Still torn between Pittsburgh and Denver (Franklin: cliquey, homeschooling, universities)

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by worldwanderer

The top pay in the city of Pittsburgh, is how much again? Like I said, it's a stretch of about "30K".

OMG! I never mentioned the CITY of PITTSBURGH for goodness sake! There's more to Pittsburgh's metro area than the CITY! Get a grip.

[worldwanderer]

Originally Posted by Hopes

OMG! Get a grip. I never discussed the CITY of PITTSBURGH for goodness sake! There's more to Pittsburgh's metro area than the CITY!

Spoken like a "true" suburbannite.......

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by Hopes

So true. A few years ago, I decided to pursue a teaching certification.

Since my husband is 10 years older, I thought it would be nice to have summers off. That way I could enjoy retirement with him sooner.

Since I already had a degree, it wasnt' going to require many credits.

After taking a few classes with 19 year olds, I decided against teaching.

I couldn't imagine spending my life with those morons!

Now, this cracks me up. You are clearly a smart person, and perhaps much brighter than your typical 19 y.o. Are you saying you judged teachers by a bunch of clueless undergraduates still using Clearasil?

I have found from several stints in the public school classrooms, the most memorable being a substitute in 7th Grade (), that I have learned as much about myself as about them or the subject matter.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Are you saying you judged teachers by a bunch of clueless undergraduates still using Clearasil?

No! I wasn't judging teachers! I judged my future work environment!

I imagined my moron college classmates would be similar to the students I would have teaching high school!

All too often people with the wrong temperment go into teaching. At least I came to my senses!

I would NOT have been a good teacher. Give me a pat on the back for recognizing my weakness!

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by Hopes

I would NOT have been a good teacher. Give me a pat on the back for recognizing my weakness!

Good point. So, I suppose you realize that not ANYONE could be a teacher. I think folks think it is a walk in the park,and I can assure you, it is not. Especially with American kids. Not to say tradespeople have a walk in the park either (yes, I have been reading your posts WorldWanderer, and thinking about it). But then I support all workers; I am the bolshevik, pinko type who believes workers and the middle class are the heart of this great country, but we are rapidly losing that. I will say I don't care much for welfare moochers of either the shopping cart or Wall Street varieties. Not that anyone asked...

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Good point. So, I suppose you realize that not ANYONE could be a teacher. I think folks think it is a walk in the park,and I can assure you, it is not.

Oh, I know! It takes a special person! I would have needed Prozac!

You asked earlier if our schools are good. That's a tough one to answer.

They're much better compared to many in the nation, but I believe that's not saying much.

Like everywhere, there are great teachers and terrible teachers.

It's a shame that the unions prohibit districts from getting rid of the dead weight---the ones who should have realized teaching wasn't for them.

[Tiger Beer]

I just want to go on the record to say, I'd never teach American kids in the United States....

Never, never, never. No desire, no interest whatsoever. Never never ever

In my experience of going through the public education system myself, memory recalls a strong anti-education environment...and even now, viewing debate/discussion on it across the U.S., and particularly in the movies/tv shows, it's strongly confirmed for me that education is valued and respected incredibly poorly.

My parents were also into education, and remember thinking what a nightmare existance that would be.

I fell into it by default...I went abroad...and teaching English is a great way to make a living abroad...and then I later caught up with the educational side of a MA to back-up all of this fell-into experience.

But, personally, teaching is a pure pleasure over here (Asia)...and over there (U.S.), I think it would be a pure nightmare - from the kids, to the parents, to the community, to the public perception, to the pay (and usually it's more like 30K for the first ten years or so)...there is NOTHING attractive about it on any level in the U.S. to me.

--

I'm flirting with the idea of teaching ESL (foreigner students studying english) at a community college level...but that's the only teaching in the U.S. I'd ever do, and only if one were to hire someone on a full-time tenure position in the U.S., and I've heard that that is near impossible. But that really is the ONLY situation I would teach in the U.S., so not likely.

So, if the teaching debate on this thread is going on slightly on behalf, I really have almost NO desire whatsoever to do that in the U.S.

--

Hey, so how about those BRONCOS, this year?

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

I just want to go on the record to say, I'd never teach American kids in the United States....

Never, never, never. No desire, no interest whatsoever. Never never ever

In my experience of going through the public education system myself, memory recalls a strong anti-education environment...and even now, viewing debate/discussion on it across the U.S., and particularly in the movies/tv shows, it's strongly confirmed for me that education is valued and respected incredibly poorly.

My parents were also into education, and remember thinking what a nightmare existance that would be.

I fell into it by default...I went abroad...and teaching English is a great way to make a living abroad...and then I later caught up with the educational side of a MA to back-up all of this fell-into experience.

But, personally, teaching is a pure pleasure over here (Asia)...and over there (U.S.), I think it would be a pure nightmare - from the kids, to the parents, to the community, to the public perception, to the pay (and usually it's more like 30K for the first ten years or so)...there is NOTHING attractive about it on any level in the U.S. to me.

--

I'm flirting with the idea of teaching ESL (foreigner students studying english) at a community college level...but that's the only teaching in the U.S. I'd ever do, and only if one were to hire someone on a full-time tenure position in the U.S., and I've heard that that is near impossible. But that really is the ONLY situation I would teach in the U.S., so not likely.

So, if the teaching debate on this thread is going on slightly on behalf, I really have almost NO desire whatsoever to do that in the U.S.

--

Hey, so how about those BRONCOS, this year?

Hey Tiger Beer,

I think there is more than a bit of truth in what you post above, but I think you might be overplaying how bad it is. Not everyplace stinks, and many of the students are really worth getting to know. They can be a kick. Not questioning your view for yourself, but I think it comes over as a bit dogmatic. We need good teachers here, like anywhere else, and some people, communities know that. Along with the low respect for authority comes innovative, creative thinkers, at least some of the time...

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Hey Tiger Beer,

I think there is more than a bit of truth in what you post above, but I think you might be overplaying how bad it is. Not everyplace stinks, and many of the students are really worth getting to know. They can be a kick. Not questioning your view for yourself, but I think it comes over as a bit dogmatic. We need good teachers here, like anywhere else, and some people, communities know that. Along with the low respect for authority comes innovative, creative thinkers, at least some of the time...

There is another problem - teaching licenses required by each state. It takes another year of classes to get that license, which I also have no desire to do.

Why go into debt another 30K, just to get a job that pays 30K...no way, no way, no way.

I do know what you mean that students are really worth getting to know though...and at the university, that is ideal. I would do that in a heartbeat, but I'm a little less qualified without a PhD, so more limited...and those are competitive without having all the bases covered, so I'm not counting on that.

But really what I mean, is that I would never ever teach in the public school system K-12, and I'm not qualified to do so anyways without a state license, so not really an option either

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Hey, so how about those BRONCOS, this year?

Better than expected.