Reply #29: No, it didn't sound like you were complaining...

[YvonneCa]

...at all. It sounded like a shared reality. I wish there was a way to impart that reality to the general public, many of whom think teachers only have responsibilities during regular school hours...more or less 8:00 to 3:15, Monday through Friday.

They don't get the weekend and evenings spent on papers, grades and report cards...the meetings and trainings we're required to attend...the time spent with parents in conference or on the telephone...extra time tutoring or counseling students...etc. Not to mention that we are continually students ourselves.

I think that, unfortunately, distorts any dialogue about the role of teachers in public schools.