Sure, Blame the Teachers

It’s been awhile and I’m hoping to start posting more regularly.  As another school year gets underway I wanted to address some of the education related issues that are plaguing my city.  For those of you who don’t know, the School District of Philadelphia is an absolute mess.  The city, superintendent, city council, School Reform commission, the governor, parents, students pretty much everybody has an opinion.  How did we get here?  Years and years of mismanagement and as Mayor Nutter likes to say “kicking the can down the road”.   It seems to me that nobody wants to actually fix anything.  The governor cuts funding and won’t give money.  City Council wants one thing while the Mayor wants another.  Meanwhile a poor district gets worse. 

I don’t want to get into possible solutions on how to fix the system.  That’s a whole other topic.  The thing that is bothering most right now is how everyone is turning on the teachers.  The Mayor, State, City Council, and even the Superintendent feel as though the teachers in the district need to sacrifice to help solve problems that they didn’t help to create.  I think it’s absolutely asinine to ask the teachers to take up to a 13% pay cut.  This irks me for a number of reasons:

1.        Sure the pay cuts would help free up money but what would the money be used for?  At this point class sizes are growing because of cuts.   If the class sizes don’t go down, you’re essentially asking a teacher to do more work for less money.  Tell me any other industry where this would acceptable?

2.       Before anyone gives me that summer’s off, shorter hours bullshit, I invite you to spend one week with me.  Spend a Saturday afternoon grading papers and doing lesson plans with me.  Like to relax on your weekends?  Not going to happen.  Most teachers take part time jobs in the summer to supplement their salary, so take that bullshit argument and shove it.

3.       Teachers in the city of Philadelphia are already grossly underpaid for a myriad of reasons yet they deal with a much tougher student population.  Teachers in urban school districts need to be rewarded for what they do.  Philadelphia teachers should be making the big money not those in the affluent suburban school districts.  Truthfully where are the high quality teachers needed the most?  To cut teacher’s pay in the city is a slap in the face.

4.       Every Philly teacher that I’ve heard from the past few weeks has mentioned about spending their own money on supplies.  Why?  Because of mismanagement of money by those in charge there isn't enough in the "budget" for adequate supplies.  Contrary to popular reports, teachers actually care about their students and their well being, so paying for supplies is something most teachers do without even thinking.  Also that’s not taking into account personal money that is spent on the students not including school supplies (clothes, food, transportation money, etc. because their families can’t afford) Not going to happen with a pay cut.

5.       Are all teachers great?  Absolutely not.  There are some that skate by because they have tenure, experience, or just don’t care anymore.  They should be held accountable.  That’s how we got into this mess in the first place.  Nobody took accountability and now look at the district.  Most teachers I know have no problem with being held accountable for their work or evolving and making themselves better.  This is how your children learn.  So yeah I guess it makes sense to cut teacher’s pay.  We are just as influential in your child’s life as you are.  1/3 of their day they are with us.  Do you really want your kid with someone who is bitter because they’re underpaid?

6.       Finally the most important reason is the fact everyone is so quick to bitch about the state of our society today and blame who else?  Teachers.  People make teaching seem like a second class profession.  Kids aren’t taught to respect teachers.  I see it every day.  It’s ridiculous.   Where’s the blame on poor parenting?  Where’s the blame on self-serving politicians?  You know why America’s education system sucks?  No respect for teachers.  You don’t hear stories like this happening over in Finland, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan or Singapore and look at them.  Top 5 ranked education systems in the world.   It’s easy for someone to sit on their high horse and blame a teacher rather than take responsibility for their own shortcomings as a human being.

 

 No teacher got into the profession to get rich.  They got into because it is extremely rewarding.   Unfortunately society and even our own government are making it harder every day to be a teacher.  Hey Superintendent Hite, you’re making $300,000 a year.  Where’s your pay cut?  If you start forcing teachers to take pay cuts then you’re going to force them out of the profession.  Then what?  You have the money you saved from budget cuts but at what cost?  Poor teachers and even worse test scores?  That’ll show ‘em.  Until next time this is Jimbo saying, hug a teacher.

 

Strike 3

Not a long post tonight but I wanted to voice my opinion/concern about some of the feedback I heard and read about the recently solved teacher strike in the Archdioceses of Philadelphia Schools.  Honestly, I can’t say all that I want because of my current position as a teacher.  Unfortunately I will have to censor some of it but the jist of how I feel should come through.

First off it amazes me how many negative things people said about those teachers.  Calling them selfish, not caring about the kids, and being money hungry.  Huh?  Let me give you some facts about teachers that you may or may not know.

1.       We are hands down underpaid.  For the job that we are responsible for we should be paid double and triple what we do.  As a teacher, I’m probably more responsible for your kid’s future than you are.  During the school year I will probably spend as much if not more time with your kid than you will.  We are expected help to make sure your kid learns the skills they need to be successful in life, but we are underpaid?  Come on.

2.       Don’t even start on me with the “well you get your summers off” bullshit.  When it’s all said and done we get the month of July off and a couple weeks in August.  Before you say “see there’s 6 weeks off a year that most people don’t get”, let me let you in on something.  Most of you when you get done work are just that, done.  I however have to spend numerous hours of my “off” time grading papers, making lesson plans, and attending meetings to ensure your kid gets their education.  This includes my weekends and “vacation” time that you so vehemently remind me that I get.

3.       Selfish?  Seriously?  Teaching is probably the least selfish profession there is other than maybe nursing.  I constantly have to put your kid’s needs ahead of mine.  Hmmmm, do I want to go out and watch the Phils game on Wednesday night with my fiancé?  Yes.  Can I?  No, because I’m so exhausted from teaching your kids during the day and need to  make sure I’m rested for Thursday.  Hardly selfish.  Oh did I mention that I have purchase a ton of supplies out of my own pocket to help ensure your kid gets their education?  Probably didn’t think about that did you?

4.       Don’t care about the kids because they are striking? There’s not a teacher I know that doesn’t care about their students.  By striking we are just trying to ensure we get what we deserve.  You think it’s easy?  I challenge you to do my job for a week.  I bet you’ll be changing your tune.

There’s not a person I know that wouldn’t want to be paid more, no matter what their job is. That’s the beauty of this country and labor unions.  We can strike for better treatment if we see fit.  It bothers me when people rip my brethren for fighting for what they see as fair.  Education funding is getting cut.  We are grossly underpaid.  We use our own hard earned money for supplies.  The onus on the “state tests” is extremely high.   Despite all of this we go in everyday and do our best to try and change your kid’s life for the better.  

 I get that it’s an inconvenience for you during a strike but don’t you want some of the most important and influential people in your kid’s lives to be happy?  Don’t you worry that every year a lot of teachers (the ones that actually care and want to teach your kids) leave the education field because they can’t afford to be a teacher?  Don’t you realize that we all have our own families and lives , just like you, that we need to look out for?  After all despite loving the job I do it is just that; a job.  Teachers need to look out for our best interests and if that means strike I say more power to them.  As I’ve stated before, put yourself in those teacher’s shoes for a minute.  Then see if you’re still pissed off at them.  

That’s it for tonight.  Thanks for keeping on reading.  I’d love to hear your feedback.  Link up with me on Linkedin and follow us on Twitter @Obs_Views_Blog  Until next time this is Jimbo reminding you that when you point a finger at someone, there are 3 others pointing back at you.