Pay cut for teachers v. quality of education (Earl: unemployment, buy)

[Terrad!!]

Originally Posted by TheEmissary

chicagocubs -
I hope that any layoffs involve getting rid of as much "dead wood" out of the CMS system as possible.

I wish that were true, cubs.

My wife is an assistant principal, at least until the end of June. She is one of the ones that is being let go.

She is also experienced: Over 30 years as a teacher and administrator - 5 years at CMS and the rest in Dallas, TX.

She is very highly qualified: Multiple degrees in education, high rankings by everyone she has ever work with and for - except her current principle, a lazy, incompetant who is highly connected.

Her downfall? She recognizes what Charlotte is about to go through (remember, she was in Dallas 20 years ago), knows the mistakes and the corrective measures needed, and was foolhardy enough to tell people about it.

She'd gladly take a pay cut, and keep her job.

[Robin2007]

My frustration with this is pay the Teachers and Staff MORE!! This is one of the absolute MOST influences to the future of our country. :-( Instead of cutting pay etc...we need to start holding the Government and People in charge of spending accountable. Too much money is being wasted on useless projects in our Government. We need to pay these Teachers what they deserve and start holding our Leaders responsible for wasteful spending.

Sorry...a little rant. We got a letter that BIG cutbacks are ahead here in Union County and I am feeling sad and frustrated for my children...your children and the Teachers who I see give so much for so little.

[chicagocubs]

Originally Posted by Terrad!!

I wish that were true, cubs.

My wife is an assistant principal, at least until the end of June. She is one of the ones that is being let go.

She is also experienced: Over 30 years as a teacher and administrator - 5 years at CMS and the rest in Dallas, TX.

She is very highly qualified: Multiple degrees in education, high rankings by everyone she has ever work with and for - except her current principle, a lazy, incompetant who is highly connected.

Her downfall? She recognizes what Charlotte is about to go through (remember, she was in Dallas 20 years ago), knows the mistakes and the corrective measures needed, and was foolhardy enough to tell people about it.

She'd gladly take a pay cut, and keep her job.

I am truly sorry for your loss. I hope that she can find employment elsewhere.

[lowercountry]

Originally Posted by getatag

No teacher's unions in NC. Associations, yes!

It is possible that what is happening in NC to educators *might* open the door for unions to come in. I am not an advocate for that necessarily but I could see it happening.

[LLN]

I would never have thought I would be a union kind of guy, but after the last several years, I am pretty convinced we need a good, strong teachers union. Right now we have no voice, with a union we would. The demands are ever growing and the leadership is not willing to stop things, just start new ones. We will see.

lln

[getatag]

You guys ever look at the auto industry? Unions really did good there!

[lowercountry]

Originally Posted by getatag

You guys ever look at the auto industry? Unions really did good there!

That wasn't my point, in fact I agree with you. I am simply saying that the climate is being created in which a union could use what is going on to entice teachers to organize. I'm not advocating it, merely making a point.

[coped]

Originally Posted by getatag

You guys ever look at the auto industry? Unions really did good there!

I don't think you can blame the UAW for what happened to the auto industry. It was management arrogance and ineptness. Unions like the UAW helped create the middle class in this country. But that's another discussion.

Teachers in N.C. are prevented by law from unionizing since they are state employees. Until that law is challenged, it won't happen.

[getatag]

Originally Posted by coped

I don't think you can blame the UAW for what happened to the auto industry. It was management arrogance and ineptness. Unions like the UAW helped create the middle class in this country. But that's another discussion.

Teachers in N.C. are prevented by law from unionizing since they are state employees. Until that law is challenged, it won't happen.

You cannot absolve them, just as you can't absolve management. Greed would be a word that comes to mind in both cases.

Thanks for the clarification lowercountry.

One example comes to mind that exemplifies your thought.
I recently heard a teacher complain about taking a slight negative adjustment in their salary. My comment to them was: Would you rather return a small percentage of your total across the board by all teachers or have several more teachers lose their jobs adding to the unemployment totals in the state? His answer astounded me. He said, release a few more poor teachers and let the good ones keep our money.

With thinking like that, we are ripe for the union's picking.

[LLN]

Originally Posted by getatag

His answer astounded me. He said, release a few more poor teachers and let the good ones keep our money.

Unfortunately, I don't think it will go down like that. NC Tenure laws are byzantine, but probably the newest will be let go first. I hope not. Newest, by the way, means newest in district. You can 20 years in, say Wilmington, but if this is your second year in Charlotte, you got 2 years.

If you thought the state health plan was in trouble, get rid of a bunch of young teachers (and other new and presumably younger state workers). That will drive the numbers used by the insurance actuaries way up, and guess what, rates needed to keep the already dying plan solvent will soar. Of course the politicians never think of this....the dreaded the Law of Unintended Consequences.

lln