Anyone have any experience with this? My wife teaches in public school and has made 1st-year pay for the last 3 years (~28k). IMO, that's pretty ridiculous and unrewarding, especially considering she's a great teacher, if I do say so myself.

The private school is secular with a yearly (I think) tuition of around $10k. It's K-12 and she's more interested in 1st or 2nd grade.

Do you find the kids more driven and smart or bratty and snobby? Are the parents involved in a good way or are there a lot of control issues considering the money they're spending. Etc.

1/31/2012 8:33:13 PM

It's MUCH easier to teach at a private school, don't let anyone fool you. If the pay/benefits are close to what she's getting at the public, she should jump at the opportunity. Finding a private school that is close in the pay/benefits department is hard to find. She'll have some overbearing parents, but it will be a cakewalk relatively speaking.

I taught at a private before changing careers. (shitty pay) Would have probably stayed there my entire life if I was making even 35K.

1/31/2012 10:35:59 PM

I knew a girl who taught at Ravenscroft. She said the pay was lower than an equivalent Wake County position. This surprised me, but she said it was worth the decreased pay to work in a safer and more enjoyable environment. It came with it's own problems, but having a larger-than-normal handful of brats & small time weed dealers was still better than dealing with the problem kids that public school teachers have to deal with. I don't think she was worried about money as much as a lot of young teachers might be, but at least she seemed to enjoy her job.

[Edited on February 1, 2012 at 12:11 AM. Reason : s]

2/1/2012 12:09:36 AM

I went from a private school to a rich public school and the kids are the same except public school is a living hell. the system means everyone is watching over their back to not get sued or break one of the billion procedural rules when it comes to handling students. the students have no accountability and everyone is scared to put them in their place. the county and state dictate what you have to teach everyday and it is MANDATE MANDATE MANDATE.

Private school had the same type of kids but so much freedom and I was able to accomplish so much more.

[Edited on February 1, 2012 at 12:21 AM. Reason : private school pay is typically about 3x the tuition. it can be much higher than public depending ]

2/1/2012 12:18:44 AM

Quote :

"private school pay is typically about 3x the tuition. it can be much higher than public depending ] "

Not necessarily, see the Ravenscroft example above. It's very rare to find a private school that pays more than public.

Agree with everything else though.

2/1/2012 1:42:21 AM

is this a joke? Teaching private school means all you have to do is not embarrass the kids of a big donor and actually teach. Public school is a nightmare and you'd have to be crazy to even attempt it.

It's not 1975, teaching public school is unsafe. Between the kids, parents, media, and administrators you cannot win.


Those who cannot do, teach. And those who cannot teach, teach in public schools.

Don't waste your life. It's going to get much worse when funding gets cut in a few years.

2/1/2012 4:34:27 AM

Upon first reading this post I thought she was getting royally screwed, I have made more than that working PART TIME in a cell phone kiosk before. The good thing about teaching is you only work 3/4 of the year, no nights & weekends unless you coach or something. If you figured a normal job you work all year she actually made like 35k, she was just off for three months. I was looking at this thing (http://www.nea.org/home/20651.htm) and I guess you can add back in working from home grading papers, but I feel pretty adamantly that if you are smart that can be avoided. (use peer grading, bubble sheets, don't assign more than you can grade during your lesson planning time, etc)

As with any job you have to look at all the aspects. Looking at that picture teaching is not so bad.

1) Schedule - work/life balance? - I would have to say most teachers get excellent work/life balance. No Nights and Weekends, Summers Off, Schedule does not vary week to week. If you have kids you are usually off work when they are not in school, etc.

2) Pay - Does it provide a good financial quality of life? - This is probably the worst thing about teaching, low pay, not as many opportunities to move up and make more.

3) Job Stability - What is long term employment stability? - Many higher paying jobs do not provide long term stability, companies fail, mergers occur, layoffs occur, or employment is so tied to performance that a bad couple of months could mean you are out on your butt (not the case with teaching) It is easy to get lured in to a higher standard of living and then be kicked to the curb and not be able to pay for the things you have with many other jobs.

4) Benefits - I am not sure how state employee benefits compare to private sector, my guess would be they are pretty good.

5) Retirement - Isn't the pension the best thing about being in the public sector your whole career?

My wife has not gotten a raise for a couple of years as well, her work load has pretty much doubled, but the company had to cut back to survive. It pisses me off she works as much as she does (long days, traveling for work, and weekends) but when looking at all the factors I still think its a great job for her. She has a lot of flexibility with scheduling, a gas card, can work from home, etc.

In my opinion the biggest thing teachers get screwed on is the cost of a college education, most jobs in that grade of pay do not require an expensive degree.


[Edited on February 1, 2012 at 11:08 AM. Reason : .]

2/1/2012 11:01:06 AM

Quote :

"Those who cannot do, teach. And those who cannot teach, teach in public schools"

This is a fucking stupid quote. No public school teacher in the world can teach!

My wife teaches in a public school. I wish she did not because she works entirely too hard for the money she makes. I've been trying to get her to apply at some private schools, but for some reason she wants to continue teaching in a public system.

Most of the private schools in our area do not offer benefits, but that was not a big deal IMO since she could join my plan through my company. The pay was also slightly lower, but only by a few thousand a year.






[Edited on February 1, 2012 at 12:47 PM. Reason : d]

2/1/2012 12:45:30 PM

poor souls.

public school teachers should erupt in mass revolt-

2/1/2012 1:07:46 PM

^
Sounds about right. re: pay and benefits.

I say if the benefits are not an issue, she should JUMP at the chance to teach private.

2/1/2012 1:09:04 PM

Quote :

"I've been trying to get her to apply at some private schools, but for some reason she wants to continue teaching in a public system"

I've considered looking into private sector; I've heard wonderful things from friends that have moved in that direction. Part of the reason that I stay is that I feel like I'm abandoning the cause if I teach private because it's easier. Maybe I'm a masochist, but I feel like a lot of kids really just need the right/better teacher. I'm really good at reaching and working with kids that drive others crazy, so if I leave -- as conceited as it is -- I feel like I'm not doing right by those kinds of students.

2/1/2012 2:36:09 PM

3 years from now you'll have a different attitude.

2/1/2012 3:35:05 PM

Quote :

"This is a fucking stupid quote. No public school teacher in the world can teach! "

face has a pathological hate for the government. You can safely ignore 90% of his posts really.

2/1/2012 3:49:17 PM

growing up in a private school in Raleigh (k-8) and then going to public high school I can tell you that the kids in private school are generally much better behaved, motivated to learn, and generally try to avoid punishment. They realize their parents pay a good amount of money for them to be there and try to stay in school to be with their friends and appease their parents. However, you'll get a few kids (especially if their parents are prime donors to the school) that have considerable pull and can get away with more, but you won't even come close to the misbehavior you find in public school.

public school is a mix of socioeconomic classes, which creates problems and even more so you have students who genuinely don't want to be there, hate the "system" and want to do anything they can to make their shit head friends laugh at your expense. In my school, we bussed kids from a poor section of Southeast Raleigh over 45 minutes away to white suburbia and *generally* (not to say there weren't some good kids in the bunch) they did nothing but start fights (even with teachers), dropped out as soon as they weren't obligated by the state (parents sign papers at 16, or drop out at 18), etc.

Plus, you don't have to deal with all the sad, poor stories and problems that the poor kids have to face. Private school is a sheltered land of privilege.

2/1/2012 7:15:38 PM

Quote :

"3 years from now you'll have a different attitude."

I know that I'll get jaded some day, and I don't mean to say that I'm not frustrated/angered by my classes sometimes. However, I'm not some newly graduated BT: It's my sixth year. I've seen a lot.

2/1/2012 8:31:59 PM

I have so much fucking respect for Byrn Stuff. He's a great human being.

2/1/2012 8:48:06 PM

Aw, Shucks. :heart:

2/1/2012 8:55:20 PM

I enjoy teaching and coaching in a public school. I wouldn't move to a private school to take a pay cut; in fact, it would take a considerable raise to entice me to switch.

2/1/2012 9:06:34 PM

I teach in a public school in Wake County - elementary. I also have experience in Charlotte Meck in elementary (HELLLLLLLLL) and Lancaster County, SC in middle school (HELLLLLLLLLLLL). "Good" public schools are few and far between, with charter schools SOMETIMES being an exception. I knew in college that I'd never become rich teaching, and I chose it to make a difference. I love the school where I teach in Wake County, but I can say that even though my school is amazing, the county and the state need to hire people WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE to make decisions that affect teachers and students. I am SICK of the teachers being the last people considered in the decision making process.

I am SICK of people not trusting my judgment with my own students. I work with them everyday. I work my ass off to get to know them, to gain their trust, and to monitor their progress and to see where we need to go next. I am sick of giving stickers and smiley faces to kids because that's what their parents expect us to do. Guess what? Your kid doesn't deserve to watch the fuckin movie because he didn't do his homework for A MONTH. I can't raise your child all day at school while you lay around and don't spend any time with him or ask him to do shit for his education or well being. It is not my sole responsibility to teach him respect, manners and gratitude. No, I'm not going to "give" your kid a grade he didn't earn. No, I'm not going to give every kid in the room a prize even though they weren't on the winning team. What the hell is the point of winning if I do that? I am SICK of parents riding my ass about shit and then not showing up to conferences.

I had no idea in college that teaching is only about 1/2 of my job - or less. And by teaching, I mean, actual time spent with the kids on content. Every month, it seems, there are new assessments, new methods of collecting data and monitoring kids ... when really, it is people monitoring US. Making sure we're doing our job - a $30,000/year job that's worth at least $60,000. Weekends are never truly yours. Holidays are never truly yours. People think that teachers have all this time off. True. But, it's never really "off" ... you are always preparing/redoing/reorganizing/planning/going to workshops to make you magical. And again, I think the salary reflects all the time off.

No idea why I even responded to this ... just got me rowled up I guess. So yea, I would definitely consider teaching private if I had a spouse's insurance/benefits to depend on.

I would NEVER recommend teaching to someone in college now without them spending a solid month in a classroom, and see how it really is, and what all is really involved.

Rant over.

2/1/2012 9:28:27 PM

^guess why I never became a teacher

2/1/2012 9:39:34 PM

Quote :

"I also have experience in Charlotte Meck in elementary (HELLLLLLLLL) "

One of my cousins teaches there.
After hearing some of her stories I can sympathize.

2/1/2012 9:43:14 PM

I worked in WCPSS schools for 4 years and this is my second year in south texas. I'm about 70 miles north of Mexico.

The difference is fascinating. As far as racial demographic differences- 1-4 white students/classroom here. 1-2 black students. and the Asians? I don't think I've met hardly any while I've been here! Avg classroom size: 21. The schools here are much more "slack" on assessments and monitoring- compared to WCPSS. We do weekly assessments here, usually mandated by the Title 1 textbook curriculum. There are a few computer programs used to track student competency development.

That's another huge point- a lot more schools in this district recieve Title I funding than WCPSS....so the texts must be followed, virtually verbatim, each day. There is much less "creative lesson planning" going on - often times, it seems, because the older teachers are so tired of it they just hand out worksheets and menial activities.

Here's the catch: Starting salary here? Upper 30s. ALmost $10K MORE than in WCPSS. Where's the difference in entitlement? I'm having a really hard time figuring this all out. The salary discrepancy is so striking, I have become very clear in my opinion that the education system beaurocracy is so fucked up that there are no longer any checks and balances. Just checks. Being cashed. By the people that don't work hard and don't work ethically for their cause anymore.

Private school teaching is unquestionably the way to go for a teacher who is eager to work in an atmosphere where education is valued and established as a priority while in school as well as at home. When public school teaching becomes emotionally draining as well as physically exhausting, it's like self-mutilation to continue putting yourself through it. I never worked in a classroom in WCPSS that had such a high ratio of students who came from families that didn't value education as I have seen here in S. Texas. Most (more than 35) elementary schools here have 90%+ on free and reduced lunch. In comparison to WCPSS where, when I left in 2010, only about 15 elementary schools had free and reduced lunch rate above 40%. Similar size districts.

I'd teach in private school if I were to continue teaching, however, I think I'm already done with the profession because it's such a failed institution altogether.

2/1/2012 10:16:49 PM

^thank you for sharing that.

2/1/2012 10:22:50 PM

Agreed. Bout ready to hang it up altogether. Also seriously considering homeschooling my own one day. Even in "good" schools ... the stress/exhaustion just doesn't match the pay/benefits.

2/2/2012 8:39:11 PM

Just got home from an open house. My colleagues down the hall had two parents visit. That was two more parents than I had show up. That is the level of parental involvement we deal with.

2/2/2012 8:46:37 PM

My wife had a miserable experience with WCPSS for her first two years before leaving to stay at home with our son. It was the kind of experience that would break you and make you second guess the profession you'd always wanted to do.

Fast forward a year and a half, and she's trying again at Catawba County Schools. I'm hoping she has a better experience, with a more supportive administration. The school she's as is certainly more suited to the kind of teacher wants to be. I'm quite proud of her for going back at it, and am hoping for the best.

2/2/2012 8:59:39 PM

Quote :

"growing up in a private school in Raleigh (k-8) and then going to public high school I can tell you that the kids in private school are generally much better behaved, motivated to learn, and generally try to avoid punishment. They realize their parents pay a good amount of money for them to be there and try to stay in school to be with their friends and appease their parents. However, you'll get a few kids (especially if their parents are prime donors to the school) that have considerable pull and can get away with more, but you won't even come close to the misbehavior you find in public school. "

This is, in my experience, a 100% accurate statement. I've been teaching in a private school for 13 years now. I also attended a private school for my entire pre-college education since my grandparents left my parents the means to do so. My starting salary wasn't that great, but I got/still get decent benefits (which will vary wildly from school to school). I've developed my own curriculum over the last 8 years and I'm able to teach specialized material (e.g. I teach a game design course and a robotics course both at my school and for Duke TIP) at an earlier grade level than most schools do before high school. I'm also the head of the technology department and part of the school administration, so I have great ability to shape the course of how I want my students' academic experience to grow. I am in a very small minority who would honestly say so about their experience in teaching, but I love my job.

2/2/2012 9:12:28 PM

schools are warehouses for poor kids while the parents be slaves, it's not about education at all. you cram a bunch of kids into a shitty boring room for 8 hours with some 2nd string dipshit codependent spouse and then punish the ones that intuitively know it is wrong and "act out" If you want to teach just for the love of it, go overseas. The pay is about half but there is no tax and the cost of living is almost non-existent.

2/4/2012 8:44:43 AM

What a stupid post.

2/4/2012 8:56:41 AM

^^Quite a bit of generalization there, sir.

I think that if I moved in the private school direction (I hope) it would be because I wanted more freedom in shaping my curriculum and wanted to move away from state exams. I don't want it to get to the point of "I can't teach these kids; give me kids that I can teach." I don't intend that as a snub to anyone in the private sector as I've heard practically nothing but good things.

I've got quite a bit of room to do as I please in the classroom. The main hurdles seem to be administrative approval and funding. I taught World War Z in one of my electives, and all I had to to do to get it approved was 1) permission slip 2) paper work 3) have kids by the books. The third part should be even easier in the a private setting where 90% of the kids could probably afford it.

2/5/2012 3:04:03 PM

I work for wcpss and love it.

The pay sucks though, and what's worse, the only way a teacher can advance their pay is to gain experience, and they have nullified any pay increases for experience for the past 4 or 5 years now.

[Edited on February 5, 2012 at 3:18 PM. Reason : ]

2/5/2012 3:17:11 PM

^Along with that is the fact that the significant pay increases require some sort of monetary investment. My masters was $10,000 or so, and I considered it relatively affordable. The NBCT process is ~$2500.

2/5/2012 3:22:48 PM

PART of the problem with public schools is the teachers (like those who have posted in this thread) who come into the situation with a terribly shitty attitude and little to no respect for the families they are going to be working with.

teaching does not pay well and likely never will. even if you do get a coveted position in a private school, your pay increase will not be too much. and if you're a good teacher, you'll still be working nights and weekends. if you want to make money, go back to school and study something else.

and starting pay in this county is not ~28k, it is ~34



[Edited on February 5, 2012 at 3:44 PM. Reason : ]

2/5/2012 3:36:50 PM

This thread is making me glad I decided not to go into ESL teaching last year...

2/5/2012 4:10:20 PM

ahahahahahahahah

Quote :

"NEW YORK – A New York teacher fired for posting snarky online comments suggesting her unruly students should drown can go back to the classroom, a judge ruled. Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Barbara Jaffe last week overturned an administrative decision to boot Christine Rubino, who taught at PS 203 in Brooklyn, for posting "repulsive" comments on Facebook. A blow to the city Department of Education, the ruling underscores the grueling process to fire teachers accused of misconduct or incompetence. Even after lengthy administrative trials, judges can reverse decisions either way, and prolong a costly battle. "After today, I'm thinking the beach sounds like a wonderful idea for my 5th graders. I HATE THEIR GUTS! They are all the devils spawn!" Rubino wrote on Facebook on June 23, 2010. She made the remarks one day after a 12-year-old Harlem girl, Nicole Suriel, drowned on a school trip to a Long Island beach. When a Facebook friend asked, "oh you would let little Kwame float away!" Rubino posted in reply, "Yes, I wld not throw a life jacket in for a million!!" While "offensive" and "repulsive," the comments were posted outside the school building and after hours, Jaffe ruled. The judge found no evidence that Rubino, frustrated by her students' rowdy behavior, meant them actual harm or that the comments "affected her ability to teach." Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/05/snarky-facebook-comments-no-reason-to-fire-teacher-judge-rules/?test=latestnews#ixzz1lXrAKJvK "

2/5/2012 4:27:37 PM

Back when I was teaching I'm sure I said much worse about some of my students over beers.

2/5/2012 4:55:24 PM

Quote :

"1) Schedule - work/life balance? - I would have to say most teachers get excellent work/life balance. No Nights and Weekends, Summers Off, Schedule does not vary week to week. If you have kids you are usually off work when they are not in school, etc. "

This is probably the biggest surprise when it comes to teaching. Especially science. Some teachers only teach 4 or 5 classes in a day but I've been stuck with 6 for several years. Planning time is barely enough time for checking and responding to 2 billion emails, walking a mile to grab a cup of coffee from the workroom and setting up for the rest of the day. Lab setup and takedown, planning, and grading add another 1-2 hours to each day. Most of the days off are federal holidays or teacher workdays. During the summer you have to complete a set amount of PD hours. ~20

Quote :

"Not necessarily, see the Ravenscroft example above. It's very rare to find a private school that pays more than public. Agree with everything else though."

I heard this quote in California and it may only be true for areas where the public schools are shitty and extra money is pumped into private schools. I know that the big time private schools in the Northeast often pay six figure salaries to experienced teachers but these schools cost well over 30k per year.

Religious schools are generally less paying and schools like ravenscroft are really just private versions of good public schools. Private schools aren't a big win in Wake

2/5/2012 5:18:48 PM

but were you dumb enough to post it online?

2/5/2012 5:18:50 PM

Quote :

"starting pay in this county is not ~28k, it is ~34"

not wake county. She works for Cabarrus county schools. The pay is just under 31k, not 28k like I said in the OP. 4th year teaching and making 1st-year pay.

I just checked the NC teaching wages schedule and they've cut down the increases by quite a bit.

2/5/2012 5:57:25 PM

well it doesn't matter because they lower the entire pay scale every year so nobody gets a dime more.

2/5/2012 6:30:41 PM