#31 – fear Obama
Not all teachers are opposed to the layoffs, only one’s not smart enough to understand economics or who blindly folow the neo-marxist, radical union leaders of the CTA. Also I definitely didn’t vote for Obama, or Barbara Boxer, or Diane Feinstein.
More teachers = more union dues=bigger salary for CTA leaders
Less teachers = no pay cut for those who have jobs=happier, harder working teachers. I can handle more students, I can’t handle much of a pay cut.
That is a point never discussed by the union but also not discussed by conservatives. We, the public can’t have it both ways. Teachers can not demand increased pay and benefits and the public can’t demand lower class sizes, more spending, but lower taxes.
I am a California teacher but I’m also a capitalist. I’m in my 10th year of teaching, hold a masters degree, coach, run a tutoring program, club advisor, etc., etc, and am struggling to support my family. Teaching is a great second income, but I’m not a second income salary. I’m the primary bread winner and that decision was made so we could raise our daughter, not someone down the street we barely know. I bust my ass and want to be paid accordingly. Merit pay is the answer but it needs to provide opportunity to truly increase salary and needs to have clear goals and targets. Conservatives who always bemoan teachers and public education are really missing the point. There are plenty of good, caring teachers and some problemed ones. Vouchers, school choice, even for athletic reasons, merit pay, a tweaking of the tenure system and less categorical spending would do wonders for the public school and those students and parents who truly care. Also limit litigtion and provide administrators with greater leeway in getting rid of problem students and we might see this ship turn around. Otherwise we’re just throwing money down the drain but that’s what our political leaders do best.
