Huckleberries Online

Big Mac: Teachers Don’t Lead Life O’ Riley

Posted by DFO

March 7, 2009 11:45 p.m. • 98 comments

So just how much work does a teacher do? 2730 hours during my contract year plus 60 hours in classes (on average) plus 40 hours of additional summer work plus 64 hours during spring break makes 2894 hours of work a year. My annual salary in this, my sixth year of teaching, is $30,000. That means I get paid the equivalent of $10.37 an hour. I have a bachelor’s degree plus 60 credits of post-grad classes/Big Mac. Big Mac’s schedule, full comment here. And: a terrific observation re: American education here.

Question: I work 10 hours each work day and another 3 or 4 on weekends, compiling this blog. I don’t mind b/c I consider Huckleberries Online to be a hobby as well as a job. Anyone out there work only 40 hours a week?

98 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

JIMMYMAC on March 07 at 11:57 p.m.
40 hours? Usually If I quite at lunch on Wednesday.
Liz on March 08 at 12:43 a.m.
well that depends on what you consider being a mother…
JIMMYMAC on March 08 at 1:01 a.m.
Liz,
Your 40 hours are considered clocked in on Tuesday afternoon ;)
Dennis on March 08 at 7:43 a.m.
Do I work a 40 hour week?

Only if I’m on vacation.

Vacation???? What’s that?

:-)
brandxranch on March 08 at 7:45 a.m.
Last week I clocked 65 hours at work, in spite of taking an afternoon off for Blogfest, brought several hours of work home, and still did the Mom-thing, in which I don’t count up hours…. no wonder I’m tired!
Stickman on March 08 at 9:23 a.m.
About 30 hours a week. It’s not enough to live on, but that’s all I have right now.
marmitetoasty on March 08 at 9:43 a.m.
I work 55 hour weeks, plus about 3 hours NVQ3 course work and about 2 hours paperwork, plus running around with the trampoline club and then sorting this house and washing and grub out…… all this is NOT by choice lol

Stickman you should of set up a tea/coffee and cake little stall in your front garden and all those winter walkers would of stopped in for a hot brew and a scone :)……. want me to come over and be ya business manager LOL

x
Stickman on March 08 at 10:15 a.m.
Marmite: you would be a great business manager, except we would never make any money as I give all of my wares away. Sometimes I have my little stove going out front and people warm themselves with that. Now spring is almost here and the warmth will be most welcome when it finally comes. I sure liked what you did recently, you have a big heart.
Kage_Mann on March 08 at 10:26 a.m.
I lovit when people register their complaints and talk about all the hours they work and how hard life is.Can you imagine working up to 60 hours a week, while risking your life? I do.
Sam on March 08 at 10:30 a.m.
Is that how you measure the productivity of someone, Kage? Whether or not they risk their life while working?
hmoffsuite on March 08 at 10:34 a.m.
Kage. You have mentioned before that you work in the second most dangerous occupation there is. Do you care to tell us what it is that you do? Lumberjack? I’m just curious but would understand if you didn’t want to bring it to the blog.
marmitetoasty on March 08 at 10:40 a.m.
Hush Shhhhh Stickman………. I have my ‘well ard’ reputation to with-hold, now dont you go saying otherwise LOL

I think we could make a right proper tea/coffee shop out the front, you could still give your sticks away, but somethings you have to think of other money making ideas, hence the steaming mugs of builders tea and coffee and crumpets and scones lol

x
marmitetoasty on March 08 at 10:41 a.m.
*knocking Kage-Mans bragging head off* I have kids, I risk my life every day I climb out of bed LOL

x
marmitetoasty on March 08 at 10:42 a.m.
ps……… cant see anyone complaining about their work either….. *shrugg*

x
Kage_Mann on March 08 at 10:43 a.m.
Sam on March 08 at 10:30 a.m.

Is that how you measure the productivity of someone, Kage? Whether or not they risk their life while working?

Sam, of course not. I’m just illustrating how good some people really have it, whether they think so or not. In my job I’ve been injured a few times and I almost died in the fall of 2007. So, I never would have been on HBO, had my experience not saved my @#$
Dennis on March 08 at 10:43 a.m.
hmoffsuite on March 08 at 10:34 a.m.

<kage. you=”” have=”” mentioned=”” before=”” that=”” you=”” work=”” in=”” the=”” second=”” most=”” dangerous=”” occupation=”” there=”” is.=”” do=”” you=”” care=”” to=”” tell=”” us=”” what=”” it=”” is=”” that=”” you=”” do?=”” lumberjack?=”” i’m=”” just=”” curious=”” but=”” would=”” understand=”” if=”” you=”” didn’t=”” want=”” to=”” bring=”” it=”” to=”” the=”“ blog.=”“>

Convenience Store Clerk???

:-0
marmitetoasty on March 08 at 10:49 a.m.
Coat check lady LOL

x
Kage_Mann on March 08 at 10:56 a.m.
hmoffsuite on March 08 at 10:34 a.m.
Kage. You have mentioned before that you work in the second most dangerous occupation there is.Lumberjack?

hmoffsuite, that’s a good guess.
hmoffsuite on March 08 at 11:01 a.m.
Fwiw, Kage, from MSN Money, you are number one.

The 10 most dangerous jobs
Occupation Fatalities per 100,000

Timber cutters 117.8
Fishers 71.1
Pilots and navigators 69.8
Structural metal workers 58.2
Drivers-sales workers 37.9
Roofers 37
Electrical power installers 32.5
Farm occupations 28
Construction laborers 27.7
Truck drivers 25
Kage_Mann on March 08 at 11:03 a.m.
Convenience Store Clerk???Dennis on March 08 at 10:43 a.m.

Yea, that’s a good guess Dennis, but it doesn’t pay the bills.
BTW- I hope your job at the convenience store is stable. ;-p
Dennis on March 08 at 11:09 a.m.
Thanks for the concern Kage,,,,, But I’m quite stable in my career thank you very much. However, I could forward you some job postings in case times get too rough for ya!

;-)
Kage_Mann on March 08 at 11:20 a.m.
hmoffsuite, I believe it. My old man used to take me out of first grade to go to work in the woods.Today, that would be abuse and you would risk losing your kid, but those were different times back then.It’s a hard life, but it’s never dull.
hmoffsuite on March 08 at 11:25 a.m.
Kage. How is your industry being affected by the economy? It must be not so good with housing in the tank. A friend of mine sold his saw mill in St. Maries last fall and he seems to be pretty happy to be out of the business. Can you keep employed? How bad is it? Will it correct rapidly if housing turns around?
eagleeye on March 08 at 11:26 a.m.
Some weeks I work 20 hours, some weeks I work 60 hours. Some weeks I work 3 days, some weeks I work 7 days. After pushing rope up hill for 25 years I for the most part do what I want when I want. I have paid my dues. So for those of you that
are working too many hours and not liking it, I suggest that you take a survey of your life and get a plan to do what you like. Life is way too short not to.
locogov on March 08 at 11:38 a.m.
Wow. This teacher works 14.5 hours a day during the school year! I have seen some dedicated teachers, but few work from 6 AM to 8:30 PM with no break. Either they are very dedicated or very slow. If you are going to argue that teachers work more hours than people think (Which is true) then use real facts. In Idaho the min salary for a brand new teacher is $31,750.
Kage_Mann on March 08 at 11:39 a.m.
hmoffsuite, the industry has been dying since the 1980’s, because of the environmentalists and I’ve seen earth firsters out in force trying to disrupt operations etc.Because, of the housing market being so bad, things have been rough the last coupla years and the last two remaining saw mills in CDA went out of business in CDA along the Spokane River.One was the DeArmond mill over by NIC and the other was the Stimson Mill,
which used to be Idaho Forest Industries.
marmitetoasty on March 08 at 11:45 a.m.
I have visions of old man Walton and his saw mill on Waltons mountain lol

x
Kage_Mann on March 08 at 11:53 a.m.
marmitetoasty on March 08 at 10:41 a.m.

*knocking Kage-Mans bragging head off* I have kids, I risk my life every day I climb out of bed LOL

Double M’ Toasty, I’m not bragging.BTW- if you have four boys,then I guess you do risk your life everyday. ;-)
christywoolum on March 08 at 12:05 p.m.
locogov: I am not a slow worker at all. The preparation I do for teaching takes think time, preparation time, and study time. I don’t measure it by the hours it takes me to be ready to instruct students each day. Even after working with students for thirty years, I view teaching as continuous learning. I also don’t think it differs from many other vocations. We all continue to learn. That is why keeping a teaching certificate requires a teacher to continue to take classes and/or earn further degrees. Those beginning teachers use that salary to pay for further education. It doesn’t come free with the job.
Last Friday was not a typical day for me, but I started at 7:30 a.m. preparing for the day, taught my classes, then joined the rest of the staff and students to put on our annal school carnival. Many of us ended our day at 10:00. I think each of us took a break to have a burger from the concession stand some time during the evening!
In a typical day I work about nine hours with a break for lunch. I chose this profession, I choose to work these hours, and the rewards cannot be measured by time or pay. I look forward to teaching and learning with my students each day.
Kage_Mann on March 08 at 12:22 p.m.
OK, Dennis, what would be a good job to transition into or what industry would be a good bet, during this economic downturn?
marmitetoasty on March 08 at 12:32 p.m.
A money lender or a debt collector would probably be a steady job at this moment in time…

x
hmoffsuite on March 08 at 12:33 p.m.
Kage. Did you work for large outfits and work sorta solo? Guys that just go for timber gardening around the lake. Every year we have trees down and others that should be down. All the neighbors are the same. The guy we use seems to be pretty busy just working with a 2 man crew. The low volume/higher price stuff.
marmitetoasty on March 08 at 12:40 p.m.
My 15 year old is going to Sparsholt College come September, he wants to work for the forestry commision after his 3 year course…… we watch the logging programme from doodleland on our telly, and he says that eventually that is what he wants to be if we move to the states…

x
Kage_Mann on March 08 at 12:48 p.m.
hmoffsuite, I thought the tree removal outfits, did the jobs around the lake? Is the outfit your using actually, a small logging crew? I work for myself and sometimes with my dad, who still works.
Kage_Mann on March 08 at 1:06 p.m.
We used to run big crews ,but now it’s smaller crews.Anyway,It sounds like a viable idea.
hmoffsuite on March 08 at 3:52 p.m.
Kage. The guy I use for taking care of my trees and all the neighbors is Sun Valley Tree Service. Paul Akker. Good guy. He gets busy this time of the year as the big snow prevents him from getting much done in the winter months. He only has one other guy, I think. When the neighbors move back to the lake, they see all the fallen trees from the snows and he takes care of them all. Then comes back in the fall for slash burns when possible. If you could find a little niche’ like that for your skills, it might be better than working for a large operation. “Kages’ Property Clean up and Tree Removal Service” “Specializing in Lake Front Tree Gardening” “We keep your trees healthy to fully reflect the beauty of your setting” “neglecting your trees now can cost a great deal more later on”. “we treat your trees like you treat your golf clubs.” :~) That kind of stuff. Make a market, Kage. Not everybody can do what you can.
Stickman on March 08 at 6:34 p.m.
Kage, please tell us why you risk your life every day, except maybe if you are in Afganistan or Irag. Then, I will apologize. But wait, after thinking this over, I Truly don’t want to know. As I have stated before, I refuse to read your posts, must be a mind thing and I had a stretch there where I didn’t know what I was doing or saying. I will leave this thread to you and others, as since you didn’t show up at the recent blogfest, I have no respect. Sorry, but you will someday have to prove yourself. Or come by for a walking stick, then I will Truly make up my mind. Otherwise……………………….!
Stickman on March 08 at 6:36 p.m.
Sorry Marmite, I will hush. Promise.
Sam on March 08 at 7:09 p.m.
I spend 14 hours a day wrestling bears and fighting tigers, before I go to my next job, where I work 9.5 hours rescuing old ladies from burning buildings. Then I fly backwards around the earth so I can fit more of my agonizing — yet totally fulfilling and rewarding — work into my day.

At some point after that I take 2 hours out of my day to kill pirates, for I am a ninja master deigned to use his Kitana Sword of Justice to inflict the righteous death upon those scourges of the sea.

It’s not long after that I work 19 straights hours in an animal shelter, taking care of puppies and kittens. I give them bubble baths and then comb out their fur coats with a soft-bristle brush, clean their teeth and kill flees with laser beams from my eyes.

Another trip backwards around the world, then I bring peace to war-torn Africa in 7 hours, melt blood diamonds from that jaunt in Hawaiian volcanoes in a few more hours and milk all of the dairy cows in Wisconsin with my feet (while I use a cell phone as a day trader, I’m totally wicked at it and was even better during naked short selling).

When all that is said is done, I work one of my other several jobs as a heart surgeon, performing quintuple bypass surgeries with my left hand and sewing up the surgical wound with only my manly winks, which are so sexy hot they sear shut flesh.

At some point, I fit some journalism in to this schedule.
hmoffsuite on March 08 at 7:16 p.m.
Sam. I had a neighbor once with the exact same job you have described above. His name was Walter Mitty. :~)
JeanieSpokane on March 08 at 7:27 p.m.
Sam, you had me at firefighter.
Transplanted_Texan on March 08 at 7:27 p.m.
Kage: “I’m just illustrating how good some people really have it, whether they think so or not.”

Kage, the fact that people don’t have to risk their lives to feed their kids doesn’t mean they’ve got it so good. You’ve got it rough and my heart goes out to you, but it takes a bit more than “They didn’t almost die today” before someone needs to know “how good [they] really have it.” I agree that Americans have it good and gripe too much, myself included, but using life-or-death as the standard is setting the bar pretty low.

Also, don’t say you’re sick of people complaining when no one has complained. Big Mac wasn’t griping about the hours, merely defending his esteemed profession against someone who said teachers don’t do enough.
Cindy_H on March 08 at 9:17 p.m.
Sam! OMG! I thought we only had journalism in common.
I do what you do each day. Only in heels, and a nice skirt, and only after I’ve got the kids to school. And in between the pirate killing and bringing peace to war-torn Africa, I make dinner, supervise homework and make sure the toilet paper roll is replaced.
We need a union.
hhuseland on March 08 at 9:32 p.m.
Several things occurred to me while perusing the above comments. One, there still seems to be a lot of can you top this stuff going on. As I am retired, sort of, I look back on my career and that of others. I see people that are judgmental of others and choose not to take part in the world they live in.

All forms of endeavor are of value. Whether you are the proverbial ditch digger, (heavy on the stereotype) a business person, carpenter, cop, cab driver, etc., etc, you are a part of what makes up society as a whole. No one endeavor is better or worse than another. I’ve done a number of things in my life. Salesman/pilot/Mortgage professional,(prior to the insanity)Boy Scout, Veteran of the Air
Force, gardener, farmer, etc.

In short, I have done many things. some well, some not so well.The one thing I have never been, however, is a quitter. Not of school, of life or any other forum. Those that have given up on living are not heroes, just vagrants. People making excuses for why life has treated them badly.

I am the sum of what I have made of my life. No better, no worse. What I am today is what I have made myself, not what others have made of me. This is because life is one’s own path, and as such, is a path that you must walk alone. Even with a partner, the same holds true, but then the paths must merge from time to time.
Sam on March 08 at 9:32 p.m.
Cindy, I actually do two of the three things you mention on there as well. A union would be neat, but they can’t save you, just look at the S-R.

Only laser beam eyes can save you.
Sam on March 08 at 9:34 p.m.
Jebus, Herb, way to come in as captain obvious and then really bring down the mood, man.

You need a hug, I think.
Cindy_H on March 08 at 9:37 p.m.
Sam. If you send me a pic of you in heels replacing the toilet paper roll, while supervising homework I’ll bake you cookies for a month :-)
hhuseland on March 08 at 9:42 p.m.
Hey, Sam, us oldsters are supposed to strut around mouthing the obvious. I thought you knew that. (welcome back, guy)

In all seriousness, if you must, I just, and I always, read each and every one of the preceding comments, before offering mine. It’s my secret way of sneaking up on people that have posted crap. Sometimes, I feel the necessity to comment on the comments. I don’t do if often, but sometimes …
cantyoureadthesigns on March 08 at 9:45 p.m.
Looks like links to the Pacific Northwest Inlander newspaper are verboten.
Transplanted_Texan on March 08 at 9:46 p.m.
Herb, that’s good stuff. Thank you.
Cindy_H on March 08 at 9:49 p.m.
Don’t know what you mean cantyoureadthe signs: http://www.inlander.com/content/newscommentary_ten_jobs_doing_well_because_youre_not
DFO on March 08 at 9:54 p.m.
Cantyoureadthesigns; I link to the Pacific Northwest Inlander out front weekly. Blogopotamuses, with lengthy cut-and-pastes, are verboten. We’ve had numerous conversations about that over the years.
hhuseland on March 08 at 10:14 p.m.
Sam! if you include Cindy’s cookies along with the hug, I’m your guy!.
cantyoureadthesigns on March 08 at 10:15 p.m.
Revised…

The still promising dead tree media, the alt-weekly, has an article just this week about jobs that are booming around here in this economic climate:

Arms Dealer (all the paranoids are buying up, big time)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpRiSb_Ir-s
(note CindyH lips)

Movie theater worker (people need to escape, even if they can’t like, you know, go on vacation)

Gold Dealer (I would guess pawn shop workers as well)

Selling games, traditional and video.

Repo man.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IzCyp-dwbs
(language warning)

Beautifier
Because those depressed at their job/lack thereof still want to look good. Buy stock in Botox.

Debt Collector

Flesh Peddler

And a few more.

http://www.inlander.com/content/newscommentary_ten_jobs_doing_well_because_youre_not?page=0%2C0

Oh, and conventional wisdom suggest general health care related occupations continue to be in demand.
Escapee on March 08 at 10:24 p.m.
I’ve had various jobs here in Doodle-land…firefighter, grocery clerk, radio announcer, dishwasher, advertising sales, lotperson for a car dealership, delivery driver, pre-press in a print shop, and on and on. The common denominator here is that all of them became an absolute grind after a while. The worst ever was Taxi Driving. I’ll never do that to myself again. I don’t work now, but I see all the clerks with tired feet in the megalo-mania big-box department stores, or the tired waitress nearing the end of her shift, or the gas station owner who can’t get a break in this era of higher gas prices and lower profits. So many oppressed people trying to carve out a living any way they can. I appreciate them all, because I know how they feel.
marmitetoasty on March 09 at 12:58 a.m.
LOL@Escapee and Doodle-land ;)

x

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.