A letter writer says teachers have it easy; a Teacher of The Year responds

[Hulk]

76. Retired after 30 years and rolling in my $1250 a month pension...

...that I contributed 6% of my salary to for 30 years. The school district also kicked in 6% (negotiated through our teacher's union that I paid $600 a year to be represented by...including being a union rep and officer for about half of those 30 years).

I worked on my Master's Degree in Education, and eventually studied to earn an elementary counselor's basic and standard certification, and a basic administrative certificate, as well as numerous other classes and workshops that didn't apply to a degree or certification.

I never did the 3 am or 5 am thing, because I'm a night owl...always have been..always will be. But I was at work EVERY DAY by 7 am and stayed until AT LEAST 5 pm, and very often to 6 or 7. Even went in on weekends for several years when I was permitted. If I was ever going to be sick and have to have a sub, I returned to my classroom at 4 pm and prepared lessons, materials, notes and followed any problems or concerns from the sub for the following day, and was often there until 9 pm or later. If I was really down and going to be out sick or at training for more than one day I had even more of a load to prepare. I HATED being away from my classroom because my kids relied on me, and it always ended up being as much work getting the sub ready for the next day as it would be for me to take the cold tablets and work through my illness.

Kids are home...we were not. Preparing peogress reports, preparing for parent teacher conferences, and then actually having those conferences with students' work and suggestions for the parents and students to follow up on. Unbelievable time spent preparing for those reports.

If you have never tried stepping in to a teacher's shoes, I suggest you volunteer a few days. The preparation, execution and follow up are draining. I have the highest respect for our public school teachers....unlike so many ignorant tax payers who think they are glorified baby sitters. Korea, Japan, Europe and so many other countries respect education and hold teachers in high respect. They pay their teachers a professional salary. It's depressing to be paid as though we work 9 to 5, five days a week and take the summers off to lounge in the sun with our feet up. I won't even go into how many of us provide for those kids that don't have the finances from home.

My son taught high school math for 7 years , and finally had to throw in the towell. He couldn't support his wife and pay the crazy mortgage. He's now in technology and makes good money. This is what happens to lots of good teachers. We pay them peanuts and expect them to be "middle America" and teach our kids to be ready for that world that waits for them.

An ungrateful moron...this Mr. Barry Parker. A damned fool...and I'm sure "a conservative". I detest these ignorant fools.