Lets screw the teachers shall we?

[Akasa]

First I need to give you some back ground on my state. The teachers are state employees. The governor controls the release of funds for them to get paid. As a general rule teachers get about a 5% pay raise a year. We all know they get paid very little considering how much schooling they have to have to actually become teachers. For this topic we will use my friend as an example who was contracted at $30k last year.(In comparison the bus drivers, who are also state employees make around $70k, but that's another thread.)
To save money the Gov decided that all state employees should take several unpaid days a month off. It was pointed out that teachers can't do that because, you know, they have students. So she decided a 14% pay cut would be appropriate. That's a pay cut that would put them making barely more than minimum wage. Especially if you count all the off the clock hours they put in for things like grading papers, making tests, etc.
Then to make matters worse she wants them to pay $200 more a month for their health insurance. The teacher's union found health care at the same price they were paying and the teachers of course jumped on it. This for some reason has the Gov seeing red. It pissed her off so much she's trying to pass legislation that would make the teacher's union illegal and force the teachers to join the regular labor union. The big problem with this is the labor union has no clue what teachers, esp special ed teachers deal with and the laws they are forced to follow. Teachers have to have a separate insurance for in case they are sued by parents.
At this time teachers are working w/o a contract, and the Gov refuses to release funds to pay them.

[Nyoibo]

It's amazing how quickly resolutions are found when teacher strike, it's been effective here.

[Daskinor]

Oh yea, I think a strike is in order.

[Mr Slugger]

Oh yea, I think a strike is in order.

Our state was smart in the sense that they made it illegal for teachers to strike, sure they can hold signs out in front of schools, but they have to show up to work or they can go to jail.

But my take on it is this. It sucks to be in the school system, because on one hand teachers deserve to be paid well because they're the ones that teach us everything. On the other hand they're every town & state's whipping boy. Every time they need to cut money it always comes out of the schools first.

Which sucks in my opinion

[powerboy]

Lets face it, not every teacher should be a teacher. Yeah it sucks that their pay is being cut or what have you. But when you get teachers that does not teach. Then those are the ones that needs to have their pay cut.

[BlaqueKatt]

But when you get teachers that does not teach. Then those are the ones that needs to have their pay cut.

Or are they not teaching because their pay is so low?

[AdminAssistant]

I'll admit that my knowledge of the K-12 system is somewhat limited, since I'm hoping to teach college. (No way in hell that I'd put up with the crap K-12 teachers put up with, not to mention that since I'd be teaching theatre I'd have to deal with Stage Mothers *shudder*). Anyway. But yes, whenever a state's making cuts, they make big cuts in education.

Some teachers are crap. Some do it because they get most of the summer off (besides whatever inservice hours are required) and get off work at 3. However, a good many do it because they love teaching children and have a passion for it. As far as pay goes...it's not as much as they should get, but it's not exactly poverty level. I mean..c'mon now. Our entire education system needs to be re-vamped with more teachers working more hours and making more money. We need longer school days (which teacher's unions fight, btw) and more emphasis on education. The important stuff like history, English, foreign languages, art, math, science. And it needs to be more difficult. Hell, I bet you could practically sleep through high school today and wind up with a diploma. Easier to give it to you than fail you. Sheesh.

I wouldn't care so much, except that a lot of these kids wind up at college and go into utter shock when they realize they have to actually show up to these things called classes and read books and actually....write something! Oh, dear God! I thought I was just going to go to frat parties and ballgames!

If I could redo the system, the very first thing to go would be athletics. It costs too damn much money to justify.. for what reward? I wonder if these schools will be making similar cuts to their athletic programs? Nah, the football team needing new uniforms is far more important than paying a qualified English teacher. You don't need to be able to write a term paper if you can make a touchdown, right? Replace it with an emphasis on the arts. It's productive and everyone can participate. Anybody can act, anybody can pick up a paintbrush, anybody can sing. Not everyone can do those things well, but being able to express ourselves to me is vitally more important than the ability to put a ball through a hoop.

[BroomJockey]

Or are they not teaching because their pay is so low?

That's right up there with the argument of my ex-coworkers at my first job as a minimum-wage floor sweeper at a cineplex. "They don't pay me enough to work hard." Sorry, didn't fly with me then, doesn't fly with me now. If the pay isn't enough to live on, then find another job. Or a second job. If it's just not enough pay to do extras, then fine, cut back on extras for the classroom, and use it as a negotiating tactic. But if your low pay is your excuse for being shitty at your job, then you're in the wrong line of everything. Very few people think they're paid what their labour is worth. Suck it up and fuck off, if you're not going to put some effort in.

[Boozy]

I agree that people should do the best they can within their job description. If they didn't agree with the compensation for the job duties they are asked to perform, they shouldn't have taken the job to begin with.

But low teacher pay means that the best and the brightest aren't being lured into the profession. Hard working, intelligent people can get hired elsewhere -- for more money. If $30,000 (or less) isn't enough to attract good people in the job market, then they need to increase the compensation package.

[joe hx]

Or are they not teaching because their pay is so low?

I spent my twelve years of public school listening to teachers complain they don't get paid enough. Hell some whined that they had to get summer jobs. Poor teachers don't get their 3-month vacation every year? Boo hoo.

My 11th grade teacher was awesome. How awesome? Awesome enough to be Ohio's teacher-of-the-year. Awesome enough to win $100k for said award. He NEVER complained about not making enough money. Hell, he had other schools offering him boatloads of money, but he insisted that he stay where he thought he was needed.

Hell, I bet you could practically sleep through high school today and wind up with a diploma. Easier to give it to you than fail you.

High school for me was a joke. I slept through classes, failed 11th grade English (didn't do the work), spent the last half of my senior year in the hospital and still graduated with honors.

[Nyoibo]

Our state was smart in the sense that they made it illegal for teachers to strike, sure they can hold signs out in front of schools, but they have to show up to work or they can go to jail.

Wait, how does that work?

[powerboy]

Or are they not teaching because their pay is so low?

Honestly, I don't know. I never really needed to know what other peoples pay was. You know, about it not being any of my business.

[Boozy]

You don't need to know any particular teacher's salary, but you should have a general idea of how much teachers are getting paid in your area. They get paid with your tax dollars and are teaching your community's children. That makes it your business.

[Flyndaran]

Two pages, and I can't resist anymore.

Let's screw the teachers?
Who's hooooot for teacher!?

Small town police get alot more crap than the teachers. They just tend not be as whiny about it.

[Nyoibo]

You don't need to know any particular teacher's salary, but you should have a general idea of how much teachers are getting paid in your area. They get paid with your tax dollars and are teaching your community's children. That makes it your business.

That's a poor arguement, by that reasoning every public servants income should be a matter of public record.