regardless of job performance." 

You're right, you didn't say every year.  My point was it wasn't automatic (in cases such as I mentioned previously) and that it wasn't given every year simply because of increased seniority.

And the maternity leave thing must be Canadian.  We get maternity leave here, but we have to use our sick days for it.

Mat leave can be up to 1 year, but that's not entirely a part of the teaching contract, it's an Employment Insurance benefit. How much leave you get and the pay for that leave depends on how many insurable hours you've worked and your salary. You apply for the benefit same way you would if you got laid off and were collecting EI.

Some employers will top up those benefits for a certain period of time, which would be in the contract.

In my area the only maternity leave offered is through Family Medical Leave Act, which you need to be working at your job for a year and it's unpaid. The leave is I think 6 weeks, but I may be wrong.

Agradley

spacepotatoes:

sunlavender:

I was responding to when you said, "That being said, I'm not entirely sure what it is like in the States, but here a teacher's salary increases automatically as they gain more seniority. I'm pretty sure its one of the only jobs I know of where an employee will get a raise regardless of job performance." 

You're right, you didn't say every year.  My point was it wasn't automatic (in cases such as I mentioned previously) and that it wasn't given every year simply because of increased seniority.

And the maternity leave thing must be Canadian.  We get maternity leave here, but we have to use our sick days for it.

Mat leave can be up to 1 year, but that's not entirely a part of the teaching contract, it's an Employment Insurance benefit. How much leave you get and the pay for that leave depends on how many insurable hours you've worked and your salary. You apply for the benefit same way you would if you got laid off and were collecting EI.

Some employers will top up those benefits for a certain period of time, which would be in the contract.

In the job action in my province the teachers union put a 5 year maternity leave in there negotiation demands.  It wasn't that they would get maternity pay for 5 years it was that they could take 5 years off to have children but they would be entitled to the same position they had after those 5 years are up.  

Also in the current teaching contract, employees can get up to 17 weeks of top up pay.  

Also just so you know, the amount that you get from E.I. is strictly to do with your gross salary and it's about 75% up to a certain amount.  The only reason they need to know how many hours you worked is because you only qualify for E.I. if you have worked 500 hours or more at your current job before the leave.  

Agradley

hopeful808:

Agradley:

CiderWench:

Look up entry level for Mississippi. It's gone up since I started. I made around $32,000 and took home around $28,000. When my husband began teaching here in 2002, he started at just above $26,000 a year.

You can't say your salary is $28,000 when it's $28,000 take home.  That is actually ridiculous that you even said that.  

And that is entry level.  So you thought it was a good idea to send your husband to school when you have three kids, in your first years of teaching?  And then you have the gall to complain about how much teachers make.  WOW.

Are you sure your a teacher?  

Her husband might not have had a choice in going back to school.

While teaching certification standards are done state by state in the US, in my state the standards for certification are complicated. To first obtain your teaching certificate you need a bachelor's degree in the appropriate field(s) of education, passing all needed standardized exams in my state we take PRAXIS, and complete a series of field work/student teaching, and some other things. That gets you an Initial Educator Certificate that expires in 5 years. In order to obtain the next level of certification (which must be done to keep teaching) you need to have started grad school for education and then you have several years to finish your masters. 

So, I will have to go back to school in the fall, but since I teach full time I will be taking classes part time  for a long time. Am I wrong for not holding off having kids until that is done? Keep in mind that if I ever move out of state I have to obtain proper certification in that state which could mean having to go back to school again to take more classes or pass other standardized exams which means taking more classes to be prepared to take them. 

Is that correct? you must obtain your masters in order to keep your job? I call BS.  

Also I don't think you should have to put off having kids, I have no idea what your personal situation is like.  I don't think you should have three kids and a husband in school and be on support and then blame it on your teachers salary though.  

pandaglitter

MrsM507:

DD was admitted to the hospital last night and tested positive for the flu. Because of her health issues, it's a pretty dangerous situation... but she's handling it like a champ. I need more coffee. And sleep.

I hope she's okay!!  

pandaglitter

amricangrl1:

I just wish DH wanted to understand this process more. I tried to tell him that it can take a year for us to get pregnant and that there is only a 20 percent chance each month. My major bish is that he brought his ex up this morning. He was like it only took us three times of having sex to have SD....I'm sorry but my fertility has nothing to do with that psycho's! She stopped taking BC without him knowing, and admits it! It bothered me a lot more than it should have.

Ugh I'm sorry. I'd slap my husband if he said that. I know my stepdaughter was an accident (but he knew she stopped taking BC pills, just kept on having unprotected sex because they didn't think they'd get pregnant) and it's so annoying it's taken me longer. At least you're not crazy like her and you guys are actually trying to have a baby, you don't have to trick him. 

HoneyBunny13

Slept like crap last night, spilt coffee grounds all over the floor at 6am, and we were slammed at work. I'm just happy to be home sitting on my butt doing nothing. I already told FI I was not cooking dinner tonight

CayleighDawn

Ooh, I have loads to b!tch about today!

First I woke up half an hour before my alarm went off to temp. Not a huge deal, but was not impressed at all when my temp went down instead of up. Was so hoping I had O'd the other day! 

Next DH took forever in the shower, and since we drive together to work, I ended up being late for work. Get to work, am not there 10 minutes before one of my preschoolers pukes all over the carpet at circle time. Cleaning up vomit = really not how I wanted to start my week. 

Also, it's effing cold outside. Like, really, really cold. I  caught a chill this morning that I just can't seem to shake. All in all just not the best Monday. 

Agradley

Beth&Derek:

Agradley:

Is that correct? you must obtain your masters in order to keep your job? I call BS.    

Here's another example of you not knowing what you're talking about. Several states have this requirement, including Massachusetts where I live. I was required to get my masters degree within my first five years of teaching in order to maintain my teaching license.

I just looked this up.  You need to renew your teachers license every 5 years but you don't have to do your Masters, it is an option but there are other options if you don't want to do your Masters.   You should probably be more informed about your job.

https://www.teacher-world.com/statespages/Massachusetts.html

 

spacepotatoes

Agradley:

spacepotatoes:

sunlavender:

I was responding to when you said, "That being said, I'm not entirely sure what it is like in the States, but here a teacher's salary increases automatically as they gain more seniority. I'm pretty sure its one of the only jobs I know of where an employee will get a raise regardless of job performance." 

You're right, you didn't say every year.  My point was it wasn't automatic (in cases such as I mentioned previously) and that it wasn't given every year simply because of increased seniority.

And the maternity leave thing must be Canadian.  We get maternity leave here, but we have to use our sick days for it.

Mat leave can be up to 1 year, but that's not entirely a part of the teaching contract, it's an Employment Insurance benefit. How much leave you get and the pay for that leave depends on how many insurable hours you've worked and your salary. You apply for the benefit same way you would if you got laid off and were collecting EI.

Some employers will top up those benefits for a certain period of time, which would be in the contract.

In the job action in my province the teachers union put a 5 year maternity leave in there negotiation demands.  It wasn't that they would get maternity pay for 5 years it was that they could take 5 years off to have children but they would be entitled to the same position they had after those 5 years are up.  

Also in the current teaching contract, employees can get up to 17 weeks of top up pay.  

Also just so you know, the amount that you get from E.I. is strictly to do with your gross salary and it's about 75% up to a certain amount.  The only reason they need to know how many hours you worked is because you only qualify for E.I. if you have worked 500 hours or more at your current job before the leave.  

I don't know anything about the 5 year thing, that wasn't an issue in my province. I agree that it sounds ridiculous.

I'm well aware of how EI calculates its benefits, though. I don't get paid over the summer since I'm not a permanent teacher, so EI and I are well aquainted.

sunlavender

This thread needs an intermission.  It's time for a dance party.

 

Agradley

Beth&Derek:

Agradley:

I just looked this up.  You need to renew your teachers license every 5 years but you don't have to do your Masters, it is an option but there are other options if you don't want to do your Masters.   You should probably be more informed about your job.

https://www.teacher-world.com/statespages/Massachusetts.html

Because teacher-world is more accurate than the Massachusetts Department of Education?

Yes, you do need to complete your masters degree. It doesn't necessarily have to be a masters in education, but it needs to be a program approved by the state which means that if it's not an education program, they'll likely require you to take more classes.

 Stop getting your information from Google. You don't live in the US and you don't teach in the districts where we teach. You have no idea what you're talking about with most of this stuff, so take a step back and realize that rather than telling me I need to learn more about my job.

I just looked at the Massachusetts Department of Education site and it states that as part of their professional development program a teacher is required to take courses continuously throughout his/her career in order to renew their license every five years.  A teacher may choose to complete his/her masters if they so choose.  No ware does it state that a teacher must obtain their masters.  

Ummm taking a few courses to keep up your knowledge is not the same as completing a masters program.  WOW hahahha

Also in my job we have to take a certain amount of professional courses each year too. I think that's pretty standard for anyone who is a professional. 

bumpuser1282882

Emily&Chad:

Screw you lady who wrote her horror story of her HSG.. that I read last night.. right before MY hsg today! I was totally freaked. I feel violated.. and it hurt like a biatch for a few minutes.. but I'm all free and clear.. with long tubes "to go with my long legs" .. yikes haha. 

Aww, that is brutal! Good to hear you're free and clear now though

Agradley

Beth&Derek:

Agradley:

Beth&Derek:

Agradley:

I just looked this up.  You need to renew your teachers license every 5 years but you don't have to do your Masters, it is an option but there are other options if you don't want to do your Masters.   You should probably be more informed about your job.

https://www.teacher-world.com/statespages/Massachusetts.html

Because teacher-world is more accurate than the Massachusetts Department of Education?

Yes, you do need to complete your masters degree. It doesn't necessarily have to be a masters in education, but it needs to be a program approved by the state which means that if it's not an education program, they'll likely require you to take more classes.

 Stop getting your information from Google. You don't live in the US and you don't teach in the districts where we teach. You have no idea what you're talking about with most of this stuff, so take a step back and realize that rather than telling me I need to learn more about my job.

I just looked at the Massachusetts Department of Education site and it states that as part of their professional development program a teacher is required to take courses continuously throughout his/her career in order to renew their license each year.  A teacher may choose to complete his/her masters if they so choose.  No ware does it state that a teacher must obtain their masters.  

Ummm taking a few courses to keep up your knowledge is not the same as completing a masters program.  WOW hahahha

Also in my job we have to take a certain amount of professional courses each year too. I think that's pretty standard for anyone who is a professional. 

I'm not talking about renewing your license. I'm talking about moving from an initial license to a professional license, but whatever, I forgot that you know so much more about it than I do.

I'm done arguing with you. I've let this take up too much time already. Have a good night, all-knowing one.

You stated that you needed to get your masters in order to keep your job when in fact that isn't true.   You got caught in your lie and now your angry. I get it.

sunlavender

Agradley:

You stated that you needed to get your masters in order to keep your job when in fact that isn't true.   You got caught in your lie and now your angry. I get it.

MrsM507

Agradley:

No ware does it state that a teacher must obtain their masters.

I am all for an educated, intelligent debate - but unfortunately, you come across as neither.

CiderWench

Agradley:

CiderWench:

Look up entry level for Mississippi. It's gone up since I started. I made around $32,000 and took home around $28,000. When my husband began teaching here in 2002, he started at just above $26,000 a year.

You can't say your salary is $28,000 when it's $28,000 take home.  That is actually ridiculous that you even said that.  

And that is entry level.  So you thought it was a good idea to send your husband to school when you have three kids, in your first years of teaching?  And then you have the gall to complain about how much teachers make.  WOW.

Are you sure your a teacher?  

I never said my salary was $28,000, I said it was a dream to live on $28,000. I am so very sorry I did not imply hard enough that I meant take home and not salary.

We had two kids when he started. The third was an oops a year in. And, yes, the opportunity to go to medical school was too good to pass up. I don't expect anyone to agree with or like our decision. And, yes, I have the gall to complain about anything and everything. WOW.

I sure know you're not a teacher.

sunlavender

Beth&Derek:

I said I was done, but I'm still here...

 Anyone catch the last post from Agradley? I don't know if it was an AE fail or what, but she posted under Chester84 (or something like that) and then deleted.

Missed that one.  Chester84 is a SN and she does have a deleted post for this thread. 

clh4444

Agradley:

There is too much to quote all your ignorant comments from this post so I will just reference all of them.

You don't know the ins and outs of every teacher contract so to make a sweeping statement that we are paid annually is dumb. Each school system may do something different and yes some teachers may be paid annually but some are not.

I am paid for x amount of days per year. Yes I am off today but I am not paid for today. Just like someone who has Mondays off is not paid for them. Their contract specifies the hours and days they are contracted to work and the amount you will be compensated for that time. Yes, we are able to take our pay and spread that out over 12 months but that does not make us annual employees.

The whole guaranteed raise thing is a joke and saying that we have a complex about deserving to be treated with respect and be paid a living wage is ridiculous. Yes I am upset over my pay. Yes I knew that being a teacher would mean sacrifices in my pay but it should not mean that I am required to go 5 years (yes 5 years) without either a cost of living or pay raise at all. Anyone, in an any job, would be upset with this as well. I would welcome a chance to be judged for my work and awarded a pay raise for being a good teacher. As it stands now, what is the incentive to continue to do a good job as you are not recognized for your hard work and hours spent both in and out of the classroom.

In addition to not having a raise for 5 years, our benefits and health insurance has been slashed. The school now pays less for these benefits so in addition to no raises my pay has steadily decreased over the last 5 years. Our government has also decided to transfer the cost of our pension back to us so now my pay will decrease another 7% in the next 3 years as this is phased in. All for a pension that would not support you if you did decide to retire. We could retire and get another job because the pension sure as hell is not going to be enough to live on.

In addition, when I signed on to be a teacher 19 years ago, even if I knew the pay was abysmal, I never knew that I would be so undervalued that in 19 years my pay has only increased less than 5 thousand dollars.  19 years of dedication and you can take those guaranteed raises and shove them where the sun doesn't shine.

I could go on but I have only one more thing to say. Why am I still teaching? Because I love kids and I have a dream that someday asses like you will realize that what we do is one of the most important jobs in shaping your kid's future and how they view life. We aren't asking for the moon but asking for a decent pay and recognition for a job well done. Nothing more or less than any other person in any profession.

HawkeyeTTGP

ColeRose:

Missed it too, but if you check out Chester84's posts she is a peach just like Agradley. Nice AE fail.

Bump!