You know what really grinds my gears?

[Majingir]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

July definitely seems early. I know some start in late August, but for me, no matter the level of education, it was ALWAYS September.



I agree though that summer break probably is too long. Though what's the alternative? 1 hour less of school a day but it goes on for more days? Or 1 month of summer vacation, but every Friday is a free day. Basically just show up and do no work all day.


For elementary/high schools here, I know majority don't have A/C, so that's probably another factor as to why July/August are vacations. Junes are hot too, but you're not doing as much school work in June vs March or October or anything else.

[Blzer]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

One of my former students now lives in Arizona with her mom, and she told me they started last week.

I live in California and many public schools start next week. Where did the summer go?

[cusefan74]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

are you sure it wasnt regular candy? people do eat snickers & tootsie rolls year round. and if it was candy canes, thats Christmas candy. and Christmas stuffs always gets put out after Independence Day.

It was Halloween candy, in Halloween boxes and all. I'm used to seeing things early, but dang Halloween candy on August 7th!

[dubcity]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I feel like shortening summer break has more to do with finances than anything. They probably get more funding if the school is operating more days out of the year. And obviously more funding equals a better education. Well, or not.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I think it is more due to teachers wanting to get paid year round. I know a lot of teachers end up working retail jobs during the summer months and they hate it. So from a teacher union stand point, the shorter the summer break, the better it is for teachers.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

July definitely seems early. I know some start in late August, but for me, no matter the level of education, it was ALWAYS September.



I agree though that summer break probably is too long. Though what's the alternative? 1 hour less of school a day but it goes on for more days? Or 1 month of summer vacation, but every Friday is a free day. Basically just show up and do no work all day.


For elementary/high schools here, I know majority don't have A/C, so that's probably another factor as to why July/August are vacations. Junes are hot too, but you're not doing as much school work in June vs March or October or anything else.

Hot is hot. I mean if the kids are poor and don't have AC at home, they will be just as hot if not hotter being at home then being hot at school. My high school had no AC, school ended June 24th and we went back after Labor Day. In Chicago, the first half of September is just as hot as August.

I know the schools in Vermont have way too many breaks. Fall break, thanksgiving break, christmas break, winter break, spring break. I was like damn that is a lot of breaks. All I had was christmas and spring breaks.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

We SHOULD be used to this type of stuff by now, but obviously aren't. We'll see stuff in stores earlier than they should be.



July = Back to school
August= Halloween
September = Christmas
October = Winter stuff

This must be a Canada thing because I definitely don’t see any Halloween themestuff in August and I don’t see any Christmas theme stuff in September.

Hell, I’ll see Thanksgiving in September before Christmas.

[Majingir]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

This must be a Canada thing because I definitely don’t see any Halloween themestuff in August and I don’t see any Christmas theme stuff in September.

Hell, I’ll see Thanksgiving in September before Christmas.

I've seen people on this very site mentioning both instances happening.

This whole discussion got started by someone from NY saying they saw Halloween candy.

I think it is more due to teachers wanting to get paid year round. I know a lot of teachers end up working retail jobs during the summer months and they hate it. So from a teacher union stand point, the shorter the summer break, the better it is for teachers.

I guess it depends on where you teach. I know someone who's a principal making 6 figures, and someone who's a teacher making close to 100k as well. They're not these longtime teachers in their 50s or 60s or anything like that who kept getting promoted.

They own expensive places, and go on trips during summer vacation. Sure, there are many underpaid teachers, but I don't feel much sympathy for teachers around here when that's the money they're making. Not to mention insanely good union, amount of sick days, and additional days off beyond sick days still gets you 90% pay.


I've even had a teacher who was in it for the pay and vacations. Easiest grader who just gave easy questions and was completely biased(in a good way).

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I guess it depends on where you teach. I know someone who's a principal making 6 figures, and someone who's a teacher making close to 100k as well. They're not these longtime people in their 50s or 60s or anything like that.

They own expensive places, and go on trips during summer vacation. Sure, there are many underpaid teachers, but I don't feel much sympathy for teachers around here when that's the money they're making. Not to mention insanely good union, amount of sick days, and additional days off beyond sick days still gets you 90% pay.

Yeah, that is no where near the average teacher salary in the US. Sure if you teach in the well off school districts, you can pull 60K or higher salary. But a lot of teachers are closer to 30K to 38K a year, until they been there for a decade then they get bumped up to the upper 40s to mid 50s.

[kehlis]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

This must be a Canada thing because I definitely don’t see any Halloween themestuff in August and I don’t see any Christmas theme stuff in September.

Hell, I’ll see Thanksgiving in September before Christmas.

The poster who brought up the Haloween candy in stores is from New York and I've seen it here in stores already in PA as well.

[Jr.]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

Yeah, that is no where near the average teacher salary in the US. Sure if you teach in the well off school districts, you can pull 60K or higher salary. But a lot of teachers are closer to 30K to 38K a year, until they been there for a decade then they get bumped up to the upper 40s to mid 50s.

Yeah I have 5 years experience with my MA and I'm nowhere near $60K

Sent from my SM-G920V using Operation Sports mobile app

[Majingir]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I guess teachers up here are luckier then. Just crazy seeing how much they get for 10 months of work, with 2 weeks Christmas vacation, march break,2 weeks of sick days, and basically a Friday off once a month. In the end, they're basically working 8 months a year, 7.5 hours a day (with 1 hour lunch)

I feel like there could be an entire gear grinder thread devoted only to 'stupid things people do while driving.'

We should have that thread. My contribution to it from today:
I was driving down a 1 way residential street. Someone doing yardwork had their van with those yard trailers on the back parked up. The issue...their van was blocking the road. The trailer was parked up all fine, but their van was horizontal, making it impossible to pass them. There were no cars parked around them either, so the van and trailer would've fit along the curb.


One guy was getting out of the van, leaves his door open and walks away. Another guy with him just stands there staring at me(like he's confused as to why I'm not going anywhere when I clearly can't). Thankfully the other guy comes back and decides to park properly.

Sad part, this isn't first time something like this has happened. It almost always involves a van or pickup truck doing stuff like construction or yard work who decides to just park wherever/however. And don't get me started on taxis.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I despise the fact that KFCs are everywhere. But where I'm at Popeyes are slim to none.

Popeyes and literally every chicken place> KFC. I'll never understand why KFC is such a successful chain. It's just trash to me.

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

The poster who brought up the Haloween candy in stores is from New York and I've seen it here in stores already in PA as well.

I should’ve been more specific.

I have not seen any instances of this in the DC, Maryland, Virginia Areas of the US.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

When I worked in the gift shop at a Cracker Barrel, we started getting Christmas stuff around mid-September, if not a little before.