Teacher walk-outs in Phoenix area (Glendale, Scottsdale: good schools, teacher salaries, move to)

[asufan]

Apparently teachers in West Phoenix and Glendale are staging walk-outs to protest their low pay. While I am 100% in agreement that they need raises and have been on their side, I think they're going about this the wrong way. Walking out on kids is going to do nothing but anger the parents (voters) and the teachers #1 priority is supposed to be the kids, not their salary. They knew what the salaries would be when they signed up for the job, and many that I have spoken to gladly take the lower pay for all of the weeks off. While I do agree with their message, I don't like the method. Kids have to miss school and parents need to re-arrange their schedules last minute.

https://www.abc15.com/news/region-ph...y-over-low-pay

[kitshipp]

I support them 100%. They have begged for raises for years. What is the 'right way'? What haven't they already tried?
Something needs to be done to gain more widespread attention to the matter. In the end, poorly paid, overextended teachers will be worse for our children than taking a day to spread awareness of the issue.

[thinkalot]

I think this will backfire on them. They knew the pay when they took the job.

[BIG CATS]

Move to another state or find another profession. Simple as that.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by kitshipp

I support them 100%. They have begged for raises for years. What is the 'right way'? What haven't they already tried?
Something needs to be done to gain more widespread attention to the matter. In the end, poorly paid, overextended teachers will be worse for our children than taking a day to spread awareness of the issue.

The only way to achieve change is to move the votes. I think this walk-out could be detrimental towards that goal.

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by asufan

The only way to achieve change is to move the votes. I think this walk-out could be detrimental towards that goal.

Lots of “over rides” already out there, so the votes have been moved, but the $$$ was spent on administration, not teacher salaries. Walking out just wakes up the community to the issue. The parents getting angry are mostly those using the schools as a free babysitter. I.E., if your biggest complaint is that you have to watch your own kid for a couple days. If you want good schools, you have to pay for them and supervise the school boards. They get hijacked periodically by special interests & run wild. Whether they become a board of “yes-men” for the administration, the teachers, religious nutballs or anti-tax zealots, that’s the fault of the public for not showing up and making the boards do the right thing.


How many of those “poor me, I got to watch my kids this week” people actually went to even one board meeting in the past five years? About none.

[kitshipp]

Originally Posted by asufan

The only way to achieve change is to move the votes. I think this walk-out could be detrimental towards that goal.

Or it could help open eyes and get parents into these board meetings.

[Finger Laker]

Votes haven't been a problem, getting that money through the budget is. There have been multiple propositions passed this, the most recent a response to the state squandering funds from a different proposition and losing in court.

Duceys first major misstep was in respect to education and he underestimated the public response, especially when people in Scottsdale, PV and other areas called him on it.

Right now there is more effort to spin away the awful state puff education than to actually fix it. That is the problem.

The state needs to understand this isn't going away.

We have a massive teacher shortage in the state.

It is a skilled profession that requires an academic standard that is expensive as well as continuing expense to stay in.

Also separate administration from administrators. AZ is well below the mark on administrator compensation as well and many districts run very lean having employees take on a higher title task, while eliminating that position and not providing additional compensation to the person working above their pay grade.

Wages are not competitive to the skills of the employees and many are leaving.

Others are choosing to stay and fight.

Either way the status quo isn't good enough.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by Finger Laker

Votes haven't been a problem, getting that money through the budget is. There have been multiple propositions passed this, the most recent a response to the state squandering funds from a different proposition and losing in court.

Duceys first major misstep was in respect to education and he underestimated the public response, especially when people in Scottsdale, PV and other areas called him on it.

Right now there is more effort to spin away the awful state puff education than to actually fix it. That is the problem.

The state needs to understand this isn't going away.

We have a massive teacher shortage in the state.

It is a skilled profession that requires an academic standard that is expensive as well as continuing expense to stay in.

Also separate administration from administrators. AZ is well below the mark on administrator compensation as well and many districts run very lean having employees take on a higher title task, while eliminating that position and not providing additional compensation to the person working above their pay grade.

Wages are not competitive to the skills of the employees and many are leaving.

Others are choosing to stay and fight.

Either way the status quo isn't good enough.

By "votes" I mean the leaders you mentioned, not overrides.

[houstonview]

Originally Posted by asufan

Apparently teachers in West Phoenix and Glendale are staging walk-outs to protest their low pay. While I am 100% in agreement that they need raises and have been on their side, I think they're going about this the wrong way. Walking out on kids is going to do nothing but anger the parents (voters) and the teachers #1 priority is supposed to be the kids, not their salary. They knew what the salaries would be when they signed up for the job, and many that I have spoken to gladly take the lower pay for all of the weeks off. While I do agree with their message, I don't like the method. Kids have to miss school and parents need to re-arrange their schedules last minute.

https://www.abc15.com/news/region-ph...y-over-low-pay

Before creating this thread questioning their method, a little research would've revealed walkouts recently were effective West Virginia. Not only pay but also benefits, without them taking a stand for 2 weeks nothing would've got accomplished. More districts will follow FYI this is just the beginning.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/09/us/te...ent/index.html