teacher discounts?
 

Do you know of any special discounts that a teacher (American) can claim from museums or hotels or other places in Italy?

There are discounts for students, pensioners, disabled, veterans, and unemployed, but I have never heard of discounts for teachers.

You're off for the summer, that is your discount!

ew,<BR><BR>Amen to that!<BR><BR>US

Why do teachers think they are so entitled?<BR>A lot of people work just as hard in other professions. I never see policemen or nurses ask for "special discounts"<BR><BR>I am with ew and Uncle Sam! Enjoy your 3 months off, while I enjoy my 2 weeks!

The only teacher discounts I have heard of are for the museum pass in France. Doesn't mean they aren't out there... but that's the only one I've seen discussed.<BR><BR>I'm not even going to get into the teacher-bashing debate!!

I think there are teacher discounts. I just don't know what they are since I'm not a teacher any more. You may be able to find out trhough NEA and other teacher orgs. By the way, when I WAS a teacher, I worked harder and longer than I have at any other job, and worked all evening every weekday, and most of the weekends. I also spent a lot of my own money (non-reimbursable) buying materials for my students. I also thought about it and did some prep during much of the summer. It's a lot easier being a lawyer now. Even if I don't get much vacation time, I just don't NEED it as badly.

Re: former teacher cheers!<BR><BR>I am teacher and have never had three months off -what a misconception. Why not ask about discounts? It doesn't hurt. Why should students get discounts or seniors or anyone? Geez. Lighten up on people.

I remember reading in a guidebook many years ago, that if you want to deal the hotel down in price, you ask if they have a business or teacher discount. It is the way you discretely get a cheaper price even if you are not a teacher. I have not tried this. It might be an urban myth.

Hey xxx--- and I bet you got paid for your 2 weeks vacation. Teachers don't even get paid holidays!!!

lfos is not asking what should or should not be - please be helpful if you can and focus on the question.

xox,<BR><BR>BS!<BR><BR>US

I would second the suggestion to check with NEA or perhaps even your state association. As for the other commentary, my only observation would be that the very best teachers I had were those who had done, seen and experienced many things. Something that makes that more likely would seem to have value for more than just the teacher, as an individual. Moreover, teachers have inflexible schedules that frequently force them to travel at more crowded, expensive times of the year. It's no crime to try to find out about discounts, if they are out there.

I'm an educator and also a student at a local community college, where I take PE classes for my own well-being. I have used the student ID card numerous times in Europe. I just walk into the museum or whatever and present it. I'm often given a discount after the person at the counter looks at me quizzically and asks, "You're a student?" I guess adult ed (I have some gray hairs) is not a familiar concept in Europe!<BR><BR>So one way to get a discount is to sign up for a class at your local college.

I don't go out of my way to get discounts, but Uncle Sam's comment is confusing. Did he think WE (teachers) were paid for the summer months and Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other holidays that most other occupations get paid for without showing up for work?<BR>

xox,<BR><BR>Of course you get paid for them. They are included in your overall compensation package. <BR><BR>For example, you may earn $40,000 for approximately 10 months work. Yet you get the holidays that most of us only dream about. <BR><BR>Now they may not specifically pay you for those particular days but you do get a salary that covers a certain amount of work for a certain amount of pay.<BR><BR>In addition, in the business world the standard American work year is 2080 hours. If your salary is $40,000 in the business world, then you make $19.23 per hour.<BR><BR>Teachers, on the other hand work approximately 10 months per year or 5/6 the business annual work hours. Therefore, the teachers work hours are 5/6 of 2080 or 1733. Therefore, the same $40,000 to a teacher equates to about $23.08 per hour. <BR><BR>Another way to look at it would be that if a teacher worked the full 2080 hours then they would make $49,006 per year.<BR><BR>Now, before you hit me with the old, "I work late hours and weekends grading papers etc.".....guess what so do virtually all exempt corporate employees and they do not get to take the Summer off, or have a nice long Christmas or Easter vacation even though we now call them "holidays" or Spring Break.<BR><BR>US

I enjoy my teaching career. No one forced me to sign that contract that states 180 days of work for $$$ salary. Even at your $23.08 that is less than a babysitter at $1.00 an hour for my 25-30 students. But they sure do get a whole lot more for their buck, in my opinion.<BR> Hopefully "last fling" takes off for Europe soon before the summer vacation is over. Enjoy it and take all that info back to your students--encourage them to travel also--now THAT is an education.

xox,<BR><BR>No one said you shouldn't enjoy your teaching career. Congratulations, you may be one of the few people that really like what they do.<BR><BR>I was merely pointing out the fact that you do get paid for those days and on a annualized basis you get paid fairly well compared to the business world and you get the time off.<BR><BR>We need good teachers, I'm excited that you like your job, many teachers do not and it shows in their performance.<BR><BR>US

$40,000????? I need to move!

I live in the SF Bay area. Starting teachers in my district make about $43K/year. The median house in my district costs about $500K. Why on earth would anyone ever want to be a teacher unless he or she love kids?

There are a number of reasons:<BR><BR>1. Tenure<BR><BR>2. Not the hardest undergrad program<BR><BR>3. Student deferrment during Vietnam era<BR><BR>4. Two months off<BR><BR>5. Two income family as teachers<BR><BR>6. 2nd income in family<BR><BR>7. Get home same time as your kids<BR><BR>8. Professional satisfaction<BR><BR>9. Lack of perfromance pressue like in sales for example<BR><BR>US

Hey Uncle,<BR>With all those perks you must feel pretty lame for passing up such a cushy job! I'm just glad I jumped on that gravy train early! Now after 12 years experience and a master's degree I make $34,000 per year!

My sis-in-law teaches 2nd grade. As a fairly new teacher in a Catholic school, she makes 16,000. For a 180 day year, that works out to 11.11/hr. Convert that to a "standard" 2080 hour year, consider 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days holidays, her "comparable" pay is about 21,000. Most she can ever hope to make in the classroom is about 30,000, with a masters and 30 years experience. That would be why I changed my major! Yes, she is off when her kids are, and she loves her job, but no one can ever tell me teachers are paid fairly! So, if they can get a discount at a museum, go for it!

My Dear Teachers,<BR><BR>A word of advice:<BR><BR>Never argue with an idiot. You can not bring him up to your level, but he can quickly bring you down to his.<BR><BR>And thanks so much for all you've done for my children and me.<BR><BR>Vagabond

Vagabond,<BR><BR>Resorting to name calling, typical!<BR><BR>I merely shared the economics of teaching school and the reasons "some" choose the profession.<BR><BR>I have a friend that teaches and her sister's step son plays in the NBA and makes about $6,000,000 per year.<BR><BR>She constantly complains about that injustice. She ought to do a couple of things:<BR><BR>1. Grow to 6:7 and make the three or<BR><BR>2. Find someone willing to pay $250 for up front seats in her classroom to watch her teach.<BR><BR>Neither will happen and it isn't "fair", but...<BR><BR>I do however, get a bit tired of these teachers that decide to teach knowing the pay and then they complain and whine about the pay.<BR><BR>It is the old adage...no risk...no reward. So teachers try getting a sales job with a quarterly quota and you will make the $$$...you do not, however get tenure!<BR><BR>US

My Dear Uncle,<BR><BR>Whatever made you think I was speaking of you?<BR><BR>Vagabond

Many years ago, after 12 years or so of teaching on the junior high level, I was sent on a sales mission to the South Pacific by the Scholastic Book Company. What astonished me more than anything about the experience was that, in comparison to teaching, there was no work involved whatsoever. And I mean that sincerely. I've been involved in sales ever since.<BR><BR>Gerry K

Vagabond,<BR><BR>Obviously gave you a lob didn't I...nice smash!<BR><BR>US

GerryK.<BR><BR>That's why most of us have handicaps in the low teens.<BR><BR>US

Your previous two posts are unfathomable. Lobs? Smashes? Handicaps? (Proof I'd say that a few of your own teachers didn't relish their jobs.)<BR><BR>Lonniel<BR><BR>

Lonniel,<BR><BR>I suspect you must have led a very sheltered bookish life.<BR><BR>"Smash and lob" come from tennis and " handicap" comes from golf.<BR><BR>Merely sports metaphors.<BR><BR>I'd suggest you really do need to get out more!<BR><BR>US

Last Fling:<BR>I don't know of any specific discounts for teachers in Italy, but I do know that such discounts do exist in principle. Many years ago my husband and I used to accompany school kids from the school where my dad was headmaster, to Paris and the Loire Valley, and the teachers on the trip - and sometimes we, as chaperones, got many a discount at museums and other attractions (don't believe we ever got one at hotels - those were always arranged well ahead of time through an agency that dealt with group student travel).<BR><BR>To my mind, teachers deserve a whole lot more than discounts, especially these days. There's no group of people I admire more. If it were up to me, teachers would be making the CEO and NBA salaries, and the corporate giants and basketball players would be getting by on $40,000 a year.<BR><BR>It can't hurt to ask, so inquire wherever you go. And let us know what you found out when you return.

Amen StCirq! RE:teachers would be making the CEO and NBA salaries, and the corporate giants and basketball players would be getting by on $40,000 a year.<BR>I agree! Same for policemen and firemen. They all deserve any discounts they can get and more.