Coronavirus, Covid 19 Discussion and How It Has Affected Your Daily Life Chat Thread

[FortCluck]

I find it really sad that as a committed teacher, you wouldn't recommend teaching as a career to younger people. At the risk of becoming too political (sorry) I find it even more sad that too many communities think nothing of approving mega-funding to buy expensive vehicles and equipment to turn their police forces into militarily-equipped warriors, but then cry poverty when the teachers in their community raise concerns about having to buy paper and pens and lunches out of their own personal meager pay to educate their students.

Education is a profession that deserves a whole lot more respect than teachers have gotten during the past few decades.

Do you think, if community values got more sensible and education budgets were more equally funded according to what's needed, that you would change your mind and maybe recommend teaching as a career to younger people?

Schools have changed so much since I have been there... now we get school lists and the kids bring the stuff to the teacher. She equally gives it out to everyone. We always send extras because I know many people can’t even afford supplies. We always send extra hand sanitizer too so that those who can’t afford it get some, kids love hand sanitizer.

I think that people in this country don’t see education being a huge deal... it is though! Without an education, you’re nothing... Well except for a few exceptions. Kids now think you can become a celebrity no problem and make millions. They don’t get that it truly doesn’t work that way. Yeah some celebrities get lucky and don’t have to go through schooling, but education is everything.

There are other countries who blow past us in education and I wish we would focus more in this country on it. It would truly help the country out as a whole in the future when these kids graduate.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Schools have changed so much since I have been there... now we get school lists and the kids bring the stuff to the teacher. She equally gives it out to everyone. We always send extras because I know many people can’t even afford supplies. We always send extra hand sanitizer too so that those who can’t afford it get some, kids love hand sanitizer.

I think that people in this country don’t see education being a huge deal... it is though! Without an education, you’re nothing... Well except for a few exceptions. Kids now think you can become a celebrity no problem and make millions. They don’t get that it truly doesn’t work that way. Yeah some celebrities get lucky and don’t have to go through schooling, but education is everything.

There are other countries who blow past us in education and I wish we would focus more in this country on it. It would truly help the country out as a whole in the future when these kids graduate.

YES!!! We were just talking about that in another thread!!! Kids see all these YouTubers and Viners and “social media influencers” on instagram and stuff like that and think they can get there too or win a video game tournament (some of them are big bucks) or even just have a viral tweet or video, etc. (look what happened to yodel kid and the cash me outside girl and even Alex from Target went on Ellen and stuff) and think they’ll be set for life. But that’s not how it works. Like yeah, most of the top YouTubers make tens of millions of dollars but they also worked their butts off to get there!!! They didn’t just get there overnight. And even now, it’s still a ton of work. Maybe even more than a “regular” job because they have to spend hours and hours editing the videos, not to mention recording them, plus planning exactly when to release them or what next weeks content will be, and manage the finances and/or hire someone, etc. etc. for most I know, it’s full time job hours (40+) and often far more than that. Staying up late at night and whatnot. Kids think you can just get a camera and hit record and that’s it but there’s A LOT of work that goes on behind the scenes. Not to mention time and money. Lots of money buying the expensive, high quality, top of the line camera and recording equipment to produce high quality videos. And then, if they do get famous, they’re jerks!!

 

[FortCluck]

YES!!! We were just talking about that in another thread!!! Kids see all these YouTubers and Viners and “social media influencers” on instagram and stuff like that and think they can get there too or win a video game tournament (some of them are big bucks) or even just have a viral tweet or video, etc. (look what happened to yodel kid and the cash me outside girl and even Alex from Target went on Ellen and stuff) and think they’ll be set for life. But that’s not how it works. Like yeah, most of the top YouTubers make tens of millions of dollars but they also worked their butts off to get there!!! They didn’t just get there overnight. And even now, it’s still a ton of work. Maybe even more than a “regular” job because they have to spend hours and hours editing the videos, not to mention recording them, plus planning exactly when to release them or what next weeks content will be, and manage the finances and/or hire someone, etc. etc. for most I know, it’s full time job hours (40+) and often far more than that. Staying up late at night and whatnot. Kids think you can just get a camera and hit record and that’s it but there’s A LOT of work that goes on behind the scenes. Not to mention time and money. Lots of money buying the expensive, high quality, top of the line camera and recording equipment to produce high quality videos. And then, if they do get famous, they’re jerks!!

My son is learning to code on computers. He’s 15... he’s so smart, it’s truly scary. My brother was like that and now he’s a Chemical Engineer and the Vice President of a company It’s so impressive to me. He is my brother and I’m so proud of him!

 

[ShrekDawg]

My son is learning to code on computers. He’s 15... he’s so smart, it’s truly scary. My brother was like that and now he’s a Chemical Engineer and the Vice President of a company It’s so impressive to me. He is my brother and I’m so proud of him!

OMG wow that’s amazing!!!!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I find it really sad that as a committed teacher, you wouldn't recommend teaching as a career to younger people. At the risk of becoming too political (sorry) I find it even more sad that too many communities think nothing of approving mega-funding to buy expensive vehicles and equipment to turn their police forces into militarily-equipped warriors, but then cry poverty when the teachers in their community raise concerns about having to buy paper and pens and lunches out of their own personal meager pay to educate their students.

Education is a profession that deserves a whole lot more respect than teachers have gotten during the past few decades.

Do you think, if community values got more sensible and education budgets were more equally funded according to what's needed, that you would change your mind and maybe recommend teaching as a career to younger people?

No. It's a combination of things. Even if I didn't have to buy supplies, I wouldn't recommend it. I have a Master's degree and I don't make nearly as much as someone in the private sector who has comparable education. Everyone thinks I have all these great vacations and time off. Nope. Trainings and workshops all summer. I don't mind the work over summer, but I hate the attitude that the job is so easy. You know how often I hear that I should have gotten a "real" job? Ugh.

And this job is all-consuming. And no matter how hard you're working or how many hours, it's never enough. But if you care about the kids, you'll do it. So giving up nights and weekends is normal and expected. I get paid salary based on a 35 hr week. I work nearly twice that.

Shoot, this past year I was asked to pilot a new curriculum for the state college program. I had to teach at least one class using their curriculum, attend monthly workshops, and then give them feedback to help them improve/rewrite their curriculum. Curriculum developers at that level make 6 figure salaries for improving/rewriting curriculum. They were offering a stipend of $1000 for the year. I passed, but so many teachers participated because they are starving for money.

I also don't like a lot of the teachers I work with. Most are from very wealthy families/backgrounds. There is a strong current of judgment and disapproval of working-class parents, not to mention a pervading belief that college educated people are more valuable than blue-collar workers. It's quite disgusting. I've been to multiple meetings where I've heard teachers blaming a student's struggles with the fact that his/her parents are uneducated. It's all terribly hypocritical.

My fave illustration of this was a big English teacher conference I attended in February. Thousands of us spent a weekend talking about how we can better help struggling students, esp children of color, succeed because they need to go to college - all while being waited on and cleaned up after by people of color (mostly Latinos). And most of the teachers - like 99% - were white. And most were completely dismissive of the folks working at the convention center - leaving their trash all over, snapping their fingers at them, complaining about the food/room/temperature.

I would have laughed at their hypocrisy if it weren't so depressing.

 

[FortCluck]

OMG wow that’s amazing!!!!

But my brother worked so hard to get there. His loans for college were ridiculous! He went to Northeastern... beautiful college

 

[FortCluck]

No. It's a combination of things. Even if I didn't have to buy supplies, I wouldn't recommend it. I have a Master's degree and I don't make nearly as much as someone in the private sector who has comparable education. Everyone thinks I have all these great vacations and time off. Nope. Trainings and workshops all summer. I don't mind the work over summer, but I hate the attitude that the job is so easy. You know how often I hear that I should have gotten a "real" job? Ugh.

And this job is all-consuming. And no matter how hard you're working or how many hours, it's never enough. But if you care about the kids, you'll do it. So giving up nights and weekends is normal and expected. I get paid salary based on a 35 hr week. I work nearly twice that.

Shoot, this past year I was asked to pilot a new curriculum for the state college program. I had to teach at least one class using their curriculum, attend monthly workshops, and then give them feedback to help them improve/rewrite their curriculum. Curriculum developers at that level make 6 figure salaries for improving/rewriting curriculum. They were offering a stipend of $1000 for the year. I passed, but so many teachers participated because they are starving for money.

I also don't like a lot of the teachers I work with. Most are from very wealthy families/backgrounds. There is a strong current of judgment and disapproval of working-class parents, not to mention a pervading belief that college educated people are more valuable than blue-collar workers. It's quite disgusting. I've been to multiple meetings where I've heard teachers blaming a student's struggles with the fact that his/her parents are uneducated. It's all terribly hypocritical.

My face illustration of this was a big English teacher conference I attended in February. Thousands of us spent a weekend talking about how we can better help struggling students, esp children of color, succeed because they need to go to college - all while being waited on and cleaned up after by people of color (mostly Latinos). And most of the teachers - like 99% - were white. And most were completely dismissive of the folks working at the convention center - leaving their trash all over, snapping their fingers at them, complaining about the food/room/temperature.

I would have laughed at their hypocrisy if it weren't so depressing.

My aunt has her Doctorates in teaching. I forget the actual name of it. She teaches at a college physically then works for another college online. She never sleeps. She is so dedicated to her work...

 

[Aunt Angus]

My son is learning to code on computers. He’s 15... he’s so smart, it’s truly scary. My brother was like that and now he’s a Chemical Engineer and the Vice President of a company It’s so impressive to me. He is my brother and I’m so proud of him!

That's great! Good for him! He will have TONS of opportunity if he keeps it up!

Our school has a terrific program - a partnership with Cisco Systems. Kids who participate graduate with certificates in coding.

 

[chkncrazy]

I don't understand the big mystery about BigFoot. He lives right down the road from here, just south of Baltimore. I know this because DD dated him, last summer. He has since gone back to the woods from whence he came ... and none too soon. He broke my couch!

Lol..... must be related to my ex-mother-in-law!

 

[FortCluck]

That's great! Good for him! He will have TONS of opportunity if he keeps it up!

Our school has a terrific program - a partnership with Cisco Systems. Kids who participate graduate with certificates in coding.

That’s what he’s doing I think at his school. He has a coding class he takes. He’s WAY past where I got in high school. He’s in all advanced classes.