America's Unchallenged Youth...

[aberkowitz]

Another glaring problem is the politicization of the school system on a federal and state level. A noble profession hijacked and bloated beyond recognition, turned into a business like any other. Committees, PACs, unions, etc, my wife was a teacher until she got sick of the politics, bickering and the mindset of the local school board, the last on the list were always the kids, she got into law and doesn't miss the system, though at times she speaks of the kids and the sorry state of affairs her old colleagues still speak of. That said, how many politicians keep their kids in public schools? Or better yet, how many directors or upper management in schools (read: better salaries) keep their kids in the public school system?

Stratman- did your wife teach in the Miami public schools? If so then I certainly feel for her!! I know quite a bit about the inner-workings of that district, and it doesn't get more political than that!!

 

[annunaki]

Stratman- did your wife teach in the Miami public schools? If so then I certainly feel for her!! I know quite a bit about the inner-workings of that district, and it doesn't get more political than that!!

Stratman,

Your cavewife teaches kids???

With cave people teaching our children no wonder we are regressing as a society.


All kidding aside, tell your wife we say thanks for her efforts. I am sure she is a great teacher.

 

[stratman]

Tough crowd! Yes she taught in the Miami-Dade school district, it was awful, she would cry at the things she saw happening, let me just say whatever school board says that their top priority is the kids they're lying through their teeth. Budgets, quotas, test scores, etc., etc. come way before the kids do.

She no longer teaches, couldn't bear the union, the district honchos, etc, works for law firm as a paralegal making 3 times her old salary with one fourth of the stress.

 

[Halon451]

What is a teachers salary in FL? And which part of FL? And what does that salary become after 5 years?, 10 years? Teaching to me is a job like any other just with better perks. The teachers can't respond cause they're in school. Those perks might be what draws them into it. I would think volunteer work and the Peace Corps is for those with loftier motives.

Right, my bad - I forgot they were actually in school right now.

Well, I ran the numbers - I'll admit I may have been slightly off-base, because the last time I heard the salaries were in the mid $30's for this area. Nevertheless, here you go:

(Taken from Monster Salary Reports)
Teachers Average Salary in the Tampa, Florida region: $39,302 - $52,518, with a median salary of $45,081.

That's not terribly bad until you factor in the cost of living down here - remember my suggestion of a single non-married person...

In Florida right now, to get a decent home you are looking in the neighborhood of $250K or more; even based on the recent real estate slump.

For a 30 year fixed rate mortgage, at 5.75% (tried to use an average here); we're looking at $1,458.93/month NOT including the cost of homeowner's insurance and taxes (which in Florida is a HUGE deal right now, because both are so out of hand).

Let's assume a round figure of $2000/month total mortgage+escrow, which is probably far less than actual once taxes and insurance are factored in.

Typical electric bill in Florida (at least for me) - anywhere from $150, to $200/month

Water: (usually not expensive) $60-80/month

This alone equates to around $2,245/month with a salary of $45K, this is $3,750/month in pay - before taxes mind you - minus the $2,245, which equals $1505 a month, for food, gas, and other incidentals, and not a whole lot of breathing room either way.

So even at the median salary - a teacher would either have to elect to go into sub-standard housing, rent a cheaper apartment, or be living perilously close to the edge, probably paycheck to paycheck in order to make ends meet.

Then he or she has to go to school and deal with a bunch of little spoiled, over-privileged s**theads all day long - how soon before the dream starts to turn into a nightmare?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I was a high school teacher for a couple of years. So much of my time was spent attempting (unsuccessfully) to maintain classroom discipline that I barely had any time left for actual teaching. I gave it up and now work in an office. Life is a lot less stressful. (Sad, really. I am exceptionally good at explaining math, and the kids who actually paid attention learned a lot from me.)

 

[Halon451]

All kidding aside, tell your wife we say thanks for her efforts. I am sure she is a great teacher.

I couldn't agree more - it's so unfortunate that the system didn't put as much effort into the real purpose of existing that your wife did, which are the kids themselves, and that she ended up having to move on. It's sad, because the good ones leave, and the bad ones remain to further the insanity. I appreciate her efforts and her attempt at making it right.

 

[stratman]

Right, my bad - I forgot they were actually in school right now.

Well, I ran the numbers - I'll admit I may have been slightly off-base, because the last time I heard the salaries were in the mid $30's for this area. Nevertheless, here you go:

(Taken from Monster Salary Reports)
Teachers Average Salary in the Tampa, Florida region: $39,302 - $52,518, with a median salary of $45,081.

That's not terribly bad until you factor in the cost of living down here - remember my suggestion of a single non-married person...

In Florida right now, to get a decent home you are looking in the neighborhood of $250K or more; even based on the recent real estate slump.

For a 30 year fixed rate mortgage, at 5.75% (tried to use an average here); we're looking at $1,458.93/month NOT including the cost of homeowner's insurance and taxes (which in Florida is a HUGE deal right now, because both are so out of hand).

Let's assume a round figure of $2000/month total mortgage+escrow, which is probably far less than actual once taxes and insurance are factored in.

Typical electric bill in Florida (at least for me) - anywhere from $150, to $200/month

Water: (usually not expensive) $60-80/month

This alone equates to around $2,245/month with a salary of $45K, this is $3,750/month in pay - before taxes mind you - minus the $2,245, which equals $1505 a month, for food, gas, and other incidentals, and not a whole lot of breathing room either way.

So even at the median salary - a teacher would either have to elect to go into sub-standard housing, rent a cheaper apartment, or be living perilously close to the edge, probably paycheck to paycheck in order to make ends meet.

Then he or she has to go to school and deal with a bunch of little spoiled, over-privileged s**theads all day long - how soon before the dream starts to turn into a nightmare?

$250K home? Not in Miami. That's another problem facing teachers down here, where to live and costs. I think Islamorada (Florida keys) was so short on teachers last summer that they were helping teachers find a home and financing at extraordinary rates in order to entice them to work down there.

 

[aberkowitz]

Tough crowd! Yes she taught in the Miami-Dade school district, it was awful, she would cry at the things she saw happening, let me just say whatever school board says that their top priority is the kids they're lying through their teeth. Budgets, quotas, test scores, etc., etc. come way before the kids do.

She no longer teaches, couldn't bear the union, the district honchos, etc, works for law firm as a paralegal making 3 times her old salary with one fourth of the stress.

One of the biggest problems with Miami-Dade school board is battling with the state government for funds. The differences between north and south Florida are startling, but the state govt based up in Tallahassee (sp?) tends not to have an appreciation for these differences and horrible under-invests in the Miami schools. This funnels down to the board itself who hires folks to solely manage budgets and quotas (and as a result test scores) and not to improve the quality of the schools or the teachers. It's an awful vicious cycle.

 

[Halon451]

I'm quoting Tampa area prices - I realize Miami is off the charts as it has always been in regards to home prices. Even $250K in Tampa is pretty much at the low, low end of decent homes.

 

[aberkowitz]

Right, my bad - I forgot they were actually in school right now.

Well, I ran the numbers - I'll admit I may have been slightly off-base, because the last time I heard the salaries were in the mid $30's for this area. Nevertheless, here you go:

(Taken from Monster Salary Reports)
Teachers Average Salary in the Tampa, Florida region: $39,302 - $52,518, with a median salary of $45,081.

That's not terribly bad until you factor in the cost of living down here - remember my suggestion of a single non-married person...

In Florida right now, to get a decent home you are looking in the neighborhood of $250K or more; even based on the recent real estate slump.

For a 30 year fixed rate mortgage, at 5.75% (tried to use an average here); we're looking at $1,458.93/month NOT including the cost of homeowner's insurance and taxes (which in Florida is a HUGE deal right now, because both are so out of hand).

Let's assume a round figure of $2000/month total mortgage+escrow, which is probably far less than actual once taxes and insurance are factored in.

Typical electric bill in Florida (at least for me) - anywhere from $150, to $200/month

Water: (usually not expensive) $60-80/month

This alone equates to around $2,245/month with a salary of $45K, this is $3,750/month in pay - before taxes mind you - minus the $2,245, which equals $1505 a month, for food, gas, and other incidentals, and not a whole lot of breathing room either way.

So even at the median salary - a teacher would either have to elect to go into sub-standard housing, rent a cheaper apartment, or be living perilously close to the edge, probably paycheck to paycheck in order to make ends meet.

Then he or she has to go to school and deal with a bunch of little spoiled, over-privileged s**theads all day long - how soon before the dream starts to turn into a nightmare?

One of the things to consider with these salary numbers is that they don't take into account how long you've been teaching. If 39-52 is the average, imagine what a brand new teacher right out of school might be making- high 20s/low 30s???? That's almost impossible to live on no matter where you are!

 

[stratman]

I couldn't agree more - it's so unfortunate that the system didn't put as much effort into the real purpose of existing that your wife did, which are the kids themselves, and that she ended up having to move on. It's sad, because the good ones leave, and the bad ones remain to further the insanity. I appreciate her efforts and her attempt at making it right.

Thanks, I'll pass it along to her she's going to get a kick out of that, she still misses teaching a lot, our little boy does very well in school no doubt in part to the attention my wife gives him, plus we were able to put him in a private school. Pre-k 4 age, (actually today is his birthday, he's 5) and he's already learning computers, beginning to read, simple math, all because his teacher is not under duress from the bureaucracy and her salary is above average so she's able to concentrate on her job.

 

[Alex2507]

Stratman,

Your cavewife teaches kids???

You have a cavewife?! What happened to clubbing an unsuspecting female into submission and dragging her by the hair? Huh?

 

[aberkowitz]

Thanks, I'll pass it along to her she's going to get a kick out of that, she still misses teaching a lot, our little boy does very well in school no doubt in part to the attention my wife gives him, plus we were able to put him in a private school. Pre-k 4 age, (actually today is his birthday, he's 5) and he's already learning computers, beginning to read, simple math, all because his teacher is not under duress from the bureaucracy and her salary is above average so she's able to concentrate on her job.

Have you already started teaching him how to build his own home theater??

 

[stratman]

You have a cavewife?! What happened to clubbing an unsuspecting female into submission and dragging her by the hair? Huh?

Well how do you think I got married? I met her, clubbed her, married her, afterall I am a civilized caveman.

 

[stratman]

Have you already started teaching him how to build his own home theater??

Unbelievably that little man knows the system better than his mom! He turns on the Disney Channel and Noggin all by himself, ditto with the computer, he knows how to work the mouse, get into the Disney page, unreal what kids can do. He loves my guitars above all electronic gadgets, I'm starting to teach him simple chords and tunes on the git.

 

[Halon451]

LOL Too much... maybe we should put the cavepeople in charge? At least they keep it simple; recognize, decide, act, repeat as necessary.

Whereas, the clowns running the show these days - recognize, evaluate, form committees, take a vote, withdraw, determine the level of political correctness, re-do the vote, form another committee to oversee the first committee, then form ten different levels of bureaucracy to negate the first two committees, act, recoil, act again, until the end result is as muddled and destroyed as it can possibly be, repeat as necessary...

 

[stratman]

LOL Too much... maybe we should put the cavepeople in charge? At least they keep it simple; recognize, decide, act, repeat as necessary.

Whereas, the clowns running the show these days - recognize, evaluate, form committees, take a vote, withdraw, determine the level of political correctness, re-do the vote, form another committee to oversee the first committee, then form ten different levels of bureaucracy to negate the first two committees, act, recoil, act again, until the end result is as muddled and destroyed as it can possibly be, repeat as necessary...

Your statement puts it all into perspective, sadly it is the truth. My wife was heartbroken and felt betrayed by the system, she's a mild person who happens to adore children and in part feels guilt for leaving her first profession.

 

[aberkowitz]

Unbelievably that little man knows the system better than his mom! He turns on the Disney Channel and Noggin all by himself, ditto with the computer, he knows how to work the mouse, get into the Disney page, unreal what kids can do. He loves my guitars above all electronic gadgets, I'm starting to teach him simple chords and tunes on the git.

That's the best thing you can do. Music is so important to kids, and it's great when they learn it at an early age. I loved singing and playing an instrument and did it for 9 years of formal schooling. It instills an appreciation for so many other parts of life....

It's so sad that music is the first thing to get cut in schools. I would get rid of lunch before I got rid of a music program !!

 

[Halon451]

Your statement puts it all into perspective, sadly it is the truth. My wife was heartbroken and felt betrayed by the system, she's a mild person who happens to adore children and in part feels guilt for leaving her first profession.

Strat, unfortunately this system is a monster, and it's capable of shoving away even the very best there is. To put it in another perspective, if all mothers took the kind of time and energy that your wife shows your kid, then the schools would have a lot less to worry about, and then teachers could get back to doing what they do best, despite the pay.

I still hold onto the belief that many teachers never get into teaching based on the money - it's one of those professions that you have to have a certain passion about. Your wife clearly demonstrated that, but the system fails to recognize that very important fact that should be intrinsic to all teachers.

She certainly has nothing to feel guilty about - since the system wouldn't let her help the rest of the kids, she had no choice but to concentrate on her own child. That's something that no parent should ever feel guilty about.

 

[stratman]

I can't believe with the obesity problem we have in this country, the garbage kids eat in school. Again, it's a business, the companies providing the food to the school system only care about the bottom line, lesser quality greater profit. I was lucky in high school, we were allowed to leave school for lunch so we went to the local pizza joints, which served better quality food than the mystery meats served in school.