Well 400 teachers get their walking papers (cost of, rail, gas)

[ambersmom722]

@wild style..this has been in the media. BELIEVE and it has NOT been pretty. When the story came out about the pay increase being given back..teachers took on an EVEN WORSE look simply because teachers didn't want to. I mean, how do you take money back that has already been given? It was said that this would help prevent other teachers from losing their jobs. SO..now, it looks like they weren't concerned about their colleagues because they didn't want to give their raise back. Many of the teachers said that they would gladly give it back IF the adminstrators, etc gave first.

Due to that..teachers EVERYWHERE in GA were labeled as: stingy, lazy, selfish, unprofessional, don't have "real" jobs..etc

I read comments from those that HONESTLY BELIEVED that we didn't need a degree to teach. Others stated that we chose this profession because we knew that we couldn't cut it in the "real" world. Another man stated how he cursed his daughter's teacher out because she called expressing concern about homework not being completed. He promptly told her that he doesn't call HER to come help him do his job...therefore, she had NO business calling him asking him to help do HER job. Her job was to teach and she couldn't even do that.

Also, we have NO unions in Ga. We have little teacher organizations but no union. MACE is the closest that you will get to having one..but they have such a negative rep. They accept teachers only and will protest adminstrators. However, their tactics leave a lot to be desired by many (usually the people who are at fault and the media) so they are made out to be a group not to be taken seriously.

I apologize for the lengthy post..but I'm very passionate about things such as this. I would LOVE to come and teach in Fl. I know there is no perfect state/school system..but I need a change. I have already applied for my certification.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by ambersmom722

@wild style..this has been in the media. BELIEVE and it has NOT been pretty. When the story came out about the pay increase being given back..teachers took on an EVEN WORSE look simply because teachers didn't want to. I mean, how do you take money back that has already been given? It was said that this would help prevent other teachers from losing their jobs. SO..now, it looks like they weren't concerned about their colleagues because they didn't want to give their raise back. Many of the teachers said that they would gladly give it back IF the adminstrators, etc gave first.

Due to that..teachers EVERYWHERE in GA were labeled as: stingy, lazy, selfish, unprofessional, don't have "real" jobs..etc

I read comments from those that HONESTLY BELIEVED that we didn't need a degree to teach. Others stated that we chose this profession because we knew that we couldn't cut it in the "real" world. Another man stated how he cursed his daughter's teacher out because she called expressing concern about homework not being completed. He promptly told her that he doesn't call HER to come help him do his job...therefore, she had NO business calling him asking him to help do HER job. Her job was to teach and she couldn't even do that.

Also, we have NO unions in Ga. We have little teacher organizations but no union. MACE is the closest that you will get to having one..but they have such a negative rep. They accept teachers only and will protest adminstrators. However, their tactics leave a lot to be desired by many (usually the people who are at fault and the media) so they are made out to be a group not to be taken seriously.

I apologize for the lengthy post..but I'm very passionate about things such as this. I would LOVE to come and teach in Fl. I know there is no perfect state/school system..but I need a change. I have already applied for my certification.

My God, I hope the best for you!

[MisterNY]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

I will keep it 100 with you. If I lost my job, I would be on the next plane to NYC to live with family and start over (maybe go back to school). As long as i am employed I am all about the well being of Florida. The day i cease to be employed my loyalties shift from the community to my family.

As harsh as this might sound, the amount of grade school aged kids has been shrinking in Florida for some time now. That means we just don't need all these teachers. These families are moving to other states so i am sure those states must need teachers. I say people make the moves that is best for their family.

Florida is run by simpletons and the people voting seem to be simpletons as well. I don't see a bright future for this place. It has absolutely nothing substantial to offer anyone really. I mean some may like the weather but when you can't find a job or a decent paying one and the cost of living is on par with NYC then whats the point?

Thank God my family does well for itself but I clearly see how the ineptitude here is going to be the undoing of this place. The ONLY city I think that has the best possibility is Miami and I think the corruption, silly policies and apathetic people are going to hold it back from reaching full potential. Unless some jerk like Giuliani came down here and cleaned it up and then handed it over to some business guy like bloomberg, Miami is toast.

Back on topic, I hope those teachers find jobs in areas that appreciate/value education.

I'm with you 100%. Great post!

Oh yeah, Rep point about Rudy being a jerk, ! We could use a few like him and Bloomberg in the South though.

Things are tough, and not looking good. My folks got their tax bills for both properties down here, and there is talk about a 13% hike.

Mind you they bought these houses in the mid 90s for what I consider cheap. They never borrowed against them, and they're both almost paid off (one in 5 yrs the other in 7 at the rate they're going). They feel like they're getting the shaft themselves. My siblings and I have been trying to convince them to move, but they don't want to. Things are not looking good for Florida right now, it will be a while.

The questions that come to mind is:
1) With things not looking good, and people still leaving at the rate they have, how are these municipalities going to deal with these deficits in the long run?

2) When are the powers that be going to find ways to lure young, vibrant, diverse professionals and diverse industries to the state? They're sitting ducks in my opinion.

Doing the same things will only encourage others to leave the State. There must be a solution. Nothing has been done to promote young families (professionals and skilled) to stay.

I have lost so many friends, colleagues and relatives to places like GA, TX, NC, TN and NYC. (Most were originally from NYC and the northeast) It's really not looking good at all. I'm leaving in after this coming school year myself. My wife already has something lined up in Atlanta, and will be moving soon.(She's an RN).

[tallrick]

Someone has to figure out how to reverse the growth of government and its departments. Until that can be accomplished there is no solution. When the parasite is so large that it kills the host, all will lose. Teacher salaries are not high, but the cost of benefits has grown exponentially. Public school properties are tax exempt, so it costs the county nothing but electricity and maintenance to keep them open. Administration sucks out a lot more money than it is worth. Get rid of administration, the school board, superintendent etc and keep the correct amount of teachers, staff and the schools own administration. Just assign money to each school based on student population and pay the teachers based on their performance from the general fund. Make schools work like a private business.

[MisterNY]

Originally Posted by tallrick

Someone has to figure out how to reverse the growth of government and its departments. Until that can be accomplished there is no solution. When the parasite is so large that it kills the host, all will lose. Teacher salaries are not high, but the cost of benefits has grown exponentially. Public school properties are tax exempt, so it costs the county nothing but electricity and maintenance to keep them open. Administration sucks out a lot more money than it is worth. Get rid of administration, the school board, superintendent etc and keep the correct amount of teachers, staff and the schools own administration. Just assign money to each school based on student population and pay the teachers based on their performance from the general fund. Make schools work like a private business.

You have some very good points. Things do need to be streamlined. Now my question is, who oversees these schools? I agree that we could get rid of some of these district managers that were elected, and the clowns running the boards. I can see how getting rid of these positions could help and save money. I'm curious as to who or what entity would oversee the schools? Let's discuss it. It's interesting.

I can already see some people up in arms, but I'm all ears.

[tallrick]

I think that the parents should take responsibility for their children's education. They would be the ones to oversee the actions of teachers and school administration. The Principal would be responsible for keeping the requests of parents within accepted school policy. I would replace the school board by a meeting of teachers and parents who want to give extra effort to improve education. Even simple school maintenance items like cleaning could be reduced by having troublemaking kids do it during detention. I would like to see a competition between schools and the choice of parents to take their kids to other schools if their local one fails. The secret to fixing education is to figure out how to run a school like a sucessful business. Also finding a way to oust troublemakers to a special military-like disciplinary school and keep the rest of the schools safer would make a huge difference.

Set education standards based on the needs of the real world, and hold parents and teachers responsible if they fail to do their job. Every report and plan for school improvement would be required to be on file for public view, in the office or by internet. Votes should be collected from parents, teachers and students. Colleges and businesses seeking certain competencies should be encouraged to help shape curriculum. The school itself would also be a community center for neighborhood activities including parking lot flea markets and other activities that could increase revenue. In the past I have even seen church groups pay to use school auditoriums when they did not have their own meeting place. If parents are really serious about education, they should be required to take the lead. Those that make consistent successful decisions would go on to be the overseers. All will have to work with the money available, something good parents already do for their families at home.

[lauralei2]

I'm sickened so many teachers are 'surplus.' Some have been teachers for many (20) yrs, but programs like music are being cut. Then probably replaced with a new less costly teacher.
Hmmmm......start cutting police & fire. If everyone is moving away, no need for as much law enforcement, etc.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by lauralei2

I'm sickened so many teachers are 'surplus.' Some have been teachers for many (20) yrs, but programs like music are being cut. Then probably replaced with a new less costly teacher.
Hmmmm......start cutting police & fire. If everyone is moving away, no need for as much law enforcement, etc.

I don't know about that last bit. Crime is on the rise, they will need more police.

[heydade]

I bet 80% of the people posting here voted YES for Ammendment one to save on their property taxes. Everyone though County government was crying wolf when they warned us that voting YES for ammendment one would jeapordize jobs. Sure enough....they were correct and NOT crying wolf. All to save a measly 250 dollars a year. I am very dissapointed with society and how greedy we have become as a whole. This is not just affecting teachers, but new hires for Hollywood fire and BSO have been put on HOLD. Guys who worked their azzes off during fire academy and paramedic school and made tons of sacrifice cannot look forward to getting a job anymore. Pensions are dissapearing.....Hollywood Fire is renegotiating their contract as we speak and there are talks about increasing dependent insurance coverage by 40%. Imagine guys with 3 or 4 kids how expensive this is going to be. Coral Gables is considering laying off some firefighters, so is Deerfield Beach. Things are going from ugly to disgusting real fast. They always said that something had to give....now everyone who wanted to save on property taxes will suffer the consequences of their greedy requests.

Case in point...just the other day a friend of mind was telling me about a call in Pembroke Park which contracts with BSO for police and fire. The call came in as a child who drank some cleaning detergant. They had to call in a neighboring city rescue truck for mutual aid because all BSO rescues were out running calls (they have reduced staffing in that area not too long ago). The neighboring city mutual aid rescue truck arrived simulataneousely with a BSO fire engine. The mutual aid rescue started to gather the information from the parent on scene. The person interviewing the lady who called 911 was asked when did the child ingest the substance. She replied 30 minutes ago. When asked why she took so long to call 911, she replied "I called 35 minutes ago, as soon as I found out....you are the ones that took so long to get here". What if this was a child drowning call, or a heart attack or a choking ??

This is a classic example of what has started and will continue to snowball from this point. Do you think it's important for police to respond to a "25 audible"...that's a burglar alarm called in from ADT, Brinks, etc. Before it would take about 6 minutes for someone to arrive and check out the situation. Now with BSO and the deputies who have been laid off, I have heard reports of 15 minute response times for burglar alarms. No joke.

Be carefull what you ask for....there is always a give and take in every situation and I am afraid many people took too much without looking at the big picture. Moral of the story...arm yourself to protect yours and your loved one because 2010, 2011 and beyond is going to look more like the Wild Wild West than anytime before. Oh...and stick a lightbar and a siren on your car...you are going to need it instead of calling 911.

[Wild Style]

Heydade,

The same thing happened with mass transit. People voted down a mass transit initiative. I can not WAIT to see what happens when gas starts to sky rocket again and it will given how they are printing money non stop and devaluing our currency.