Some Words That Apply to Us
Last week, the Trib printed my op-ed regarding an increase in teacher workload.
You all responded:
"Rock on with your bad self."
-Jeff
"Teachers cannot get by with less than an hour of planning time every day. I believe every teacher and administrator knows this. Let me know when you plan to run for State Senate as I want to join your campaign team!"
- Dave
"Thanks for getting our concerns out to the public."
- Paul
"Great article!! Do you really suggest dropping out of CTA, however? As lousy as they are, they are all we have for bargaining for raises...Convince me to drop out."
- Ron
"Nice job."
- Sue
"Clearly, the spirit of the classroom-size-reduction law is not being followed. I do not believe those who voted for the amendment wanted the burden to be put on teachers. In fact, the spirit of the law is for teachers and students to have a classroom environment more conducive to learning. "
- Steve
*Moderate* and some creep commenter at Sticks were the only ones with any criticism. However, I must ask my fellow teachers:
Did you write a letter to the editor? Did you organize a rally with like-minded educators? Will you attend a school board meeting? Did you cancel union membership? Did you do anything at all besides bellyache through the holidays about your lot in life?
If not, then shut the f*ck up already and do something. For once.
posted by kate @ 7:30 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Sadly, after teaching in both union and non-union environments I now see teachers' unions as just another level of resource sucking waste. At least now that I don't expect much from the union I'm seldom disappointed.
Florida Jane and John Does "think" one thing when teacher workload is discussed-those are the people that get all those "paid" (ha ha) vacations and summers off.
I thought their children failing and being retained based on a diagnostic test-the FCAT-would catch the Does attention.
As we all know, it did not, i.e. the election of Charlie Crist as governor.
Why are you worried about this long term, Kate? Aren't you planning to pull up roots in the Sunshine State and head for Winter Wonderland?
That's what most do...moan and groan for awhile and then pull up stakes...the long term residents get to deal with the ever transient work force that moves in and out of Florida like a revolving door...and that includes alot of green educators.
Florida is not alone in shouldering the burden of inexperienced educators. The typical teaching career lasts just 11 years these days. Years 1-3 are spent becoming competent, 4-7 or 8 are the height of the teacher's effectiveness, then at year 8-11 we lose them to burn out, or other career choices. Part of this is just the changing expectation of all Americans to not remain in the same job for a lifetime, but a bigger part has to do with the disconnect between the professionalism expected of teachers and the way they are treated (and it's not all $). A brand new army Lieutenant with no experience, typically 22 with a bachelors degree, doesn't make a lot of money but has more decision making authority, scheduling, and budget control for her platoon than a teacher with a decade of experience.
Leaving is doing something-voting with their feet. Unfortunately the powers that be are more comfortable figuring out how to attract newbies than how to keep the experienced teachers they really need.
PT is right - per usual. Teachers with experience are not valued or treated with the respect they deserve. They lose their classrooms and are forced to "float." This is the ultimate humiliation and nothing they can do about it. New teachers are given plum assignments sometimes just to get them in the door.
I am moving to Colorado (fingers crossed); however, writing an op-ed piece is what I could do to help a group of professionals that I've come to care about very much. It's the least I could do.
I am hoping they take the ball and run with it.
It's just sickening that we can throw away $400 billion and counting on a bullshit occupation in a far away land. But suggesting building a few more schools and paying the real guardians of our future security and you're a commy librul. Money is 90% of the answer to improving our educational system. Wouldn't throwing money at your life make things a whole lot better, roomier, happier, healthier, and secure. Come to think of it, when has throwing money at a problem ever not helped (save me the "can't buy me love")?... Oh yeah, that bullshit occupation in a far away land.
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