Monday, June 16, 2014

Chicago Blogging Buddy


I just came back from a long weekend in Chicago and met a blogging friend.  I got to put a face and a voice to a woman I have been friends with for years.  It is always great when I get to be up front and personal with  one of these people I have only known online for years

The "wonderful" teaching conditions in Chicago my friend left the system and is now working as the director of a private school for the grand rate of $14 an hour.  She leaves her home at 7 in the morning and arrives home at 7 in the evening.  Although her paycheck provides her with a luxurious life style, she moonlights nights in a bar and weekends in a department store.  (The department store pays more than her teaching job.)  She will probably have to go back to the public system, but dreads this.  In the past, she had to moonlight to pay an aide to help out in her kindergarten class of 43.

Everyone thinks teachers have great incomes.  My friend worked three jobs to put her son through school because she knew he would not survive in the public system.  What a crime!

I am so grateful for all the wonderful friends I have made and met through blogging, bloggers in New York, in other parts of the country and even Canada.  My world has been enriched by these individuals and I am so thankful the Internet has given me this wonderful opportunity.

4 comments:

burntoutteacher said...

And those of us who have had the pleasure of reading your blog are equally grateful for having you as a voice of reason in an unreasonable world of public education. Although we have yet to meet in person, I consider you a friend as well.

ChiTown Girl said...

Oh,PO! Thank you so much for this! Something compelled me to check in on the blogosphere tonight. Now I see why. =)

xoxox

jwg said...

Could you please tell your Chicago friend that it is way past time for another post! Maybe she will listen to you.

Pissedoffteacher said...

Working 7 days a week, up to 12 hours at a time does not leave much time for blogging.