Techno....as an educational researcher/teacher, I hear these horror stories every timeI visit a school that is not in NYC school system. I hear about teachers not being paid for summers, and being allowed not even a full period for lunch, not to mention the disgustingly low salaries. I sympathize with your plight, and see a steady exodus to NY all the time from other states. But it is not easy to transfer to NY becauseof NCLB and teaching requirements. You have to be fully certified to teach here, and it must beNYS certification. We do not accept out ofstate certification.Thus, though we have a high-turnover rate of teachers in the NYC school system and badly needqualified teachers, we are forced to domore with less, in often over-crowded classrooms that are not conducive to fostering a positive learning environment. My research focuses on empowering teachers to take control of their schools by increasing teacher-initiated collaboration, thus eliminating isolative school environments and improving student academic efficacy. If students can sense the despair and frustration of their teachers, it may have a definitive effect on how they view their academic success: in other words...happy, successfulteachers make for a calm, positive learning environment that directly affects student learning and academic efficacy. I'm also interested in research that improves the perception of teachingin a negative way. There are many talented people in the private sector that can bring a lot to the field of teaching...but the negative perceptions (though oft true) keep them standing on the sidelines, somehow waiting and hoping for the plight of teachers to get better before they decide to make the transition. Since you were wondering here is a list of things NYC teachersreceive:


- A six and a half work day (with an added mandated 37 and a half minutes Mon-Thurs.)


- Two mandated prep periods per day (which may include a lunch period as well) Some days I have two preps and a lunch period....other days I have one prep and lunch period.


- At least two days a week with a consecutive prep and/or lunch period (that means I get two periods free consecutively at least twice a week)


- Paid summers


- All holidays (including Jewish holidays), with a week off for Spring and Winter break


However, the new trend towards data-driven instruction has hampered teachers abilities to keep up with preparation for lessons


- Over-abundance of paperwork placed upon us by the school administration


- Near impossible deadlines for said paperwork (imagine a teacher that teaches 4 grades and two subjects, with a portfolio for each student, in each grade....with notes from student conferences and grades with comments for at least 6 assessments per year...impossible!)


- One Monday per month in a meaningless, and useless 50 minute professional development (mostly based on data..and what we're not doing..or something we've had countless times before...a total waste of time!)


As an addition..with the new contract implemented 3 years ago...all NYC schools have to add 37 and a half minutes to the school day. My workday begins at 8 am and ends at 2:57pm. The regular school day begins at 8:87am. The 8m-8:37 am time if for AIS (Academic Intervention Services), for failing students to come in for extra help. For two years straight none of my students showed up and I used the time for prep but my Principal tried to write me up because he said it was my fault that I didn’t make my students come to school a half hour before school started for intervention services.


Now...mind you..with all the perks, we are the lowest paid school district in the metro-NY area...NJ, CT. Westchester County, and Long Island all start at $48,000 or more. But their schools are set up like yours, with a 35 minute lunch, practically no prep time, unpaid summers, and too many hours of meaningless professional development. And some CT school districts get paid once a month and receive little to no retirement package. They have to privately fund their retirement.


So...it is not a rumor to say thatNY teachers do quite well....but we are faced with often unruly disruptive students, in an environment that neither respects nor trusts teachers. I mean, what field can you think of where a Masters degree is required and you make almost $20,000 to 40,000 less than a carreer in the private sector with the same amount of experience?


BTW: I see you're pissed...most teachers are very angry. I'm angry too...but how do I stay so calm? I love what I do ( I grew up in the suburbsandtaught in the suburbs for 4 years and could have stayed there but I wanted to teach for awhile in the inner-city to see what it would be like....I've been in NYC for6 years now and love the kids, despite all the problems I face on a daily basis), and I decided to stop being a part of the problem and get my doctorate (Ed.D) so that I could possibly be a formidable force behind making the changes needed to return the field of education back to its respected place in society...as it was years ago in this country. We as teachers need to figure out how public education in this country has gotten to where it is today...and set things right!


Thanks for your comments...if you'd like to be a part of the movement to get teachers out of the knowledge loop and into the new research, methods and trends in education, I welcome you to vist the teachersleadershipnetwork.com. You can read research by teachers...for teachers...that will help to motivate and inspire you and the teachers in your school. Because beyond your anger I see passion...and that is the first step towards changing the school systems around the country as they are today. You can also PM me and i can send you some more helpful websites. You are not alone!