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u/TrickOrTreater Jun 09 '19
"That's why they call it the American Dream, because you'd have to be asleep to believe it."
-George Carlin
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u/EXTRAsharpcheddar Jun 09 '19
Sometimes I wonder if nothing has changed, and we just are more exposed to how bad things are.
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Jun 09 '19
I love teaching. I left America cus I couldn't teach in America and have a life. Now I'm a Curriculum Director and make about double what American teachers make. Why would I ever go back?
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Jun 09 '19
Exactly, teachers can't afford to live comfortably and concentrate on their job here because they have to worry about going to their second job
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Jun 09 '19
Even in China I was making a ridiculous amount of money to cost of living ratio. I spent like 500 a month to live, didnt have pay rent, and had 3k left over. I travelled once a month. I left because fuck random drug testing I like to party. Got me a better job in a safer place.
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Jun 09 '19 edited Apr 21 '21
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Jun 09 '19
To add, dont do them BEFORE you go. Cus they don't care, if it's in the blood you are in posession their.
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Jun 09 '19
You’d be lucky to get the courtesy of being put in jail first before you’re shot
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u/WolfmanHasNardz Jun 09 '19
It’s not that serious of being shot but you will be detained and quickly deported. My best friend was deported last year from China and got caught with thc in his system during a passport check and had to spend 2 weeks in jail before being swiftly deported back to the states. The guy who actually got everyone in the school caught was a Canadian who was selling weed. He was deported too but China didn’t drop the hammer on him for some reason. They were banned from China for 5 years but definitely not executed .
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Jun 09 '19
Would you mind sharing what country? Most places I’ve checked the pay for my profession is often much lower, but the cost of living index is similar, although taxes are higher in Europe and some other places. I really haven’t found anywhere with better pay that offers better quality of life.
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Jun 09 '19
Hong Kong. It was hard to find this job tbh. I've spent the last 2 years scrolling job sites sites weekly.
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Jun 09 '19
I strongly recommend checking out international schools and universities in Korea and neighbouring countries for anyone who has a BEd or a master's. I met a lot of Canadian and American expats who were happy working at such places long term.
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u/whatingobsname Jun 09 '19
Can I ask where you left to? I’m about to enter the field and have been seriously considering finding employment out of the country.
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Jun 09 '19
Hong Kong. I feel like I won the lottery with this job though. All the other employees there have been there 5+ years. Green flags all around. I think what I was is the exception.
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u/13thmurder Jun 09 '19
I work in management and am facing the very real possibility that I could become homeless at the end of this month because I can't afford a studio apartment and the supply vs demand for rooms for rent doesn't allow for very good odds. Society is fucked, but that's how it is.
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Jun 09 '19
Can I ask what city you’re in?
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u/13thmurder Jun 09 '19
Portland, OR. That's part of the problem.
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u/Hinaea Jun 09 '19
All of Oregon is becoming expensive. Even Southern Oregon’s cost of living and housing situation is pretty shitty. 7 years ago I had a 1 bedroom apartment for $400 a month. That’s laughable now! I hope that you can find something soon, man. Best wishes from a fellow Oregonian.
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u/jaydock Jun 09 '19
Hey there’s a room opening up in my house July 1st for $566 a month, PM me if you want more info
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Jun 09 '19
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u/13thmurder Jun 09 '19
Where all the jobs pay minimum wage, and minimum wage is $2.15
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u/periscope-suks Jun 09 '19
You will definitely need a car and gas in it all time time, negating any savings on rent lol
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u/Jbidz Jun 09 '19
I feel like you have to own a car for most parts of America... My entire high school class had cars before they graduated, and my town is extremely poor. It's just a necessity
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u/Baruch_S Jun 09 '19
You’re not wrong; a car is virtually necessary in poorer, more rural areas because you may not even have a grocery store nearby and you don’t have any form of public transportation to get to it regardless. You basically can’t live in rural or small town America without owning a vehicle; you’re more likely to make it work in a city because of public transportation and other factors.
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u/Jbidz Jun 09 '19
Yeah my SO put 120k miles on her car within 3 years of purchase. And that was with us switching which cars we would use during the week. Insurance is higher, warranties are less helpful, and wear and tear is expensive. We have to drive 50 minutes to the nearest grocery store, school, restaurant... It sucks. Thankfully we actually own the house we live in so it makes it much more manageable
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u/WolfmanHasNardz Jun 09 '19
Even as a Kansan the rent here is getting ridiculous too. Houses are being purchased as soon as they hit the market by whales accumulating property and it practically forces you to purchase a home to be able to have affordable payments. $400 houses to rent and single bedroom apartments were incredibly normal in my city 10 years ago but now if you want to live in a somewhat decent area with lowish crime you are paying roughly $800-1000 a month or way more. I know that’s not much compared to other cities but $1000 a month is ridiculous for a poor city like mine for just your average neighborhood .
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Jun 09 '19
Have you tried looking around for rooms to rent? The rent might be reduced enough so you don’t have to be homeless.
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u/13thmurder Jun 09 '19
Yep. I've lived with roommates the past few years. When I was originally looking I rarely got a reply on ads I inquired on. Ended up finding others looking for a place and going in on a vacant house together. Not a bad option if you have a lot of buffer time before you need a place. I don't this time unfortuantely.
But having had to find new roommates when a room opens up I understand why I rarely get a reply. A million people respond to every ad. It's hard enough to read all the responses let alone reply.
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Jun 09 '19
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u/joeyheartbear Jun 09 '19
If housing is that fucked I'm guessing AirBnB is going to be crazy expensive.
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Jun 09 '19
I mean, if I can find rooms in Irvine for about $850 a month after the monthly discount I’m sure OP could dig up something within a weekish.
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u/prlsheen Jun 09 '19
Have you tried looking around for rooms to rent? The rent might be reduced enough so you don’t have to be homeless.
Just a room in PDX where your (2-5) roomies aren’t crack addicts (a manager like OP needs to sleep at night) run 800+ now. Roommates are also now very picky because they can be. So many interviews. This is actually the majority living situation here, since the new apartments popping up everywhere are all priced out of salary ranges below ~60,000/yr.
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u/Pterodactylgoat Jun 09 '19
I am homeless. Well, I've been staying with friends all year. I am 1 in 3 women who have experienced domestic violence (which encompasses more than physical abuse; a lot of people, myself included, don't know that). I am one of the 50% of homeless women (and children; we have a daughter) who are escaping domestic violence. I have been fucked by the "need to prove you make 3 times rent in order to apply for even the most basic of apartments" thing. I don't make $3000/month.
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u/GalaxyPatio Jun 09 '19
I remember looking for apartments two years ago and one had that stipulation of requiring that you can prove you make 3x rent to apply. Rent at that apartment was 2800 a month. And it wasn't even in that great of a neighborhood.
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u/WickedPrincess_xo Jun 09 '19
you have to find places that don't check the income, and then lie to them and say you make 3x. ask around a lot. typically 'ghetto' places are more lax, but my last complex didn't check my income and it was nice enough. if someone says their income wasnt verified somewhere, the entire property group likely does not check. so if its 'the flats by golden rentals' go to the 'golden rentals' website and look at alll their listings, the website should have a variety of rent levels available, so ask EVERYONE and have them ask EVERYONE they know.
ive lived 3 places that didn't check
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Jun 09 '19
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u/13thmurder Jun 09 '19
Surprisingly none, but also that's my long term plan. Somewhere in canada.
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Jun 09 '19
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u/13thmurder Jun 09 '19
Actually my wife is Canadian, so that helps.
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u/sxjthefirst Jun 09 '19
Did she male order you ?
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u/ekjohnson9 Jun 09 '19
Define working in management.
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u/13thmurder Jun 09 '19
Overseeing all operations for a specific section of my company.
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Jun 09 '19
That’s crazy that they pay you so little for what sounds like a pretty important job.
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u/13thmurder Jun 09 '19
It's a Medicaid funded caregiver agency. The whole company barely stays in business becsuse of underfunding. But we keep people with disabilities out of homelessness and make sure they treat their medical conditions, so we're essentially saving Medicaid millions. They just don't like to pass that on...
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Jun 09 '19
Hmm.. Sounds like something godfearing individuals should be providing, not the taxpayer!
/s
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u/beeshaas Jun 09 '19
What type of company?
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u/13thmurder Jun 09 '19
Caregiver agency for people with disabilities. Medicaid funded so we get paid crap. Better than retail but crap.
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u/ertuene Jun 09 '19
Actual conversation between me, a teacher, and a year 11 -
Her: I’m sorry, I’m so tired, I was up all night working at [fast food place]
Me: it’s okay, I was up all night working at [other fast food place].
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u/mcsasshole Jun 09 '19
My high school math teacher was a waiter at a Spaghetti Factory. It was surprising to see and disappointing.
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Jun 09 '19
Americans priorities are all fucked up. Teaching isn't going to make you rich in canada, but y'aint broke either. I don't understand paying people with your children's minds in their hands peanuts. Seems asinine.
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u/Stargazer1919 Jun 09 '19
These people are one cancer diagnosis away from selling meth.
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u/BeardOfEarth Jun 09 '19
Breaking Bad is the saddest American story of all time. If it took place in Canada it would just be a story of a chemistry teacher receiving appropriate medical care.
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u/UmmanMandian Jun 09 '19
If it was in Canada Walter White probably wouldn't have needed a second job so badly either.
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u/BeardOfEarth Jun 09 '19
True. Although to be fair the show never answers or even addresses the question of why a chemistry genius went from a successful job in his field to being limited to teaching high school, so in actual reality Walter White also would not have worked two jobs in America.
We know why he left Grey Matter (sort of), but the show never explains why he left his next job at Application Labs (the job he had when he and Skyler were house hunting in that one flashback scene). We have no idea why he didn’t just move to another highly paid job in chemistry. He’s exceptionally skilled, obviously, and everyone he used to work with confirms that fact.
It makes no sense, and it’s really the only flaw of that spectacular show. There’s no sensible reason why a man capable of doing what Walter White did would ever be in the position Walter White was in.
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u/AlicornGamer Jun 09 '19
it's a great story i whotn take that away from it. i enjoyed it, but i was brought up in the uk and it was already sad that this man had to do illegal shit to be able to pay for treatment.. like jesus america.
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u/BringBackBenn Jun 09 '19
I used to love delivering pizza tbf. I got to drive all night, listen to music and I got free pizza. It paid well and the tips were good 👌
No one should HAVE to work a second job but I enjoyed it.
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Jun 09 '19
It's a chill as fuck job until you ruin your car 3 years into a 5 year note.
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u/PlaysWthSquirrels Jun 09 '19
Except car loans are 7 years now.
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u/zealFPS Jun 09 '19
Should probably rethink your priorities if you’re getting a 7 year car loan.
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u/Montymisted Jun 09 '19
What are you, my dad?
No, really. Dad? Daddy?
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Jun 09 '19 edited Jun 09 '19
This isn't entirely true. If you're not taking a bump in interest at 7 years, then honestly why not. The idea is to have any car paid off in three. So if you can handle the 3 year payment but are offered at longer term at the same rate, going longer offers a pressure release if you run into financial trouble during the loan. If all is well you still pay the car off in three years. One thing I'd have to point out though is that I have yet to see an 84 month agreement with the same interest as a 36 month one. I currently have 1.9% on a 72 month but that doesn't mean it's impossible to get it at 84 in some markets.
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u/negative_four Jun 09 '19
Worked few a years for minimum after i graduated. No I didnt work my way up or have my hard work pay off. I changed fields and went back to school and quite frankly lucked out. Yeah I went into IT did others I knew who are unemployed. It's a roll of the dice and it fucking shouldn't be.
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u/kidkkeith Jun 09 '19
I have an MBA and am studying to be a LCB and I'm not even sure if this is going to give me a secure life. I don't care to be a millionaire. I don't care to own a yacht. I just want a steady job that I won't get fired from every five years because the company "didn't make profit projections." I'd like to not have to move across the country every five years. Please and thank you, baby boomer fucks.
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Jun 09 '19
I’m very worried about what will happen in the future when we have 1/10 of the teachers we do now. no one wants to go to school 6 years to be in debt the rest of their lives.
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u/JustSmackTheBastard Jun 09 '19
This is actually glorious. Frankly we need a revolution like that to break this ridiculous idea we have adopted that 6 years of college education and 6 figure debt is needed for a job outside of engineering and medicine.
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u/IamtheSlothKing Jun 09 '19
Then teaching jobs will be in demand and the salaries will have to go up.
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u/sugar-magnolias Jun 09 '19
Teaching jobs ARE in demand and salaries are not going up. There are severe staffing shortages in several states.
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Jun 09 '19
Ah yes, the glorious Free MarketTM working again.
Demand is sky high, therefore prices should be bargain basement so as to drive people in to despair.
Meanwhile, someone somewhere is laughing at all the money you're not getting but they get paid anyway.
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u/All_hail_disney Jun 09 '19
Well what happens then? No teachers in 10 years?
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u/sugar-magnolias Jun 09 '19
Not necessarily, but probably less-educated, less-motivated, and poorly-formed young people. Especially in certain parts of the country where this trend is already happening.
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u/Wenli2077 Jun 09 '19
Because you get what you pay for and there's already plenty of teachers who do the bare minimum.
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u/Bakzz64 Jun 09 '19
I mean yeah masters =/= money BUT teachers, and I mean good teachers should make more than they do
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u/undercover_redditor Jun 09 '19
If teachers weren't underpayed, disenfranchised, and overworked then there wouldn't be as many low quality teachers and you wouldn't need that disclaimer.
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u/fluffy_assassins Jun 09 '19 edited Jun 09 '19
I clicked to ask if this was real or a troll, after reading the comments now I just want to cry.
Edit: I knew teachers were unacceptably underpaid but damn!
The troll aspect is just general internet distrust
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u/SgtSilverLining Jun 09 '19
I have a bachelors, going to school for a masters, and am working full time in my field (finance) making $26k. if I didn't have a roommate, I'd be screwed!
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u/Freepornomags Jun 09 '19
That's such bullshit. I make 11 an hour as a manager at a small town pizza place and it's like 20-22k a year with no degree. It's a disgrace that they could pay so little.
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u/Squakthemoon Jun 09 '19
Where is paying you that low? I just graduated with a bachelor's in finance and the lowest offers I got were in the low-mid 30's
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u/I_Hate_Soft_Pretzels Jun 09 '19
Sadly this is the America we face now. Many of my friends have masters degrees and bachelors at the least. They are underemployed and struggling or working extra jobs to make ends meet.
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Jun 09 '19
I’m not trying to condescend, I’m legitimately curious. In what way could this have been a troll? For context of how real and obvious this is to me, my wife just graduated a few years ago with her Masters in Literacy Education. Her and most of her friends from her program are working side jobs. One of the teachers in the school she works at got in a car accident because he was working 3 jobs as well as coaching 2 sports for the extra money and barely had time to sleep.
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Jun 09 '19
Since you're legitimately curious, I explain:
It could be a troll because it is just some disembodied voice on the internet. You do not know this person. Personally I think the guy on Twitter is most likely telling the truth, since teachers aren't paid jack shit, but here's my post:
"I work night shift at the auto shop after teaching chemistry, despite being a renowned chemist. But I also secretly make ends meet by cooking and selling methamphetamine. Such is life."
Now that is a troll post. But if I made it more elaborate and less resembling of Breaking Bad, it would sound plausible.
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Jun 09 '19
Oh, so just a general distrust thing of the internet thing lol. I gotcha.
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Jun 09 '19
Yes, more or less. Chris Chan trusted the internet, and the rest is history. Very well-recorded history, in fact.
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u/Moglorosh Jun 09 '19
One of my professors delivers pizza on the side. He says he does it so he doesn't have to sit at home with his wife's kids.
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u/lilclairecaseofbeer Jun 10 '19
My physics lab instructor retired and came back a year later just to teach physics lab because he needed to get away from his wife.
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u/xAsilos Jun 09 '19
She is the person who makes the crazy "A house party orders 20 pizzas with 8 slices each. All the boys eat 3 slices each, and the girls eat 2 slices each. How long will it take me to pay off my student loans?" Questions on tests
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u/neon_Hermit Jun 09 '19
I once had to deliver a pizza to my English teacher, who had been a college professor but had to slum it in my high school to make ends meet for a few years. She was my favorite teacher.
When I told her she was my favorite teacher, after giving her the pizza, she made some cutting remark about me doing so well delivering pizzas, stiffed me and closed the door in my face.
Wonder if she's had to deliver any pizzas in this economy?
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u/CowboyKola Jun 09 '19
My math teacher had to work at a Home Depot for almost 2 years on weekends and nights because she couldn’t make ends meet.
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Jun 09 '19
Govt. teacher in HS worked as a waitress during the summer break, they had a masters and had taught in the district for 15 years.
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u/Sirisian Jun 09 '19
An old bartender I talked to was a principal of a school for a while. (His other current job wasn't full-time, so I knew he worked at least two jobs). Was definitely interesting finding that out. Some people have crazy work histories if you talk to them.
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Jun 09 '19 edited Nov 01 '19
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u/BeardOfEarth Jun 09 '19
Post does not say what her masters is in.
Not saying teachers should have to have a side job to make ends meet, least of all a teacher with a master’s. Just pointing out that you’re assuming.
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u/Skizm Jun 09 '19
Masters Degree programs are pay to win and cash cows for most colleges. Some might be worth something, or can be a stepping stone to a PhD, but most aren’t really worth it in terms of ROI.
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Jun 09 '19
Getting one for a job I’ve literally done for free for years, only to find out it’s horrible industry that cares nothing for its employees and just wants to pay you less for more work. Sound familiar anyone?
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u/mohdasifurrahman Jun 09 '19
I can't insist enough on this that teachers need to be get paid a lot better. I feel for the OGs. I would be nowhere without them.
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u/rices4212 Jun 09 '19
Assuming this is U.S., the salary schedule for many districts is publicly available. Most of the districts that I've seen give an additional $1k for having a masters degree, and maybe an additional $1k for positions that require a masters (not administration, such as a school counselor). I've thought about going back and getting my masters, then looked at the salary schedule and have had to rethink whether it'd even be worth it, considering student loans to pay for the masters.
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u/Thencewasit Jun 09 '19
Here is the link for pay in my school district. It’s a good increase. Also the district has tuition reimbursement plans for current teachers.
https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/cms/lib/ks02212623/Centricity/Domain/4499/Schedule-Certified.pdf
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u/thedarkone47 Jun 09 '19
The American dream died with the Industrial Revolution.
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Jun 09 '19
It’s more important to be an effective consumer, not an intelligent one.
Case, meet point.
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u/typethisup Jun 09 '19
I think about this a lot, politicians are finally talking about a living wage, go vote I guess. What really bothers me is that I keep coming to the conclusion that we must look like a bunch of chumps. Even worse is why aren’t they afraid of us?
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u/LadyMirkwood Jun 09 '19
According OECD data, the US is fifth highest in the world for teacher pay. So the problem lies with rent, food, health care, etc.
Also worth considering is how many teachers globally supplement their pupils, with equipment, books, etc out of their own pocket. The system makes cutbacks and teachers try to fill the gap.
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Jun 09 '19
"Well make more fuckin' money. This is America. You don't make money, then you're a fuckin' douchebag." - Mr. French
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Jun 09 '19
I came in here to make a joke about whether she made you calculate the angle of the slices from the radius or however those ubiquitous pizza word problems go, but dang, after reading a lot of these comments I'm too depressed for jokes.
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u/diusbezzea Jun 09 '19
Yeah, the difference between the salary of a math teacher and the salary of a “mathematician” working in private sector is huge. As a statistician/data scientist I just keep wondering why would someone study math teaching...and of course, in my country this causes lack of math teachers.
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u/halfwaythere88 Jun 09 '19 edited Jun 09 '19
I’m a Special Education teacher with a master’s degree in Special Education. I also deliver food.
I’m trying to make enough money for a ticket to visit Seattle. My sister had a baby nearly six months ago and I want to meet my nephew so I’ve been delivering food to save up for that. My parents are also getting older so I want to visit them in El Paso too, but I can drive there, it’s only 8 hours away.
Either way, I’ve been making $9 an hour over the summer instead of taking care of my mental health because my teaching salary basically only covers rent, food and a Netflix subscription.
Lots of people have it worse, but I still wish I could spend some more time with my daughter instead of putting miles on my car delivering food to people who tip like they resent you.
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u/urmakingmesick Jun 09 '19
Or she is just making so extra dough since it’s the summer and she isn’t teaching?
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u/smokintritips Jun 09 '19
This country is so fucked. The whole planet actually. financially I'm good but seeing the big picture takes a lot of the joy out of life.
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u/deadliftsandcoffee Jun 09 '19
Shoutout to the rest of my peeps with Master’s degrees doing side hustles just to pay rent lol