Collective bargaining rights restricted (Elim: high school, salaries, taxes)

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by Milleka

Myself and my brothers had to go to private schools to get a decent education.

Looks like your private school had the inability to teach you proper grammar.

Again- on teachers. Could it be that the society we live in has much bigger problems than teachers can possibly handle in the classroom situation? Sure- there are kids that can't read, write, and do math at the highschool level. There were 50 years ago too. Back then, they kicked them out and made them pump gas or work in a factory instead of forcing the school to babysit until they "age out". Now we've got 20 year olds sitting in freshman English with 14 year olds because of No Child Left Behind. What am I supposed to do with that? Is that because my luxurious salary has been raised to a whooping $34,000 a year... after 8 years of experience AND no raises in 3. You cannot connect the ineffectiveness of American education with the meager salaries that teachers earn.

Let me toss it to you this way- What if your house got broken into? Chances are the theif will not get caught. Does that mean that the police force is ineffective and can't catch criminals because they make too much money? How about this one- The roads you drive on are covered in pot-holes. The roads are crappy because the street crew is making too much money, right?

I too have a problem with No Child Left Behind... what I can't understand is how NCLB was championed as the Zenith of what can be achieved when partisanship is put aside and everyone comes together in a Kumbaya moment.

Senator Kennedy's role was instrumental in the bills passage.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by akpls

You wouldn't it know by the response we get to our postings. The last posting we just had ran for 30 days. We had 2...yes 2! responses....and both from out-of-state. We have had 1 in-state applicant for the last 3 openings we've advertised.

Wow... thanks for posting.

This hasn't been my experience at all... always good to hear from those in the know

[bortstc37]

Although I am a teacher, I plan to homeschool (once I have kids, that is). I do think that the system is seriously flawed, but I do not think that it is the fault of the teachers. Most of us are actually doing the best that we can.

And akpls...what business are you in?

[naturesdreams]

Gobrien... right on the mark... when I worked for the state I had to deal with a political appointee that didn't have a clue what was going on and barely showed up for work at 65,000 a year (that was 8 years ago!!) I was always having to direct him on what was to be done... Love your comments Floyd... make me smile... LOL

[akpls]

I am a Registered Land Surveyor. We have a serious problem recruiting qualified individuals for State of AK positions. I supervise 8 individuals, both licensed and non-licensed, and all but one are old enough to retire tomorrow. Two are going at the end of April. We started recruiting for replacements in February and in-state interest has been almost nonexistent. It was only when we opened things up to out-of-state applicants that we saw interest pick up. But still.....people aren't coming in droves to work here.....at least in my experience.....but YMMV.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by Milleka

Myself and my brothers had to go to private schools to get a decent education.

Looks like your private school had the inability to teach you proper grammar.

Again- on teachers. Could it be that the society we live in has much bigger problems than teachers can possibly handle in the classroom situation? Sure- there are kids that can't read, write, and do math at the highschool level. There were 50 years ago too. Back then, they kicked them out and made them pump gas or work in a factory instead of forcing the school to babysit until they "age out". Now we've got 20 year olds sitting in freshman English with 14 year olds because of No Child Left Behind. What am I supposed to do with that? Is that because my luxurious salary has been raised to a whooping $34,000 a year... after 8 years of experience AND no raises in 3. You cannot connect the ineffectiveness of American education with the meager salaries that teachers earn.

Let me toss it to you this way- What if your house got broken into? Chances are the theif will not get caught. Does that mean that the police force is ineffective and can't catch criminals because they make too much money? How about this one- The roads you drive on are covered in pot-holes. The roads are crappy because the street crew is making too much money, right?

Discussions on city data are not quite on the same level as historical research so excuse me if in the early morning after running my trapline I don't bog myself down too much worrying over grammar.

Teachers around me are making on average $50K give or take a bit, in a state where people are "lucky" if they make $30K.

Around here the police might be the ones doing the stealing. One was outed as a pedophile (by the local press not the local and state police officials, who didn't want to prosecute him) watching child porn in the police station, another was caught torturing shackled suspects with a taser...

The roads here are full of potholes, some so bad they'll destroy a vehicle if you don't swerve to avoid them. They're so bad because the workers are lazy and don't prepare the roads properly when repaving them. They'll typically just shovel some asphalt patch in the holes here when they don't repave, not even bothering sometimes to pack it down and level it. They're making good money too.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

That is not what I advocate. That is what I make fun of.

Tell us again what it was you advocate... and then you'll know exactly what it was that I have made fun of. You just did a at yourself.

Or can't you hardly misunderstand?

Cutting union power is in no way comparable to genocide. I don't see genocide as something to joke about, if indeed you were merely making some twisted joke and not letting your true feelings slip out.

[Marty Van Diest]

Originally Posted by bortstc37

Although I am a teacher, I plan to homeschool

I am...or was, also a teacher. I only taught for a few years. Did you know that the one profession that home schools their children more than any other are teachers?

Makes sense on one hand because the probably feel more competent to do so, but on the other hand what does it say about their confidence in the system?

Interesting about the surveyors akpls. Do you think that would be a good field for a young person today? I'm doing what I can to guide my 16 yo son, although like any 16 yo he wants to make his own decisions...he does at least consider my suggestions.

[Frostnip]

Why are people using anecdotes about education, roads, etc. from other states to support their arguments about what ought to be done with public employee unions in Alaska? Recruiting and retaining skilled employees up here is a totally different kettle of fish, and the realities of day-to-day life (outside the major cities) are also very different than almost anywhere in the lower 48. There is a reason these sorts of issues are handled on the state level and not on the federal level...or are supposed to be. Of course the initiative in WI came straight from a DC-based interest group...I wonder where Gatto's support is coming from?

[freezengirl]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

Discussions on city data are not quite on the same level as historical research so excuse me if in the early morning after running my trapline I don't bog myself down too much worrying over grammar.

Teachers around me are making on average $50K give or take a bit, in a state where people are "lucky" if they make $30K.

Around here the police might be the ones doing the stealing. One was outed as a pedophile (by the local press not the local and state police officials, who didn't want to prosecute him) watching child porn in the police station, another was caught torturing shackled suspects with a taser...

The roads here are full of potholes, some so bad they'll destroy a vehicle if you don't swerve to avoid them. They're so bad because the workers are lazy and don't prepare the roads properly when repaving them. They'll typically just shovel some asphalt patch in the holes here when they don't repave, not even bothering sometimes to pack it down and level it. They're making good money too.

Your examples don't make sense. Taking shortcuts of repairs to potholes is more then likely a buget issue edict from department heads trying to stretch limited dollars. Bad cops exhist everywhere, there are remedies to tackle the issue for communities and police departments to weed the bad from the good in service of the public. I wonder though if they have a hard time attracting and keeping quality candidates doesn't that again circle back to pay/benefits? Regarding teachers-With the high costs of a college education in this country, the chaos of societies ills heaped upon them to solve, constant threat of layoffs and really abysmal salaries on the whole, thank God we still have any willing to put up with the garbage we heap on them.