Well, all of that went out the window today when I was listening to the Diane Rhem Show. The topic of today's show was the protests in Wisconsin over collective bargaining rights and how they are bankrupting our States and Country. She featured Gov. Daniels at the beginning of the show and from there my blood pressure continued to rise. After listening for most of the hour, I finally shouted, "So what!?!"
All politicians talk about is how teachers are overpaid, benefit hoarding free loaders who have cushy jobs that allow them to do the bare minimum without retribution which means a crappy education for our kids. We are then required to repudiate these statements and prove that we are underpaid employees whose benefits are not cost controlled by our Districts; employees who spend our own money to furnish our classrooms with engaging materials and take work home nightly with no extra benefit; who work tirelessly for our students, learning new ways of reaching struggling learners and enhancing education for all students.
This causes me to ask, "So what?!?" I don't want to have to prove politicians wrong anymore. Even though their assessment of teacher compensation is completely bogus, I'll go along with it for the sake of making my point, "So what?!?"
So what if we get great benefits and job security? So what if our salaries reflect the work of an entire year when we are only in school for 9 months? So what if we are able to collectively stand up for our profession and negotiate terms of our contract to protect ourselves from unfair labor practices? So what!?!
Teachers should have these benefits and much more. If, as a Country, we really value the education of our children, we should value the position of a teacher enough to put things in place that attract the best of the best to teach our students. Teachers should have great benefits and high salaries considering the future of our Country rests on their shoulders. Instead, teachers are forced to apologize for the compensation we get for doing an incredibly hard job, in which, daily, we are accused of being selfish and free-loading off tax payers.
As a highly educated, articulate professional I am unable to move up in my profession. Once a teacher has a few years of experience and/or an advanced degree, we are priced out of the job market. There are few opportunities within my District to move up and going to another District is out of the question. No one has the money to pay me. Experience and higher education make teachers undesirable. In any other profession, you can barely get your foot in the door without an advanced degree and at least 5 years experience. In education you are stuck.
All I can say is, "So what!?!" Well, I have an answer to that question. The quality of those in the education profession will continue to decline. Who wants to be a punching bag when things go wrong and ignored when things are going well? Being blamed for the poor choices of others is a position no one wants to be in. Maybe, eventually, our society will realize that a strong economy and civilization lies within those who teach. Until then...
Mitch, if you want to fuck me you better buy me dinner.
Sarah Lynn,
ReplyDeleteI laughed out loud at this! I actually just wrote a three-page letter to our district's rep. last week that several of our teachers took with them to a meeting. I was very upset at Mitch's comments lately, and I have never been so angry/passionate about topics in education as I have lately. I totally agree with your statement but also wish our politicians would spend a day in our classrooms, stuffed with 30 kids full of special needs, attention problems, home-life problems and more. No one dares to mention parent involvement or accountability, and legislators seem to forget there are times when much of our day is spent disciplining rather than teaching. They are great at pushing change, but never once have they tried to step into our shoes. If they did for a few days, weeks or months, their tune may be a little different.
Well written!
P.S. I am SO TIRED of the summer comments too! There is a reason we have them off, and I can't think of any teacher takes that time for granted, but rather uses is to further education, attend workshops or work on stuff for the next school year!
I think being a teacher is one of the hardest jobs there is. I know that I could never do it as I don't have the patience and determination you and Elizabeth have. I wholeheartedly agree with Elizabeth's comment that if legislators would step into your shoes for a day, they would see how hard this job is and perhaps be more willing to work with you, rather than against you.
ReplyDeleteAnd perhaps things would be easier if parents were more involved. I have found that Daulton's teacher is more than willing to help us do whatever needs to be done to make Daulton the best student possible. And I think she is more likely to go that extra mile for us because we are involved and we don't make it her fault, EVER. Daulton has to learn to be responsible for his actions and blaming his teacher for his mistakes only hurts him and frustrates the teacher.
Well said Sarah Lynn!
Seriously, teachers have the hardest job of anyone. In my job, I am close enough to see the (many) drawbacks of being one. It is nearly always a thankless job. Those who can keep it up day after day and stay positive about teaching are amazing individuals. The sad thing about this country is that education merely gets lip service. It is clear that it is not truly valued. This is why we are falling further and further behind other countries.
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