Colorado Teacher resigns

[krishnamba]

Colorado teacher resigns... is she right? also can a mustachian teacher not raise a child in colorado?

sorry link to article

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pauline-hawkins/my-resignation-letter-teaching_b_5160721.html

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I certainly hope that a Mustachian teacher can raise kids in Colorado, because in two months we're moving to Denver for my husband's new teaching job!

[arebelspy]

There's two completely separate issues in the article.

One is the financial aspect, which she only touched on for - literally - two sentences:

As a newly single mom, I cannot live in this community on the salary I make as a teacher. With the effects of the pay freeze still lingering and Colorado having one of the lowest yearly teaching salaries in the nation, it has become financially impossible for me to teach in this state.

I can't speak to the exact numbers, as I know neither her salary nor the COL there, but being a Mustachian at heart, I'm betting I could make it work.  Thousands of teachers there are.

The second issue is the quality of the education itself.  I am a teacher, as is my wife, and I agree with much of what she said, except that I think the Common Core is helping.  I do think we need less teaching to the test, and more "think for yourself" stuff, but as far as content, I think the CC is a step in the right direction.  A small step, and the point we want to get to is far in the distance, but at least the vector is correct.

More discussion on education and the Common Core in this previous thread:
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/off-topic/testing-and-common-core-in-public-schools/

[arebelspy]

Regarding the poll, which just says "Is she right?"

What do you mean?  Is she right about what?

[grantmeaname]

This is pretty much impossible to come in and answer without some sort of synopsis and specific question.

Are you asking whether that really is her opinion, or whether it really is her prerogative to move/switch jobs? Or whether I would do the same in her shoes?

[BlueMR2]

Based on the article, I can't come to an answer even though I think I know what's being asked.  It's really a fluff/emotional piece.  No data there to work with.  A common complaint I have about the HuffPo.  They have some interesting pieces but I find them to be largely logically weak and mostly just appeals to emotion.

[GoldenStache]

@arebelspy

Curious if you have seen the senior level core requirements?  I have helped my nephew with his math and I think it is too hard for HS.  I want more practical math (how compound interest works, interest rates vs APR) than the different methods of calculating polling locations.

Sadly, I think the drop out rates are going to skyrocket.. Even worse than the 79% graduation rate we have now (Pretty sure that was what I heard the other day, that is up though) FWIW 

[arebelspy]

I don't know that I'd label it as "too hard."  Challenging, perhaps, but the level required right now (at least in my state) to pass the high school proficiency exams is laughably low.

[GoldenStache]

That is a good point.  I do not know what percentage you have to get right to pass is, and I only helped out with the hardest questions. I do not know if the other questions were ridiculously easy and that skewed my perspective.   

Thanks..

[stevesteve]

It seems she's making three propositions:

Direct: "I cannot live in this community on the salary I make as a teacher."  That's clearly wrong.  Obviously you can live and raise a child on a teacher's salary, it just may not be the lifestyle she desires.

Implied: Teachers (in CO) should make more money.  That's a question of values not right or wrong.  I think teachers should be paid enough to attract a certain caliber of teacher.  I think the price for that will vary among locations based on COL and desirability of area.

NCLB/(Over) Testing Bad: Maybe.