[SirenSong71]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

I went to school in the "crappy part" of the state and I came out fine, didn't see any insane violence, didn't even do drugs.

I went to school in one of the five boroughs of NYC and I was exposed to some violence and drugs (at a Catholic School). I turned out fine as well. But I guess both of us should be criminals or something since the school matters so much to some people...

[novanative75]

Originally Posted by SirenSong71

Just because a teacher has a degree from (insert uppity university name here) doesn't make them a teacher. There are plenty of degreed teachers out there that really SHOULD NOT teach. Likewise I have known many teachers they were not degreed (but in school for it) that were amazing. No, the difference wasn't that they were paid more, or that the schools had more supplies or what have you, they simply loved to teach. While I believe they need to be trained to teach and not just take a test and be certified, I also think that this country puts waaaay too much emphasis on a degree. A degree is a piece of paper stating that you went to school for x amount of hours and studied x amount of subjects. It doesn't mean you're ready to teach kids or even be able to connect with them so they can learn through you. Teaching isn't an easy 'cushy' career. Nor can you (or should you) expect to get 'rich' at it. Maybe if more teachers went into the career of teaching to ACTUALLY teach our children instead of finding a career that gives you summers off and is great when you have kids, we'd have teachers that were happier with their chosen career and less likely to whine which would make better experiences for kids in their classroom.

Some teacher's are always whining about not getting paid enough. HELLO? Since when has teaching been listed as the top ten jobs to make you rich? Teacher's put up with a lot of cr*p (ummm, it goes with the job??). They give a lot, take alot and most times don't really get rewarded or recognized for it...almost like...a parent...gee...
Becoming a teacher and complaining about salary (especially in place where you KNOW they pay less) is as silly as becoming a priest and complaining about not having Sunday's off.

I'm willing to wager there are plenty of people that grew up in the Florida school system and people raising kids now in it that are very happy.

My advice? Don't ask a teacher what she thinks about the school system there. Ask a parent how they feel it is for their child. That's your best judgement.

And before you ask, I AM a teacher.

You want to know the quality of my teaching? Ask my students and parents.
Don't look at my 'degree'.

Who said anything about degrees?
Here's the deal since I am assuming your post is directed at me. First of all, you do not know me and have no idea why I got into education. I am actually not a teacher anyway, I am a guidance counselor. But anyways, I agree with you that a degree does not make a good teacher, of course. I never said it did so I am not sure why you are even bringing that up defensively. However, what concerns me in Florida is that by simply taking a test, you then become qualified to teach. For example, like I said, I could take a test for middle school math and if I pass, I could teach math. I should not be teaching math, I am not a trained teacher and certainly do not know that proper methods for teaching math. I am good at math but that does not mean that I should teach it. It concerns me that there may be unqualified teachers in the classroom because of this, I actually know that there are unqualified teachers in the classroom because of this.

No one goes into teaching expecting to get rich and I definitely do not do what I do for the money, I personally could care less what I get paid. I have the benefit of not needing to work, my husband could suppport me, but I love the profession and would work as a volunteer if they wanted me to. BUT, there are many other people that do need the money to survive and obviously, they know what they are going to get paid when they take the job but for the amount of work that teachers put it, and I know you know this since you are a teacher, they deserve more. Many are unhappy because of the lack of raises or the lack of step increases. Many teachers have been in the county for awhile and are facing new financial concerns everyday. Teaching is tough and people do it because they love it. Sure, they wish they got paid more but that is the way it is. They, however, don't have to be happy about it. I do not know anyone who became a teacher so they could have summers off, that is assanine.

I have many friends in the area that are parents and not teachers and have very poor things to say about the schools. So, I not only base my opinion on personal experience but I take a lot of time to try and get a feel for what parents think. Education is my passion and it frustrates the hell out of me when school districts strip our kids of the education they deserve.

[novanative75]

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

Paycuts are everywhere not just teachers, my husband took a $20,000 a year paycut moving from Collier county to up here in NH.. that doesn't make him a bad cop. Collier (Naples) has so much money the county doesn't know what to do with it all. Barron Collier highschool has outragous amounts of money! They have designer benches in the hallways, astro turf on the football field that costs millions of dollars, murals on the walls inside the school specifying each wing, they recently had all new tiles up on the floors, security cameras, 2 gyms, like 20 lunch lines offering vegetarian, mexican, subway, Barnes coffee, pizza, cambells soups. They send the kids yearly to countrys around the world for band and orchestra, they have so many clubs it would make your head spin.. The kids are so spoiled they're gonna be dissapointed when they get to college.

Its not as bad as you make it out to be.

As I said above
Everyones always comparing their old town schools to Florida schools. The fact of the matter is you don't live in NY or Cali or Ga anymore.. You live in Fla.. THAT is what Fl has to offer, and if its not enough I suggest private schooling, homeschooling or moving. There are other options than complaining constantly about what you had and what Fl doesn' have to offer you.

It is so interesting to me that you are fighting for the state of the education here in Collier County and disagreeing with my thoughts on it yet the only examples of 'good things' happening at the schools with the tons of money here are all non-educational and unnecessary?? Unless having a latte at the coffee bar is helping these kids get into better colleges? Perhaps you are helping me to prove my point. Maybe there is money here but it is not being spent the right way? Your examples are fancy food, designer benches and new tiles on the floor. Where is the person bragging about the new textbooks and the new course offerings and the new computer equipment, the things that actually help the kids learn? Where are your examples of those?

I have worked at many schools with a lot of club offerings and trips to other countries, that happens everywhere, nothing special about that specific to Barron Collier.

You should see the condition of the school I work it, it would make your head spin. The computers are outdated, the books are old and the supplies for the kids are limited. It is sad.

I very much realize that I do not live in Virginia, or Maryland or even Georgia anymore (all places I have lived and worked in schools) however, does that mean that I have to lower my expectations of schools and school districts? By making that point, you are pretty much saying that this is what we have here in Florida so deal with it. Does that make it right? Do we as educators sit back and 'deal' with inadequate schools just because 'that is the way Florida is?' You are also proving my point as you say that, agreeing with me that the schools are better elsewhere. I am sorry, I have seen great schools and I have no reason to think that all schools should not be doing whatever they can to be great and be the best they can be. I don't settle.

I would also guess that many people pleased with Florida schools have not experienced anything else or have only experienced worse. Sure, if you moved from rural South Carolina, the schools here might seem like a dream. It is kind of like growing up in a town where the only places to buy your clothes are Marshalls and JC Penny. You might think those places are great and then you move to a city with Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom and you are like, 'Oh, hmmmm, interesting.' I have had the pleasure to work in the best of the best and have high expectations. The state of education will not change overnight in the areas where it is poor but there is no reason not to fight for it. Why teach our kids to settle with anything but the best?

[novanative75]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

I went to school in the "crappy part" of the state and I came out fine, didn't see any insane violence, didn't even do drugs.

violence and drugs have nothing to do with the quality of the schools. I am talking about educational opportunities. There are masssive drugs in the best schools in the country.

[novanative75]

Originally Posted by SirenSong71

I went to school in one of the five boroughs of NYC and I was exposed to some violence and drugs (at a Catholic School). I turned out fine as well. But I guess both of us should be criminals or something since the school matters so much to some people...

Why the need for such sarcasm and rudeness? '' Is it wrong to hope for the best education for our kids? No one said anything about people being criminals if they go to bad schools? Good kids come from bad schools and bad kids come from good schools everyday. But, wouldn't it be nice to not have bad schools.
Why am I being attacked for having a high standard of education, I don't get that?

[ara^bess]

I mentioned my mom was a teacher...what I didn't say is that she was the Teacher of the Year back in the late 70's. She was concerned with main streaming, over crowded class rooms, and the ridiculous amount of paperwork teachers had to do before computers made keeping records easier. Ordered books were late, some kids were incredibly disrespectful, and the work never ended. However, you could've given this woman a chalk board and a tent....and she would've taught for minimum wage. She just LOVED teaching and the kids who's lives she touched. She is now 72 years old and is still in touch with many of them. She writes weekly and sends packages to any of them who are in the military.

I said all that to say this......teaching is like parenthood. Within your hands is the opportunity to build a child into all they can be. It can change lives and form bonds for years to come. Sure, the thanks are far and few between, the conditions are a challenge, and the pay is p-i-$-$ poor....but who cares? At the end of the day you can look in the mirror and know that you matter more than any CEO in the world.

The only standard that counts is your own integrity. A great book budget and XP computers don't change lives or make kids learn. Learning only takes a teacher.

[Donna-50]

Originally Posted by Floridabound09

Parents involvement in your childs schooling is vital. No matter what school your child is in, you have to be involved.
DW in head room mother, volunteers all the time and sees first hand the kids who are not doing well are from those families that the parents are not involved. She can also see those same kids struggle socially with the other kids.
Kids, parents and teacher all have to work to make click, take one out of the equation and the kid suffers.
One if not the most important issue for us to move to Florida is the schooling. We are monitoring certain schools to see how they are doing, improving or going downwards. I have also sent letters to a several principles asking them several questions and have received some responses already.

This is so true, to have a good school you need good parents to become involved in the school and go to the PTO meetings, etc. My kids have never known any schools but FL but are doing fine. My oldest went on the attend UWF and she was smarter than a lot of other kids that came from different parts of the country. Granted I don't go for the FCAT test because I don't think that passing that means one kid is smarter than another.

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by novanative75

Why the need for such sarcasm and rudeness? '' Is it wrong to hope for the best education for our kids? No one said anything about people being criminals if they go to bad schools? Good kids come from bad schools and bad kids come from good schools everyday. But, wouldn't it be nice to not have bad schools.
Why am I being attacked for having a high standard of education, I don't get that?

my husband went to a school in Maine in the 90's you know up north where the schools are SO much better. They were still using science books from the 1960s. His mother had to make a proposal to the school to buy new books for all 20 kids in the school. My husband never had a computer in school till he was in 7th grade. we're talking 1995 ish. The school has since shut down, because not enough kids to even attend anymore.. I'm the same age , had a computer since at least 2nd or 3rd grade. Their school didn't even have a playground. Town mentality of we never did and we turned out fine.. They were all poor potato farmers most still to this day living without running water in their house, infact one of my husbands friends to this day still has no electricity believe it or not. Despite all of the lack of GOOD education my husbands parents were highly involved in his and two siblings schooling, making sure they were learning everything they should be regardless that they were learning out of 30 year old science books with no computers.. All of them have gone on to go to Universities. CC schools are infinetly better than that.. There's no excuse for a child to do bad, regardless if the school system is bad. Once again, parents MUST be invovled .

[novanative75]

Originally Posted by ara^bess

I mentioned my mom was a teacher...what I didn't say is that she was the Teacher of the Year back in the late 70's. She was concerned with main streaming, over crowded class rooms, and the ridiculous amount of paperwork teachers had to do before computers made keeping records easier. Ordered books were late, some kids were incredibly disrespectful, and the work never ended. However, you could've given this woman a chalk board and a tent....and she would've taught for minimum wage. She just LOVED teaching and the kids who's lives she touched. She is now 72 years old and is still in touch with many of them. She writes weekly and sends packages to any of them who are in the military.

I said all that to say this......teaching is like parenthood. Within your hands is the opportunity to build a child into all they can be. It can change lives and form bonds for years to come. Sure, the thanks are far and few between, the conditions are a challenge, and the pay is p-i-$-$ poor....but who cares? At the end of the day you can look in the mirror and know that you matter more than any CEO in the world.

The only standard that counts is your own integrity. A great book budget and XP computers don't change lives or make kids learn. Learning only takes a teacher.

You describe exactly why I am an educator. I could care less about the pay, personally. Now, do not get me wrong, it is awful and we deserve more and I feel bad for those that are using that profession to support themselves but it is not about the money. Most people are in it for the right reasons. We are all very glad to have the opportunity to touch lives and we do love kids, absolutely. I do not understand people that are teachers that do not love teaching and luckily, those teachers are few. However, it is frustrating to be following your dream and to get paid so little for working so hard. Life is life and there are bills to pay, etc. People need money and sadly, being a teacher is not the way to get it. Again, I am lucky that I do not have to work but I do see people that are struggling. However, they would never leave teaching but they do wish they were paid in accordance with how hard they work, etc. and I can understand that.

Now, of course, we want the best for our kids and that is why we continue to fight for the best in education. Of course, we will teach these kids no matter what and put our heart and soul into the job, but we have to keep demanding more for these kids from the government, state, etc. Education is important. We can sit back and be happy with mediocrity or we can continue to demand more and have high expectations.

No one is challenging the passion of the teachers, that will be the same no matter what goes on with the rest of the stuff.

[novanative75]

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

my husband went to a school in Maine in the 90's you know up north where the schools are SO much better. They were still using science books from the 1960s. His mother had to make a proposal to the school to buy new books for all 20 kids in the school. My husband never had a computer in school till he was in 7th grade. we're talking 1995 ish. The school has since shut down, because not enough kids to even attend anymore.. I'm the same age , had a computer since at least 2nd or 3rd grade. Their school didn't even have a playground. Town mentality of we never did and we turned out fine.. They were all poor potato farmers most still to this day living without running water in their house, infact one of my husbands friends to this day still has no electricity believe it or not. Despite all of the lack of GOOD education my husbands parents were highly involved in his and two siblings schooling, making sure they were learning everything they should be regardless that they were learning out of 30 year old science books with no computers.. All of them have gone on to go to Universities. CC schools are infinetly better than that.. There's no excuse for a child to do bad, regardless if the school system is bad. Once again, parents MUST be invovled .

Like I have said OVER and OVER again, I do realize there are worse school districts than Collier County, I never said it was the worst ever. I also realize (and I have said this at least a couple of times, perhaps when I type, it comes out blank on the screen since no one seems to be reading what I write?) that the smartest kids come out of poor schools and kids bound for a life of flipping burgers come out of the best schools.
My point is this. I have worked in several school districts in several states and this is the worst I have seen. That is my opinion and based on some factual things. I have worked in what I consider to be an excellent school district in Virginia and I think to myself, why can't all school districts be this good? Why should a child in Florida (or whereever else in the country that people want to point out is worse than Florida) not get the same opportunities that a child in Virginia has? Is is so wrong for me to want more for the kids I work with? I am an experienced educator and I deal with the nonsense in this school district on a day to day basis and, for my kids sake when they are school aged, we will be moving out of Florida. That is my choice and I think, since I work in the schools and have worked in education for years, I am entitled to that fact-based opinion.

People, I am sure everyone could spend all night typing in their friends' experiences in a one room schoolhouse, or a school with no books, or maybe the one where the children had to write with sticks and blood because they could not afford pencils. We get it, there are worse places out there than Florida. But, Florida has some catching up to do to other states, the kids here deserve better. Please do not fault me for wanting better education for the kids, I mean, really!!!!!