|
|
Post by freecharlie on Apr 17, 2018 23:00:13 GMT
If you want you can explain, but I don't want people to pile on each other for their opinions.
|
|
|
|
Post by myboysnme on Apr 17, 2018 23:02:22 GMT
No one wants to go on strike or walk out, but desperation results in desperate measures. I support them doing what they need to do to get what they need. I am not a teacher but my husband and son are public school teachers with extremely low pay.
|
|
ellen
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,509 
|
Post by ellen on Apr 17, 2018 23:12:55 GMT
The teachers in those states are grossly underpaid. Their schools are underfunded and students suffer. No one will go into teaching if we continue to not support education.
|
|
|
|
Post by hop2 on Apr 17, 2018 23:16:15 GMT
Depends.
The recent ones seemed pretty necessary, teachers shouldn't be paid at poverty level wages. But i've also seen unnecessary teacher walk outs. So I can't make a blanket statement on this issue.
|
|
pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,540
|
Post by pinklady on Apr 17, 2018 23:23:06 GMT
Kindergarten thru 12th grade teachers should be the highest paid and most regulated profession. When I say regulated, I mean they should have to pass the hardest mental & competency evaluations known to man.
There are way too many complete morons teaching and influencing children.
Funding for K thru 12 education should be in the billions as far as I’m concerned but the republicans in government want to keep the general population ignorant because they are easier to control.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 15:04:58 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2018 23:30:23 GMT
In our school district?
Nope.
Teachers are paid very well here. And the support staff too.
Great health care/ personal days/ half day prep every week and a full day every five weeks.
All the schools have been remodeled and new ones built.
Top notch computer labs, and performancing arts facilities.
And yet there is still a considerable dropout rate , super seniors and a high rate that don't go to college/ trade school.
|
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Apr 17, 2018 23:34:22 GMT
A few months ago, I would have said no. I have a hard time with the idea of walking out and leaving working families struggling for child care.
BUT ... my state is slowly starving the public schools to death. I actually have no beef with my salary. Yes, it would be nice to make a little more, but it's fine. My problem is with the Republican legislature and their stated purpose to destroy public schools so they can be replaced by charters and private schools funded by vouchers. They're doing this by starving us of funding, using broken funding formulas that don't acknowledge that certain populations are much more expensive to educate, and mandating developmentally inappropriate tests that are designed to produce a certain number of "failing" schools each year, to hasten state takeover and then privatization of our schools, bit by bit. What will working families do when there are no more public schools?
If my district walks out, it won't be over pay. Other districts in Texas - particularly rural ones - could definitely strike for more pay. But most of us would be protesting the lack of funding for public schools and our destructive test-and-punish system.
|
|
|
|
Post by bc2ca on Apr 17, 2018 23:37:54 GMT
Yes.
No one goes into teacher to make it rich, but they should be working in well stocked classrooms and make a living wage.
The profiles of teachers working 2nd & 3rd jobs just to make ends meet is heartbreaking.
|
|
garcia5050
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,733
Location: So. Calif.
|
Post by garcia5050 on Apr 18, 2018 0:05:27 GMT
I’ve not been aware of unnecessary strikes in my area. I’m in full support of increasing teacher pay, just about always.
|
|
|
|
Post by ktdoesntscrap on Apr 18, 2018 0:08:00 GMT
The salary paid to teacher is shockingly low. SO yes I am all for it.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 15:04:58 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2018 0:10:21 GMT
I don't know.
I 100% support significant pay increases for teachers.
However, they agreed to do that job for that wage. Striking essentially goes back on that word and the commitment made to the kids and parents, who are relying on them to be there. And when schools close, low income kids miss meals. And long strikes affect the kids' education.
On the other hand, I also know that waiting til a break to strike loses their leverage and at some point, they have to be able to do something drastic to get the attention of those who can affect change.
I do appreciate "scheduled" strikes so that at least parents have the opportunity to try to make alternate arrangements for their kids.
I guess I see that they have a place but I think they should be a last resort.
|
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Apr 18, 2018 0:18:49 GMT
I don't know. I 100% support significant pay increases for teachers. However, they agreed to do that job for that wage. Striking essentially goes back on that word and the commitment made to the kids and parents, who are relying on them to be there. And when schools close, low income kids miss meals. And long strikes affect the kids' education. On the other hand, I also know that waiting til a break to strike loses their leverage and at some point, they have to be able to do something drastic to get the attention of those who can affect change. I do appreciate "scheduled" strikes so that at least parents have the opportunity to try to make alternate arrangements for their kids. I guess I see that they have a place but I think they should be a last resort. I agree and share your concern for working families. I will point out, however, that many teachers did not necessarily agree to do this job for the wage they are paid. Teacher salaries in many areas are actually lower now, adjusted for inflation, than they were 20 years ago. No one signs up to have their salary decrease over time. |
|
|
|
Post by flanz on Apr 18, 2018 0:20:42 GMT
Kindergarten thru 12th grade teachers should be the highest paid and most regulated profession. When I say regulated, I mean they should have to pass the hardest mental & competency evaluations known to man. There are way too many complete morons teaching and influencing children. Funding for K thru 12 education should be in the billions as far as I’m concerned but the republicans in government want to keep the general population ignorant because they are easier to control. Agreed except I also think that preschool teachers are very important and deserve decent salaries! |
|
|
|
Post by bc2ca on Apr 18, 2018 0:21:23 GMT
I don't know. I 100% support significant pay increases for teachers. However, they agreed to do that job for that wage. Striking essentially goes back on that word and the commitment made to the kids and parents, who are relying on them to be there. And when schools close, low income kids miss meals. And long strikes affect the kids' education. On the other hand, I also know that waiting til a break to strike loses their leverage and at some point, they have to be able to do something drastic to get the attention of those who can affect change. I do appreciate "scheduled" strikes so that at least parents have the opportunity to try to make alternate arrangements for their kids. I guess I see that they have a place but I think they should be a last resort. This may be true for relatively new teachers, but not for those whose salaries haven't kept up to increases in the cost of living. They also shouldn't be shouldering the cost of supplies for their classroom. |
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Apr 18, 2018 0:21:44 GMT
Kindergarten thru 12th grade teachers should be the highest paid and most regulated profession. When I say regulated, I mean they should have to pass the hardest mental & competency evaluations known to man. There are way too many complete morons teaching and influencing children. Funding for K thru 12 education should be in the billions as far as I’m concerned but the republicans in government want to keep the general population ignorant because they are easier to control. Agreed except I also think that preschool teachers are very important and deserve decent salaries! Those ladies deserve a medal, a million dollars, and a trip to Hawaii. Forty-five minutes per day is more than enough Pre-K for me! |
|
sassyangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,456
|
Post by sassyangel on Apr 18, 2018 0:28:49 GMT
I don't know. I 100% support significant pay increases for teachers. However, they agreed to do that job for that wage. Striking essentially goes back on that word and the commitment made to the kids and parents, who are relying on them to be there. And when schools close, low income kids miss meals. And long strikes affect the kids' education. On the other hand, I also know that waiting til a break to strike loses their leverage and at some point, they have to be able to do something drastic to get the attention of those who can affect change. I do appreciate "scheduled" strikes so that at least parents have the opportunity to try to make alternate arrangements for their kids. I guess I see that they have a place but I think they should be a last resort. I agree, this is a valid point. For me, I support this specific strike because I think this IS a last resort action for them. Its a criminal shame that education is not deemed important enough for even adequate funding in certain areas of this country. |
|
|
|
Post by shescrafty on Apr 18, 2018 0:29:22 GMT
I don't know. I 100% support significant pay increases for teachers. However, they agreed to do that job for that wage. Striking essentially goes back on that word and the commitment made to the kids and parents, who are relying on them to be there. And when schools close, low income kids miss meals. And long strikes affect the kids' education. On the other hand, I also know that waiting til a break to strike loses their leverage and at some point, they have to be able to do something drastic to get the attention of those who can affect change. I do appreciate "scheduled" strikes so that at least parents have the opportunity to try to make alternate arrangements for their kids. I guess I see that they have a place but I think they should be a last resort. In many cases there have been things that happened that changed the course of the payment and pensions. In my area we are the 3rd “richest” county in the state but the 19th in pay. We have lost steps and the pay that is associated with it with the promise that they will come back to us but they haven’t. The other civil servants that were also impacted (police, fire, EMS) have had their pay and benefits increased to make up for the prior missing steps. But not the teachers. I do have to wonder if part of the issue is that the teaching profession is predominantly women while the other civil servants are typically male. That and our county is very republican (even though I am in a traditionally democrat state) and our representatives embrace the Devos plan to defund public schools. |
|
|
|
Post by Woobster on Apr 18, 2018 0:30:26 GMT
My mom taught first grade for 44 years. 40 of those years were in Arizona... One of the worst states for teachers and education. I support teacher walkouts/strikes 100%. Teachers deserve so much more... And so do the kids they teach!!
|
|
|
|
Post by padresfan619 on Apr 18, 2018 0:31:07 GMT
Absolutely.
I don’t have kids but I was old enough to remember a teachers strike when I was in first grade. My mom didn’t make us cross that picket line and she “home schooled” us for that week. We were lucky enough to have a mom who could be at home to watch us, she had a job that allowed her that flexibility. I understand some parents simply don’t have any other option than to send their kids to school, even during a strike, but that was her way of showing solidarity for teachers and other on campus staff.
|
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Apr 18, 2018 0:44:24 GMT
I don't know. I 100% support significant pay increases for teachers. However, they agreed to do that job for that wage. Striking essentially goes back on that word and the commitment made to the kids and parents, who are relying on them to be there. And when schools close, low income kids miss meals. And long strikes affect the kids' education. On the other hand, I also know that waiting til a break to strike loses their leverage and at some point, they have to be able to do something drastic to get the attention of those who can affect change. I do appreciate "scheduled" strikes so that at least parents have the opportunity to try to make alternate arrangements for their kids. I guess I see that they have a place but I think they should be a last resort. while I definitely wouldn't turn down a pay increase, Colorado teachers are up in arms over the legislature messing with our retirement. We must participate in the state requirement and are not eligible for social security. We'd also like more district finding as the state is behind over $800 million to the schools. That finding could be used for textbooks and updates and we'd really like bus driver, instructional aides, lunch people , and others to he paid better or at least be given enough hours to get benefits. I'm not sure we are even yelling about pay (although more funding should lead to better pay). Colorado is like 46/50 in terms of teacher pay. We are planning only a one day call in and it should be pretty publicized. I also believe sone teacher still stat behind to feed and help with kids who's parents work. |
|
|
|
Post by Sorrel on Apr 18, 2018 0:56:06 GMT
I don't know. I 100% support significant pay increases for teachers. However, they agreed to do that job for that wage. Striking essentially goes back on that word and the commitment made to the kids and parents, who are relying on them to be there. And when schools close, low income kids miss meals. And long strikes affect the kids' education. On the other hand, I also know that waiting til a break to strike loses their leverage and at some point, they have to be able to do something drastic to get the attention of those who can affect change. I do appreciate "scheduled" strikes so that at least parents have the opportunity to try to make alternate arrangements for their kids. I guess I see that they have a place but I think they should be a last resort. while I definitely wouldn't turn down a pay increase, Colorado teachers are up in arms over the legislature messing with our retirement. We must participate in the state requirement and are not eligible for social security. We'd also like more district finding as the state is behind over $800 million to the schools. That finding could be used for textbooks and updates and we'd really like bus driver, instructional aides, lunch people , and others to he paid better or at least be given enough hours to get benefits. I'm not sure we are even yelling about pay (although more funding should lead to better pay). Colorado is like 46/50 in terms of teacher pay. We are planning only a one day call in and it should be pretty publicized. I also believe sone teacher still stat behind to feed and help with kids who's parents work. I’m a school speech language therapist in Denver, I’m on the teacher salary schedule. Our wages have been stagnant for years, while the cost of housing has gone through the roof. I work 4 days a week, serve 50 kids in two schools, grades pre-k - 8. Over 80% of my students are refugees and ELLs. Do you know how much money I get from the district to serve this diverse population? $100. That’s it- that’s for curriculum, supplies, EVERYTHING! Guess how much of my own salary I spend buying therapy materials so I can actually do my job? You don’t want to know. What other job do employees have to buy all the materials needed to do their work? It’s pathetic. |
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Apr 18, 2018 1:00:50 GMT
When new teachers can't pay rent and their student loans, it becomes a problem. We had years of no increases and higher medical costs. I realize schools are non profit, but kids are our greatest resource and we treat them like they really don't matter. Great teachers oftentimes leave for a better paying job to survive.
|
|
|
|
Post by PolarGreen12 on Apr 18, 2018 1:07:24 GMT
The walk outs that just happened here in Oklahoma hundred percent yes! But I think some people might not understand is that this was half for their pay and half for education funding. The senate agreed to their pay raise in the first 3 days. The teachers didn’t just give up and go back to school not care about the education funding. The last eight days of the walk out was them fighting for the education funding.
I also see some posts about they agreed to do a job at that pay. Yes when they signed on as new teachers they signed on at $23000. But like any normal person you expect raises and cost of living increase. You also don’t expect to paying for all the classroom supplies, and repairs out of your own pocket.
|
|
moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,179
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
|
Post by moodyblue on Apr 18, 2018 1:33:53 GMT
I'm a teacher who has always been uncomfortable with the idea of striking, for lots of reasons, including some people have mentioned here.
However, I've come to believe there are times when striking is justified. And when you see pictures of the old, outdated, taped together text books in some of those Oklahoma schools, and you realize that the financial support for schools and the children and staff spending their days in them is so bad you begin to accept that drastic actions are necessary.
I am paid very decently, but I could be making a lot more money in a district just minutes from mine. When you start getting close to retirement, you begin to realize what that means, for the long-term, and how that will impact my retirement years forever. Add to that the state wanting to change teacher pensions - what I signed on to and have paid into for decades. I paid every penny I was supposed to, and paid more when the state made health insurance available for retired teachers, paid for in part by active teachers. It is not my fault that the state chose to NOT pay their portion. Teachers do have to look out for themselves and their families, and some of the stories about the teachers with enormous class sizes, buying supplies for their students, and making less with a Master's degree and years of experience than starting teachers get in other states are very disturbing.
Sometimes a strike is the best way to get things changed.
|
|
|
|
Post by revirdsuba99 on Apr 18, 2018 1:46:01 GMT
I do have to wonder if part of the issue is that the teaching profession is predominantly women while the other civil servants are typically male.... No doubt about it! I also see some posts about they agreed to do a job at that pay. Yes when they signed on as new teachers they signed on at $23000. But like any normal person you expect raises and cost of living increase. You also don’t expect to paying for all the classroom supplies, and repairs out of your own pocket. And think of how many question the supply requests from teachers every year. Not all of them, but many. If parents don't help out, the teachers have to make the purchases that should be covered by the school budgets! |
|
|
|
Post by revirdsuba99 on Apr 18, 2018 1:51:37 GMT
However, I've come to believe there are times when striking is justified. And when you see pictures of the old, outdated, taped together text books in some of those Oklahoma schools, and you realize that the financial support for schools and the children and staff spending their days in them is so bad you begin to accept that drastic actions are necessary. Agreed! I forgot the answer about teacher strikes.... Oklahoma, West Virginia and Kentucky of late, yes I agree they are justified. They were not just walking for their pay, but for supplies for the classrooms for the KIDS!! |
|
|
|
Post by mom on Apr 18, 2018 1:51:37 GMT
A few months ago, I would have said no. I have a hard time with the idea of walking out and leaving working families struggling for child care. BUT ... my state is slowly starving the public schools to death. I actually have no beef with my salary. Yes, it would be nice to make a little more, but it's fine. My problem is with the Republican legislature and their stated purpose to destroy public schools so they can be replaced by charters and private schools funded by vouchers. They're doing this by starving us of funding, using broken funding formulas that don't acknowledge that certain populations are much more expensive to educate, and mandating developmentally inappropriate tests that are designed to produce a certain number of "failing" schools each year, to hasten state takeover and then privatization of our schools, bit by bit. What will working families do when there are no more public schools? If my district walks out, it won't be over pay. Other districts in Texas - particularly rural ones - could definitely strike for more pay. But most of us would be protesting the lack of funding for public schools and our destructive test-and-punish system. This, 100%. Our legislature is ruining our schools. They are making demands that local districts cannot meet. I would fully support our teachers walking out. |
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Apr 18, 2018 2:15:17 GMT
I don't know. I 100% support significant pay increases for teachers. However, they agreed to do that job for that wage. Striking essentially goes back on that word and the commitment made to the kids and parents, who are relying on them to be there. And when schools close, low income kids miss meals. And long strikes affect the kids' education. On the other hand, I also know that waiting til a break to strike loses their leverage and at some point, they have to be able to do something drastic to get the attention of those who can affect change. I do appreciate "scheduled" strikes so that at least parents have the opportunity to try to make alternate arrangements for their kids. I guess I see that they have a place but I think they should be a last resort. In many cases there have been things that happened that changed the course of the payment and pensions. In my area we are the 3rd “richest” county in the state but the 19th in pay. We have lost steps and the pay that is associated with it with the promise that they will come back to us but they haven’t. The other civil servants that were also impacted (police, fire, EMS) have had their pay and benefits increased to make up for the prior missing steps. But not the teachers. I do have to wonder if part of the issue is that the teaching profession is predominantly women while the other civil servants are typically male. That and our county is very republican (even though I am in a traditionally democrat state) and our representatives embrace the Devos plan to defund public schools. I think the others are getting lost in the teacher bit. All (or almost all) state employees would be affected by the PERA (or retirement) changes the legislature wants to screw us over with. It isn't just teachers, but we are probably the biggest group and this week and next will be the most vocal. |
|
cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,375
|
Post by cycworker on Apr 18, 2018 2:45:24 GMT
I absolutely support the rights of teachers to unionize & strike. I will say that I generally don't support wildcat strikes - as in, strikes that are mid-contract. Only exception for me in that area is if the employer tries to arbitrarily change key contract terms mid agreement.
I will say one other thing. Although I'm not meaning to pick on you, @merge, you are the first one who brought it up.... the issue of childcare for families is irrelevant. It's not your responsibility nor is it your problem. Teachers/education is NOT daycare & I'm sick of educators being treated being treated as glorified childcare providers. The purpose of the education system is to EDUCATE children. And sadly, it's comments like your first one that undermines the case of teachers because it plays into the public perception that you're just babysitters.
If parents are that concerned about not having care for their children when/if teachers are on strike, maybe they should get off their butts & demand that governments do their damn jobs and provide stable, adequate funding for a quality public education system.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 15:04:58 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2018 2:45:37 GMT
Are children really "our most important assets" as people like to claim? Then those who are charged for many hours of the day with their academic, social and emotional intelligence as well as looking after their physical safety, should be paid accordingly.
|
|
