I am student teaching in the Fall. 16 weeks, totally unpaid, when I am trying to make ends meet. What’s more, UNC Charlotte offers me no stipend while I am working.
This is a grossly unfair situation, and I am not the only one to have to deal with it. What can we do about it? We should talk about it.
We have a national teacher shortage; I hope more people are willing to have an honest discussion about what’s causing that.
This is sad, and had no idea this situation existed.
I don’t mean to be rude, but you had to know you weren’t going to be paid during student teaching. This isn’t new or unique to UNC Charlotte. Not saying it’s right but you had years to prepare.
Interesting, my Son had the same problem as an undergrad, I am not sure of your level. He ended up questioning them and ended up with an hourly rate. I asked him your question and he said it sounds like the Professor is using someone as a unofficial TA, “which is a problem there”. He also said he had friends at other NC schools where they got tuition breaks as well but CLT doesn’t do that, for some reason. He ended up getting a decent rate as Grad Student but no tuition break.
After reading some of the other topic posts… if your name is on the syllabus, I would ask for NIL deal, jk
I think he is referring to student teaching as a education major, not working on campus as a TA.
It’s a sad situation. I detest unpaid work of any kind and for the teaching profession it seems especially egregious.
UNC Charlotte can’t do anything about it.
It will take a state or school district political solution.
Breaking news… Teachers don’t make good money even when they are being paid. My advice is to choose a different career.
Teachers are underpaid for sure but there are benefits as well, or at least there used to be. Work about 75% of the year with summers off. Pension and insurance after around 30 years. I know it’s not lucrative but I know a ton of teachers and they don’t complain. Granted they aren’t teaching in big cities.
The summers off are nice but keep in mind those aren’t paid. The insurance is pretty terrible now too.
My wife has been teaching for nearly 20 years and has her masters and is just now hitting a compensation level that is decent.
No one goes into teaching to make mad money, but teachers shouldn’t have to scrape by - especially in those first 10 years.
Unpaid internships have and likely will always exist. Not the best scenario but part of the game. My daughter is in the Charlotte athletic trainer Grad program and student athletic trainers work 20+ (more than they are supposed to - thanks Biff) hours a week - mostly grunt work (carrying heavy ass water jugs and setting up the fields) and do not get paid a dime. I always pick on her she is paying good money to carry water for the football team. I think athletic programs would struggle to make ends meet if they didn’t have all the free labor they get from students.
In honestly - same thing I tell her - you are young - many years ahead to work for money - today your job is to learn and gain experience. You are paying for the education and part of your class / school work is to work in a school. You get this privilege because of where you are and the work you have put in.
Student teaching was the worst part of my teaching career. Trying to fit into another teacher’s system is stupid. Have taught 16 years and here are short thoughts.
Money is good for the time worked and where I live. Working on the side here or there has helped.
Having children with this job is amazing. I don’t coach, so I always get to be there for my kids. Summers are epic!
While student teaching was ridiculous, I would punch the ticket again. Work/life balance is great and there is value to the job when adults you taught stop to say thanks.
Most of my teacher friends echo your sentiments. I applaud you.
Great advice if you have parents supporting you financially. It rings hollow for those who have to support themselves and often must. Decide between valuable learning experiences and making ends meet.
I have a solution. Quit paying athletes for NIL, or really just pay to play.
The money is coming in due to the university. It has taken generations to establish.
Distribute the money in the best interest of the universities for the greater good. Athletics are part of the university and each one has their mission statement.
I am one of the largest fans but this new “pay to play” is out of control.
I honestly don’t see this as too different from students going into debt for decades to pay the salary of someone like Ron Sanchez and give him $750K a year to coach when he could not have cared less about a quality experience for the students paying his salary. At least NIL money is private.
This is America. We don’t do that.
My daughter is working 2 jobs - one for UNC Charlotte and also waitressing. (So 3 jobs - one that does not pay. 4 if you count the mandatory EMT ride-alongs she has to do)
She does live at home - so there is support from us there.
My aversion to nil would go down significantly if our students weren’t footing the bill for the free tuition housing food books stipends facilities and structure they are making money from. If the first rule any NIL money has to repay the schools investment then I could come around to it to some degree.