Posted on 03/29/2006 10:05:48 AM PST by NormsRevenge
The Long Beach Board of Education has just mailed a letter to 235,000 constituents declaring that the board will not be bullied by the teachers union into providing more than the 4 percent pay raise being offered.
Most of us love teachers. The popular perception is that they are self-sacrificing altruists dedicated to guiding our children to a golden future. The image is that they struggle to survive on low pay and carry on instruction with few resources.
While this romanticized image may actually fit a few teachers, mostly at private schools, what is seldom considered is that the unions representing teachers are as bare-knuckled tough as those representing coal miners or teamsters.
In California, the teachers unions have been immensely successful in promoting the image of the struggling teacher, while at the same time elevating their pay to the highest in the nation, according to statistics available from the U.S. Census Bureau.
And woe to anyone who challenges the teachers union. When Governor Schwarzenegger increased education spending -- which is more than half the state budget -- but not to the level demanded by the California Teachers Association, they came down on him like a ton of bricks, spending millions of dollars on advertising accusing him of betraying education. It is no coincidence that the governor's standing in the polls began to decline during these attacks.
When the governor backed a ballot measure that would require public employee unions to get permission from their members before they spent dues money on politics -- rather than the core issues of collective bargaining -- the teachers union came down on him like five tons of bricks. The union spent tens of millions of member dollars in an effort to discredit the governor. The outcome of the special election showdown over the governor's reform ideas, including limiting the union's political spending, was not what someone who has seen any of Schwarzenegger's Conan movies would have expected. In this political epic, the union handed Conan his proverbial head.
With this example of organized teachers bowling over the opposition fresh in everyone's minds, it is surprising that anyone within the education industry has the courage to take them on.
Enter the members of the Long Beach Board of Education. Rather than continue to be ground down by the constant attacks by the local teachers union for their refusal to cave in to union demands, they have taken their position directly to school district residents.
Their letter outlines the problems faced by the school district and the generous salary and benefits offer they have placed on the table -- an offer that the union insists must be doubled.
While the LBUSD is experiencing declining enrollment, which has triggered cutbacks in state funding, the board has offered a 4 percent increase in pay and additional money for more experienced teachers. The offer would provide an annual average teachers salary of $57,860 plus $18,848 in benefits, totaling $76,708. Salaries plus district-paid benefits would range from $61,816 for a new teacher with a bachelor's degree and no experience to $104,729 for a teacher with a master's degree and 30 years of experience. A teacher with a doctorate and 30 years experience could expect $116,079. For these salaries and benefits, teachers are expected to teach 182 days a year.
The union is demanding an 8 percent pay increase, which board members claim would cost the district another $26.8 million tax dollars and would damage the education of the students.
How this matter is resolved -- whether it be for the benefit of the teachers or the students -- will likely be determined at the ballot box next month.
While the Teachers Association of Long Beach continues to wrangle over pay, they are flexing their political muscles by backing three pro-union candidates challenging incumbents in the April 11 school board election.
If, as is the custom in so many school board elections, the voter turnout is dominated by teachers union members, it is the students who will come out second best.
Perhaps the IRS should take a look at this. NOT.
My kids school-8am-2pm, M-F, 180 days, Paid healthcare, paid vacations, 401k pension, 3 months off in the summer. $40k+ per year. What's not to like?
In 1998 my wife was an attorney working for the Brooklyn Family Court. She was making 39K a year and working a 55-60 week with 2 weeks paid vacation and bare-bones benefits.
In 1998 my sister was working as a teacher in Manhattan. She was making 42K a year, working 25 hours a week with 16 weeks paid vacation and a full benefits package.
In other words, my wife who had an advanced degree was getting paid about $13 an hour and my sister was getting paid about $47 an hour.
Now teachers will complain that they have to deal with kids all day and that they do lesson plans off the clock.
My wife dealt with criminals all day and prepared legal cases off the clock.
Teachers are not underpaid at all. It is an enormous union myth reinforced by liberal newspaper columnists, teary movies-of-the-week and other forms of propaganda.
Only 40k...that is what's not to like....
40K a year is poverty in San Jose, Ca.
My daughters' teacher is the sole provider for her family, and her family is struggling to make ends meet.
Her husband lost his job, and he hasn't found anything.
They can't afford a house, and live in a small (expensive) apartment with their two kids. Now, her car is having lots of problems.
She is a fine, Christian lady, and I hope things work out for her. She is a wonderful teacher, and I don't see how she can keep teaching and make the money she needs.
However, our school district has tons of money to put in new playgrounds, blacktops, paint, and curtains at schools that they close a few months later.
Our school district also has tons of money to renovate a middle school (paint, new carpet, upgraded electronics to provide wireless, etc). The next year they closed that middle school, and then they spent millions converting it into an elementary school.
I should add that it cost anywhere from 25K-30K to rent an apartment in San Jose.
Well over the median income. They have 3 months off in the summer to earn more. At 12 months their pay would be $53,300 + bennies. A friend of mine who is a teacher does tree trimming, house painting etc., and makes another $20k or more. And no one is forcing them to stay in their job if they don't like the pay. It's called freedom. He can paint houses and trim trees all year if he wants to, but chooses not to.
"Only 40k...that is what's not to like...."
With gold plated bennies, summers and Christmas off, etc.. I say that's plenty.
Long reply...
You asked "What's not to like"
It seems to be the going rate...
"The offer would provide an annual average teachers salary of $57,860 plus $18,848 in benefits"
That's not 40k, its 57k. Plus they have all summer to work another job if they so choose.
These are not starvation wages.
Time to move or find another job that pays for the high cost of living.
Gov. jobs never pay what private sector pays. My wifes best friend is a J.A. (judicial asst.)for a district judge in Palm Beach County and makes less than half of what my wife makes for a private lawyer. Another friend works for the local municipality maintanence dept. doing upkeep on the gov. buildings. Plumbing, electrical, painting etc. About $12/hr. and just getting by. He could do any of those jobs in the private sector and make 2 to 3 times that if he CHOSE.
Good luck to her. It also gives her a great opportunity to rub elbows and make contacts with well heeled attorneys who will pay her what she's worth.
Someone might logically question the need for a secondary school teacher with a doctorate...
"Gov. jobs never pay what private sector pays..."
Never been to DC, uh?
Union-free government
When do we want it?
NOW
Funny how those leftist chants remind one of a 5 year-old.What do you want?
Someone else mentioned 40 K, and I was replying to their post.
At 57K, it's not much to raise a family.
That leaves roughly 30K for taxes, utilities, car payments and insurance, gasoline, food, and clothing. That's not much for a family of 4.
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