Many teachers are looking for summer jobs

Not to mention, don't most other professions have a paid vacation time which you can earn and save up to use whenever you like. If our job is such a cake job, like the responder is saying, why can't we earn vacation time and let someone else handle the class for five or six weeks of earned paid vacation time. Ahhh... there is absolutely no respect for our profession. Also, if it so simple why are we required to constantly pay for more classes to be better at our profession. All we are asking for is a little consideration and understanding. And maybe a little more pay so we can make it through the summer. I know I spend about 1/5 of my check each month on my classroom supplies. Pencils, paper, and even printer paper is no longer always supplied!

I chose to extend my pay for the 12 months also... mainly because I was worried about not having money coming in for 2 months. I am a single teacher who lives alone in a house she owns. I have a dog who I rarely see because I spend 75% of my time at the school. I've even been up at the school at 11pm finishing up things for the next day. Teachers not only teach. They have many other responsibilities and tons of people to answer to... prinicipals, their bosses, board of educators, superintendents, students and parents. We get stomped on by students, yelled at by parents and lectured by administrators constantly. I work in a rough school which adds to the stress of teaching. Most teachers in my school spend 70% of classtime punishing and 30% teaching. One tiny mistake or thing not completed comes back on the teacher. People put their children in our hands. Children spend majority of their time awake with us. What we do and what we teach them influences them for the rest of their life. But somehow, we are some of the lowest paid employees (next to fast food restaurant workers). So many people think that summer is teacher's freetime but most people don't realize that teachers sometimes work 50 hour weeks or all weekend long after 12 hour days at school... And if we're not physically at the school, it's in the back of our minds... what's tomorrow going to be like? What kind of activity can I come up with to keep the students engaged while teaching this? There are so many things to consider. But instead of spending our summers relaxing and recooperating, we spend it searching for work to make money to pay back all of the bills that have piled up during the school year. I've had friends say, "Why don't you get a second job during the school year?" My first thought is, when will I sleep? So to all of you who think teaching is a piece of cake, think about having the lives of 100 kids in your hands while people look over your shoulders as you work 50-60 hour weeks, sometimes 7 days a week. THEN, complain that teachers get 2 months off from teaching.

Perhaps we should take into consideration the type of education required for the aforementioned positions. I know I was required to have a bachelor's degree, a teaching certificate, and if I wanted to make ends meet as a teacher, a master's degree. I'm pretty certain the person holding up the sign on I-95 isn't paying off college tuition with his salary. I think a 7% raise is exactly what is needed to keep good teachers from finiding work elsewhere. Lastly, where do you think those felons start out before they get to prison?

To State employee--How much money do you make and what kind of state job do you have? if, the parents for one would get involved with their children there wouldn't be state jobs for the probation workers, social workers and prison workers. I bet THEY make more money than the teachers who are with your children for 6 or more hours a day are. I think teachers are very underpaid for what they do and how they try to help children get ahead in life. My husband is a state employee and we feel very sorry for the teachers who have to extend their 10 month pay to 12 month pay. They shouldn't have to do this. You talk about the meer 7% raise,that isn't crap in my book. Have you actually seen some of the mess these teachers have to put up with in the schools in Wilmington? Especially the middle and high schools? So, my question to you sir or madam is a WHAT DO YOU DO FOR YOUR MONEY AND HOW MUCH DO YOU MAKE FOR DOING IT? Are you one of the ones standing on the side of the road holding the pitch fork and watching the others work?