What are teachers?? (counselor, professions, complain, babysitters)

[brittZ]

How do you view teaching as a profession?

It seems alot of people want to complain about teachers and the idea that we make to much money and only work part time. I have even had the displeasure of having friends (who were very wealthy) say to me that they would never live in a neighborhood with teachers because they are so pathetic and nothing more than overpriced, whiney babysitters. Needless to say, that conversation pretty much ended our "friendship" but I have to admit that this viewpoint is more common than I thought.

So, are we professionals, blue collar workers, babysitters, or something else?

My personal opinion is that we are in fact professionals. Given the nature of the requirements to become a teacher and the skills involved with teaching, we are by definition professionals. However, I do not think we (generalizing here so don't flame me) present ourselves in a professional manner. When I see teachers in flip-flops, jeans, and a hooded sweatshirt, a warm-up jump suit, or tennis shoes and denim shorts with a t-shirt I do not think a professional image is presented. When I see teachers looking like they rolled out of bed and drove to work, I don't think a professional image is presented. Do you think, as teachers, we could present a more professional image to the community as a means to begin to be seen as professionals? What else could we do to present ourselves as the professionals we are?

[foma]

I have the utmost respect for teachers. My husband's family also comes from a line of teachers. I taught for a year and couldn't "hack it". I would literally be in school for 10+ hours every day. Anyone can be a teacher but to be a great teacher, that takes a LOT of work, time, passion, and dedication.

Professionalism I think varies from school to school, location to location. I think age is also a factor. Older generations may find it hard to dress down in shorts or it could be the other way around, "I'm old, and I've earned my right to dress whatever way I want!" Schools/districts also set their own standards but I think all in all, in any job, we should always practice caution and stick to a conservative dress code.

People who think teachers are nothing more than glorified babysitters, I find it sad how little respect they have for the person who is perhaps shaping your child's future, or at least taking a hand in it.

[Mrs.Bewitched]

well obviously someone who voted thinks we are glorified babysitters

I know that my father-in-law had once said to me something along the lines of "........oh please, all you do is babysit a bunch of kids for a couple of hours". (hoping he was joking!)

Of course I am biased-being a teacher

But: we teach children to read, write, do arithmetic...explain and explore, grow socially and academically...perhaps be the only positive part of that child's life...we're held accountable for so much- failing or passing a kid and hoping it was the right choice...keeping parents involved...documenting and documenting and documenting on numerous kids throughout every day...wiping poop off the wall and a child's ankle and clothing at the same time as trying to keep order with 20-30 other children...keeping children motived, interested and engaged for such a long period of time....we do see the children more than their own parents throughout the school year...constantly keeping up with our education...grading and creating different kinds of assessements and lessons for perhaps as many as 8 different children in your class because everyone is NOT on the same level-it's not the days of one textbook for all here...we are mother, father, nurse, counselor, policeman, along with teacher....perhaps have a class where half of the children do not speak English but we are expected to have them progress the same as the other children...we do put on many many many more hours than on paper...I do NOT make $40K, but I owe way more than that in student loans....


I don't know where people get this attitude that teachers don't do enough. Maybe it's because they haven't walked in our shoes. I know that before I became a teacher, I never knew exactly what that entailed, and yes, I did think it was going to be way easier than it is...so I guess I was blinded too.

It goes back to you have to be a teacher. And if you know teachers...perhaps you don't know the actual teacher- the one who makes a difference and gives 110%...and it's just the one who is in it for the summers "off".

[Mrs.Bewitched]

I know at my school we are specifically told that we can't wear jeans, sweatparents, cute sweat outfits-none of that. I do think that we have to dress proper-even when we're out. Inside and outside of the classroom we are role models. I can't even count how many times I have run into parents and children outside of my classroom...and thanking GOD that I was dressed alright (no daisy-dukes or halftops!!).

[Padgett2]

We have started requiring the students in our County to wear uniforms. They look much better and hopefully will do better. Some of the teachers are screaming bloody murder because they are also expected to dress better too. Some just don't seem to care what they look like. How do they expect the children to respect them and what they do if they look as if they don't care?

Now, I will admit that the teachers in the early grades need to be able to get down on the floor with the little ones, but the teachers in the Middle and High Schools need to look professional if they expect to be treated that way.

[foma]

Whoa, uniforms for teachers? Yikes!

[Padgett2]

No, not uniforms for the teachers, but neat whatevers. It's a matter of looking as if one cares about appearance. After all, they are supposed to be preparing the students to go out into the world to support themselves. Learning how to dress properly is one of the things they should learn.

[foma]

OMG, I'm such a dope ... I thought I read that the teachers were required to wear uniforms! Yes, I absolutely agree with you, dressing appropriately is definitely a lesson to be learned!

[brittZ]

Unfortunately I am not surprised by the responses. So far it seems as though an equal split exists between the idea that we are overpaid babysitters or professionals. For those that think we are overpaid babysitters, can you please explain why? What is it that makes you think this way?

[crbcrbrgv]

I am a teacher. And I don't really give a damn what people think of me. Because the truth of the matter is if society wants to have a negative perception of my profession, I will gladly move to Spain or somewhere else in Europe where teachers are well respected. Furthermore, perhaps our attitude towards teachers is a reason why our economy, which is all smoke and mirrors, is starting to falter. We do not take education seriously in this country. We pay the guy who makes sales by getting clients laid at the local strip bar more than not only teachers but many other professions that are much more deserving. So, are teachers well respected in the United States? I think not. Is it an accident that the Canadian Dollar and the Euro is beating U.S. currency lately and seems to only be getting stronger? Again, I think not. The fact that we even have to ask such a question tells me exactly the direction our country is going. Sprinkle that with 8 years of Bush encouraging every country in the free world to hate us, well you get the picture. In the meantime I will keep the faith and continue to teach here. I know things will get better when Bush and the boys leave. And I could care less what party wins. As long as it's a group of people that wants to better the country.