My cousin, Judy (may she rest in peace), was also a phenomenal teacher who taught me about pressing myself and challenging my boundaries. She taught me not to go with the status quo and to go against the grain. My Aunt Linda (may she rest in peace) was also a phenomenal teacher who taught me to be me and like myself for it.
My cousin, Lindsay, is also a teacher. She teaches young high school students the importance of marketing and runs a very successful DECA program at a high school in Michigan. I'm incredibly proud of her because she revolutionized this school's marketing program and managed to make high school students interested in commerce. I don't think she takes the credit she deserves - but her school district is lucky to have her.
We've all been blessed to have had at least one teacher in all our years of schooling that made an impression on us. For me, it was Mr. Day - a history teacher who went the extra mile for me. These teachers don't get the credit they deserve and with each passing year, kids become tougher, parents threaten to sue more often - and we push our kids too hard to succeed. Teachers take the brunt of it all.
There's a problem in America. Teachers aren't getting paid what they rightfully deserve to be paid. Actors and singers make more money than g-d but the people who taught them in school make peanuts. Does that seem right to you? It doesn't to me. Districts are closing, schools are going under and America's kids are the ones dealing with the consequences. Money is budgeted properly and teachers are losing their jobs.
Sure, you don't go into teaching for the money but surely a teacher should be PAID for teaching YOUR children, don'tcha think?? They spend years and thousands of dollars on their education to teach OUR kids but many of them still have student loans until they are well into their 40's. That's not fair!
According to PayScale.com, the average High School teacher makes $43,000 a year. Some make more. Some make less. That doesn't count what they pay out for supplies. Sure, they get a menial tax break for it but it's not enough for the people who craft the young minds of the next generation.
Their unions aren't doing enough.
I learned, in business, that when you deal with the higher ups in unions, the only people getting a benefit from a deal ARE the higher ups... not the people they represent. Perhaps this is why I'm so against unions. You may not like what I just wrote but it stems from my personal dealings with them. Politics aside, something must be done. States are bankrupt, we're losing jobs...again, and classrooms are getting larger because schools are consolidating or closing. This means less personal teaching and more standardized teaching. It puts more pressure on the teacher - who spends countless hours grading papers OUTSIDE of school (plus their normal 8-9 hour work day... not counting parent-teacher conferences). More pressure. Less pay. And a fear that they may lose their job at any time.
That doesn't seem right, America.
To all the teachers out there - Thank You. Thank you for taking your time and effort to teach our young. From a former student - thank you for dealing with me.
What can we do to help today's teachers? Did you have a favorite teacher growing up?
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