Community› The Bump Message Boards› Working Moms
Working Moms
New Discussion

Money or Loyalty?

ReeB83ReeB83 member
edited August 2013 in Working Moms
Alas, my summer is over. I go back to the classroom on Thursday for a bunch of boring teacher meetings and the kiddies--including DS--start classes the following Friday.
So I'm getting ready, re-writing old lesson plans, setting up bulletin boards and chatting with my teacher friends on facebook. One of my old co-workers IM'd me that a public school principal she knows is looking for a 1st grade teacher and needs the position filled by Wednesday. Like in two days Wednesday. The day before I have to return to work Wednesday.
I should be excited. I work for a Catholic school. After five years of teaching experience, I make what a first year CPS teacher makes, especially after the massive strike last year.
I am not excited. My classroom is about 30% set up, I have already been fitted for my uniform (ugh it's awful. CON for the Catholic school). The principal let me enroll DS in full day PK before his fourth birthday, which saves me a lot of money on daycare and I won't have to worry about who will pick him up/drop him off (DH works weird hours and very far away in the opposite direction). Uniforms have been bought for him as well. Then again, another $20K a year could pay for lots of daycare. And shoes.
But.....I kinda love my job. I used to work at a public school and there was a lot of red tape and unhappy surprises. Things with the sisters are a lot calmer. And quitting a job the day before you're due to report is just tacky. Surely couldn't count on them for a reference.
Also, I signed a contract. Pretty sure that means something.
Decisions, decisions.
Report Reply to Post

Re: Money or Loyalty?

  • Soxgirl07Soxgirl07 member
    If it really was money vs loyalty, I would go with the money. But, it sounds like you're really happy where you are and that there are a lot of benefits.
    Without knowing your financial situation, I'm tempted to say stay for the better quality of life.
    What's your job security like at the Catholic school?
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • EastCoastBrideEastCoastBride member
    If you quit, what would you do w/ your son?  If you quit, would you be able to leave your DS there and/or how convenient would it be for pickup/drop offs?

    This is more than just money vs loyalty. 
    "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
    ~Benjamin Franklin

    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
    DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10

    Report Reply
  • FemShepFemShep member
    This isn't really a money vs loyalty issue, you have a number of extenuating circumstances.

    First, there's the matter of the contract.  What are the penalties if you leave at the start of the school year?

    Second, there's convenience; having your DS at your school is a huge help.  You may well lose his place if you quit unexpectedly.  Have you looked at other care arrangements for him?  Do you know if there are spaces available at a local daycare?  I'm not sure where you live, but $20k gets eaten up pretty quickly in daycare costs; you could easily go through more than half of that amount.

    There's also a quality of life issue.  My SIL is a former teacher and principal, and after the stories she's told me, you couldn't pay me enough to deal with what she and her staff had to do.  (HUGE props to the teachers out there!)  Is the extra $10k or so a year really worth the red tape, unhappy surprises, challenge of finding daycare at very short notice, and extra commute?

    Given all of these things, I'd stay, and look at negotiating a raise if at all possible.
    Report Reply
  • LoCarbLoCarb member
    I would interview and find out more about the position/school/policies to see if you get a good feel about it. @Femshep is correct there are other circumstances to consider.

    But ultimately, if everything else was the same, I would choose money. An employer can let you go at any time-they do not have to be loyal.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • ReeB83ReeB83 member
    edited August 2013
    Thanks for the answers. Looks like the Chicago Public School system made the decision for me. I went online to update my information with their HR department and it said that I was ineligible for employment. I think I know why.
    I was fired pretty informally from my PS job about a month before I had DS. The day before my maternity leave, the staff threw me a baby shower, then the principal called me into the office and told me I can't come back because she had to cut a position. No paperwork, no contacting HR. When I did go to HR, they said my position was one that could be cut "at will".
    So it looks like I'm staying with Catholic school, but I should straighten this out regardless because I'm sure that doesn't look good on my teaching record. And I may want to go back to public school one day.
    Also, when I did my research, daycare is something like $200/week. Catholic school, even if I never sold a single chocolate bar  or raffle ticket, is less than half of that.
    Report Reply
  • ReeB83ReeB83 member
    edited August 2013
    @Soxgirl07 Job security: for the past two years, my principal has begged me not to leave, particularly this year when the 2nd and 7th grade teachers quit and 4 of the nuns (herself included) got reassigned.
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"