"You only teach because June, July and August."

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
05/20/2019 at 18:05 • Filed to: None

“No,” I reply, “I teach because June, July, August, April, November and December.” I have a class 6th Period that is the neediest group of students I think I’ve ever tried to serve. I love them, but they absolutely exhaust me. I will heave a great sigh of relief in a little over 3 weeks when I see the last of them.

DISCUSSION (30)

Under_Score > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2019 at 18:08

When all of the schools get out in mid May and start August 1, it’s more like “June July.”

PS9 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2019 at 18:09

“Yeah and what of it? Don’t get pissy at me because you choose a profession that makes you work year round. You want J, J and A off? Get off your ass, come up here with me and help these kids or shut the fuck up.”

^^The correct response.

Chariotoflove > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2019 at 18:23

Everyone knows teachers don’t get paid much because they only work three quarter of a year. That other three months, they’re Jimmy Buffeting away their time in a beach somewhere.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > PS9
05/20/2019 at 18:25

Or, “You wanna be locked in with my 8th graders for an hour?”

I love my job, but I hate feeling inadequate.

I like to provoke other teachers by referring to the days when I had a “real” job. Because at one time, I did.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Under_Score
05/20/2019 at 18:25

Yeah. I didn’t make up the saying, I just roll with it.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Chariotoflove
05/20/2019 at 18:28

Take a teacher’s salary and divide it by 0.75 and it looks more like a salary from a real job. I’ve driven my family from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and back THREE TIMES. What other career allows that kind of family time?

Chariotoflove > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2019 at 18:30

Not many. I do have to say, my district is starting to pay teachers more what the job should be worth these days. And many do take good advantage of the off-time. I do know some go find other jobs though.

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2019 at 18:46

In order to make money next fall, I am considering substitute teaching. I have a friend who used to play in the orchestra who does it in retirement.

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2019 at 18:52

I will heave a great sigh of relief in a little over 3 weeks when I see the last of them.

Three weeks? Our last day is this Thursday.

smobgirl > ttyymmnn
05/20/2019 at 19:18

I looked at substitute teaching when my work was really slow here, but I’d be better paid at McDonalds. It’s truly ridiculous.

ttyymmnn > smobgirl
05/20/2019 at 19:19

Yeah, but, McDonald’s. I haven’t done any research into it at all. There’s a neighborhood mom I know who subs at our local elementary school. I’m going to talk to her about it.

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2019 at 19:21

Its been a looooooong time since I needed the year to end this badly. Next year w e’re getting a new AP and for the first time a Dean of Students . That’s the only thing giving me hope right now. Our current AP, who I like as a person, is completely spineless and let s the kids walk all over him and everyone else. I used to write 2-4 office referrals a year. Now I do that almost every day, and I could write more, but at this point I’m really just pissing into the wind. Eight more days. June can’t come soon enough!

TheRealBicycleBuck > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2019 at 19:58

Lucky bastard. When I was teaching, it was a year-round position for lower pay than associate professors at other universities.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Chariotoflove
05/20/2019 at 22:42

I chase down dollars when I’m off work. I do academic coaching, which includes tutoring. I also do carpentry and electrical and automobile repair. I’m not a teacher who has zero prospects outside of a classroom.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
05/20/2019 at 22:44

I could give you some pointers. My district just raised the daily pay rate to $185/day. I know some things I would do if I were subbing. We can’t keep music teachers in our district, believe it or not. Ever considered pursuing that?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
05/20/2019 at 22:45

I’ll be happy to be finished with them. I don’t blame them for the troubles, I just am not equipped to give them what they need.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > shop-teacher
05/20/2019 at 22:46

I haz feelz. Gonna get Rusty road worthy!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > TheRealBicycleBuck
05/20/2019 at 22:50

But I get poop-stink for benefits. I’m not complaining though. I love my work; it’s just exhausting at times.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Chariotoflove
05/20/2019 at 22:53

If you’re doing it right, it’s hard work, but it’s still a sham job. I’ve had many other jobs and this is by far the best one. Bell rings, door closes, and you are the captain. Is teaching part of your job, or only research? You told me your specialty, but I confess, I do not remember, but not particle physics, as I recall...

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2019 at 22:53

I wouldn’t pursue it full time, I don’t have a music ed degree. But I could certainly sub for a band director.

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/20/2019 at 22:55

Yesssssss!!!

Chariotoflove > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/21/2019 at 00:09

Oh I teach, both undergrad and graduate classes. Just submitted final grades today. Teaching is important to me, but my main job focus is biomedical research. The summer has some graduate teaching in it, but it’s mainly my time to concentrate on the lab work, and of course to find time to vacation with the family.

Chariotoflove > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/21/2019 at 00:11

That’s what I was getting at. Mos t of us don’t become hobos once school lets out. We have to keep working. The flexibility of Summer is definitely a benefit, but it’s not a three month vacation.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/21/2019 at 09:33

Academic benefits are a real bummer. We were very nearly bankrupted because my wife had a series of unfortunate health issues which weren’t completely covered by our benefits. It took a new job and five years of payments to get out from under that debt.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > TheRealBicycleBuck
05/21/2019 at 11:34

Pew. They say that union benefits are great, but my union, when these benefits were negotiated twenty years (!) ago, was predominated by women whose husbands had jobs with benefits. So they got a discounted amount for benefits added to the actual salary scale so instead of healthcare, they got their retirements padded. So my annual benefit amount that I receive is around $4400 per year, whilst the cheapest HMO I can buy under the ACA is about $15k per year. Yes, that’s correct, $15k/yr with a significant annual deductible. I’m glad the Republicans held all three branches of the federal government for two years and fixed all of that for me.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Chariotoflove
05/21/2019 at 11:36

I’ve largely used my Summer as a vacation, and I have my HELOC statement to prove it.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Chariotoflove
05/21/2019 at 11:36

Are you tenured?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > shop-teacher
05/21/2019 at 11:38

I made a bit of progress recently. Got the dog house going, which makes a big difference. I need to adjust or rebuild the carburetor because it’s belching rich right now.

Chariotoflove > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/21/2019 at 13:57

Yes.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Chariotoflove
05/21/2019 at 16:58

Those positions are as rare as hens’ teeth nowadays.