Teacher's salary is one of those subjects that's gets everyone all upset and in an uproar. Teaching is one of those professions you really have to want to do because you truly love it and not because of the money. The funny thing is I always thought that teachers got paid about the same (the difference would come from the cost of living). I always figured that other district got paid more but their cost of living was much more so the playing field was much more leveled. After reading this article it is not at all like I thought (LOL!!) Everywhere pays for your education and time that you put in. How much you get paid is going to depend on the district you are working in and how well the community responds to outside factors.
As a teacher, I already know my pay is low...and yes I complain a little, but I still buy things for the classroom because I want my classroom to be comfortable and welcoming. The children love coming to my classroom because of all of the things I have in there. I have learned how to live on a teacher's salary. I shop at yard sales and find all kinds of neat things that can be used in the classroom. When you tell them you are a teacher sometimes they will even let you have the things for free!!! :))
There are many good things that goes along with the teaching profession.The average starting teacher's salary is $32,000 but many districts pay more to attract good teachers to their schools. Teachers with masters degrees or higher make an average of $10,000 more per year. There are many opportunities to supplement income with coaching, various teacher-led after school programs, and tutoring. Teachers are always in demand! We get summers off!! (Yes only two more days.)
At my school most everyone has a good classroom with high expectations of all their children. 98% of the children buy into your expectation and rise to the occasion. All in all teacher's pay is not all that important...seeing the children succeed and grow up to be prosperous is what counts. When you see them come back and are successful doctors and lawyers...you can say to yourself "it was well worth it".
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Cultural Pluralism
All the articles describe what really actually happens in schools. Multiculturalism should be taught year round and not in a specific subject on specific day. This is a very hard concept and that's why people do it wrong. Multicultural education needs to be much more than ethnic tidbits and cultural sensitivity. Teachers need more training to be more successful in teaching muliculturalism correctly. The students like learning about other cultures. Its been my experience in the classroom that teaching simultaneously and continue relating the curriculum with the culture is a difficult process. It takes much planning ahead of time. The curriculum, policies and structure of my school is used as a means of social control by factors of success, program planning, assessment and accountability, curriculum and instruction, and the school environment. All these things maintain many opportunities to be interwoven with multiple disciplines, encouraging students to become more connected with all backgrounds. Multicultural education needs to be accompanied by a deep commitment to social justice and equal access to resorces. I think high standards for multiculturalism hold great promise for improving and closing the gap for students from different backgrounds.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Multiculturalism
Mulitculturalism takes many forms in many different areas. However, in education it is important to make sure all students feel welcomed, acknowledged, and included. After looking at all the sites these were my thoughts:
-multicutural education can be defined as an equal opportunity for other ethnic groups to reach their highest potential without discrimination and prejudice, and for others to develop knowledge about cultural differences.
-In my classroom/school we celebrate all the different culture groups throughout the year. I think this is very interesting because the students get a chance to tell us more about themselves. We don't have to read it in a book or watch a movie, we have a real life experience. It has been my experience when you ask a child to share their culture they are more thans happy to do it. The other students have enjoyed whent they get to learn/hear something new about someone.
-In the first site about Pithissippi, my first thought was mixed. I undertsood the thought process; however, times have changed and America has made so much progression in many ways. When times change everything changes. One cannot continue to use the same ideas and tactics that worked decades ago for the future. The fact is that America is made up of many cultures and they come here for better opportunites and because of the freedom.
-My opinion on the second and third one is not so much that other countries think multiculturalism is wrong, but I think they are just concerned. I think they are concerned in loosing their own culture in trying to recognize others. I agree with this to a certains degree. America has its own system and culture, but because of all the cultures it seems sometimes our values and beliefs are dismissed because of others.
-All in all recognizing different cultures is not only a great learning experience but also a decision that one has to make in regards to positve interactions among other ethnic groups.
-multicutural education can be defined as an equal opportunity for other ethnic groups to reach their highest potential without discrimination and prejudice, and for others to develop knowledge about cultural differences.
-In my classroom/school we celebrate all the different culture groups throughout the year. I think this is very interesting because the students get a chance to tell us more about themselves. We don't have to read it in a book or watch a movie, we have a real life experience. It has been my experience when you ask a child to share their culture they are more thans happy to do it. The other students have enjoyed whent they get to learn/hear something new about someone.
-In the first site about Pithissippi, my first thought was mixed. I undertsood the thought process; however, times have changed and America has made so much progression in many ways. When times change everything changes. One cannot continue to use the same ideas and tactics that worked decades ago for the future. The fact is that America is made up of many cultures and they come here for better opportunites and because of the freedom.
-My opinion on the second and third one is not so much that other countries think multiculturalism is wrong, but I think they are just concerned. I think they are concerned in loosing their own culture in trying to recognize others. I agree with this to a certains degree. America has its own system and culture, but because of all the cultures it seems sometimes our values and beliefs are dismissed because of others.
-All in all recognizing different cultures is not only a great learning experience but also a decision that one has to make in regards to positve interactions among other ethnic groups.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Religion and Education
My initial thought about the moment of silence case was one of amazement. I think it is wild some of the things people try to draw up a case about. A moment of silence is just an expression for a period of silent deliberation. People can choose how and what they do during this time. Some ways people choose to aknowledge the moment of silence is through: prayer, reflection, meditation, or to just stand. Its just a good way to show respect in some cases and a great way to start a day. Personally, I do not agree that having a moment of silence is a form of religion. It is up to each individual how they plan on using that time. Usually a moment of silence only last for one to two minutes. I really think in some situations parents have too much say in what is going on in schools. They are coming up with lawsuits left and right. Education is far too important to be worried about how an indidvidual spends their moment of silence.
The Pledge of Allegiance is just pledging your loyalty to your nation (U.S.). Reciting the pledge of allegiance I think may be a little different because of all the different religions. In the case of Gobitas, they are in the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, a group whose beliefs prohibit swearing loyalty to any power lesser than God, and who objected to policies in public schools requiring students to recite the Pledge. I had a student who was not allowed to say the pledge about three years ago. I didn’t know why and she didn’t either. All she said was that my parents told me not participate. To me that is a problem…her parents should have explained to her their reason in why they did not want her reciting the pledge. Their situation was so strict that I called them before we discussed particular subjects in class in which was part of the curriculum. Her parents did not object to that because we were not “worshipping” a particular thing. That was a different experience for me as 2nd year teacher when that happened. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing.
In both cases: A moment of silence and the reciting of the pledge is in my opinion just a sign of respect. Not a form of religion or asking that you worship a particular thing.
The Pledge of Allegiance is just pledging your loyalty to your nation (U.S.). Reciting the pledge of allegiance I think may be a little different because of all the different religions. In the case of Gobitas, they are in the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, a group whose beliefs prohibit swearing loyalty to any power lesser than God, and who objected to policies in public schools requiring students to recite the Pledge. I had a student who was not allowed to say the pledge about three years ago. I didn’t know why and she didn’t either. All she said was that my parents told me not participate. To me that is a problem…her parents should have explained to her their reason in why they did not want her reciting the pledge. Their situation was so strict that I called them before we discussed particular subjects in class in which was part of the curriculum. Her parents did not object to that because we were not “worshipping” a particular thing. That was a different experience for me as 2nd year teacher when that happened. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing.
In both cases: A moment of silence and the reciting of the pledge is in my opinion just a sign of respect. Not a form of religion or asking that you worship a particular thing.
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