Later Labor Day prompts Minnesota districts to seek earlier sta...

The school year should end before Memorial Day and start after Labor Day.

For all of those of you who think we get paid for two months off in the summer you are nuts. In St. Paul we only get paid for 10 months of work. This amount is divided over 12 months, but we are only paid for the 10 months we actually work. Our annual salary rate maybe $40,000 (12 months), but we are paid only $33,333.33 (10 months). When our salary schedule is printed in the papers it is based on a 12-month rate, but we are only paid for the 10 months we actually work. Over the summer we also are also required to take classes for clock hours for license renewal.

In addition we have one of the highest health insurance rates because of the union.

Example: As a single mother of two, I need family healthcare coverage. The cost of this coverage that comes out of my paycheck AFTER the District's contribution of $13,384.13 is figured in. So I work 10 hours a day, making sure all of my students have enough supplies (out of my own pocket), hats and gloves too and my take home salary for the year before taxes is $19,949.92.

So I went to college for four years, have over $32,000.00 in student loans to repay and they pay me only $19,949.92 year. I don't want to hear anyone out there say we are overpaid, we have to go to the foodshelf just to get by.

If I'm not mistaken, the Minnesota State Fair used to start a week or so earlier in August some years ago but because of persistant bad weather (rain) switched to the later date hoping to have sunny skies.

Hey Teacher,

Didn't you know about this when you chose this profession?

Sorry for the typo, as it was too early in the morning and I was trying to figure out how to pay the bills.

It should have been written:

Example: As a single mother of two, I need family healthcare coverage. The cost for this health care coverage AFTER the District's contribution is $13,384.13. So I work 10 hours a day, making sure all of my students have enough supplies (out of my own pocket), hats and gloves too and my take home salary for the year before taxes is $19,949.92.

St Paul Teacher wrote:

The school year should end before Memorial Day and start after Labor Day.
For all of those of you who think we get paid for two months off in the summer you are nuts. In St. Paul we only get paid for 10 months of work. This amount is divided over 12 months, but we are only paid for the 10 months we actually work. Our annual salary rate maybe $40,000 (12 months), but we are paid only $33,333.33 (10 months). When our salary schedule is printed in the papers it is based on a 12-month rate, but we are only paid for the 10 months we actually work. Over the summer we also are also required to take classes for clock hours for license renewal.
In addition we have one of the highest health insurance rates because of the union.
Example: As a single mother of two, I need family healthcare coverage. The cost of this coverage that comes out of my paycheck AFTER the District's contribution of $13,384.13 is figured in. So I work 10 hours a day, making sure all of my students have enough supplies (out of my own pocket), hats and gloves too and my take home salary for the year before taxes is $19,949.92.
So I went to college for four years, have over $32,000.00 in student loans to repay and they pay me only $19,949.92 year. I don't want to hear anyone out there say we are overpaid, we have to go to the foodshelf just to get by.

most of my friends are teachers they dont work 10hrs a day, dont take thier own money for supplies, make 60k , work 190 days a year, retire at 55, there is a reason people are not leaving the profession,

jw in the grove wrote:

<quoted text>most of my friends are teachers they dont work 10hrs a day, dont take thier own money for supplies, make 60k , work 190 days a year, retire at 55, there is a reason people are not leaving the profession,

What districts do your friends work in? And how old are they? If you are an older teacher within the district, with a masters plus at the top of the inservice credit limit, then this maybe the reality likely due to Rule of 90. If you are a younger teacher, hired within the last 15 yrs or so, this is not the reality nor will be. I know many of my younger colleagues who have left the profession due to financial reasons, other comparable careers are just more lucrative, and don't require personal time after work hours to complete the jobs. More and more of our time after school is dedicated to a flurry of new initiatives the district and schools are mandating. 5 yrs ago , I could count on one meeting a week/event I wold have to attend. Now, its regularly 4 a week, and I really do not get paid anymore than I did five yrs ago. But now more and more of my time after my day at work with students is dedicated to more work that the school requires. I teach high school, and the amount of students I have contact with daily have also increased significantly. Five years ago, it was 120, today, its 220. So most of my other work (correcting papers, planning lessons, which increased) has to get done at home. I see many more younger teachers leaving due to stress and financial reasons.96

jw in the grove wrote:

<quoted text>most of my friends are teachers they dont work 10hrs a day, dont take thier own money for supplies, make 60k , work 190 days a year, retire at 55, there is a reason people are not leaving the profession,

Very few teachers I know make $60,000 per year. In my building we have mostly new teachers with 1-5 years of service (2/3) with a few older teachers (1/3). I don't make $60,000 per year and yes, I do work 10 hours a day because I care about my students.

There is a push by the administration to get rid of these older teachers, as they cost the District too much. In some cases the District has made up stuff to move these teachers along while overlooking the actions of their friends. My ex and current administration employee threatened me during my divorce proceedings to take my job if I contested the divorce. I know the power of these words because I have seen several examples where this was done in St. Paul. I am left to raise our two children on a little more that $19,000 per year. I know from stories from my ex how the administration targets older teachers, looking for anything to get them out so they don't have to pay high retirement benefits. They look at the teacher's emails through 1930 Como, they also contact students and parents to spy on teachers they are targeting. The union is weak and does nothing to stand up for their union members. I saw one highly qualified teacher's reputation destroyed by a principal who used the system get ride of a teacher he did not like, but this teacher was an excellent teacher.

The level of intimidation by the administration is such that there are many highly qualified teachers leaving St. Paul, me included after this school year. The Superintendent has empowered her executive team to the point where they can do anything they want with no checks and balances from the Superintendent. I know, because my ex told me many stories. It is sad that highly qualified teachers are treated this way. Only if the public knew what is really going on down at 360.

Stpaulres wrote:

<quoted text>
What districts do your friends work in? And how old are they? If you are an older teacher within the district, with a masters plus at the top of the inservice credit limit, then this maybe the reality likely due to Rule of 90. If you are a younger teacher, hired within the last 15 yrs or so, this is not the reality nor will be. I know many of my younger colleagues who have left the profession due to financial reasons, other comparable careers are just more lucrative, and don't require personal time after work hours to complete the jobs. More and more of our time after school is dedicated to a flurry of new initiatives the district and schools are mandating. 5 yrs ago , I could count on one meeting a week/event I wold have to attend. Now, its regularly 4 a week, and I really do not get paid anymore than I did five yrs ago. But now more and more of my time after my day at work with students is dedicated to more work that the school requires. I teach high school, and the amount of students I have contact with daily have also increased significantly. Five years ago, it was 120, today, its 220. So most of my other work (correcting papers, planning lessons, which increased) has to get done at home. I see many more younger teachers leaving due to stress and financial reasons.96

yes they do have masters, one is in special ed roughly both are 40, one of my friends is 47 and he is a super making a base of 185k plus 700 car allowance, another is a principal making 100k, yes they do work harder than the two making 60k as phy ed and special ed, but both do not work more than 8 hrs a day 190 days a year.

"Educators also say starting school later in September means students are in school longer in June — a time when students' concentration is difficult for teachers to keep."

B.S. Teachers and administrators want to get to their cabins. Lets see some data where this is a problem. Fire half of the administrators, and cut the education budget 35%. Teach math, English, history, economics, Ph ed, and throw in a couple of art and languages classes. That's it. If kids want other lib classes, let there parents pay for it.

Carry on.

St Paul Teacher wrote:

The school year should end before Memorial Day and start after Labor Day.
For all of those of you who think we get paid for two months off in the summer you are nuts. In St. Paul we only get paid for 10 months of work. This amount is divided over 12 months, but we are only paid for the 10 months we actually work. Our annual salary rate maybe $40,000 (12 months), but we are paid only $33,333.33 (10 months). When our salary schedule is printed in the papers it is based on a 12-month rate, but we are only paid for the 10 months we actually work. Over the summer we also are also required to take classes for clock hours for license renewal.
In addition we have one of the highest health insurance rates because of the union.
Example: As a single mother of two, I need family healthcare coverage. The cost of this coverage that comes out of my paycheck AFTER the District's contribution of $13,384.13 is figured in. So I work 10 hours a day, making sure all of my students have enough supplies (out of my own pocket), hats and gloves too and my take home salary for the year before taxes is $19,949.92.
So I went to college for four years, have over $32,000.00 in student loans to repay and they pay me only $19,949.92 year. I don't want to hear anyone out there say we are overpaid, we have to go to the foodshelf just to get by.

Lies, lies lies. Average pay of teaches is way more. This ding bat must be a new hire.

If you do not like the health care, buy your own elsewhere cheaper. Also, you are well compensated after you retire.

As for your college, that is your fault for going to a school you obviously could not afford. I went to a community college for all my general classes. Cost about $9,000(2005). Then I went to a public four year college to finish my degree. Cost $10,500(2008). So had you been smart you would have made better choices.

With your attitude I feel sorry for our children who you are "teaching." Grow up and consider yourself lucky you got into a "profession" where they can't fire you for ineptness. That my friend is worth all the so called problems you think you are facing. You wouldn't last 10 minutes in the private sector.

Betty wrote:

<quoted text>
Lies, lies lies. Average pay of teaches is way more. This ding bat must be a new hire.
If you do not like the health care, buy your own elsewhere cheaper. Also, you are well compensated after you retire.
As for your college, that is your fault for going to a school you obviously could not afford. I went to a community college for all my general classes. Cost about $9,000(2005). Then I went to a public four year college to finish my degree. Cost $10,500(2008). So had you been smart you would have made better choices.
With your attitude I feel sorry for our children who you are "teaching." Grow up and consider yourself lucky you got into a "profession" where they can't fire you for ineptness. That my friend is worth all the so called problems you think you are facing. You wouldn't last 10 minutes in the private sector.

Sorry to inform you, but that is what I actually make.

College costs were high due to the fact my parents made too much money and I did not get one dime from them. I went to a private college because I did not want to be exposed to the liberal educators found in a public institution. I did not want to be exposed to the Socialism or the U or M and no I did not go to MAC.

As for my salary, I posted what I make, sorry it this is not the picture that the press has painted for you. I put down what my actual healthcare costs are, ask any St. Paul teacher. These are real figures, if you don't believe me go look at the salary schedule in SPPS's web page under Human Resources, contracts.

As for your comment, they can't fire you. Over the past two years, I have seen numerous fellow staff members fired or forced to resign who were found to be out of favor with the administration because of their political views.

Lastly, how dare you say I don't care about my students or my attitude towards is questionable. I put in a lot of time and effort for my students. More effort than most of my fellow teachers and this is because I CARE about them. I get paid very little for what I provide my students. I want my students to enjoy learning, I challenge them and I don't just baby sit them.

You can say it is all a lie if you want, but what I posted is what I make. Until you are a teacher in SPPS don't comment on things you don't know anything about. I am not paid like you say I am and my fellow teachers I work with don't make the kind of money you state.

Larrey Anderson
Many math teachers in our public schools ... don't know any math. And some states are hiding this fact.

The study of mathematics is essential for learning how to think. Mathematics is as close to logic as any other science. If a person can't add and subtract -- then that person will have a very difficult time thinking logically.

Keeping that in mind, a children's advocacy group, Education Trust, has announced that not a lot of America's math teachers have much training in math. Using numbers from the U.S. Department of Education, the Education Trust report noted:

* In poorer school districts two fifths of the math teachers are without a college major or certification in math.

* In schools with large minority populations, unqualified teachers teach one third of the math classes.

It follows that many inner city school children are not learning math. And if they grow up ignorant of mathematics, they are likely to grow up being unable to think rationally.

So much for "No Child Left Behind." This federal legislation, passed in 2002, included mandates that required teachers in core subjects like math to be rated as "highly qualified" by 2006.

The AP wire story that covered the study showed how state education bureaucracies are "cooking the books" on teacher certifications to keep the promised federal funding from "No Child Left Behind."

In Arizona, for example, the state claimed in 2004 teachers that met the federal standards taught almost 95% of Arizona's public school system's core classes. The real number is probably under 60%. The AP reports that at least 16 other states have inflated these findings.

The other day I wrote a blog on students who lie, cheat, and steal. Now we know why our kids are learning how to do it. The public educational system is corrupt. The entire system is built on a foundation of fraud. The states lie, cheat, and steal to keep the federal money.

St Paul Teacher wrote:

<quoted text>
Sorry to inform you, but that is what I actually make.
College costs were high due to the fact my parents made too much money and I did not get one dime from them. I went to a private college because I did not want to be exposed to the liberal educators found in a public institution. I did not want to be exposed to the Socialism or the U or M and no I did not go to MAC.
As for my salary, I posted what I make, sorry it this is not the picture that the press has painted for you. I put down what my actual healthcare costs are, ask any St. Paul teacher. These are real figures, if you don't believe me go look at the salary schedule in SPPS's web page under Human Resources, contracts.
As for your comment, they can't fire you. Over the past two years, I have seen numerous fellow staff members fired or forced to resign who were found to be out of favor with the administration because of their political views.
Lastly, how dare you say I don't care about my students or my attitude towards is questionable. I put in a lot of time and effort for my students. More effort than most of my fellow teachers and this is because I CARE about them. I get paid very little for what I provide my students. I want my students to enjoy learning, I challenge them and I don't just baby sit them.
You can say it is all a lie if you want, but what I posted is what I make. Until you are a teacher in SPPS don't comment on things you don't know anything about. I am not paid like you say I am and my fellow teachers I work with don't make the kind of money you state.

Went to a private college so you wouldn't be exposed to Socialism at public schools? Boy, your dumber than I thought. Please tell us where you went.

FYI wrote:

<quoted text>
Went to a private college so you wouldn't be exposed to Socialism at public schools? Boy, your dumber than I thought. Please tell us where you went.

Wow, you are really something.

I went to college to get a good education so I can be the best teacher I could possibly be. America is still a free country, right? We all don't have to all go to government schools do we?

I teach in public school because the pay is better than private schools (choice), but the pay is still low. Have you ever thought about public service and teachers. Being an educator is providing a public service just like a doctor is, but they are paid a lot more. Teachers should be treated as professionals instead of just baby sitters.

It is easy to blame us for all the troubles our children in our society face, but we only have your children for 6 hours a day, you have them for the other 18. Do you read to your child or is that the responsibility of the teacher also? Do you feed your child in the morning your or give them the proper clothes (hats, gloves, socks, shoes). I have given my students all of these items plus school supplies. Do I need to pick you up from your house to attend your child's teacher conferences? You will miss you favorite TV show, but what is more important, your TV show or your child's education.

Jim across the river wrote:

If I'm not mistaken, the Minnesota State Fair used to start a week or so earlier in August some years ago but because of persistant bad weather (rain) switched to the later date hoping to have sunny skies.

you are mistaken

Wow tough life. Six hours a day, no weekends, no summers, tons of holidays, no boss over your shoulder, home before 5pm each day, cushy retirement package.
Also if teachers are so great why is public education in the U.S. ranked close to third world nations now?

The education system in this country is too fill of mandates that aren't paid for by the federal government. 15 years ago there weren't things like special ed in our school districts and we didn't have to worry about the various graduation and standardized tests.

With all of today's electronic gizmos kid's don't have the attention span or interest in learning. Given the choice between studying and listening to their ipods or chatting on facebook, 9 times out of 10 they choose the ipods and facebook over textbooks. And don't get me started on textbooks. Thanks to the monopolies a couple of textbook companies have our schools have to teach with outdated textbooks.

With both parents working jobs the parents don't have the time or interest in getting their kids to do their homework or studying tests.

Alot of people like to complain about teachers. Have any of you that have posted negative comments ever stepped into a school in the last 5 yrs? If you haven't, talk to you local school district and ask to visit a school. I think your opinion will be changed.

education wrote:

Wow tough life. Six hours a day, no weekends, no summers, tons of holidays, no boss over your shoulder, home before 5pm each day, cushy retirement package.
Also if teachers are so great why is public education in the U.S. ranked close to third world nations now?

Yes there is six hours of student contact time, but eight hours of clock time per day plus committee meetings, site council, lesson prep, cleaning, the list goes on and on. One week off for Christmas and one week for Easter and not paid for two months in the summer.

St Paul Teacher wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes there is six hours of student contact time, but eight hours of clock time per day plus committee meetings, site council, lesson prep, cleaning, the list goes on and on. One week off for Christmas and one week for Easter and not paid for two months in the summer.

im not a teacher but teachers arent the problem..its the parenting, and lack of respect

oxboro wrote:

<quoted text>
im not a teacher but teachers arent the problem..its the parenting, and lack of respect

THANK YOU!