Comments on: Despite Popular Support, Pilot Schools Stalled In Boston http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/26/pilot-schools WBUR is Boston's NPR News Station, featuring NPR news and programs such as Car Talk, On Point, Here & Now, Only A Game and Radio Boston. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mary http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/26/pilot-schools/comment-page-1#comment-2796 Mary Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:46:18 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11335#comment-2796 Mark B has obviously never been in a classroom except as a student or a visitor.Constant vacations throughout the year? Not enough my dear and this is why. Come in and teach this class for a day, let alone for 180 days. 4 kids with ADD issues who just cannot stay in their seats. Then there is that group in the corner who haven't seen each other for at least 3 minutes and have to catch up on their news. There are at least 5 who see no value in being in school at all and are counting down to 16 and let's not forget the 15 who speak English as a second language in varying degrees of fluency. Our writing assignment today is small moments. How would you reach everyone Mark? Either your 45 minute period seems like 5 minutes or 5 hours. If you haven't run screaming from the room at the end of our short 6 hour day, then maybe you can last until tomorrow, unless tomorrow brings until another 3 kids to your room who don't speak any English at all.Are you begrudging me my 4 day Thanksgiving break or week vacation at Christmas or my 2 months off in the summer? If you're counting my days off, Mark, then come in and teach my class and then we'll talk. If you can read this, thank your teacher! Mark B has obviously never been in a classroom except as a student or a visitor.Constant vacations throughout the year? Not enough my dear and this is why. Come in and teach this class for a day, let alone for 180 days. 4 kids with ADD issues who just cannot stay in their seats. Then there is that group in the corner who haven’t seen each other for at least 3 minutes and have to catch up on their news. There are at least 5 who see no value in being in school at all and are counting down to 16 and let’s not forget the 15 who speak English as a second language in varying degrees of fluency. Our writing assignment today is small moments. How would you reach everyone Mark? Either your 45 minute period seems like 5 minutes or 5 hours. If you haven’t run screaming from the room at the end of our short 6 hour day, then maybe you can last until tomorrow, unless tomorrow brings until another 3 kids to your room who don’t speak any English at all.Are you begrudging me my 4 day Thanksgiving break or week vacation at Christmas or my 2 months off in the summer? If you’re counting my days off, Mark, then come in and teach my class and then we’ll talk. If you can read this, thank your teacher!

]]> By: MarkB http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/26/pilot-schools/comment-page-1#comment-2743 MarkB Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:08:05 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11335#comment-2743 Commenter "connearney" wants to know where his/her overtime check is. I'd like to know - where are your time cards? You do punch a clock, right? Ummm.... that would be a "no." Like many, many people, you are on salary. And like many salaried workers, your work week varies with the work load, And unlike ANY other salaried workers, you get constant vacations throughout the year, and then the entire summer off. So where is your overtime? You're taking it out in time off. If you don't like it, get a job in the Dreaded Private Sector, and leave teaching to those who appreciate the benefits of the job. Commenter “connearney” wants to know where his/her overtime check is. I’d like to know – where are your time cards? You do punch a clock, right? Ummm…. that would be a “no.” Like many, many people, you are on salary. And like many salaried workers, your work week varies with the work load, And unlike ANY other salaried workers, you get constant vacations throughout the year, and then the entire summer off.

So where is your overtime? You’re taking it out in time off. If you don’t like it, get a job in the Dreaded Private Sector, and leave teaching to those who appreciate the benefits of the job.

]]> By: connearney http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/26/pilot-schools/comment-page-1#comment-2738 connearney Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:42:02 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11335#comment-2738 On my way to work as a BPS teacher this morning, I heard your report about Pilot Schools. I will resist the temptation to respond to society's constant default of blaming teachers for all that is wrong with education. I am, however, curious to find out where in Boston teachers are paid overtime. In my 8 years as a Boston teacher I have routinely reported to work an hour early, left an hour late, and spent most of my weekends doing schoolwork. Where is my overtime check? While the Mayor is busy maligning the teachers of Boston, I'm busy taking care of the children of Boston - and any time spent beyond that covered by my contract is GRATIS. Give credit to the teachers who give of themselves every day for absolutely no thanks from administration. On my way to work as a BPS teacher this morning, I heard your report about Pilot Schools. I will resist the temptation to respond to society’s constant default of blaming teachers for all that is wrong with education.

I am, however, curious to find out where in Boston teachers are paid overtime. In my 8 years as a Boston teacher I have routinely reported to work an hour early, left an hour late, and spent most of my weekends doing schoolwork. Where is my overtime check?

While the Mayor is busy maligning the teachers of Boston, I’m busy taking care of the children of Boston – and any time spent beyond that covered by my contract is GRATIS. Give credit to the teachers who give of themselves every day for absolutely no thanks from administration.

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