Teachers share the 12 biggest misconceptions people have about their job
With more than 4 million teachers in the US, there's a good chance you know at least one personally.
Even so, plenty of people have the wrong idea about teachers and what they do for a living.
To set the record straight, we asked teachers everywhere to weigh in on some of the most common misconceptions about teachers out there, and more than 50 teachers responded. We've (anonymously) included some of their answers here:
Teachers work from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"In my experience, this couldn't be further from the truth. In my building, and many others, the teachers arrive around 7 a.m. and do not leave the building until after 5 p.m. Also, when I finally do leave, I almost always have something work-related to do at home."
Teachers have summers off
"It's true, there are days over the summer that I free myself of school-related responsibilities. However, the majority of my summer days are spent planning, shopping for the upcoming school year, and attending professional development meetings. Also, even though I work in a school that starts after labor day, I always head back to my classroom to start to set up by the middle of August."
Teachers get paid for the time they're 'not working'
"Correction, teachers are paid for about 180 to 185 days of work."
A teacher's only job is to teach
"Only 40% of what we do actually happens in the classroom. Lesson planning and preparation, grading papers, school paperwork, student reports, parent phone calls and emails, extra help for students, and participating in community events are all things that teachers are required and expected to do."
Teachers get into the profession just for the 'easy schedule'
"I spend my summers working more than 50 hours a week in a restaurant so I can make up for the low salary I earn as a teacher. I wouldn't be able to teach if I didn't have a supplemental income."
Teachers don't care
"We go to sleep thinking about our kids and how we can be the best for them."
Teachers hardly do anything all day
"We are taking care of 24 children, who all have academic, emotional, and social needs. We have to be teacher, parent, and friend to each of them. Put on top of that all the paperwork we have to do and constantly getting observed, not to mention the politics of a school Common misconceptions about teachers - Business Insider: