Walk a mile in my shoes! Nevermind, I don't want to share.

A day in the life of a 29 year old English teacher and coach - something my blog advertises. This is something I haven't gotten to truly blog about. Why? Because I am so busy living that life of a teacher and coach to stop and document it. I realize how important that step in my blog would have been, considering the devastating condition the school district I work for is currently in.

Nevada is currently being subjected to massive budget cuts. The governor is trying to cut the budget $250 million to $400 million. Concessions that are being battled: nearly 10-15% cut in pay (8% in salary, 1.25% increase in PERS, and nearly $60 per month added to health care), less days in the school year, 37 to 40/1 student/teacher ratios, 50% of the school supplies budget cut, performing arts, language and extra curricular activities being slashed, less available transportation for students, 1,800 positions being cut, and the biggest cut occurring - the quality of education that will be given to the students who are the future of Nevada.

The teachers and the students are certainly not taking these cuts lightly, and we have come together the best we can to try and get our voices heard. We have started "Working to the Rule" - meaning that we only work the hours we are contracted for - 7:30 until 2:41. We have canceled extra curricular activities that require teachers to put in voluntary non-paid overtime. We are using the times we are leaving to demonstrate about the effects these cuts will make on our students. The school I work for was in the newspaper Las Vegas Sun on Wednesday, April 27th for the demonstration. The article was entitled: Las Vegas Teacher Protest Proposed Budget Cuts.

After contract hours sign making - Ben, 7th grade English/reading

Me and co-worker, Amanda, 7th grade US history and Spanish, making signs

Kate, 8th grade World Geography, sign making

My mom, myself, Dave, Jeff, Tiffany, Trina, Amanda, and Kate protesting the budge cuts

Leaving as a group at 2:41, Amanda, Deanna, Gayle, me, Mr. Z, and Tom

I was proud of the work our group had been doing. We were passionate, excited, and so determined. Yet, after the article showed up, I made the mistake of reading the comments made by people who read the article. I felt stung! I was hurt! How can people say such things? We are educating their children; yet, they feel these things about us! It's no wonder there is no support for our cause. I cannot believe that people in this state, that have students attending schools in the district, could say such horrible, inaccurate words. I was so naive in thinking that because teachers worked for children that people would rally around us and protect us. There are many that have, and I can't thank those people enough. I am so grateful, but I see the following words and can't help but feel slightly defeated again:

The money just isn't there. Come on teachers, if you care so much about the kids do NOT short-change them. Protest another way.

 It's because the money isn't there that we have to protest this way. You see, although many believe that the only reason we are working contract times and not giving any more personal time to our students is because there is no money to compensate us or the worst is that we just don't care! Not true! If you want me to stay after school to tutor your child, you will probably want that child to have the chance to get back on a bus to get home - busing is in jeopardy. You want your child to participate in school athletics, but are you going to be okay with the new school hours that will have your children completing practice around 7 PM. Games will start later, which means that during the middle school basketball season, 11-14 year old kids will be roaming the streets anytime from 6:00PM until 8:00 PM trying to get home. If I don't protest, then the supplies needed to educate the students will be cut 50%, which means I will have 50% of the resources needed to educate your child. How many other professions are expected to provide their own workspace with supplies? I purchase markers, paper, pens, pencils, binders, copy paper, etc every year to provide students in my classroom. Why? Because in many situations, if I don't, then who will? So, ask that question again. If I care so much about the kids do not short-change them, protest in another way? Well, I would say, if I want to continue to see the government short change my students, then I will stop. I care too much about them to do that, so I'm going to keep holding my signs.

We threw more and more money at teachers for years and received less! Lets try it the other way and see if we can get back to a decent education for a decent cost, because throwing more money at teachers sure didn't work!

 WOW! Please explain to me how we have had money thrown at us more and more. The last time I received a raise was in 2007. The last two years I didn't even receive cost of living raise, so my salary hasn't changed in three years. Although, the bills I have, which I pay on time every month, have gotten higher. So, two years ago I was fine financially, but now it's pay check to pay check. I have not received new text books in 5 years of teaching. I have been limited to the amounts of copies I turn in, and my computer is so old that it is no longer compatible with the computer I use at my home. Yet, I have managed to do a phenomenal job. In fact my scores are some of the highest in my school. Because we are teachers, you can give us the impossible, and we make it happen. But, the kids didn't put themselves in this situation, and they didn't ask for the country to go into a recession. Why should they be the ones to suffer the most from it?

In Clark County, you get what you pay for. Teachers, by a far majority, aren't the brightest bulbs in the world. In college their curriculum is the easiest and simplest of all the liberal arts majors. I went to one of the top Universities in the country (and studied Engineering); unfortunately those in the "Education School" just weren't that bright. Math and Science classes were "too hard"; the tradition continues into the public schools to this day....shortage of qualified math and science teachers. Face it; those that can do, do; those who can't, teach. Those idiots in the picture probably can't do much else in society...they couldn't hack it in Finance, Engineering, "Business"; so they are teaching little Shaniqua and Jose how to read and write....and guess what? By 8th grade Shaniqua and Jose still can't read or write. Why? Because idiots like those in the picture go home at 2:41 pm. That's why. And the Union backs them up; they'll never be fired for cause or disciplined. And they will always (hardly) be worth the $40,000 or so they make for working 6 or 7 months out of the year until 2:41 pm. They can cry and whine; but guess what? They aren't indentured servants. They can quit if they don't like the pay, the hours, or the contract. Just quit. No shackles around your ankles. No slavery. You are FREE to leave the country now. Or State. And go get a job in Finance, Engineering, or "Business". If you think you can. But ultimately the joke is on them. They chose their profession; if they don't like the terms, just quit. Walk. If they can! At 2:42 pm...just keep walking....and walking....and GO!

I think this particular comment stung the most. Teachers aren't the brightest bulbs? We are the highest educated group of professionals, ones that must continually update our education to stay on top of the newest theories, developments and technology. The last time I checked, education was actually a science degree...hence the theories classes taken. I teach 7th grade, and I have yet to see a student walk through my doors that doesn't know how to read or write. However, the problem is that they are only exposed to reading and writing at school, so they fall behind the other students that do have those opportunities at home. When was the last time you sat down with your child and read them a story? In fact, when was the last time you sat down with your child and asked them how their day was? And, I think the point is being missed. None of the teachers are complaining about their job. We certainly are not leaving and going home at 2:41. We are continuing our job of educating, it's just that we are now educating the public on what is going to happen when more money is taken from the students. Just like the resistant student in the classroom, we will have resistant adults that don't truly understand what message we are trying to convey. We aren't complaining about being teachers, we are fighting for what our students deserve...a quality education. Without us, those finance, business, and engineering programs at the universities will be empty because teachers haven't prepared those kids for the rigorous courses ahead of them. Why didn't we prepare them? Well, perhaps it was the 36 or 37 other students in the classroom that was demanding the attention of the one teacher. So, if I walk out the door and keep on walking, who is going to take my job? Are you? I want the job, but I deserve the respect that any other educated professional receives.

So, let's break this down a little bit.

The "math" part of my job:

I receive a salary of 45, 142.08 a year. This is prior to deductions. Keeping in mind, we receive paychecks 12 months of the year, but we are only paid for 188 days worked = 240.12 per day. We work a contract day of 7 hours and 11 minutes or 431 minutes per day = approximately $33.60 an hour. Not too bad for the hours and times we have off in a year.  It would be great if we actually worked that amount of time in a day or just the 188 days a year, but that is not the reality of this job.

The "reality" of the job:
Please understand that I am not an exception, but rather the rule when it comes to this part. I am apart of a workforce that performs these types of hours/duties on a regular basis.

I will begin in August and describe a typical year of a teacher. This year school began on August 23rd. Teachers returned to work on August 18th. However, by the week of August 9th, I had begun going into my classroom from 8 AM until noon to start the initial set up of the classroom - 2.5 days total. I came in on August 16th and 17th for an additional training. We are now up to 4.5 days extra of days. On January 8th, 15th and 17th  I was participating in an all day tournament for the basketball team. We are now up to 7.5 days of unpaid time. Let's talk hours. During a typical week, meaning no basketball season, I am at work at 7:15 AM and work until at least 3:15 PM, now it's 8 hours in the school building. But, the day is not done for me. Inside the bag I bring home, at approximately 7:00 PM I bring that bag out and begin to correct papers of students  - which is a minimum of 2 assignments a week at 157 per teacher for a total of 314 papers to correct. I also research, prepare and plan assignments and lessons. At about 10:00 PM I call it a night. Now the 8 hours in the building + 3 hours at home = 11 hours a day. Let's redo the math from above. The hourly rate is now $21.00. That's quite different from the above contractual day.

I am the girls basketball coach, so lets make sure to add that time up as well. A typical day during basketball season goes a little like this: into the classroom by 7:15, the girls arrive to my classroom at 2:30 PM to have 1 hour of study hall prior to practice. Practice begins at 4:00 and goes until 5:30 PM. By the time I have all the girls picked up and accounted for, I am able to drive home at 6:00 PM. By 7:00 PM I am grading papers, making lessons, and creating practice plans and game plans. The 10 PM cut off becomes 11:00 PM or midnight. We are now talking about a 15 hour day. That is just over $15 an hour. At this point, you might ask me why I bother?

Here is why I bother...

I love my job. I make a difference every single day of my life. How many people get to say that they work with kids, the direct link to our future, and actually inspire them? I do. I have done the desk jobs. I have worked the 9 to 6 jobs with 2 weeks vacation a year, and I would never go back. Why? These kids need me, and I need them. I am a stable, safe, and comfortable normality for students that don't have that in their life. Are you passionate about what you do for a living? I am. When I come up with a new and exciting way to teach a concept, I feel like a kid on Christmas Day. I want to sit down side by side with a student and explain to them exactly why they have to have a comma in a certain spot. Why? Because 5 years from that day, when they are completing a resume for a new job, they will remember the crazy 7th grade English teacher that sat next to them and showed them the reason that comma goes in that spot, and as a result, they may have the advantage over the competition. Small and insignificant? Ask the one that didn't get the job.

I am the one that gets past the hormonal, attitude covered shell that covers 7th graders and teaches them that it's okay to trust, and it's okay to be successful. I'm the one that knows that the quiet girl in the back row that has fallen asleep in class the last 3 days is not a discipline problem, but a little girl that hasn't slept in a bed the past week because her family was locked out of their apartment. I'm the one that knows that the trouble maker in the front row who is giggling extra hard this afternoon and stumbling when he walks has consumed alcohol. I'm the one that knows that sometimes a kid needs a teacher to pat them on the back and let them know you are there for them, and sometimes a kid needs to be told to shape up and get it together.

Teachers do make a difference. Even though this post is old, I still think it's important to post. Because, 400 teachers were given pink slips last week. Many teachers were completely unaware they would be getting them. Think of the domino effect...if the teachers are unprovided for...the direct result with be the students are going to be unprovided for. If I were a parent, I would want to make sure that the teachers were happy. Happy teachers = happy students!