My teachers are striking.

[LauraleeBraswell]

One word, tenure.

[PzLdr]

Ques. 1. Depends on the state. In N.Y, teachers are forbidden to strike [the Taylor Law]. Can they be jailed? Possibly, especially if they ignore a back to work order from a judge. Does it happen much? Nope. Are they fired? Haven't seen it in my lifetime. What the state does is fine the Union and the teachers [two days' pay for each day on strike]. The meat hooks strike anyway.

Can you do anything? Don't know. But if you're going in worried about the impact on you, you shouldn't ask the question. If your position is the right one, and you don't have the stones to risk the consequences, you shouldn't be asking the questions. Right is right. Consequences be damned [assuming no illegality on your part].

[LauraleeBraswell]

You would probably have to have a lawyer review their union contract if you want to find out.

[letsgonova19087]

That's a little out of my league. Besides, I'm sure somebody has already done that. Pisses me off though.

[Fido969]

Could be the best think that could happen to you.

Now, instead of spending hours a day on socialist indoctrination, you could go to the library, pick out a book and LEARN SOMETHING. No chance of that happening if you are in school with these people.

Organize study groups. Send the teachers a message - we will learn better WITHOUT you.

Good luck!

[letsgonova19087]

Haha now THERE's an idea. Get local media involved...cameras, lots of cameras, and show them how resolute students are to learn by defying the eeeeeeevvillll greedy teachers and learning on their own...talk about a PR victory...

[Fraxinus]

Send the teachers a message - we will learn better WITHOUT you.

The teachers could be really pissed if they did this, their students might think an economics text by Walter Williams or Thomas Sowell was worthy reading material. Or they could read what Whittaker Chambers tells of the Communist Party USA.

[Fraxinus]

We have a student here interested in home schooling, as his teachers do not want to work. I believe that he is interested in a self started study group, do you have suggestions?

[metmom]

Where to begin? Wow. How old is the student and does he have access to a computer at home? What state are you in?

There is a computer curriculum called *Switched on Schoolhouse* by Alpha-Omega Publishers that a co-worker of my husbands used with a great deal of success. She had a troubled teen who the PUBLIC school wouldn't take any more. He was headed for JD. She had no alternative but homeschooling and used that program and they loved it. You can get the major subjects, English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. There's a five curriculum pack that also includes a Bible Study.

If the student is a teen and is really motivated, they can do an awful lot by themselves. This is not an unheard of situation and these kids are often highly motivated and will do the work on their own. That's really the key. If a kid doesn't want to learn, you just can't force it into him.That was the situation with the family above. She's a single parent who worked full time and he stayed home and did his school work. It's very reasonably priced per subject. Much of the curriculum is over-priced IMO. Here is a link to a curriculum provider that has excellent prices on material.
http://www.rocksolidinc.com/
The curriculum they sell has a distinct Christian perspective, which includes Alpha-Omega.

For math, however, I would not ever use anything other that Saxon Math. I learned a lot from it and is very self-explanatory. The lessons are explained clearly to the point that my kids really taught themsemves by the time they got to jr. high. They would ask my help when they came to something they didn't understand but other than that, they pretty much did it on their own, even as far as the calculus.

I'm sure that hardly covers it but don't hesitate to ask more.

[metmom]

This is NOT a waste of time. The future plans of a whole grade of graduating seniors depends on this plus the kids behind them.

There was a stiuation many years ago that I recall, where the teachers struck and they did it for such a long time that it threatened the kids ability to go to college. I don't remember how it all panned out but the kids were furious for the same reasons you mentioned.

Obviously, the teachers are not striking over working conditions. PA is a tough state to homeschool in, but that is an option. It would be the ultimate irony if the kids and their families boycotted the school by homeschooling for the year.

[metmom]

Any input?

[Fraxinus]

Thanks for adding some usefull information for a student whose teachers have put him in a bind.

[letsgonova19087]

Thanks for your advice and support. There is one final set of negotiations tomorrow, and a large group of us are going out to protest the strike. Hopefully, it can be avoided all together.

Thanks again.

[metmom]

Keep us posted. I'd like to now what happens.

[Tired of Taxes]

ANOTHER REASON TO HOMESCHOOL PING!

This freeper's school is on strike. Any input or advice?

This ping list is for the "other" articles of interest to homeschoolers about education and public school. If you want on/off this list, please freepmail me. The main Homeschool Ping List by DaveLoneRanger handles the homeschool-specific articles.

[LukeL]

Sounds like what happened to my schoo about 6 years back. Here is what the teachers get in our area:

1. Average Salary of $50,000.00

2. Full Dental and Medical and Life

3. Generous Vacation Package

4. Full Pension

5. Insurance untill they die

6. Paid Funeral

7. 401K and other retirment plans

And they have the balls to say they are underpaid and only want to help the "children". That is why they made the threat to strike. You show me another job you can get with a 4 year degree that has that kind of benefits package.

[metmom]

It's #3 that gets me. Weekends and holidays off, Christmas, winter and spring breaks and all of summer. All for what the average worker has to work full time year round for, well, actually for MORE than what the average joe gets when you include benefits.

[cgk]

I'm moving to PA from CA, so this is of interest to me. I found these sites that may assist you & your fellow students (teachers post here too, not necessarily from your township), but there is quite a bit of information on PA teacher strikes in and around the Wayne, PA area.

http://www.topix.net/forum/city/wayne-pa/T9F7FN5JJR38C9AOV/p56#lastPost

The link is to the last, current, page of comments. You can go back to read previous, more relevant comments.

I also found this page directly concerning PA teacher strikes:

http://www.stopteacherstrikes.org/

Best of luck to you.

[metmom]

What if the whole district threatened to homeschool? How effective would a strike be if there were no students left to teach? Then they couldn't blackmail the parents and students.