I think we can all agree Ann Coulter is Crazy...

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Regorium

Well, for starters, I define a "joke" degree as anything in fine arts, as well as communications and psychology.

Damn, if that's a joke degree, than im laughing all the way. With my worthless degree, i've managed a job where i get to do photoshoots with amazing people from around the world, have my work regularly shown in publications liked Wired and the NYTimes, have designed clothing for people like Marc Jacobs, plus get free stuff thrown my way by companies like Adobe and Philips who want me to test out new things months ahead of anyone else.

But i guess what i do is a joke, because hey, im not pushing paper in a cubicle for some faceless corporation all day like those people with "real" degrees do.

Thank god for idiots like you. You put things in great perspective!

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Yeah forget standard of living or owning property. What a terrible argument, that could be applied to any line of work. Or do you have to hate your job to get paid more?

This has to be a consideration before you start your education. Just liking it isn't good enough in a lot of cases.

Originally Posted by Burninator

Why is it so unreasonable that they ask for more money?

It's not unreasonable. But it also should work the other way around. The city refusing their request should not be a public outcry either. Have you asked for a raise at your work and they refused? Or give you a raise that was too low? Did you go on strike after that? Getting a raise is a decision that is agreed upon by both parties (unless you're a council member of the city).

Originally Posted by Burninator

Of course teachers get into the profession because they like the work and the children. BUT IT ISN'T ALWAYS THE ONLY REASON. No one said money doesn't matter, what's wrong with you. By your reasoning Teachers would be happy living behind the school in a box, and they'll happy because money doesn't matter and they love kids. But about their own kids? You need a decent wage to have a comfortable life. Why prevent them from having that? This province is rolling in cash, why do you want to penny pinch teachers? You're a joke.

Well, with the mantra that they spread during their strikes and such, you'd almost think that they do live in a box and spend their life at the school. Are they so poor that they cannot sustain a comfortable lifestyle? I'd like to contest that.

What kind of wage do you think would be fair for teachers considering the market? I don't think that they're too far off of their true value at the current moment.

According to the US national average, teachers make a median of 47k. Calgary teachers make a median of 40k. With that said, I think that they do deserve a raise across the board by about 10%. But not 30% as they want. Remember also that this is a 9 month position.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Damn, if that's a joke degree, than im laughing all the way. With my worthless degree, i've managed a job where i get to do photoshoots with amazing people from around the world, have my work regularly shown in publications liked Wired and the NYTimes, have designed clothing for people like Marc Jacobs, plus get free stuff thrown my way by companies like Adobe and Philips who want me to test out new things months ahead of anyone else.

But i guess what i do is a joke, because hey, im not pushing paper in a cubicle for some faceless corporation all day like those people with "real" degrees do.

Thank god for idiots like you. You put things in great perspective!

Congratulations. As with any degree, there are exceptional people out there. For everyone of you that made it big, there are probably 15 that fail. I'm guessing since you did make it big, you probably knew there was a larger risk in taking what you did, and I'm glad it worked out for you and that you do something you love every day.

I'm saying people with other degrees, have a lesser chance of failure, although some will.

[lifer]

Originally Posted by Regorium

According to the US national average, teachers make a median of 47k. Calgary teachers make a median of 40k. With that said, I think that they do deserve a raise across the board by about 10%. But not 30% as they want. Remember also that this is a 9 month position.

Wow. I always thought that American teachers were paid a lot less than Canadian ones. Shows what I know.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by lifer

Wow. I always thought that American teachers were paid a lot less than Canadian ones. Shows what I know.

I pulled it from salary.com.

It may not be accurate.

[lifer]

I'm not disputing the figures you presented, I was just surprised by them.

[badnarik]

if you want better teachers you have to pay them more and require better, more rigorous training.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Regorium

This has to be a consideration before you start your education. Just liking it isn't good enough in a lot of cases.

Hardly should be. This will do little to bring new teachers to the table. Which is already a problem.

It's not unreasonable. But it also should work the other way around. The city refusing their request should not be a public outcry either. Have you asked for a raise at your work and they refused? Or give you a raise that was too low? Did you go on strike after that? Getting a raise is a decision that is agreed upon by both parties (unless you're a council member of the city).

Well, with the mantra that they spread during their strikes and such, you'd almost think that they do live in a box and spend their life at the school. Are they so poor that they cannot sustain a comfortable lifestyle? I'd like to contest that.

What kind of wage do you think would be fair for teachers considering the market? I don't think that they're too far off of their true value at the current moment.

According to the US national average, teachers make a median of 47k. Calgary teachers make a median of 40k. With that said, I think that they do deserve a raise across the board by about 10%. But not 30% as they want. Remember also that this is a 9 month position.

I am not saying that the government should give the teachers whatever they want. But to work a couple years without a contract because the government doesn't want to listen to you and doesn't want to pay you more money is far from fair. It would be like your boss putting his hands over his ears and ignoring you when you ask for a raise. They know they are not going to get a 30% raise, they are hoping to meet somewhere in the middle.

Let's look at the last contract. I can't recall the numbers, but they asked for a substantial raise. What they got was a small fraction of that, spread out over a couple years. Also teachers lost most of their prep time. This is time they get in the day to mark, get ready or class etc. Now they have to teach another class, do supervision or attend meetings. They prep time is still needed, but is now bumped into their own time. Hardly fair. It's funny that you brought both sides agreeing to their raise. Again back to the previous contract. The teachers were of course not happy with this offer from the government, so they regretted it and elected for a strike. Well that didn't get very far because they were ordered back to work by the government. Hardly fair and hardly both parties agreeing.

If you think it's a 9 month position, then have a teacher stop putting in extra time during the summer, weeknights and weekends and see the level of teaching fall hard and fast.

[Ayrahb]

Sorry to interrupt the teacher discussion, but here is a Hitler-Coulter version of the "Who Said It?" quiz:

http://www.giveupblog.com/hitlercoulterquiz.html

I got only 7 right.

[Save Us Sutter]

Originally Posted by Regorium

The reason teachers are paid what they are is simple - supply and demand.

Being a teacher requires basically any undergrad degree, and some will lead to a Masters in Education.

To be fair, a teacher needs their BA or BSc as well as their BEd. Most go on to earn more as they know that is the only way they can make more money.

Originally Posted by Regorium

Well, for starters, I define a "joke" degree as anything in fine arts, as well as communications and psychology.

You really believe a Commerce degree is more difficult to obtain than a Psychology one? Having gone down both roads I beg to differ. The human brain is a far more advanced and difficult topic to cover than marketing. How can you give respect to a Biology teacher and not a Psychologist baffles me.

Originally Posted by Regorium

With that said, I think that they do deserve a raise across the board by about 10%. But not 30% as they want. Remember also that this is a 9 month position.

It is NOT a nine month position! Just because the kids are in class for nine months, doesn't mean that's the only time a teacher is working. For someone with such a very serious degree, you shouldn't have that much trouble wrapping your huge brain around this fact.

The problem is teachers get a raise like every 5-10 years from the governement and it rarely even keeps up with inflation. So they are making less, relatively, then when they started. All you super-smart commerce guys should understand why that is a problem.

[Save Us Sutter]

Originally Posted by Ayrahb

Sorry to interrupt the teacher discussion, but here is a Hitler-Coulter version of the "Who Said It?" quiz:

http://www.giveupblog.com/hitlercoulterquiz.html

I got only 7 right.

13/14 for me!

Hah... it was mostly the language that gave them away though. Kinda easy to pick out the quotes from 60 years ago and the ones from recently.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by Regorium

This has to be a consideration before you start your education. Just liking it isn't good enough in a lot of cases.

Wow, that's the complete opposite of my philosophy. I always figured that so long as you were able to find a job doing what you enjoyed, you would have a much happier life and career.

Mostly because it is far easier to learn about something you are really into. I can tell you a lot of the nuances of hockey, even though I have never actively sat down and said "I want to learn the rules of hockey". I just absorbed it because I liked it.

I suggest to everyone out there - do what you love! Not what you think is going to be employable (unless you love it).

You never know when a computer is going to replace your job.


I can't resist...

Commerce and Engineering...must be nice to work in such an easy field, where you always have the "right" answer. Too bad they don't teach more critical thinking.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

Wow, that's the complete opposite of my philosophy. I always figured that so long as you were able to find a job doing what you enjoyed, you would have a much happier life and career.

Just different from the way I was brought up. If I wanted to be a rock star? My parents would kick my ass. And rightfully so. For every one rock star that succeeds, thousands fail. Now obviously there's a lot of less risky professions in between that aren't like that, and lots of relatively safe professions as well. It doesn't HAVE to be a sure thing like doctor/engineer/lawyer or whatever.

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

Commerce and Engineering...must be nice to work in such an easy field, where you always have the "right" answer. Too bad they don't teach more critical thinking.

I disagree with this statement, but as I've derailed this thread enough, I'll just leave it be.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Regorium

Just different from the way I was brought up. If I wanted to be a rock star? My parents would kick my ass. And rightfully so.

Yeah, only a complete dickwad would let his/her kids follow their dreams.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Regorium

Just different from the way I was brought up. If I wanted to be a rock star? My parents would kick my ass.

I feel sad for you that your parents taught you not to dream as a child.

[tussery]

I saw this last night and got a chuckle out of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=susZ2...ction%5Fid%3D4