This is the kind of thing that makes me despise them as a group.
These fringe leftists are all about Obama's "shared sacrifice," as long as, like B.O., it's someone else sacrificing.
Public employees should be taking massive pay and benefit cuts. Massive. This is an employer's market, and there's certainly no shortage of employees available.
"Asking" state employees to take a 3% pay cut, an "ask" that somehow skipped teachers (And given their union, who can be surprised by that?) and now, this paltry amount of a cut for their 183 day per year job... this 3% should be considered by these ungrateful swine as a gift... since it should be at least 5 times that much.
Clearly, those who work for government who lack the understanding and empathy needed to address the economy... which has sucked for at least 3 years... need to resign or be fired.
People... you don't like the cut? You don't like the tasks, conditions and standards of your job?
Then quit. I don't want you infecting our children with the sickness that you carry where you seem to believe you're "owed" something that someone in the private sector, who's stuck with paying your salary for an increasingly worthless product, isn't owed even more.
I have taken an over 50% pay cut since this economic downturn, and I thank God every day I am still getting what I get.
Here's a snapshot of Seattle Schools, of which I am an unfortunate product:
Key Facts about Seattle Public Schools
New research released by Washington Policy Center, an independent, non-partisan research organization based in Seattle, provides key facts about the Seattle School District. Education spending in Washington state is at historic highs, averaging $10,200 per student statewide. Average teacher pay in Seattle is $70,850 for a ten-month work year. 163 Seattle public school employees receive more than $100,000 a year. The Seattle teachers’ union receives $3.2 million in education funding each year in the form of mandatory member dues.
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Yet, because of restrictive work rules and multi-layered bureaucracy, only 59 cents of every education dollar reaches the classroom, and public school students continue to lag in academic achievement. The research shows that more money won’t help public schools, and that policymakers can improve student learning with existing funding. Practical ideas for reform are available in the Center’s study, Eight Practical Ways to Reverse the Decline of Public Schools.
1. Seattle Schools and Students
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Yet, because of restrictive work rules and multi-layered bureaucracy, only 59 cents of every education dollar reaches the classroom, and public school students continue to lag in academic achievement. The research shows that more money won’t help public schools, and that policymakers can improve student learning with existing funding. Practical ideas for reform are available in the Center’s study, Eight Practical Ways to Reverse the Decline of Public Schools.
1. Seattle Schools and Students
- Number of students: 43,752
- Number of schools: 97
- Number of employees: 4,914
- Number of full-time classroom teachers: 2,056
- Number of students per employee: 8.8
- Number of students per classroom teacher: 20.9
- Share of employees who are classroom teachers: 42%
- Number of paid days off: 10 days of sick leave, 2 days of personal leave, and additional days for meetings and training.
- Collective bargaining rule for layoffs: younger teachers with low seniority are laid off first.
- Collective bargaining rule for teacher evaluations: numerous administrative obstacles to removing poor-performing teachers from the classroom.
- Total education spending in 2010-11, budgeted: $833.5 million
- Total per student spending: $19,051
- Operations budget in 2010-11, budgeted: $566.9 million
- Per student spending, operations only: $12,746
- Average teacher pay for a ten-month work year: $70,850
- Average teacher pay with benefits: $92,105
- Average administrator pay with benefits: $132,549
- Superintendent’s pay: $264,000
- Number of employees receiving over $100,000 a year: 163
- Education funds paid as dues to teachers union from May 2007- May 2008: $3.29 million
- Number of full class days provided by Seattle: 170 (167 days for K-5 students).
- High school on-time graduation rate: 70.1%
- 31% of fourth graders failed in Reading
- 38% of fourth graders failed in Math
- 27% of eighth graders failed in Reading
- 40% of eighth graders failed in Math
- 40% of eighth graders failed in Science
- 25% of tenth graders failed in Reading
- 55% of tenth graders failed in Math
- 55% of tenth graders failed in Science
- Number of charter schools permitted: 0
Do these people have it tough.... or what?
You people seem to spill your own blood over these minor reductions.
And frankly... that's sickening.
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4 comments:
You think there is an abundance of good teachers waiting in the wings for jobs if these teachers quite? Think again. Most teachers work a minimum of 60 hours a week. And the summers off? Gimme a break. Often they have to take classes at their own expense. Teachers DO NOT get paid for their two months off. They are given the choice to have their salaries spread out through the year. Unfortunately, the author of this article is is spreading misinformation.
"You think there is an abundance of good teachers waiting in the wings for jobs if these teachers quite[sic]?"
I presume that you meant "quit."
Absolutely. Hundreds that have been laid off across the country, not based on their skills and abilities... but their lack of seniority... would clamor to fill the positions.
Teachers should thank God every morning they have a job, because I KNOW that for each available slot dozens would apply to take their place at the beginning scale.
And the teachers know it as well.
I've heard all of your presentation before. An let me make it clear: I. DON'T. CARE.
I don't care that they have to pay for their own classes.
They knew they were going to have to do that going in.
I don't care that they claim to work 60 hour weeks.
They don't.
I don't care what their wages are, as long as they don't go up.
Teachers know that we're in a horrific recession just like everyone else. And again, no one forces anyone to teach.
At the end of the day, every one of these people knew what the deal, including the pay, was going to be before they signed on.
And, as always, I reiterate:
If they don't like it, they can quit and take some other job.
What's that?
There AREN'T any other jobs?
Too bad.
a for "spreading misinformation," I'd love to know precisely what "misinformation" I'm spreading.
But the facts have a nasty tendency to speak for themselves. And in this case, teachers, who in reality aren't any more special then any other government employee, lose.
If they don't like it... then they have to quit.
But I am sick of their monumental, incessant bitching over their pay... a lot of money for their 183 day a year job.
Actually you are wrong. Dozens would not apply. I have a class this year that is very difficult. Many teachers have to deal with the products of misguided or young and ignorant parenting. This year my students have very poor impulse control, some can not hold their bowels, while others throw tantrums because they did not get what they wanted. This is a regular ed classroom with 8 and 9 year olds. Most people would not chose to be a teacher because they don't have the patience for the job. Nor do they have thick skin to brush off the brash comments that are made because of test scores.
At the present time teachers are being scape-goated. Education is the biggest pot of money at Olympia and it is very difficult to not dip into it.
Keep in mind that when the economy is doing good employees wages rise that does not happen with teachers. Washington ranks close to last in the amount of money that they spend on students.
See my response here.
http://clarkcountypolitics.blogspot.com/2011/06/typical-anonymous-teacher-fan-swings-by.html
Have a nice day.
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