Multani's Political Corner 4: Public School Teachers.

[Spiderman]

But I did a quick search and here I found a slight blurb on teacher salaries:

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs97/97371.html

Besides numerous things, it mentions:

In school year 1993-94, public school district salaries for teachers with a bachelor's degree but no experience averaged $21,900 (in current dollars).
Scheduled salaries for teachers usually increase with education and experience. In school year 1993-94, public school districts paid an average of $40,500 at the top of their schedules. Among private schools with salary schedules (about two-thirds of all private schools), salaries were considerably less, starting at $16,200 and rising to $27,300.

So as of 93-94, according to this report, private school teacher salaries were NOT higher than public school. If you can find something more recent (preferable, I admit) or something else that contradicts this, please let me know.

 

[Multani]

Spidy: I admit, I was a little vague on what I was asking for.
After doing a bit of research (10 min. Yahoo! search) I must retract my conclusion of Private schools paying more than public ones.
I still have a question for everyone.
Now that it's been proven (more or less) that private schools don't pay as much as public schools, why do people have the impression that private schools are better. I mean when I think of a good school, I think of good teachers first. If private schools do pay less than public ones in general, than why are public school stats so poor?

And as a side issue, what does make a good teacher, I want people's opinions on this one.

 

[FoundationOfRancor]

Way to totally not read my post...

 

[Spiderman]

Multani: I have no idea. Maybe it's because people feel they have more control over what type of environment they're sending their kids into, since they can choose which private school they go to and public school is pretty much determined by neighborhood <shrug>. Although where did you get that public school stats (which are what, exactly?) are worse than private?

FoR: <chuckle>

I really don't have any memories of outstanding teachers; it's been too long (10 years now from high school). I do remember my second grade teacher, Ms. Newberry, as being good, but for what reason, I cannot remember. My computer science teacher in high school was great, he pretty much taught me my programming skills, but again, no specific reasons. And in my junior year in high school, my world history teacher was good in that he "prepared" us for college by always lecturing and we had to take notes (a lot of teachers used overheads or handouts). And our reading assignments were always NOT on the lecture but on the tests, and we had to do extra projects to get the A since A technically means outstanding in theory.

 

[Thallid Ice Cream Man]

my math teacher of last year was a very good one. I suppose I had said she wasn't because the other people at my school on the boards didn't like her, but then maybe that's because they did badly in her class. She gave a lot of work, more than I have had in any course before or after, and she demanded much, but after one was used to it, it was not a problem at all. It probably helps my opinion of her that I could get 95s on unit tests without studying more than an hour, but she was a good teacher nonetheless.
Also, I suppose my history teacher this year is a good one. He is much more involved in politics and in the actual subject than my other teachers of this subject were. He frequently makes us write a great deal (which IS important to the study of history, despite what anyone might think), which has certainly helped the people in my class. He also holds many discussions on a variety of subjects, which is a good thing (even though I wildly disagree with his politics).

Private vs. Public School: I think there is a misconception that people in private schools are elitist geeks with too much time and money on their hands. Only 50% of them are. j/k

I seriously think the people who would be teachers can usually be categorized in terms of their reasons for going to work either at a private school and a public school:

If they work at a private school, then most likely they either specifically want to teach people who are somewhat civilized (probably a misconception), or are elitists.
If they work at a public school, then most likely they either specifically want to teach under-privileged kids, or they can't get a chance to teach at any other school.

Obviously there are exceptions, and hopefully Yellowjacket, our resident teacher, has something to say about my statements, but (to me) these are the most obvious reasons for an aspiring teacher to choose to go to either a public or a private school.
Teachers being human, there is no way we can fault them for picking either of the first reasons. The second ones, however, are a different matter.

 

[Killer Joe]

What are Public School Teachers really like?
They are like everyone else in your world.
I'm sure that's not the answer one may be looking for when asking this question.
However, they (we) have friends, family, and social lives, just like everyone else.
I am going to venture and point out that this question was brought up by an emotional response, right? Did you not say that you've had it with your history teacher? I know I've about had it with my boss (building principal) sometimes, too.
So, to ask the question in this context is misleading. Most likely an expected answer for this question would be more along the line of something to the effect of an emotional response to what you really think teachers are like. And to also bring up the additional title "Public" insinuates a Tax Payers view. I could be wrong, but I've been in too many conversations that start out with 'Public School Teachers' as the topic and the person starting it saying 'Tax Payers' within a few seconds of the aforementioned topic.

A rewording of the question, more appropiate to the topic, could be:
"Which teachers do you like and which do you not like?"

Or, maybe an unemotionally motivated question could be:
"In your opinion, are public school teachers, as a whole, providing quality education to our students?"

The difference being that the first question can and should be answered through emotions (how do you feel about your teachers, do you like or hate any of them-this is based on your view point on the teachers personality), and the second on thought provoking emotions (are the techers providing me with 'life skills' that'll get me through higher education and/or the make me viable for a competetive job market?).

Personally, I was once a high school student, so I'm going to answer the original question from that view point:
What are teachers really like?
I haven't a clue, except for my band teacher who took the time to know me as an individual, who talked to me about stuff other than band/school. He was, in my opinion, a great teacher. Did he make me a better musician? No, I did. He simply provided me with an opportunity to realize my potential. He was always himself, not some power hungry, needy, low self-esteem, dolt who ducted out of the war to become a teacher.
Was he the best band director in the area? No. But he was a great person and I am glad that I had the chance to know him (he's dead).
<Mr. L, where ever you are, I want you to know that I am doing my best to be me.>

Lastly, YOU, all know that I play Magic and so do my students, we have a great growing band and I touch base with most of my students, does that make me a great teacher? I don't know, but I have kids hanging out down here in the music wing constantly. You tell me.

 

[Multani]

Yellowjacket, and Spidey pretty much have me nailed. Yes, the question was a result of an emotional response, and I admit, I wasn't my calm, usual impartial self. The probably could have been phrased better. Well, that pretty much wraps it up. If you have yet another opinion to add, feel free to post. This Political corner will be around till about March, until I post a new one, which will hopefully have a more definite "answer".