Dear teachers, the union and the board, (note: I have many teacher close friends and relatives and was even a teacher once myself. I respect what you do, you work hard and I think you should get paid well for it. I get it. And now to the rant):
Working parents are tired. PD days, interviews, holidays, and snow days often leaves working parents anxiously scrambling to make arrangements.
This month alone there are 2 PD days. What is so important on PD days that it cannot be done after or before school hours? Maybe such things could be learned during spring break at least, or in the summer?
And while we’re at it: What about providing childcare for teacher interviews? Why can’t the school hours be adjusted to reflect modern schedules (since we often no longer have the luxury of a stay at home parent)? Oh, and the school’s deciding it can have snow days whenever it wants? Other provinces keep the schools open unless the metro buses cannot run. Because then they know that the parents themselves also cannot get to work. Closing the schools frequently during the winter does not realistically keep the children’s safety in mind, since the children just end of having to go elsewhere and at the last minute.
Not all of us can stay home those days, and not all of us get paid for it if we do.
A less anxious parent means a happier child. Please, If you care about the children, let’s renovate our school calendar.
Sincerely, —A Tired Hard Working Parent
This article appears in Nov 3-9, 2011.
Here’s a tip OB: use condoms and the Pill and you’ll never have to worry all that fucking drama. Plus, you’ll have more money for the nicer things in life.
and thankfully your genetic makeup will finally be lost in the annuls of time.
Ahh, was there ever a more sweeter sounding phrase during the school years than…”All schools in, (insert school district/zone here), are closed for the day”
SNOW DAY!! Good memories!
But, it had to be REALLY good and stormy out before that would happen, when I was growing up. But nowadays, I swear, a kid on the roof of a school board official’s house with a box of Ivory Snow Soap flakes and an electric fan could get the schools of HRM shut down for the day. Hell, how many times last year did they cancel school just because of the POSSIBILITY of nasty weather? They are wayyyyyy too quick to close them.
You decided to have kids. Suck on it.
Too bad Seb’s parents didn’t take his advice.
But I agree, too many PD days. If they need them do it on the weekends not school days but of course the union would scream about that.
Maybe a 9-5 or 8-4 would be good, a couple of extra classes couldn’t hurt seeing what the quality output of students are lately.
Agreed, so many days off for the children, which reeks havoc on their parents work schedule. In the old days there was usually one parent at home, now that is not financially possible. We need the schools to change with the times. Also, I do extra work at home, why can’t the teachers? Why do they need extra days off to mark papers? teaching hours are only 830 – 230. But then again, most teachers get into it for the hours.
Raising your children, balancing your schedule, reducing your stress levels…. how are these anybody else’s problems?
Why isn’t anybody accountable/responsible for their own decisions anymore? Actions, included breeding, involve consequences.
If you really were once a teacher as you claim, then you would know that PD days are scheduled before the school year even begins, giving busy parents such as yourself plenty of time to plan for these days.
Any teachers I know are at school at 8 (or before), teach until 3:30, give extra help during their lunch hour and after school, coach sports teams, mentor extracurricular groups, get home at 5 or 6 to their OWN CHILDREN (who they are capable of raising without expecting anyone else to do it for them), have supper, do chores, and then correct your children’s horrifyingly bad work until into the early hours (and all weekend).
Not only that, but because of inclusion, they have to prepare lesson plans for their own grade, and then every level below that, while making sure that the children who need “extra attention” aren’t eating glue/assaulting other children/cutting themselves/running away….
No, I’m not a teacher but holy shit If not for You, you have no F*ng clue!!
So.. let me understand this.. you can’t afford to stay home (and btw, you CAN.. if you give up some of the little luxuries that people mistake for necessities these days) so you want the school system to completely overhaul itself, thereby raising taxes even more so you can NEVER afford to stay home again?
You can’t afford NOT to stay home, OP. You don’t manage stress that well and it’s going to reflect on how your kids are feeling and what they’re thinking and how they, in turn, learn to cope with stress. Why not embrace the life of humble christmasses and single car, or no car households in exchange for having their mom or dad around all the time?
They’ll be better for it. You’ll be better for it.
if not for you you make some good points.. but the truth is, why should the school system, a system designed for the health and welfare of growing bodies and minds, cater to a fucked up world where stress is on the steep uprise?
Children are showing signs of severe stress. Parents need to slow down and get a fucking clue. So many parents have been brainwashed into thinking that in order to be a good parent, you have to shower your child with foolish extravagance at the cost of their sense of family and emotional stability. I know because my parents did the same damned thing.
trust me, they grow up spoiled, entitled and full of resentment.
Fine. I’ll do my 40 PD hours after school or during the summer. But I guess that means that the 300-350 hours I spend every year directing the school play for free on my own time are mine again. Fair trade. And to be clear, I love running extra-curriculars, but I’m pretty sick of being told that there are more things that I should be doing in my time off, but for the same pay.
Also, PD days are mandatory for teachers. Most of us would rather be in class, trust me.
also.. nice choice of title. Clearly written by someone who has never been athletically gifted OR tried to impart this wisdom to obese children who don’t give a shit about living past 30
Send your children to private school, better education, rarely if ever closed for snow days, no social workers on the premises, no cops doing pat downs on the premises, PD days minimal, end result a young adult better equipped to go to university.
The chances of changing the system in NS is slim to none, the union is way too powerful and a section of the elected are, or were, teachers and are sympathetic to their demands.
Yeah, what Bdon said… children are given their PD day schedule for the entire year pretty much the first day of school. You can’t afford to send them somewhere for one day a month? I know Cole Harbour Place had a program for children on in-service days. The snow days are another issue. I think schools would rather close schools before storms happen then have to deal with the massive line-ups of children, waiting in line to use a few phones to call their parents at work to figure out how to get them home. Although, storm days aren’t a secret. They do happen every year and you should have a plan in place if they were to happen. Ahh. Another lovely reason I’m not having children :D.
the teachers don’t get it.
there are lots of professionals that get professional development training. Few actually shut down their entire operation for the training.
need an example? look at hospitals. It would be a cold day in hell before hospitals sent all their patients home so they can provide PD training to their doctors and or nurses.
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Ahh. Another lovely reason I’m not having children :D.
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Plus, roller disco with a prolapsed uterus is kind of a drag.
I apologize to every living creature for that comment.
😛
“Ahh, was there ever a more sweeter sounding phrase during the school years than…”All schools in, (insert school district/zone here), are closed for the day”
SNOW DAY!! Good memories! “
OMG YES, VASTIE!
“You decided to have kids. Suck on it.”
Yup.
Having kids is a CHOICE. No one forced you to have a kid, and it’s no one else’s responsibility than YOURS.
OB, you’re a perfect example of the parents out there who look at school as free babysitting.
My parents both worked. My mom went back to work when I was 3 months old, in fact, and they never ONCE bitched about having to find a place to send me on snow days or whatever and never ‘scrambled’ to do it because OH HAY, they have a contingency plan.
It’s your own fault for not doing so.
Take some personal responsibility and stop blaming the schools for your inability to plan ahead (or for the weather — who does that? who blames the weather on someone? — oh I know — DOUCHEBAGS).
Being a teacher is a CHOICE. They need to take some professional responsibility and stop blaming their students for their inability to plan and schedule PD like other professions.
Not having full cable is a choice.
Not eating out is a choice.
Not having 2 SUV’s and a Jetski is a choice.
Not going on vacation is a choice.
Not having an Xbox is a choice.
Letting daycare and the public school system raise your child instead of one of the parents is a choice.
who’s blaming students, GV?
I’m beginning to think you post asinine shit on purpose just to look like a douche. Because no one could be that short sighted and dense.
And AFAIK, in HRM, PT meetings can be scheduled in the evenings for parents who work. And guess what? Teachers don’t get paid extra for that because guess what? THey’re salaried and not paid by the hour.
Meh, OB is the one that decided to have kids. You’re already costing tax-payers more than those that didn’t have kids, and now you want free child care for PD days or parent/teacher meetings? FUCK THAT. You had kids, now deal with it. They’re already getting free education, they’re not getting free child care too. Your kids = your problem.
Reading this, I seriously doubt that OB was a former teacher. I don’t think she even worked in the school system. A former teacher who doesn’t contingency plan or plan at all in general? If you were a former teacher, I can see why you left. A disorganized teacher is a liability to her students, parents, and the school board. I’m glad you found another profession and/or retired.
Titania- cry me a fucking river!! For YOUR information, I have a full time job in sales. I am on the road all over the Maritimes, 4 days a week. Many of those evenings are spent in some crap hotel retruning emails and doing up quotes for customers so they will have them the next day. I also spend numerous weekends and evenings sitting in airports waiting for a flight. Oh, and also, I try to help coach local minor hockey because I think it is important to give back. I do NOT get: Summers off, PD days, Snow Days (unless it is horrid out, I am expected at the office)2 weeks at Christmas, a week in February etc.. I am not saying I want to teach. What I am saying is that I am sick and fucking tired of listening to teachers talk about how hard they work, how they work some evenings marking papers. Aside from government civil servants, I do not know anyone who works a 9-5 job anymore. We are all expected to work more and do more. Hell, I am covering the territory now that 10 years ago 4 reps would have been splitting (same salary though).
A lot of you folks are showing your age by the comments you post regarding “your kids, your problem”. Most of you will have children, really soon, whether you know it or not. It’s how the earth spins. Parents have a lot of planning to do, it’s part of the deal. It would just be helpful if schools could stick with the National holidays for days off. No parent is asking “the system” to bring up our children, we just want them in school on a regular basis, routine is important for children. All of you who say “you had children, you take care of them” is missing the point. Our society needs children, to grow into supportive and contributing members of society. Not having children isn’t really logical.
I’m sure it takes teachers a whole lot longer than 2 hours to create lesson plans and mark work.
Even at the elementary level (which, I would say likely requires a bit MORE planning).
If OB really was a teacher, they’d know this (which is why I’m calling bullshit on that).
Teachers are paid a salary. Even with their summers off, the amount of time they put in outside the classroom and the 8:30-4:30 work day probably amounts to a whole lot less than most think they’re getting an hour. A teacher starts out at 35k and spends weekends and evenings working.
And they have to deal with YOUR little brats all day…. and if OB’s kids are anything like he/she is… I feel sorry for their teachers.
WHY do people like OB think schools are responsible for babysitting their children?
TAKE SOME PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR CHOICES, YOU TWAT.
PS: storm days are granted for a reason — if you’d like to risk your kids’ lives by having them out on the road going to school than that’s your choice, but some of us choose not to risk our lives going to work or the lives of our children.
You sound like a really shitty parent, OB.
the many teachers that i know and knew, would laugh at you. but some would pat you on the back, for saying what you have. my idea is that if it snows, and a plow truck can’t get on the road, then school shuld be cancelled.
now don’t forget that the kids will be out playing in said snow, so why the hell can’t they walk a half mile or so? there are so many schools in close areas these days.
halifax has bus service, that usually runs on snow days, so maybe they can use that. but out in the country, then things are different.but see this, the parent drives to work, maybe a little early, so why not take your kids and a friends too.
i remember growing up in digby neck, my uncle used to hitch old bess, to the wagon, and kids from all over would come to get a ride to classes. in real bad snow, he used the big sled, with the 12 inch wide runners. we missed school only when we were too sick, to even get out of bed. and then, we still had to be about the house, helping with chores. what the fuck has happened to parents and their kids these days? nothing but whining little lumps of shit now. and the older they are, the more whining they do. get the fuck out i the fresh air, make other plans to get to classes, don’t be a dumb ass all you life, and start the cycle over again.
IK – I really like your idea. And I agree with you. I have just been brought up to be greedy and needy for the toys I have and the house I own. I wish I could overcome that and live in a different area with a smaller house and not want or need for anything, but retirement and the expense of that scares me into working my wife and I full time to invest and save for the future. (while also spending extravigantly)
If not for you:
You DO realize schools don’t control the weather, right?
And it’s not like schools are closed on a regular basis.
I’d say the consistency is more in favour of school being held on a regular basis than not.
Why is it anyone else’s problem that you have to arrange for child care when school isn’t in? School was never meant to be a babysitting service, but it’s parents like you that have turned it into one. It’s not us showing our age, it’s you showing your self entitled attitude that your problems should be taken care of by everyone else. I don’t ever remember my parents bitching because school wasn’t in and they had to find a place for me to go — in fact they never had to scramble because they accepted the fact that that’s what it’s like when you’re a two income household and you have a child — you have to plan for things like snow days and in services.
Tell me: who do you blame when your kid’s sick and can’t go to school? Is it the school’s fault? I’m sure all you self entitled twat parents could find a way (‘oh why don’t they have nurses there to take care of my child when they’re sick?’ ….. oh I don’t know maybe it’s because school IS NOT A BABYSITTING SERVICE? ffs) to blame them. Perhaps your parenting lives would be easier if you spent half as much time planning for thing like this as you do bitching about how the world doesn’t cater to YOUR needs as a parent.
IMO, teachers aren’t paid enough to deal with your kids who likely have the same self entitled attitude their parents have.
So you have to plan a little more because your free babysitting service isn’t available at your convenience here or there — boo-fucking-hoo.
I swear we’d all be better off if some people swallowed.
They do not get paid summer vacations. Their paltry salaries are spread out over 12 months for the work done in a school year.
And yes, things have changed for parents/families. But they have changed just as much, if not more, for teachers.
They are required to work on snow days. And find accommodation while they’re at it for their own children.
They are required to teach 35 children several different well-organized, labor-intensive lesson plans to accommodate the grade-level students, the children with special needs, the glue-eaters and the illiterate.
From what I’ve seen & heard, most teachers would gladly deal with the long hours, personal sacrifices, low pay, crowded classrooms, badly behaved children with no life skills taught at home, than the whiny, bitchy, entitled parents who think that their little Tommy can’t possibly be a bully/intellectually challenged/behaviorally challenged/asshole and who just needs extra special attention.
Wow, PK, sometimes I agree with the things you say on here but more often than not you just seem like a petty and indignant twat. I don’t agree with the OP either but they’re just pissed off and a bit whiny. I wouldn’t call someone a really shitty parent for that (better they bitch on here than in front of their kids). It’s not like they’re a pedophile or anything.
Thanks harrumph. That salary point seems to get overlooked.
And Bobby33: you choose to work that job, just as I choose to be a teacher. You had the option of becoming a teacher, and I had the option of becoming a sales rep. We made our choices, and we knew what our jobs entailed.
It is not required of teachers to run extra-curriculars, or volunteer as chaperones for school activities, and there are many who do not. I’m not crying about directing the school play. Nobody forces me to do so, it’s not in my contract anywhere. I do it to give back and because I love it. What I am saying is that hearing CONSTANTLY from people how lazy we all are for having PD and snow days, which we do not have any control over scheduling, is frustrating when you are giving many many many of your own hours back, happily, by choice, and with a smile to enrich the education of your students.
I’m sorry if you hate your job. I’m sorry if your hours are out-of-control crazy. I don’t hate mine. I do what I’m asked to do, and beyond. I also have NO control over when I am asked to teach, when I am expected to attend PD (which is not ‘free marking time’), and when I am told to stay home.
LOL so it doesn’t matter that they don’t give enough of a shit about their kid to properly plan for their welfare and just shrug them off on the school system as a babysitter for little jr — no, they don’t molest their kids, so it’s a’ight. That’s what you’re saying, right, canned?
I guess the sense of entitlement that a lot of ‘whining’ ‘pissed off’ people reek of just doesn’t bother you as much as it does me.
OB wipes his/her ass the same as you and I, so what makes them so special? They CHOSE to have kids — so it’s their problem when their ‘free babysitting’ isn’t able to deliver. Part of being a responsible parent is planning for your child’s welfare. Those who bitch about that shouldn’t be parents in the first place. That’s what they signed up for when they decided to become parents and bring a child into the world. Excuse me for not being afraid of calling people out on their bullshit. I guess you’re one of those who can’t handle it. Oh well. At least I”m not the one whining about problems I created for myself and blaming others for my own choices, which, I always thought was part of being a mature adult.
have a sammich http://foodbeast.com/content/2011/11/03/ha…
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You DO realize schools don’t control the weather, right
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Dr Evil does, from his undersea hidden lair.
No, PK, where did I say any of those things were okay?
There’s nothing in the post that suggests the OP does not plan ahead or plan for their children’s well being. I think bitching about aspects of parenting (like interactions with the public school system) and being a good parent are not mutually exclusive. Just like people who bitch about work or school are not always incompetent workers or students.
I just think people should be allowed to vent on LTWWB without being labeled the scum of the earth by judgemental fucks like you.
I agree with you that the OP made a choice to have children. But not all decisions are made with perfect foresight are they? (yes, I’m looking at you… and Seb).
here’s what you have to look forward to in the coming years!
WOW, sign me up!
http://kotaku.com/5855934/kid-denied-pokem…
Hey PK –
“Oh well. At least I”m not the one whining about problems I created for myself and blaming others for my own choices, which, I always thought was part of being a mature adult.”
Actually it is what you do, and you do it everyday. You are overweight, live with your Mom and never “found” a man that could put up with you. That is why you are pissed that people who actually contribute to society have children. You think it is a burden on your tax dollars. It isn’t. I am going to bring up children who are educated and work.
OB…I think I translated your bitch & what your saying is “Your pissed that the school system isn’t babysitting your kids as much & as regularly you would like”
Surely someone let you know that having kids meant your life would often be interupted , & you would have to make sacrifices .
But instead of belittling you let me tell you this fact.
IT Does Get Better.
I know this because now I am a grandfather & just today I took my granddaughter out we went to that big store where you need to be a member to buy huge packages of stuff, then I took her to lunch & made sure I hopped her up on sugar & then took her home to her mum.
Yep, being a grandparent, if I had known how great it was going to be, I’d have figured out a way to skip the parent stage & gone straight to grandpa mode ~;)
“Not having children isn’t really logical. “
You’re opening a whole new can of worms with that statement INFY
By who’s logic exactly? There are many good, logical reasons to refrain from having kids. Many people give it little thought and turn out to be really shitty parents.
I truly feel that a good portion of this country’s and the worlds problems can be traced back to shitty parenting. The way that post came off made it sound like having kids is not at all a choice. It is, and it’s a big responsibility. So I agree with the others, you wanted kids, this is what you signed up for, suck it up.
This bitch has survivor written all over it.
I’ll also add that I ALWAYS felt that the system puts the teachers first, and the students last. I can give you a couple examples of what made me come to that conclusion while I was in the public school system.
WHAT IS TEACHING?
The title of this bitch is the last part of the expression, “Those who can’t do teach, and those who can’t teach, teach Phys. Ed.” The expression reflects the commonly held assumption that teaching, unlike medicine, law or engineering, is at best a “soft profession,” a largely simple activity which can be reduced, as with other ordinary jobs, to the correspondingly simple criteria of “time on task.” The issue of PD days is just another facet of that common assumption which, as is usually the case, presupposes but fails to address the prior question, “What is teaching?”
Teaching is an umbrella term which covers a range of activities, from instructing in the elementary grades to lecturing in the undergraduate courses in university. Both have their particular forms of excellence and neither is reducible to simply “telling” or “showing.” However, it is at the secondary and, interestingly, at the graduate level, that teaching exhibits its purest form, that is, the direct engagement of the mind of the student.
How does one engage the mind of the student? This is where a “pedagogy” (does the name ring a bell?) comes in. In spite of the fuss made over “lesson plans” in university Departments of Education, teaching, at least in the sense that I am talking about here, is not reducible to the steps contained in a recipe. It is the gradual outcome of reflection which ultimately finds its roots in philosophy in general and epistemology (the philosophy of knowledge) in particular. In effect, teaching is an art rather than a science.
Of course, this is the ideal, one rarely attained in actual practice but rather something to be aimed at. But it is, or should be, the substance of those much maligned “Pedagogical Days.”
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
Yes, if not for you, talking about something, even making light of it and blaming others is mutually exclusive.
Fucking dolt.
And what’s hilarious is, i have never stated on here OR in. Real life that being single or living with my parents was something i consider a problem. So nice try, but it’s obv straws are being grasped here.
Tell me HOW, exactly your children are going to be educated and work when their parents are obviously dumb as shit.
Have to leave the lib soon, and i have a lot to say about this bitch, so I’ll have to condense it!
1. Teachers don’t decide when they get PD. The school district does.
2. Teachers do not get paid holidays or vacations.
3. I make over $50 an hour on paper, but I am paid only for 6 and 1/2 hours every school day.
4. When we have mandatory PD, we are lucky to get a crummy up of coffee. When my friend the pharmacist goes to his mandatory PD, it is at a fancy resort with a four course meal.
I could go on and on, but Aesop’s taking me out to a fancy place for dinner. And I must put on some make up before it gets dark.
the school board is too large and ineffectual
the classes are full of whackjobs (students)
i found the teachers very flexible with parent/teacher interviews. they would schedule late at night and if you couldn’t show up in person, a phone conference could be arranged. some teachers were not qualified to teach the subject, which they would admit to. this seemed to occur more often in the highschools
If teachers want to be thought of as professionals instead of baby sitters then they better start behaving like professionals. When was the last time a hospital sent all their patients home so their doctors and nurses could have a PD day?
you said that already gv, do you work in a hospital?
If I were a teacher I’d keep quiet that my salary was for 10 months rather than 12. Yep I make 35, 40, 45, 50 grand a year but it’s only for 9-10 months work. Not a good thing to say if you’re looking for sympathy.
As for extra work? Cry me a river. You cry about extra work go to Afghanistan. I’m pretty sure the enemy says “OK it’s 4:30 everybody go home and we’ll start again tomorrow.
more, you have the right idea about grampies. i pick up my little one at 6:45 a.m., catch a bus up to timmies, at 10 to 7, and we sit there for about a half hour. she has her chocky milk and donut or cookie, or sometimes a muffin.would she want anything else right now in her life, just one thing, to be able to live with her grampy forever.
but now, we are only talking about daycare, which is a form of yes, babysitting. does she learn a lot there, not really, just how to hang with other kids, about her age. the length of time she spends at my place, she learns more, in one day, than a month there.
but on to the big schools, they only learn what they want to, and nothig more. take a look at all the lil bangers and taggers and shit running oose any day of the week. yep, great schooling and home taught manners there, right? don’t even get me started on the shit they are forced to listen to, daily, everywhere there is noise, some disguised as music. no wonder kids are so dense today.
but back to bitch, i would not take a professional teaching job ever, just the few stints i did at dal, a couple years back. but really guys, let’s give these people that do this, a little credit, they have to take care of and try to teach, some obnoxios little animals, that you would never even think to entertain in your home. give them a break, i know a lot of teaching staff, that bend over backwards for these kids. and even devote extra time to help them, daily. anyone that thinks they can do a better job at it, for less, give it a fucking try, I DARE YOU. then come back and tell us one year later, how fucking easy it was. and kitty cat, i still loves you anyway, even if you lived in your mom’s basement.
that is an assinine and worthless comment.
Why does anyone need to try being a teacher? Because you think it is logical to dare them?
I dare you to try brain surgery, or airplane mechanics, or corporate taxation. All professionals. Yet, we don’t postpone all surgeries, ground all airplanes, and insist that revenue canada extends their deadlines just so professionals can have their professional development days.
Teachers are SETs.
Registered Nurses don’t get PD days.
Registered Nurses are not allowed to have more than 2 consecutive weeks of vacation in the summer.
Registered Nurses work shifts and Christmas and New Year.
Ditto for most other medical staff.
Whiny teachers union.
I don’t live in my mom’s basement, sucks. My parents moved into MY apartment when they sold their house. My name’s on the lease too and I pay my share of the rent.
I have an education and a really good job — a job one aspires to get when they think about their future post-university. And that job comes with a great salary.
I just happen to not mind living with my parents for a while to build up a considerable nest egg, rather than paying a buttload in rent, utilities, etc…. A couple years living at home = a couple years of sweet savings, which could mean a nice down payment on a house and a chunk of student loans paid off.
So I wouldn’t call living with my parents a problem — I’d call it an incredible opportunity. 😉
Xen the reason your friend the pharmacist goes to a fancy resort for a 4 course meal and you only get a “up” of coffee (your spelling, speaks volumes about your professional standards) is that he work in a Profession, whereas you are a glorified babysitter who happens to belong to a powerful Union.
New Page and Bowater are fucked, union plants in an industry down the shitter. Hopefully, teachers union next for the chop.
So what you are requesting is that we babysit your kids – sure – but as I hold a graduate and undergrad degree, i charge 20 bucks an hour.
And also, you may want to check HRSB’s site for a real understanding of how snow days are called – as it goes through several venues, including environment canada and transportation nova scotia. When a snow day is called it is done so for the safety of children travelling to school, sure somedays the weather goes the other way, but I for one would rather be safe that have to call 50 parents to tell them that their children were involved in an accident.
Also – teacher interviews are given during both the day and night, as not all parents work in the day, and some do work at night – so we give both options. Why on earth would we offer day care – I have had plenty of parents bring their kids along with books and coloring books for the half hour it takes to speak with your child’s teacher.
ALSO!!!! Teachers are only paid for the days they teach and it is spread out over the year – so no, I don’t get paid for holidays or the summer… am I also responsible to not only teach your kids, but you too about my job?
I kind of feel for both parties in this bitch. It is very difficult to be a parent particularly a single parent and have to cover for your child on a storm day. You have to have a sitter ready, be able to get the child to the sitter (during the storm) and be able to pay the sitter. The alternative is staying home and losing a day’s pay. PD days are scheduled so you can plan for that.
Teachers have a very difficult job, I don’t envy them. You really have to love what you do to be a schoolteacher. Not all are SETs, few are.
I was watching a show about this guy in India whose job is to extract snake venom. His place of work is a lab where just about every poisonous snake in the world are housed in individual metal containers. He goes to work in the morning, checks his list of which snakes to “milk” and starts. This involves opening the container, getting the snake’s attention and when it rears, time it just right so he can grab the reptile by the neck and pry the mouth open to catch droplets of venom into a glass tube. The tube is sent out to try and develop an anti-venom.
My point. I would rather do that job than be a schoolteacher and deal with all those insufferable brats.
I understand that you all have went through the system, but I have went to the doctors office too, and I don’t pretend to know more about the profession than they do. Educators go to school for a BA, BEd, than masters upon masters after this. In the end more schooling than your dentist in some cases.
You are not the expert – so please stop pretending like you have a clue about the profession. Not one teacher goes into this career and lasts for the summer off – the stress knocks those ones out in about 2 years. We do this because we believe in kids, and the abilities they possess. This job gives you zero thanks – as dictated so clearly by all your comments – yet we do it anyway, because when you have just one student, coming from a hell of their own at home, who suddenly becomes alive in your classroom and sees the potential they have and you can see the light come on – that is what makes it all worth it. Sure some of them will make our hair turn gray far too soon, if not them, than the parents and the rest of you will. This is not an easy job , and I do wish you each had to do it for one month – sure you would see how tough it is, but then you too might finally get why we do what we do.
As for the infamous PD day – not my call, in fact the school boards in connection to PUBLIC demand of a record that we are constantly improving our teaching methods for your kids. Sure we could do it in the summer – but then I want you to pay me for that (as I do not get paid for the summer) – however, the summer is when I go back to school to get my masters.
This us vs them has to stop – do not begrudge teachers, support us so that we can all be successful in supporting our children and youth.
My son’s grade 1 teacher does not need a masters to teach ‘sight words’ and I’ll bet that the typical pre-packaged professional development seminar does nothing to advance the learning of her kids. Its all a very expensive waste of time, and for the large part it is a risky experiment to be trying to push that many ‘leading edge’ PD days at teachers that should only be using techniques that have been put through extensive trials and validations.
It had been so long since we had such a lively discussion on the bitch board. I’m thoroughly entertained by all this.
One thing I’ll add here is that this is obviously stinging some nerves because we all have some personal connection to education. We’ve all been students and some of us are now parents and deal with teachers and schools. This is not a bitch about teachers. Lot of you are taking this rather personal.
kitty, i said i would still love you,EVEN if you lived in mom’s basement.i know you don’t, it was just a play on words sweetthing.
NSCAD staff (union) vote 93% in favour of a strike – stop the presses, this earth shattering issue brings the G20 conference to a halt, stock markets around the world tumble, Mayor Bumble responds in camera with 47 consultants, 26 buses actually operate on schedule, 32 car drivers and 44 cyclists insist that the other party has the right of way, Sebastian tries pussy for the first time……..
Meanwhile Rick Clarke presents $5000 of union members dues to the Occupy scummers – this part made me gag cos it’s true.
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1079…
NSCAD Strike – that’s like the crew of the Titanic refusing to lower the lifeboats until they’re allowed to take their their lunch breaks in the First Class Dining Room. Bid your fond farewells to Fingerpaint Academy – say hello to more downtown condos in heritage buildings.
Oh, for the love of crimony, Painey. High tech yurts on the union tit. I don’t know whether to laugh or vomit….
If Dexter keeps going ahead with his dumb ass legislation about first strike arbitration this province is fekked.
The initials NDP now stand for NEARLY as DUMB as PAPANDREOUS, another socialist cosmonaut.
This is the only kind of “First Strike” that I’d support. No arbitration necessary.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm…
Titania- my point is this. Unlike many teachers (especially your whiney union) I am not in the news every week whining about the extra hours I work. It is what it is. I respect what a teacher does. I actually have my B ED. But my point is this. The public is sick an dtired of hearing about how teachers have to spend a couple hours after school marking papers or preparing lesson plans. MANY of us do. The difference is that it is the teachers and the nurses in the news whining (usually around contract time. Go figure). When I am out digging my car out of the snow to go to the office I see the teachers on my street strapping on the skis to go to Wentworth because school was cancelled due to “road conditions”. Again, more power to them. But dont come whining to the media that snow days allow you to get caught up on your work. Shut up and do your job like the rest of us and you will get alot more public sympathy.
“High Tech Yurts On The Public Tit”
I loved that book. Is it true it’s going to be made into a movie? 😛
Of course “some people” are taking this Bitch personally.
You have some people who are saying teachers are assholes, full stop. Teachers being offended. Lots of opinion etc.
It *is* lively, TJ. I’m staying out of it because I feel for both sides.
Teacher is not an “easy job with lots of free time”, and I remember the teachers’ union in Ontario telling it’s members, compelling it’s members to vote against the PC party in the mid/late 90s. It’s noone’s bisness who you vote for.
Whatevs.
I have a date with a girl Saturday. She seems really really(like, totally *rilly*!) cool and smart and junk. And birfday is on Sunday(last chance to buy presents today *hint-hint*!).
Have a great weekend, my Bitch friends.
P
Tally-ho Wing Commander Bader. Remember Robert Duvall’s words of wisdom from “The Eagle Has Landed”
“A wink from a pretty girl at a party results rarely in climax. But a man is a fool not to push a suggestion as far as it will go”
Which is Uncle Vanya’s way of saying I hope you have a fun time, a great birthday ,a bitchin’ game of sledge hockey and an all-round BADASS weekend.
>: )
Does she have nice tits, wheelie? 😛
Two things … first, professional development days happen and they are generally noted in the school calendar well in advance of the beginning of the school year. Plan ahead and book childcare in advance.
Second, snow days happen to, and whether the snow actually falls or not, I’d rather have school cancelled than have the safety of my children put at risk. Does it screw with my work schedule? Hell yes … but I’d rather use a vacation day and enjoy the unexpected day at home spending time with my kids than bitching about it. And if you don’t have a job that allows you to take an emergency vacation day … plan in advance for an emergency sitter, or look for a job that is more accommodating of the needs of a working parent. But, you must have to be able to deal with unplanned illness of your child/ren … illness is unplanned and beyond your control … so is the weather.
Okay … perhaps one more thing … I’m not going to jump and say you shouldn’t have had children … at the same time, you did and this is something that goes along with it. If this is causing you so much anxiety that it impacts your parenting and results in unhappy children … go see a therapist and learn some coping skills, or see your doctor … there are medications for that.
“NSCAD Strike – that’s like the crew of the Titanic refusing to lower the lifeboats until they’re allowed to take their their lunch breaks in the First Class Dining Room. Bid your fond farewells to Fingerpaint Academy – say hello to more downtown condos in heritage buildings.”
Apparently people are talkin’ about a NSCAD merger with Dal.
If that happens, NSCAD’s campus would remain in tact, but they’d be relegated to a “Faculty of Fine Arts” or some such title by Dal. That’s what happened with TUNS — now it’s Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Architecture and its own campus.
The NS ag college and Dal are in talks to merge too. I’m assuming Dal would absorb the college and it would be a faculty of Dal.
DAL IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD OMG WHAT’S NEXT? DALCADIA?
:|
I can’t remember how the saying goes about it taking a village to raise a child? But once your a parent you understand that it’s not easy and you need LOTS of help. Once being a single parent I struggled to provide and be there all the time. Without a strong support team it’s not easy. And for everyone who says “your children -your problem” should have some understanding and compassion. Being a parent is hadwork, being a teacher is hard work, being a daycare provider is really hard work. A applaud everyone out there working their hardest and doing their best.
Y’all … talk about something else! Jeeeeeezus!
PS. Fat fingers, new iPod, auto correct, bare with me. 🙂
If NSCAD and DAL merge we’ll have baristas with a little business savvy along with pretty sprinkles on your coffee, nose ring to go with that?
“Apparently people are talkin’ about a NSCAD merger with Dal.”
Whoa! Talk about destroying the village in order to save it. >: (
I hope Dal. eventually owns everything PK! *big grin*
HAHAHA
I kinda agree with RC … I don’t have children, but I recognize yours are on earth and are “the future” as corny as that sounds … and it’s support people need. Instead of being so cold about it (God damn) find some compassion. Jesus. That’s why this world is messed up. Your child your problem … yeah ok.
Nice to have you back MamaBare, fat fingers and all. >; )
There’s a difference, RC — it’s not the fact that people need help with their kids, it’s the parents who feel entitled TO that help. They expect that the world should all rejoice in the fact that they brought a child into the world. I understand that your kids are the most important thing to you, but they usually aren’t to others.
I’m totally for helping out parents — it’s not easy being a parent, and I’m the first one to offer help to those I know with kids (whether it be picking them up from daycare when they have to work late, or babysitting so mom and dad can get a night out — in fact, when my cousin in Toronto has her first baby, I plan on going up to help out so she can get some rest), but there’s nothing I can’t stand more than people who expect help like it’s their God given right — and it’s not only parents who do this and it’s not only parents I will lay the “your choice, your responsibility” line on.
That and I HATE how people think of the education system as free babysitting. The reality of being a parent is tough and hard, but the fact is it’s just that: a realty.
Cheese and rice, Donk, come visit me already!
I’m not that hard to find!
… you’re at Dal. ?
What letter does the building start with? M?
WHAT IS TEACHING ? (II): THE REFLECTIVE PRACTITIONER
In my previous post (Nov. 3, 4:57PM) I attempted to set out the nature of teaching as an art, something that could not be reduced to the constraints of “time on task” but rather, in order for it to be a coherent exercise (i.e., one in which one actually knew what one was doing) must find its roots in a conception of the human mind. For that, ultimately, is what teaching involves. That, in its turn, gives rise to what might be called a “cognitive hierarchy” in which each occupation has its assigned role in the human journey.
Generally speaking, the cognitive hierarchy extends from the manual occupations at the base through those aimed at the preservation of life to, ultimately, those concerned with the cultivation of that definitive of human life itself. All such occupations are necessary to support human existence but, I would argue, not all equally embody the human spirit.
At the base we have the occupations concerned with the provision of food and technological support systems, i.e., farming, skilled artisans and the like. In the middle range we have those occupations concerned with the maintenance and furtherance of life itself, i.e., doctors and nurses. Then there are those which involve questions of justice, the facilitation of harmonious social relations, i.e., lawyers and judges. At the top we have those concerned with the cultivation definitive of human life itself. Here I would rank the creative artists and writers and, yes, some but not all teachers. How is the last category to be determined?
Ultimately, all teachers must be philosophers and, of course, all philosophers must be teachers. I have called such teachers “reflective practitioners,” those who combine sustained and structured reflection on the nature and purpose of the human being – that’s the philosophical component – with the qualities of character and personality which distinguish the best of the prcatitioners – that’s the pedagogical component. He is, in short, the “reflective practitioner.”
We are, of course, talking about Plato’s “Men of Gold,” those rulers of his “Republic” whose goal was never personal material advancement (the “Men of Brass”) or political power (the “Men of Silver”) but always the pursuit of Truth.
An ideal, of course, but Plato was an Idealist wasn’t he?
A pleasure as awlays.
Cheerio!
It’s on my FB page, Donk! Check it out 🙂
Hey, gekhole, how about an ‘up of STFU?
I was trying quickly because I had to hurry…in the library because I haven’t had electricity for 6 days. You think I can’t spell cup? You can blow me.
fight fight fight, my money’s on the tall bitch. are you at the bibliotheque?
Nuh-uh. I am happily typing at home. Power came back around midnight (at least I think that’s when it was–all the clocks were flashing 12:00!). All is well, and my toothbrush is happily recharging as I write this (talk about your 1st world problems!)
Oohh the old “you may not want children today, but you will change your mind!” ideology. I haven’t wanted children since I was 5ish. I didn’t understand how a woman would get a baby growing in their bellies, but I knew that at some point every woman had one. I was really upset over this one day and my mother asked me why I was so upset. I told her I didn’t want to have children when I was older and then she told me that it was a choice and I didn’t have to. I was thrilllled! And I haven’t wanted a child since. I’m now 21 and still don’t see the point. Anyone I know with a child is always complaining about everything and barely even has time to shower. No fucking thank you. I don’t feel like searching for someone to watch my child if I suddenly decide I want to go out to a restaurant (that I’ll be forced to choose of course ;D). And not being able to travel whenever I want or move somewhere new. Likely being stuck in some suburb somewhere. That just has zero appeal to me. Stop telling me I’m going to want that life. Deal with your own spawn and I’ll deal with my own life, like it’s supposed to be.
Exactly, Mel. I’m not saying I don’t want kids, but I’m sick and tired of all these smug fuck parents who think that just because they have kids they’re in on some ‘secret’ and doing us all a favour. NEWSFLASH: most people probably find your kid annoying as shit, because with this kind of attitude of some parents… their kids must be real pieces of work.
And maybe the ‘parent’ lifestyle works for them, but right now, it doesn’t work for me. I enjoy having free time to sleep in, or nap whenever, or go out wherever, whenever and spending all the money I make on MYSELF. It’s nice for now. I’ve spent the last decade in school and I’m taking time to enjoy the fruits of my longgggg ass journey and hard work through school.
But apparently, Mel, the definition of a ‘productive member of society’ is “one who has children.”
By that logic the dumb welfare skanks with 8 kids and 8 different baby daddies are ‘productive member[s] of society.” LOLLERCOASTER!
And screw the fact that I’m [very] educated and we both have jobs and pay taxes (to support programs people’s kids partake in), no, we’re ‘unproductive.’
LOLZ.
Let’s get knocked up by some random sperm donor, Mel and go on assistance. Then we can FINALLY be ‘productive member[s] of society!”
I love the ‘breeder’ mentality sometimes.
(PS: not all parents are ‘breeders’…… it’s fuck heads like if not for you that fit into that category.)
(PPS: I’m really beginning to think if not for you is zurvivor’s babydaddy….. they’re both entitled and dumb enough to be a couple…)
40+ and still don’t want kids. Some cocksucker told me I should change my mind as ‘my children will be taking care of me when I’m old’. Um, yeah.
Stand your ground Mel. TJ902 supports you.
I dunno OB – if you’d like to spend more of our tax dollars on childcare, I’m not entirely against that.
However, from experience (I’m a trained teacher but currently do not teach) there are LOTS of other places in our education system that could use additional funding.
When the legislation for full inclusion in the classroom was introduced back in ’96 – ’97, the expectation was that it was the right thing to do (agreed) but it put a greater burden on teachers and the public school system (support teachers, EPAs, etc).
That’s fine – if you can support it with the $ needed to sustain such a system. But do you know what our province did? Cut funding and resources at the same time, with the result that teachers and school staff are expected to do more with much less support.
It was (is) highly, highly unrealistic – but most people do not realize this.
And really this comes down to the students, not the teachers. Who do you think pays for this, in the end?
http://www.prosebeforehos.com/political-ir…
We’ve decided to have kids (at some point) but I can definitely sympathize with PK & Mel….in a lot of ways, I think it’s much more selfish to have biological children than none at all!!
And it’s absolutely ridiculous to suggest that just because you don’t want children that you are somehow “lacking”.
And there are tons of unwanted children in our system already. I’ve met a few people who only want to foster children, do not want biological and I think that’s pretty incredible.
At the end of the day, to each their own.
One of the reasons why I went into teaching is so that I could interact with kids on a daily basis (I have none of my own—that I know of wink,wink) I spend more time with kids than their parents do, but I get to go home to a nice quiet house.
I got fur kids (2 cats and a dog) and that’s MORE than enough for me, tyvm.
seven billion… http://www.worldculturepictorial.com/image…
Yeah Xeno, that’s cool. I’m pretty sure I don’t want kids but I want to find other ways to help the young’ns, maybe coach a kids sports team or run a after school program or something like that.
I’m not closing the door to kids — I would like to have some, but my life wouldn’t be over if I didn’t.
And right now, it’s SO SO SOOO not the right time. At all.
I’d be fucked if I got knocked up right now (pun REALLY not intended).
I don’t have children – I should clarify that right off the bat.
The attitude towards parents/children/families on this website is ASTOUNDING. It seems the general sentiment is that anyone who dares to start a family is “breeding” and “should have swallowed”. I find that really, really sad.
Sure, having children is a choice. Not everyone wants to have kids. Not everyone should have kids. I absolutely get that. But have you forgotten that we were ALL kids once? That our parents – gasp – all decided to procreate at one time or another?
Granted, there are bad parents. Parents who give good parents a bad name. But by and large, people with children aren’t looking for other people to do their job. They’re not looking to shirk their responsibilities. They’re good people who want nothing more than to have a family. Who want to raise good children.
To all of you who regard parents/children/families with such disdain I ask: what do you suggest? Should everyone stop having kids? Should civilization as we know it end with this latest generation? Is that what you want?
I’d love to really understand why there’s such animosity towards parents on this forum. There must be some root cause.
fear of the unknown, i suppose hh
Tommyjules – there are lots of places you can volunteer with youth in the meantime, and it’s pretty awesome 🙂
HH, not so unusual considering the lowest common denominator on this site is that we all have too much time on our hands (perhaps because we don’t have kids!)
It can get really annoying trying to explain to people (relatives and even strangers) why you are childless. One time I just wasn’t in the mood and when I was asked do you have children, I replied “OMG, I left her on the bus!”
societal pressures outweigh all rational discussions xeno. we have one child and he grew into an adult, a good one a that. me ma said to me many moons ago “i love you kids but i would have been happy and fulfilled if i hadn’t had children”
HH: the hostility isn’t towards people with families — it’s towards people who are self entitled and bitch about the most trivial things, that sometimes really is their own fault. And sometimes that includes parents. But it also includes: smokers, lazy people, assholes, criminals, etc….
A lot of us have no patience for those with no sense of self responsibility.
We don’t hate kids around here — quite the contrary. What we do have a hate-on for are people like OB who can’t own up to the fact that they have to deal with their own choices.
The fact that these people are bitching about shit that comes along with kids annoys the heck out of us and we call them out on their bullshit. A few years ago, someone bitched about their stroller being stolen — but guess what? THEY HAD LEFT IT OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT! None of uswere saying it was ok to steal or that we hate kids — but that’s how it got perceived, when we were really calling the OB out on her bullshit (i.e.: she chose to leave her stroller out and it got stolen thus, it was her own damn fault her kid didn’t have a stroller).
We don’t hate kids around here, we hate stupid, irresponsible, self entitled parents.
“Should civilization as we know it end with this latest generation? Is that what you want?”
Not to be a gloomy gus on the Friday before a weekend with an extra hour of sleep, but I’d say that ship has already sailed.
instead of the race card it should be called the child card. remember zero to five are the most formative years and if the school system can’t teach them, do it yourself
HH, I think the animosity comes from the fact that some parents think everyone and their dog gives a shit about their kid and therefore should get special treatment. And the fact that anyone my age only has accidents, not children. People act like having a child is a disability. I don’t like high pitched, glass shattering screams but some people will just let their child wail in a restaurant for a good hour because “Oh he’s just a child, they scream, deal with it.” If I ever started to cry in public, it was back to ol’ GMC Safari with dad.
Also, I find newborn babies reallllly hideous. Like seriously. Whenever I went to see one, everyone’s like “OMG SOA KUTE” and I reallly reallly try to sound convincing when I say, “Totally!” but it just doesn’t come out right. They’re like all red and moist looking…euuuch. And they have that weird smell… which I assume is the smell of placenta or something. Sorry folks, I realize it’s lunchtime ;D
Oh also, I think Zurvivor made the news.
http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/14…
eauch.. I’ll take this one guys.
HH I don’t think anyone here has a problem with parents. What we have a problem with is SET parents. 1) because they are insufferable and 2) more importantly, they raise SETs.
In addition to that, our culture is shoving procreation down our throats, because to the people in charge (coproparionts) children = money. This would be fine if it didn’t work on so many idiots who want to have kids “to see what it’d look like” and “spoil them”. This shit wreaks havoc on our society. It also puts a stigma on those of us who choose against starting a family. People bringing kids in to the world without realizing the responsibility that comes with it, then whining to us because the world isn’t more accommodating to them. Newsflash, the world bends over backwards for parents. Like I said earlier, I really and truly believe that unfit parents are to blame for a huge chunk of the world’s problems.
Most people in prison had shitty upbringings, and I don’t necessarily mean in the stereotypical single parent on welfare sense. I know a guy who was raised in affluent surroundings, never wanted for anything. Spoiled as all fuck. He has the biggest chip on his shoulder you could ever imagine. His parents raised him to believe that he is better than everyone, this guy can’t go anywhere without making someone want to choke him. He was doing weekends at Burnside Correc last I heard. sitting in his cell crying all day then telling everyone in the street that he was fighting and handling his business. He is a fucking waste of life, and there are millions out there like him.
I’m speaking for myself here, but it may also be the fact that we see more and more people having kids they can’t afford and putting an strain on the welfare system, blowing everything THEIR parents worked so hard to provide for them, giving up their future, prohibiting them from contributing to society, at least at the level they could have sans children.
Yes, obviously we’re all here because our parents decided to have children. Again, speaking for myself, my parents did not take their parenting duties lightly, they waited and prepared for my sister and me, and instilled values in us that prevent me from being insufferable SETs. If every parent did this there would not be this attitude that you seem to think we have about all parents. Unfortunately parents like mine are a rarity nowadays, and with every day that passes people are starting to accept shitty planning/parenting as the norm, and act like these people had no choice but to get pregnant and bring a child into the world and neglect or spoil him/her rotten.
I really don’t think anyone here has anything against parents in general, many of us are parents. But even parents I’m sure hold shitty parents in contempt. They hurt all of us.
“It seems the general sentiment is that anyone who dares to start a family is “breeding” and “should have swallowed”. I find that really, really sad.”
I really don’t think anyone feels that way. I just feel, and I think I speak for many of the other bitchers, that if you do make that choice you should realize the impact it has on you and other people and plan and act accordingly. I’m sick of whiny excuses and self-entitled demands from shitty parents. They get enough sympathy and hand outs. Those of us who choose not to have kids often get unfair labels placed on us too, so there’s some backlash.
I just might do that Kelifax, I’d be really interested in helping kids learn to play a sport and the value of teamwork and all that cool stuff. I played basketball growing up and now that I’m grown I realize that adults have busy lives and my coaches still volunteered their time to help me out.
And I wasn’t always the most fun to deal with lol I took the game prettty seriously and (surprise surpise!) was maybe a biiiit of a hot head as a youth.. maybe I still kinda am.. anyways I like the idea of giving kids an example they can relate to. I’m gonna get in touch with my old city league, see if I can help out.
Check you out, TJ, all deep and well spoken and shit. lol
But seriously, well put, man.
What everybody else said. ^
Thanks for taking the time to read ‘vastman. Glad it was understandable.
i love it when your blood boils thomas
“Tommy’s Final Thought” aside…
“It seems the general sentiment is that anyone who dares to start a family is “breeding” and “should have swallowed”. I find that really, really sad.”
not anyone… just most people.
you’re also dealing with quite a small and specific population base from which you’re drawing. I just hope the young girls don’t catch wind that JustIn Dweeber could be a dad and want to carry young little twats of their own…
What the heck is an SET???
While I think you make a few valid points TJ, I respectfully disagree that “good” parents like yours are becoming increasingly uncommon.
Most of my friends have kids. My brother has kids. My cousins have kids. Just about all my neighbours have kids. And in my line of work, I deal with families on a pretty regular basis. In my experience, the obnoxious, self-centred parents are the exception, not the rule.
Sure, there are shitty, idiotic, annoying parents. Just like there are shitty, idiotic, annoying childless people. Having kids doesn’t make someone a dick. They were a dick to begin with.
So, based on that, I’m standing behind my observation that the parent-hating on this website is largely unfounded.
Didn’t you hear though Z? Justin Beiber is against abortion! I’m sure there will be a new generation of shit kids that should have been aborted, destroying all the world’s pretty flowers resulting from his view.
Of course Bieber is against against abortion. If you had every hetero teenage male on the North American landmass trying to jam a coathanger through your little fontenelle, you’d be anti-abortion too. >; )
gravy…
it’s a sad state of affairs when all it takes is some stupid, singing, brat teen to say, “yeah, I don’t really like math…” and BAM, we’re living in idiocracy in < 20 yrs. SET
Self Entitled Twat(weasel).
I like it more with the weasel on the end… but to each his own.
My kids are beautiful Miss Mel 🙂
and I agree with a lot HH has to say. But everyone has a right to choose and a right to their opinion and I don’t want anyone bringing kids into this world if they don’t 100 percent want them.
Thanks Ivan xo
Again, HH, there is no hate for parents in general on this board. Well I can’t say none at all (gives Seb the side-eye). I’d say about 40% of us have kids. We all know and are related to people with kids. We just trash those that whine about the situation they put themselves in, and/or feel entitled to certain things just because they are parents. Like OP who thinks that tax payers should foot the bill for childcare during parent teacher meetings. To her I say getthefuckouttaherewiththatBULLSHIT!!!! Her children are her responsibility, not ours.
Or those cunty stroller moms who held up the bus for a whole hour just because they weren’t allowed to all sit together and endanger the other passengers. And they got what they wanted in the end!! These stupid bitches were aloud to endanger a busload of people, including their own young children, pissing EVERYBODY off in the process. Why? I guess because MT agrees with them, they deserve special treatment. We disagree.
I could go on but I’ll stop. I really don’t think any of us are stupid or scornful enough to think that all parents are jerks or stupid. We all have them, afterall. I love my parents, personally. It’s just that too many of them don’t take the job seriously and expect the rest of us to pick up their slack. Are they the exception? I sure hope so, but it seems to me like they are becoming more and more common, and more and more excuses are being made for them.
SET = self entitled twat, as Z alluded to. He didn’t mention that you owe me royalties every time you use it. The bill is already in the mail.
I like when you call me thomas, PG;)
Hey, I thought this was supposed to be about teaching! Don’t you want to hear about Plato’s “Men of Gold” and their pursuit of Truth?
Oh well, maybe some other time.
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
One more thing, whether or not they are the exception is irrelevant. I, for one have the utmost respect for good parents. I’m sure many of us feel the same. I just think that most people don’t realize just how detrimental being a shitty parent is to the rest of us. It’s bigger than the parent and the child. If little Johnny doesn’t get proper upbringing he becomes a burden and a nuisance to us all, maybe worse.
All we expect is for people to take their responsibilities seriously, and expecting gov’t handouts, imo, does not reflect that.
——-
People act like having a child is a disability.
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They can’t walk.
Problems communicating.
Incontinent.
Love to spend their time with boobies in their hands and mouth.
Actually, those * are* all me!
Mmmmm.
Bewbs.
P
HH — set parents may be the exception in the real world, but unfortunately, they aren’t around here 🙁
I know some awesome parents — more than not. I love kids, but dispise shitty parents. I never blame a kid for shitty parenting — that’s their parents’ fault, yo.
PS: RC’s kids are cutie pies!
The problem with 2 PD days per month is the lack of quality PD training courses. Most courses are pre-packaged content resulting in many teachers not learning a damn thing. What we need is PD courses that are custom built to meet the needs of the teacher, otherwise we are wasting money, and the teachers are wasting time.
Furthermore, we give them an entire day for PD, and this is an extremely wasteful ways to train people. How many good hours do you get from an 8 hour day? It wouldn’t surprise me if the average teacher only get 2-4 hours of real training time.
2 PD days a month? Wow. That’s a lot. I have 5 PD days/year: three before school starts and half and full days spread through the year (one is election day–voting takes place in the schools around here; kids have the day off) Two full days a month of PD during the school day seems counter-productive on many levels.
RSVPs
: Great Value (Nov.4, 7:04PM) – “The problem with 2 PD days per month(!) is the lack of quality PD training courses.”
For a small consideration plus travel and accomodation I will provide those “quality PD training courses.” I’ve even thought of the title for a series of lectures. It is, “What is Teaching?”
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
well, there you go! The teachers are costing us money for PD that they could be getting for free on LTWWB. lol MM is going to write us another essay.
RSVPs
: Great Value (Nov. 4, 10:52PM) – Well, GV, I think I’ll put a hold on the essays for now – at least on teaching – and maybe my flying down to Halifax to deliver those PD lectures was not such a great idea after all. They’d probably book me into some fleabag on Barrington Street. But I was thinking of someone else who is eminently qualified and, what’s more, on site!
No, not you GV – don’t make laugh. No, I was thinking of “The Scholar” who, by her own admission, is “very educated” (Nov. 4, 10:52AM). I wonder what she’ll choose as the theme of her lectures.
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
Instead of essays, why don’t you write a book?
I promise, that if you get it published, I’ll waste no time in reading it.
(a nod to Moses Hadas)
i didn’t know what a prolific writer andy rooney was
Gordon Gekko…Rick Clark didn’t give $5000 dollars of union members dues to anyone.
What he did was pass the hat at the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour Conference held in Dartmouth that week.
Monies collected were donations & no one was required to ‘give’ anything.
is it wrong to pass a hat around the room? why would that be considered union members dues?
I do not know GV.
I was just responding to the post left by GG.
Nov. 4 @ 8:34
I have 2 Union Brothers who were at that conference. THey both threw some money in the hat. No ‘union funds’ from our local was any part of that.
Not that we don’t give to Charities, althought I did lead the charge to keep it to 2 charities, I believe it is something those who can, should do. There are many worthwhile organizations out there & we can’t afford to support them all.
So my belief is you pick a couple, that members believe are what we wish to support & you continually support those.
To those of you complaining on here about teachers:
You started off by “arguing” (I use that term loosely unless you consider spewing hateful illogical mouthfuls arguing…) that teachers only work a few hours a day, have lots of time off (for summer, Christmas, PD days,etc.) and otherwise have it easy. Then people (who clearly know more about the topic than you) explained that teachers actually work far more hours than most people realize, give up a lot of their own time, work many many many UNPAID hours.
THEN because your argument no longer held water (not that it ever did given your obvious ignorance on the subject), you switched to complaining that teachers whine about having to work extra hours and make sacrifices, blah blah blah.
In case you missed it, teachers aren’t actually complaining about these things, and such comments (regarding what their work actually entails) have been made to counter your circular arguments that they don’t do much of anything.
And to you in particular Bobby33, maybe you do work extra hours, etc. but you are probably paid for it. Teachers aren’t.
Don’t compare teachers to nurses. When nurses punch out at the end of their shift, they are done and free to do what they like with their time (deservedly), with the occasional exception for PD and work-related meetings.
THEMES for “THE SCHOLAR’S” PD LECTURE SERIES
I was suprised to see that no one had suggested possible themes for The Scholar’s upcoming PD lecture series. I’m sure she would be grateful for a little input. Here’s a couple from Montrealman:
1. “The Pedagogue as Foul-Mouthed Shrew: Fear and Loathing in the High School Classroom”
2. “I Don’t Give a Toss: Reflections on My Student Success Rates”
Come on everybody! Show some communal spirit!
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
More, those comments certainly came up, but I think the heart of the issue still remains at the fact that teachers choose to lock the doors and close up shop for PD.
We’ve already established that this both costly and ineffecient way to administer PD.
And, we also established that almost every other profession – disqualify nurses if you must – has figured out ways to conduct PD without compromising their service.
And, please spare us the arguement of teachers working UNPAID hours. That is certainly something that is discussed at every contract negotiates. Both compensation and concessions get issued on an ongoing basis.
OMG. OK, I’ll try to explain once more.
• Teachers are only paid for the hours they are in the school building.
• Teachers must have professional development through the year.
• BECAUSE they are paid only for the hours they are physically in the building and they MUST have PD, therefore the ONLY time they can have it is during the school day. Period. Teachers do not decide this. The administration, the school board and the provincial laws do.
what do you teach xeno?
harrumph- uhmm..no. I am on salary so I do not get paid for working extra hours. Same pay every week. As far as cokmplaining, I suggest that ou read the papers when the teachers are looking to go on strike. All you hear is how hard they work, how many extra hours they put in etc. JOIN THE REAL FUCKING WORLD!! People are sick and fucking tired of hearing how hard teachers have it!! So what you mark a few papers in the evening! There are 3 teachers on my street and every snow day I see them heading to Wentworth to ski. Funny how the roads are too bad to go to school though
Mornin’ Painey! I teach HS math, English, Social Studies and Science to behaviorally-challenged students to MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) proficiency. I am rated by the state as “highly qualified” in each of the four subjects I teach.
Bobby33, get over yourself! I am not the OB: I am responding to erroneous perceptions of people who are not teachers and are not qualified to be teachers spouting off about which they know nothing. You just can’t get over the sight of those teachers strappin’ their skis on the roof on a snow day! Once again, I will explain v-e-r-y slowly.
• Teachers do not call snow days- administrators do.
• Teachers do not get paid for snow days. My contract is for 185 days. The contract stipulates that the year starts after Labour day and ends before Canada Day. That’s it. With many schools in the area being closed due to power outages from the Nor’easter last week, schools are talking about either eliminating one of the vacation weeks or holding school on Saturdays. Yes, they can do this.
• Snow days are not called so teachers can hit the slopes when it isn’t crowded. Snow days are called so children won’t be walking to school/bus stops in the dark on unplowed roads and sidewalks. Have you ever had a situation when a snow day was not called and there were bus accidents and dozens of complaints? that happened to one district in this area and believe me, they are very careful about safe before sorry now.
And finally, because so many people don’t understand why teachers complain at ALL: Teachers are required to have advanced degrees. Compare the teaching profession to others that require advanced degrees, such as the law and medicine. Who makes more? Who drives the beamer and who drives the beat up old honda? Who works more hours? who gets paid for the hours they work (billable hours)?
Teachers get paid so poorly because it is still considered to be a ‘pink ghetto’ job (one traditionally undertaken by women) While there is a lot more parity today and I make much more than my mother, who was a career teacher, there are still a lot of underlying issues with perceptions of professionalism and the worth of women’s work.
you had me at math^^
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There are 3 teachers on my street and every snow day I see them heading to Wentworth to ski.
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Those. Nazi. Fucks.
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Funny how the roads are too bad to go to school though
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Especially strange that these three teacher are actually given the power to cancel school, just so they can go skiing together, and no doubt sit in a hot tub drinking martinis, smoking cigars, and laughing at *you*.
Does the chip on your shoulder hover over your shoulder, or is it tucked into a shoulder pocket, as it were.
Wp
I think its is a huge cop out to claim that the schools have to close down in order to facilitate PD. It’s a damn good thing that the teachers don’t run our hospitals, and prisons. Otherwise, anyone complaining about patients and prisoners getting sent home, would have a ‘chip on their shoulders’.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010…
It’s a damn good thing teachers don’t run this forum, or some certain somebodies would be sure to get detention. (makes raspberry sound)
luckily, no one really runs anything…except the inmates in the asylum http://thefunambulistdotnet.files.wordpres…
If teachers ran this site, we’d all be really good at dodgeball >; )
Happy Birthday WheeliePaul
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/5/7/2/1/1…
“Closing the schools frequently during the winter does not realistically keep the children’s safety in mind, since the children just end of having to go elsewhere and at the last minute. “
OP, you have a point there. At first, I wanted to stay away from criticizing snow days, because it is viewed as a safety concern. But, you are 100% correct.
INAPPROPRIATE CRITERIA: MISCONCEIVED ASSESSMENTS OF TEACHING
As I thought I made clear in my masterful posts, “What is Teaching?” and “What is Teaching (II); The Reflective Practitioner,” time-on-task is not the appropriate criterion to assess the worth of teaching. Sadly, my insightful “cognitive hierarchy” based on criteria internal to the activity itself and culminating, by natural progression, in that concerned with the human mind – i.e. teaching – seems not to have been grasped by the commenters on this site, an eventuality occasioned, one fears, by their native stupidity.
That being the case, it might be best to return to offering further suggestions as themes for The Scholar’s 2011 PD lecture series. Here are three more:
1. “Back to the Future: In Praise of Thomas Gradgrind and Wackford Squeers.”
2. “Slap & Tickle: Questionable Pedagogical Practices”
3. “Maintaining Scholarly Form: Preserving the Colon in the Title of Academic Papers”
Did you notice the title of this post? (heh, heh)
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
So a teacher at the level of TC5 with 5 years experience made in 09-10, $52,102 for 185 days of teaching (37 weeks of teaching 5 days a week) which is $281.63 per day. Now if they worked the same as everyone else we’ll say 48 weeks (4 weeks vacation) then they would be making $67,591.20.
are you saying that everyone else makes 67k per year?
Teachers probably do work the same hours as most everybody else except it’s compressed between the beginning of September and the end of June.
professionals generally get paid a salary not an hourly rate.
No GV, if teachers worked 48 weeks a year vice 37 then that teacher of that pay grade for 5 years experience would make 67 vice 52. That is for 09-10 found here on page 154 of the Teacher’s Agreement.
http://certification.ednet.ns.ca/pdf/teach…
well, we both know that is not going to happen. Teachers don’t and won’t work a 48 week year, so the contract might as well promise them the moon.
“There are 3 teachers on my street and every snow day I see them heading to Wentworth to ski. Funny how the roads are too bad to go to school though”
What part of the following fact do you NOT understand, Bobby…THE TEACHERS DON’T DECIDE WHEN TO CLOSE A SCHOOL DUE TO WEATHER/ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION DOES. It’s not the teachers’ call. Don’t be shitting all over these 3 teachers who decide to get out of the house when they are told not to come into work that day. More fucking power to them. Are you telling me that if your boss or management told you that you wouldn’t be required for work today, that you wouldn’t make the most of your impromptu day off? Give your head a shake.
My boss doesn’t hand out snow days. Especially for all the false alarms that we had last year. I don’t have enough fingers to count all the snow days that happened due to false weather reports
Very rare that my employer will shut down for the day too, unless the buses stop running. Then it’s a given. And I agree GV, there WERE a lot of days last year that probably shouldn’t have been snow days, but the teachers shouldn’t be blamed or faulted for making the most of their unexpected day off that was decided on by their administration. (I’m not saying YOU are blaming or faulting, just making a point)
my boss is a lunatic, she talks to herself and dresses weird
Does she have an affinity for pooches, Sam Elliot and bicycles, PG? I think I may know her…..;)
And as for talking to yourself; sometimes I consider that an intelligent conversation. lol
Oh, well then Jeeves. Sucks to be you.
If it grinds your gears that much, become a teacher yourself.
You, too, can go back to school, get your certification and become responsible for the education of dozens of children. You will spend your evenings writing lessons that are multi-modal, academically rigorous and measurable according to state/provincial standards. You will spend your summers working on your masters or taking other professional development (often at your own expense) so that you can meet or exceed standards for your subject. You will be an unpaid adviser to student groups and chaperone at student events throughout the school year. The public will blame you for everything from tooth decay to teen pregnancy.
Ah, yes, it’s a sweet life. Eat your heart out, sucker.
Thanka, Ivan! Beautiful plane. Bader would be jealous!
Germans- “Wing Commander, you are now a prisoner of the German Reich in France. Please do not try to escape.”
Bader- “Sure thing, Fritzie. Hey is that an ME-109? May I please sit in te cockpit?”
germans- “HO-Gaaaaaaannnnnn!”
It was a great birthday, Ivan. For part of it I read a book about Jackson Pollock and listened to all the DLR-era Van Halen albums.
Time well spent!
Wp
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Did you notice the title of this post? (heh, heh)
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Anyone hear the sound of crickets?
😉
Loves ya, MMan!
Herr Ving Commander, vor you, ze birssday iss ofer. Glad you had a good one >: )
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Loves ya, MMan!
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Not *really*, but I see you here so much, I’ve grown accustomed to your avatar.
Speaking of Avatar(and hoping to raise the level of dialogue here- harumph), anyone seen Harold and Kumar’s Christmas movie?
yeah she does vastie, but she smells good
Avast, good point that the teachers are not the ones declaring the snow days that they are benefiting from. Perhaps, if the previous comments were more about how pampered the teachers are, they would be more acurate.
Wheelie, speaking of harumph and movies……check this clip out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN99jshaQbY
I don’t think anyone’s trying to say that teachers decide which days are snow days… They just don’t like to hear them complain about how tough they have it when they are some of the only people who GET snow days. But if you say you’re not paid for them, I say fair trade.
i love that movie gv…especially ms kahn
…and if the school board *doesn’t* cancel school, they get an earful from angry parents.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/35…