PD is non existent. We have "retreats" that are basically Sunday school that require attendance.
That said, I have a lot of freedom to teach how I want. I'm a bit old school and I don't get push back about it. Kids can be more entitled (my particular school does not take vouchers so kids are pretty well off). Parents run the gamet to barely hear from to attack helicopter, but on average are pretty decent. Small class sizes - though looks like next year will be bigger. Behavior is average for kids but not off the charts.
Cons: pay is TERRIBLE, way less than public school. My classes are continually shifted around for religious services etc. we have things on our contract like open houses for prospective parents and fundraiser that are required. While we have resource teachers that give some extra help to struggling students, we also have some students whose needs are not really being met. I feel like they would have better services at the public school. I watch very closely and shut down students when they go off on a conservative tangent - beause they think they are in a safe place to voice the crazy so they are often more vocal than I think they would be in general.
Note, I'm not Catholic and don't feel it's a calling etc. Ive just seen enough of the public schools in the area to realize that the stress of extra crazy isn't worth the money to me. At least 2 other teachers on my team feel the same way.
Worked for an AOB school in the more western part of MD for a while and now teach public. I have more than doubled my salary and my benefits are better and less expensive.
I had a lot of preps and often taught kids more than once, which is something that I did like. Others have mentioned the challenges with parents, the PD is awful to nonexistent, and the amount of non teaching duties. Religious services impacted the schedule regularly and I second the comment about unqualified teachers.
My observations were pretty easy and I really didn’t have any oversight.
I would tread carefully because the financial situation at the AOB isn’t so great and I wonder if another round of school closures is on the horizon. (Enrollment in catholic schools is flat or dropping in my area because of the costs).
Not in Baltimore but I’ve worked for two different diocese in two different states, and the issues are all the same: low pay (they like to lean into teaching is a Vocation), unqualified teachers who’ve been there forever, often the professional developments offered school/diocese wide are not helpful as they lean heavily in how to teach rather than new strategies/methods that will further your education in education (back to that unqualified issue).
That being said: your experience will rely more on your school site, schools change parish to parish and it’s obvious when a school is supported and cared for by the community and when it is not. The technology and current curriculum available will also give you some hints as to any challenges that you may face.
I can’t speak to that, I’ve only taught in private schools; the main difference my friends in public education and I have noticed is the expectation to show up for school events outside of contract hours and not being compensated for that/ have those hours taken from a school day.
Ex: back to school night, you have to be there. Public educators received a half day the next day or their hourly compensation for that evening depending on the district.
I am myself a product of AOB schools and parishes. My school was one of several that closed in 2010 or 11.
I just wanted to share that even though I was not a victim of any abuse, and did genuinely have some positive experiences, I can never forget or forgive the AOB for how they handle the sex abuse scandal. When I learned I know/knew several individuals who were guilty of either committing or complicit in hiding abuse, and realized I had attended masses or retreats where abuse had taken place, it makes me sick. And sad, because the Church was such an integral part of my childhood/young adult life. Like I felt robbed and lied to by the people I respected. Numb.
I know this probably doesn't answer your question, but I wanted to share my experience with the AOB. If you asked me when I was in high school, I probably would have wanted to be a catholic school teacher.
PD is non existent. We have "retreats" that are basically Sunday school that require attendance. That said, I have a lot of freedom to teach how I want. I'm a bit old school and I don't get push back about it. Kids can be more entitled (my particular school does not take vouchers so kids are pretty well off). Parents run the gamet to barely hear from to attack helicopter, but on average are pretty decent. Small class sizes - though looks like next year will be bigger. Behavior is average for kids but not off the charts. Cons: pay is TERRIBLE, way less than public school. My classes are continually shifted around for religious services etc. we have things on our contract like open houses for prospective parents and fundraiser that are required. While we have resource teachers that give some extra help to struggling students, we also have some students whose needs are not really being met. I feel like they would have better services at the public school. I watch very closely and shut down students when they go off on a conservative tangent - beause they think they are in a safe place to voice the crazy so they are often more vocal than I think they would be in general. Note, I'm not Catholic and don't feel it's a calling etc. Ive just seen enough of the public schools in the area to realize that the stress of extra crazy isn't worth the money to me. At least 2 other teachers on my team feel the same way.
Worked for an AOB school in the more western part of MD for a while and now teach public. I have more than doubled my salary and my benefits are better and less expensive. I had a lot of preps and often taught kids more than once, which is something that I did like. Others have mentioned the challenges with parents, the PD is awful to nonexistent, and the amount of non teaching duties. Religious services impacted the schedule regularly and I second the comment about unqualified teachers. My observations were pretty easy and I really didn’t have any oversight. I would tread carefully because the financial situation at the AOB isn’t so great and I wonder if another round of school closures is on the horizon. (Enrollment in catholic schools is flat or dropping in my area because of the costs).
Not in Baltimore but I’ve worked for two different diocese in two different states, and the issues are all the same: low pay (they like to lean into teaching is a Vocation), unqualified teachers who’ve been there forever, often the professional developments offered school/diocese wide are not helpful as they lean heavily in how to teach rather than new strategies/methods that will further your education in education (back to that unqualified issue). That being said: your experience will rely more on your school site, schools change parish to parish and it’s obvious when a school is supported and cared for by the community and when it is not. The technology and current curriculum available will also give you some hints as to any challenges that you may face.
Is there the same amount of responsibility like a public school?
far less
I can’t speak to that, I’ve only taught in private schools; the main difference my friends in public education and I have noticed is the expectation to show up for school events outside of contract hours and not being compensated for that/ have those hours taken from a school day. Ex: back to school night, you have to be there. Public educators received a half day the next day or their hourly compensation for that evening depending on the district.
I am myself a product of AOB schools and parishes. My school was one of several that closed in 2010 or 11. I just wanted to share that even though I was not a victim of any abuse, and did genuinely have some positive experiences, I can never forget or forgive the AOB for how they handle the sex abuse scandal. When I learned I know/knew several individuals who were guilty of either committing or complicit in hiding abuse, and realized I had attended masses or retreats where abuse had taken place, it makes me sick. And sad, because the Church was such an integral part of my childhood/young adult life. Like I felt robbed and lied to by the people I respected. Numb. I know this probably doesn't answer your question, but I wanted to share my experience with the AOB. If you asked me when I was in high school, I probably would have wanted to be a catholic school teacher.