Last time I checked teaching was not a job that required us to be on call 24/7. When Bush visited a charter school in Harlem last week he said that one of the best things about the school was that the parents had the teacher's cell phone numbers so they could get information about their child anytime they wanted it.
It's a good thing I don't have any intention of transferring over to a charter school. My cell phone is strictly for my family's use. Up until my mother's illness, I never even gave the number to my sister. Even the few friends that use my cell number know to use it only if the matter is urgent.
These politicians need to get real. Teaching is a job. When we go home we should be able to leave that job behind. Private lives are important too!
12 comments:
I've read on a few different occasions about teachers giving their cell phone numbers out. On the one occasion (over February break) that I gave out my e-mail address, I grew increasingly resentful at the shear volume of mail I received from the kids. I will do anything to help a kid, but on school time- not my time. When I start making in the mid six figures, I'll consider giving out my cell number.
More importantly, how's your mom doing?
President Bush is very big on union-busting and the Walmartization of the middle class. There's no better place to start than with those nasty teachers, who just keep sticking with unions.
Charters are a step away from that. Another step away is Bloomberg's new reorg, with the blessing of Randi Weingarten's patronage mill and, disappointingly, many parent groups who ought to know better.
All the best to you and your mom.
I have an e-mail address I use just for my students. So far, it hasn't been an issue, but if it gets to be one I will hit the delete button and that e-mail will no longer exist.
My mom is still sedated. They might take out brathing tube today and then we will find out. It's my dad I am more worried about. I don't know how he will survive without her. Thanks for asking.
Bush's comments are just another way he wants to slam public school teachers and put charter schools on a pedastal!
I'd NEVER give me cell phone number to a student. They can find my home phone if they really want to and I'd deal with that if I had to.
I'd like these same overpaid underworked politicians to do the same. They are, after all, public servants and should have cell phone numbers available where we can reach them 24/7. Teaching is a JOB. My name is NOT Erin Gruwell (of "Freedom Writers" fame). Maybe the phone idea came from these misled political hacks who think that teaching is a "calling"!!
My home phone is unlisted. If they want me, they can call during work hours. Since I pay for my own cell phone, I will give the number out to those I want to have it
I gave out my cell for an assignment and it bit me pretty nastily on the butt, as I've written about. Ah, well. Lesson learned.
I hope that charter is paying its teachers a heckuva lot more for providing that professional service. I mean, lawyers charge out the wazoo just to talk to you on the phone. Wouldn't it be nice if teachers could too?
I work for a charter school that pays for me to have a work cell. I have about 3-4 phone calls a week, all homework related, and all last under 5 minutes. It's really not a big deal.
I work for a public school where I pay for my own phone. My time outside of school is my own. I'm glad you don't mind the intrusion on your personal life, but I do. I guess it is a good thing I don't work in your school.
I have a teacher friend here in town, that a parent called her 4 times in a row (as my friend wasn't picking up) one night, after 10pm, to make sure that her (the parent) daughter was going to pass. This was the day before grades were due, and my friend teaches art. She finally picked up the phone, and told the mother that if she was that concerned, she should have asked earlier. This is why I have a cell phone, and don't answer any unknown calls.
unbelievable.
My kids all have my cell phone number but rarely call. The only issue I have had was two years ago when I had an especially needy student who would call several times a week -- at first for help, but then just to whine. Eventually I stopped answering her calls.
I have very few English-speaking parents and would be much more hesitant to give my number out if there were more parents who'd be inclined to use it! The parents who do have it call even less frequently than the kids. Although I don't mind giving out my cell phone number, I'd be seriously resentful if my school were to require it.
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