[hanamizu]

I was a public school teacher for over 30 years. Never in a union, never went on strike. After five years I had tenure, which meant that I couldn’t be replaced because my principal’s niece was looking for a job—happened to my wife. Had contracts and was paid for 180 days a year. My pay was divided into 12 paychecks rather than 9. Most teachers preferred that because they can’t manage their money. Schools preferred it because they got to keep the interest earned for most of the year.

Unlike other jobs that have seasonal layoffs, teachers are specifically excluded from unemployment checks during the summer if they have contracts for the next year. Most younger teachers take on summer jobs.

I grew up in SoCal. Big Hollywood stars would troop down to the unemployment office as soon as a film production stopped. It was almost a point of pride for them.

I truly understand the animosity by many for public school teachers. And in many cases it is well deserved. I cannot stand the idea of teachers unions and strikes that always seem to occur at the very beginning or end of the school year. The men and women I worked with worked hard to teach the kids in their classes. I was very lucky in my career.

[cloudmountain]

I was a public school teacher for over 30 years. Never in a union, never went on strike. After five years I had tenure, which meant that I couldn’t be replaced because my principal’s niece was looking for a job—happened to my wife. Had contracts and was paid for 180 days a year. My pay was divided into 12 paychecks rather than 9. Most teachers preferred that because they can’t manage their money. Schools preferred it because they got to keep the interest earned for most of the year.
Unlike other jobs that have seasonal layoffs, teachers are specifically excluded from unemployment checks during the summer if they have contracts for the next year. Most younger teachers take on summer jobs.
I grew up in SoCal. Big Hollywood stars would troop down to the unemployment office as soon as a film production stopped. It was almost a point of pride for them.
I truly understand the animosity by many for public school teachers. And in many cases it is well deserved. I cannot stand the idea of teachers unions and strikes that always seem to occur at the very beginning or end of the school year. The men and women I worked with worked hard to teach the kids in their classes. I was very lucky in my career.

You were BLESSED.
So was I.