Purrs for Teachers!

Do we have any teachers on this group, lurking or otherwise?

I recently received my state license to be a substitute teacher (doing
this while continuing my job search for something in-line with my
actual work experience), and am listed with 2 local school districts.
I've worked 5 days out of 10 possible over the last 2 weeks, covering
high school chemistry (16-17 year olds), 5th grade (10-11 yo), 7th and
8th grade science classes (12-14 yo), and special education (learning
disabled 6-8 year olds).

My goodness, what an eye opening experience. I know kids like to test
the substitute, we did in my day too, but my 1st day subbing I ended
up sending 5 kids to the principal's office, and one of them ended up
getting suspended from school for a day (I later found out I had what
the other teachers considered the "worst" class with the most
troublemakers in the entire grade, and sending only 5 kids to the
office was showing great restraint). I had kids who whipped through
their assignments without problem or questions, kids who tossed their
assignments in the trash, kids who were looking for any excuse to go
roaming in the hallways, kids who'd rather be on eBay, kids who'd
rather be anywhere than where they were, kids who'd didn't want to be
anywhere but where they were.

Teachers most *definitely* don't get paid enough for all the demands
placed on them! I've got Natasha purring full-time to provide support
for all of our school teachers!




Jeanne Hedge, as directed by Natasha

============
http://www.jhedge.com

"Jeanne Hedge" wrote in message
...
Do we have any teachers on this group, lurking or otherwise?

I recently received my state license to be a substitute teacher (doing
this while continuing my job search for something in-line with my
actual work experience), and am listed with 2 local school districts.
I've worked 5 days out of 10 possible over the last 2 weeks, covering
high school chemistry (16-17 year olds), 5th grade (10-11 yo), 7th and
8th grade science classes (12-14 yo), and special education (learning
disabled 6-8 year olds).

My goodness, what an eye opening experience. I know kids like to test
the substitute, we did in my day too, but my 1st day subbing I ended
up sending 5 kids to the principal's office, and one of them ended up
getting suspended from school for a day (I later found out I had what
the other teachers considered the "worst" class with the most
troublemakers in the entire grade, and sending only 5 kids to the
office was showing great restraint). I had kids who whipped through
their assignments without problem or questions, kids who tossed their
assignments in the trash, kids who were looking for any excuse to go
roaming in the hallways, kids who'd rather be on eBay, kids who'd
rather be anywhere than where they were, kids who'd didn't want to be
anywhere but where they were.

Teachers most *definitely* don't get paid enough for all the demands
placed on them! I've got Natasha purring full-time to provide support
for all of our school teachers!

Teachers *definitely* get my purrs and whatever other support I can give. I
think it's a crime that we pay athletes and movie starts millions of dollars
but the people who are shaping the next generation of people (who are going
to be supporting us when we get old, gawdhelpus!) hardly get paid enough to
cover living expenses!

Hugs,

CatNipped

Jeanne Hedge, as directed by Natasha

============
http://www.jhedge.com

Jeanne Hedge wrote:

Teachers most *definitely* don't get paid enough for all the demands
placed on them! I've got Natasha purring full-time to provide support
for all of our school teachers!

So true. I blush to remember all the things we did to aggravate our
teachers. Lots of purrs heading out to teachers everywhere.

--
Marina, Frank and Nikki
marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi
Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/
and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki

On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 12:03:24 +0000 (UTC), Cheryl Perkins
wrote:

Jeanne Hedge wrote:

snip

Teachers most *definitely* don't get paid enough for all the demands
placed on them! I've got Natasha purring full-time to provide support
for all of our school teachers!

They didn't make you take courses, including teaching under supervision,
before they gave you the license?

Real teachers do, of course, but not substitute teachers, although a
sub is expected to follow whatever lesson plan the teacher has left
for the day (and the days of it being automatic study hall if you have
a sub are long over around here)

Where I live, the state requires all sorts of different background
checks, including criminal (checks done by the state police). My
"sponsoring" school district also had to have reference checks and
proof of at least some college. They also had me to go to a 3 hour
orientation session and gave me a handbook. Once all that was done,
they sent my packet off to the state to have a substitute teacher's
license issued in my behalf. While waiting for that to come in they
strongly "suggested" I go observe in a classroom (something I had to
arrange for myself - good thing my SIL is a teacher).

The license is good for 3 years. Once I had it I was able to sign up
to sub with the neighboring school district, and all I had to provide
them with was contact info and a copy of my college degree (they pay
more if you have one).





Jeanne Hedge, as directed by Natasha

============
http://www.jhedge.com

On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 22:38:31 -0500, Jeanne Hedge
yodeled:

Do we have any teachers on this group, lurking or otherwise?

I recently received my state license to be a substitute teacher (doing
this while continuing my job search for something in-line with my
actual work experience), and am listed with 2 local school districts.
I've worked 5 days out of 10 possible over the last 2 weeks, covering
high school chemistry (16-17 year olds), 5th grade (10-11 yo), 7th and
8th grade science classes (12-14 yo), and special education (learning
disabled 6-8 year olds).

My goodness, what an eye opening experience. I know kids like to test
the substitute, we did in my day too, but my 1st day subbing I ended
up sending 5 kids to the principal's office, and one of them ended up
getting suspended from school for a day (I later found out I had what
the other teachers considered the "worst" class with the most
troublemakers in the entire grade, and sending only 5 kids to the
office was showing great restraint). I had kids who whipped through
their assignments without problem or questions, kids who tossed their
assignments in the trash, kids who were looking for any excuse to go
roaming in the hallways, kids who'd rather be on eBay, kids who'd
rather be anywhere than where they were, kids who'd didn't want to be
anywhere but where they were.

Teachers most *definitely* don't get paid enough for all the demands
placed on them! I've got Natasha purring full-time to provide support
for all of our school teachers!

My mom is a teacher and she's run raggged. She can use all the purrs
she can get. Thanks for bringing it up.



Theresa
Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh
My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com

Jeanne Hedge wrote:
Do we have any teachers on this group, lurking or otherwise?

I recently received my state license to be a substitute teacher (doing
this while continuing my job search for something in-line with my
actual work experience), and am listed with 2 local school districts.
I've worked 5 days out of 10 possible over the last 2 weeks, covering
high school chemistry (16-17 year olds), 5th grade (10-11 yo), 7th and
8th grade science classes (12-14 yo), and special education (learning
disabled 6-8 year olds).

My goodness, what an eye opening experience. I know kids like to test
the substitute, we did in my day too, but my 1st day subbing I ended
up sending 5 kids to the principal's office, and one of them ended up
getting suspended from school for a day (I later found out I had what
the other teachers considered the "worst" class with the most
troublemakers in the entire grade, and sending only 5 kids to the
office was showing great restraint). I had kids who whipped through
their assignments without problem or questions, kids who tossed their
assignments in the trash, kids who were looking for any excuse to go
roaming in the hallways, kids who'd rather be on eBay, kids who'd
rather be anywhere than where they were, kids who'd didn't want to be
anywhere but where they were.

Teachers most *definitely* don't get paid enough for all the demands
placed on them! I've got Natasha purring full-time to provide support
for all of our school teachers!

Jeanne Hedge, as directed by Natasha

============
http://www.jhedge.com

I concur and purrs you've got! Teaching is often a thankless job. And the
pay is often so low teachers find part-time jobs during summer break.

I tried very hard not to torment my teachers, even if some of them wanted to
torment me Back in my day a "sub" often meant "study hall" as someone
else pointed out.

But I also have fond memories of some of my instructors from high school.
One in particular. For its time, this was a very progressive and also brand
new school. I took broadcast journalism classes for 4 years; we had a radio
station. (In my 2nd year of classes I'd scarf down my lunch, run up three
flights to the station, rip copy off the AP wire, mark it up and do the
11:30 news; this was a public station, not just broadcast in the school.)
The instructor, Mr. James Futrell, was in a wheelchair, having been crippled
by polio as a child in the 1950's. But he didn't take s*** off any student,
let me tell you! I can remember him throwing a reel-to-reel tape across the
room when one group of students wouldn't shut up during his lecture!

Now I get to stroke my ego a little bit (indulge me!). I went back to visit
the school when I was about 31. Went up to the station after checking in at
the office and making sure Mr. Futrell was still there. I walked in and he
was giving a lecture about something. I stood there by the hallway,
listening, when he suddenly looked over at me and exclaimed, "OMG, Jill!"
Then he introduced me to the class as one of the very best students he'd
ever had. EBG I looked around the class and thought to myself, gosh, was
I ever that *young*? heheh

Another ego boost (I guess I'm allowed 2 in one post heheh). When I was
leaving a teacher called to me in the parking lot, "Leaving a tad early,
aren't we?" I walked back and recognized Rodney. He'd been a year behind
me at that very school! I grinned and said, "I'd say I was leaving a tad
*late* since I graduated in 1978, but it looks like you never did, Rodney!"
He laughed, "Jill! What's it been, 13 years?" Yep. He got his teaching
degree and went right back to the old school That's kinda cool!

At any rate, there are some good, dedicated students. Unfortunately, you
always hear about the bad ones. There are also some good, dedicated
teachers who make a lasting impression. And to those, mega purrs.

Jill

On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 22:38:31 -0500, Jeanne Hedge
wrote:

Do we have any teachers on this group, lurking or otherwise?

I recently received my state license to be a substitute teacher (doing
this while continuing my job search for something in-line with my
actual work experience), and am listed with 2 local school districts.
I've worked 5 days out of 10 possible over the last 2 weeks, covering
high school chemistry (16-17 year olds), 5th grade (10-11 yo), 7th and
8th grade science classes (12-14 yo), and special education (learning
disabled 6-8 year olds).

My goodness, what an eye opening experience. I know kids like to test
the substitute, we did in my day too, but my 1st day subbing I ended
up sending 5 kids to the principal's office, and one of them ended up
getting suspended from school for a day (I later found out I had what
the other teachers considered the "worst" class with the most
troublemakers in the entire grade, and sending only 5 kids to the
office was showing great restraint). I had kids who whipped through
their assignments without problem or questions, kids who tossed their
assignments in the trash, kids who were looking for any excuse to go
roaming in the hallways, kids who'd rather be on eBay, kids who'd
rather be anywhere than where they were, kids who'd didn't want to be
anywhere but where they were.

Teachers most *definitely* don't get paid enough for all the demands
placed on them! I've got Natasha purring full-time to provide support
for all of our school teachers!




Jeanne Hedge, as directed by Natasha

============
http://www.jhedge.com

Oh, my, Jeanne, what a day you had!

I thought about going into teaching about 15 years ago or so. My
first class in grad school was essentiallly to go out and observe and
do some teaching in a local high school. My main teaching session was
on "Midsummer Night's Dream" for a Shakespeare class. Trying to get
them to stay in the classroom, stay in their seats, stop talking so I
could be heard over them, etc., was a nightmare. Some kids looked
like they were napping or just dreaming, others didn't know when to
stop talking.

That wasn't why I decided not to pursue that path, but I'll agree with
you, purrs for the teachers -- they sure need them!

Ginger-lyn

Jeanne Hedge wrote:


Where I live, the state requires all sorts of different background
checks, including criminal (checks done by the state police). My
"sponsoring" school district also had to have reference checks and
proof of at least some college. They also had me to go to a 3 hour
orientation session and gave me a handbook. Once all that was done,
they sent my packet off to the state to have a substitute teacher's
license issued in my behalf. While waiting for that to come in they
strongly "suggested" I go observe in a classroom (something I had to
arrange for myself - good thing my SIL is a teacher).


LOL, we subs have the best and worst of all possible worlds.

Here I had to show that A) I had over 46 credit hours of college (I do),
B) SAT scored over 1100 (I do) or C) take an ability test and score over
85% on it (I scored 97%) I took the test option as it was faster and
easier than digging up college transcripts or SAT scores.

Then I had two background checks done, one here in North Carolina, and
one in Idaho, which was my state of residence at the time. I also
passed a medical exam complete with drug testing, had a TB tine test
done, all my references were checked, and I was approved by the
substitute supervisor and the school board. I had to take a week long
course on effective teaching methods, and be passed by the professor
teaching that course as capable of handling students. I guess I did ok,
as I've been doing this since the fall of 98.

When I first started out, I was surprised by how many teachers left
either no work or make work for their classes to do. It has changed
since then and I sometimes get to actually teach the subject. There are
some subjects that I can't teach, but I can supervise the students and
usually that is what is really needed. The schools I work at know me
well, and the students know that I won't tolerate some behavior, so I
usually have pretty well behaved kids. That doesn't mean that all my
days are easy ones, or that there aren't kids who won't try to get away
with whatever they can, but most of my days are good ones.

Pam S.

On 2005-02-20, CatNipped penned:

Teachers *definitely* get my purrs and whatever other support I can give. I
think it's a crime that we pay athletes and movie starts millions of dollars
but the people who are shaping the next generation of people (who are going
to be supporting us when we get old, gawdhelpus!) hardly get paid enough to
cover living expenses!

True, but those are choices the general population makes. Pro sports are
businesses, and we as a whole support them strongly enough that the businesses
can afford to pay these athletes those amounts.

On the other hand, if there were nearly as many athletes as there are
teachers, I'm sure they'd be paid less. And it occurs to me that teaching
doesn't have a good chance of causing you permanent injury, and that you can
keep doing it until you're of typical retirement age; pro athletes only get a
few years, and have medical problems to deal with.

--
monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully

pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

Jeanne Hedge wrote:

Do we have any teachers on this group, lurking or otherwise?

I recently received my state license to be a substitute teacher (doing
this while continuing my job search for something in-line with my
actual work experience), and am listed with 2 local school districts.
I've worked 5 days out of 10 possible over the last 2 weeks, covering
high school chemistry (16-17 year olds), 5th grade (10-11 yo), 7th and
8th grade science classes (12-14 yo), and special education (learning
disabled 6-8 year olds).

My goodness, what an eye opening experience. I know kids like to test
the substitute, we did in my day too, but my 1st day subbing I ended
up sending 5 kids to the principal's office, and one of them ended up
getting suspended from school for a day (I later found out I had what
the other teachers considered the "worst" class with the most
troublemakers in the entire grade, and sending only 5 kids to the
office was showing great restraint). I had kids who whipped through
their assignments without problem or questions, kids who tossed their
assignments in the trash, kids who were looking for any excuse to go
roaming in the hallways, kids who'd rather be on eBay, kids who'd
rather be anywhere than where they were, kids who'd didn't want to be
anywhere but where they were.

Teachers most *definitely* don't get paid enough for all the demands
placed on them! I've got Natasha purring full-time to provide support
for all of our school teachers!




Jeanne Hedge, as directed by Natasha

============
http://www.jhedge.com


Purrs for you to Jeanne (as well as Pam Shirk). I tried subbing when I
was younger and needed to work (this was in the late 70's) and all I had
to do was prove that I had 2 years of college. My first assignment was
a 7th grade girls PE class. The teacher had assigned a couple of days
of volleyball outside. Well, it rained both days. I just didn't make
it as a substitute teacher. Both of my sisters-in-law are teachers and
I send them purrs regularly.

Julie