Teacher feels the sting of betrayal

Miami.com ^ | September 29, 2003

[Skooz]

Teachers are professionals and should be treated and paid as such. But, as long as they remain on the state government payroll and the NEA plantation, they will continue to be chronically underpaid and the teaching profession will hemorrhage good people who could make a difference in the lives of kids.

If they could put their services on the open market, like lawyers and other professionals, the pay and benefits would rise dramatically.

[steplock]

"...counted on the union to make life easier..."

Therein lies the root cause.

[agarrett]

If they could put their services on the open market, like lawyers and other professionals, the pay and benefits would rise dramatically.

  And you base this on what, exactly?

  My wife teaches in private schools, and they make considerably less than their public school counterparts. Since we already have this market, and it provides less pay, why will expanding that market (and the benchmark pay it provides) suddenly increase their value?

Drew Garrett

[Sacajaweau]

Gee, he had to work summers, too?? Imagine that!!

[anniegetyourgun]

As long as they choose to be represented by some lackey from the union offices downtown (who likely has lesser education that the classroom teachers), they cannot really call themselves professionals. Professionals should be completely capable of speaking for themselves and negotiating their own terms of employment. All they do under the current circumstances is maintain a wage floor for the profession, and allow the employer (state) to maintain predictable labor costs.

BTW, the same can be said about any other so-called professional who gives up their professional status to the union hall: Those with an BSN, PT's, OT's, MSW's, etc.

[em2vn]

"Therein lies the root cause"
Of what, the rise of a felon to a position of authority from which he was able to steal? Or is there something you see that I am missing?

[Skooz]

My wife currently teaches in a public school after teaching in a private school for 8 years. Yes, the pay is much lower in the private schools. But, that isn't really the point.

Currently, public school teachers, as state employees, are all paid the same based upon years teaching. The excellent, the mediocre and the downright awful teachers are all on the same pay grade.

Take away the NEA and the state employee status and all that is left is merit. The lousy teachers will not find work, and the best teachers will find their services in the highest demand, thus pay will increase.

[Zack Nguyen]

After taxes, union dues and other expenses, he clears less than $1,700.

That is a drop of about 45% from his gross salary. That is a crime. There are people who lose almost that much just in taxes. That is a crime too.

The union head should get 20 years.

[SamAdams76]

I guess I don't understand the problem here. It says this teacher makes $38,050 a year. This is almost double the average salary in the U.S.

Those making the minimum wage get only $10,712 a year.

So millions of American families are getting by on less than what this teacher makes. How are they able to do it while this teacher can't?

As for not being able to take his family to Disneyworld, well boo-hoo. Join the club, pal. I took my family to New Hampshire this year because it was cheap, cheap, cheap. We played miniature golf and went swimming in the lake instead of riding Magic Mountain and seeing Mickey Mouse. But you don't see me whining about it.

Anyway, unlike the schoolteacher, I have to work all summer. But I'm still not complaining.

[Skooz]

Wait a minute. Didn't I see you post a few months back about your excellent portfolio and other investments?

I was jealous, that's how I remember.

We could not vacation this summer at all. Built a house. I promised the family I would take them to Florida next summer, though. Disneyworld or Universal Studios if we can afford it. The beach at Destin if we can't.

[skr]

His first mistake was to join a union, when it's not required in Florida.

[Khurkris]

Another story of racketeering by a Union Bent Nose. And teachers are well-educated?...uh huh...sure...

[Skooz]

Public school teachers are often pressured heavily to join the NEA. The pressure comes from other teachers, who have been transformed into robotic pod people by the union goons, and sometimes from the administration because the union will represent the teacher if the teacher is sued for looking at little Johnny the wrong way and hindering his budding self-esteem.

Teachers sometimes go along to get along and join the NEA by subtle coersion.

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

Counting on unions to "make life easier" is flawed logic from the beginning.

[SamAdams76]

Yeah, but those are investments. I have no intention of touching those for quite some time.

Cash flow is tight because I want to keep on saving in these uncertain times.

[DUMBGRUNT]

This is the tip of the ice berg in Il.
Teachers NOT admin!
Check any public school teacher in Il, and prepare to barf.

http://www.thechampion.org/teach2002/TopTeach.asp

Click here: The Champion - Family Taxpayers Network

Top 100 Teachers 2001-2002
Click on the district name to view the complete district.
Name District Salary
Branch-Boyd Judith C City Of Chicago School Dist 299 $164421,00
Milek James M Township H S Dist 211 154504
Thomas Debbey L City Of Chicago School Dist 299 152117
Smith Demetrie W City Of Chicago School Dist 299 152052
Kappel Larry Leyden Comm H S Dist 212 146990
Loring Michael G Township H S Dist 211 146020
Gluck Geoffrey S Township High School Dist 113 144759 http://www.thechampion.org/teach2002/TopTeach.asp

[txzman]

"... as long as they remain on the state government payroll and the NEA plantation, they will continue to be chronically underpaid" Which is of course, the standard operating procedure of the Democratic Party. Keep 'em down on the farm and keep their money rollin' in.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Driver Education teacher 155k !!!!

Click here: The Champion - Family Taxpayers Network
http://www.thechampion.org/teach2002/detailpage.asp?id=144603&district=Township H S Dist 211
2001-2002 Salaries
Employee Detail Page Do Another Search Name: Milek James M
Salary: 154504
Time: Time
Months: 10 months
Percent: 100%
Position: Teacher
Experience: 29 years
Assignment: Driver Education
Role: High School Teacher
Degree: Master's
Grade(s): 9 to 12
District: Township H S Dist 211

[skr]

His second mistake was to choose to work in the Miami-Dade area when teachers are needed in less expensive places.