Comments on: Time Off http://erichoefler.com/2007/02/05/time-off/ Notes on education, writing, litracy, and culture Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:56:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Shawn http://erichoefler.com/2007/02/05/time-off/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Shawn Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:04:28 +0000 http://edublog.erichoefler.com/?p=46#comment-58 Eric...this entry says it all. Thanks for writing it. And I love the inclusion of good old Gerry near the end...heh-heh. Eric…this entry says it all. Thanks for writing it. And I love the inclusion of good old Gerry near the end…heh-heh.

]]> By: Gina Marie http://erichoefler.com/2007/02/05/time-off/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Gina Marie Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:56:22 +0000 http://edublog.erichoefler.com/?p=46#comment-63 I hope your post gets read beyond teachers. People need to hear what's true and honest. If our society doesn't start giving education teachers the respect and appreciation they deserve, out education system will continue to flush down the toilet. (Notice the word: continue) We need more than just teachers to care about the youth of this country. Or, if teachers are to take on the task of educating them and preparing them for the future (which I imagine, as evident from their career choice, they're willing to do) they need to be treated better. Better pay. Better respect. Better everything. I look forward to the day when we can "job swap" for a few and all those businessmen and CEO's can come teach a class full of seventeen year-olds. I hope your post gets read beyond teachers. People need to hear what’s true and honest. If our society doesn’t start giving education teachers the respect and appreciation they deserve, out education system will continue to flush down the toilet. (Notice the word: continue) We need more than just teachers to care about the youth of this country. Or, if teachers are to take on the task of educating them and preparing them for the future (which I imagine, as evident from their career choice, they’re willing to do) they need to be treated better. Better pay. Better respect. Better everything.

I look forward to the day when we can “job swap” for a few and all those businessmen and CEO’s can come teach a class full of seventeen year-olds.

]]> By: Don http://erichoefler.com/2007/02/05/time-off/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Don Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:37:24 +0000 http://edublog.erichoefler.com/?p=46#comment-62 Most teachers I know work 60 plus hours per week, and take courses and workshops in the summer. Most teachers in Northern Virginia cannot afford to buy a house if they are the only wage earner. When I ask professionals who have a gift for teaching why they chose another profession, they say, "We didn't want to be poor." If pay isn't a problem, why do school districts keep their fingers crossed that they'll be able to hire enough teachers come the new school year? I think the core of the problem is the way we view children. We think they're cute, but they are not our number one priority. To follow Eric, do we ever get excited about children the way we get exciting about football? Or, you can take a look at the budget President Bush just submitted to Congress: out of 2.9 trillion, 606 billion goes for defense, 82 billion for education and training. Not even close. Most teachers I know work 60 plus hours per week, and take courses and workshops in the summer. Most teachers in Northern Virginia cannot afford to buy a house if they are the only wage earner. When I ask professionals who have a gift for teaching why they chose another profession, they say, “We didn’t want to be poor.” If pay isn’t a problem, why do school districts keep their fingers crossed that they’ll be able to hire enough teachers come the new school year?
I think the core of the problem is the way we view children. We think they’re cute, but they are not our number one priority. To follow Eric, do we ever get excited about children the way we get exciting about football? Or, you can take a look at the budget President Bush just submitted to Congress: out of 2.9 trillion, 606 billion goes for defense, 82 billion for education and training. Not even close.

]]> By: Kevin http://erichoefler.com/2007/02/05/time-off/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Kevin Tue, 06 Feb 2007 10:38:39 +0000 http://edublog.erichoefler.com/?p=46#comment-61 Hi Eric It's OK to rant once in a while, but your rants are usually right on target, well-reasoned, and passionate. :) You said this: " I love my job most of the time. It’s difficult, stressful, draining … but the students I’ve worked with and have come to know have made it worthwhile." And that says it all, Eric. Thanks Kevin Hi Eric

It’s OK to rant once in a while, but your rants are usually right on target, well-reasoned, and passionate. :)

You said this: ” I love my job most of the time. It’s difficult, stressful, draining … but the students I’ve worked with and have come to know have made it worthwhile.”

And that says it all, Eric.

Thanks
Kevin

]]> By: -Pi http://erichoefler.com/2007/02/05/time-off/comment-page-1/#comment-60 -Pi Tue, 06 Feb 2007 04:48:07 +0000 http://edublog.erichoefler.com/?p=46#comment-60 I think every kind of job has pros and cons...Whoever started this comparison in the first place was comparing apples and oranges. Even within the same field there can be big differences in how you get compensated and how much and how hard you work. I don't believe any one profession works "better" or "easier" or "harder" than the other. I totally agree teachers should be paid more, but to me the comparison doesn't make sense...Totally different work environments and requirements. I think every kind of job has pros and cons…Whoever started this comparison in the first place was comparing apples and oranges. Even within the same field there can be big differences in how you get compensated and how much and how hard you work. I don’t believe any one profession works “better” or “easier” or “harder” than the other. I totally agree teachers should be paid more, but to me the comparison doesn’t make sense…Totally different work environments and requirements.

]]> By: Rich http://erichoefler.com/2007/02/05/time-off/comment-page-1/#comment-59 Rich Tue, 06 Feb 2007 03:01:47 +0000 http://edublog.erichoefler.com/?p=46#comment-59 Your last line ("preaching to the choir") rings true..... no arguments from this middle school teacher. One of my best friends loves to point out how I get nine weeks (roughly 45 workdays) off during the summer -- but did I mention he's a pediatrician who takes every Thursday off? By my count that's 52 workdays right there, and he also gets a generous 4+ weeks of vacation beyond that. I'm not knocking the difficulty of his job either, but I don't appreciate others' view of our time off as some huge perk. And as for a typical workday/work week, I work 10-15 hours more on an average week than I ever did in ten years as an engineer (and you're right, those lunch hours were actually 60 minutes long back then!). Sorry, I realize this isn't a gripe blog needing gripe comments, but I'll at least second everything you pointed out! And yes, I LOVE my job far beyond my previous career. Your last line (“preaching to the choir”) rings true….. no arguments from this middle school teacher. One of my best friends loves to point out how I get nine weeks (roughly 45 workdays) off during the summer — but did I mention he’s a pediatrician who takes every Thursday off? By my count that’s 52 workdays right there, and he also gets a generous 4+ weeks of vacation beyond that. I’m not knocking the difficulty of his job either, but I don’t appreciate others’ view of our time off as some huge perk.

And as for a typical workday/work week, I work 10-15 hours more on an average week than I ever did in ten years as an engineer (and you’re right, those lunch hours were actually 60 minutes long back then!).

Sorry, I realize this isn’t a gripe blog needing gripe comments, but I’ll at least second everything you pointed out!

And yes, I LOVE my job far beyond my previous career.

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