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Not quite. The skills of a math or physics teacher don't have quite the same $ value as those of the underwater basket weaving teacher.
Schools should be able to pay the math/physics teachers what they're worth without paying the PE teacher what the math teacher is worth.
they should just layoff the PE teachers. thats not really necessary as a part of school. they should contract out to a daycare program if parents dont want their kids home too early.
For what it's worth (just an opinion, so not much), I agree with you on almost every score. I do, however, part company with you to some extent on the topic of teachers. A COMPETENT teacher deserves to be paid well. Unfortunately, it's been my experience that most teachers can neither articulate nor punctuate as well as you, a nurse. So when I encounter teachers grousing on an open forum, I will critically assess their respective posts and unleash snark and corrections as circumstances may warrant.
To do so is, imo, our duty to the schoolchildren of New Jersey.
Teachers' salaries are not what is breaking the bank in this state. The average classroom teacher will top out around $80K in most districts after starting at half that. The problem is that once we hire a teacher, we are essentially signing on the dotted line to pay them for life through guaranteed retirement benefits and lifetime health insurance.
The salaries can stay (hell, RAISE them a little bit if you want) but the pension must be converted to a matching 401K and they must contribute to their health insurance.
Same with police. And as far as police services go, it's insane that my town which is 20 blocks long and a total of .7-square miles (.7, not "7") has its own police department, with the next town of the same size having its own as well. Like in California and Florida, the county sheriff should provide police services to these towns. There should be a state law passed that mandates towns with a small number of residents or land area use county police services.
Teachers' salaries are not what is breaking the bank in this state. The average classroom teacher will top out around $80K in most districts after starting at half that. The problem is that once we hire a teacher, we are essentially signing on the dotted line to pay them for life through guaranteed retirement benefits and lifetime health insurance.
The salaries can stay (hell, RAISE them a little bit if you want) but the pension must be converted to a matching 401K and they must contribute to their health insurance.
Same with police. And as far as police services go, it's insane that my town which is 20 blocks long and a total of .7-square miles (.7, not "7") has its own police department, with the next town of the same size having its own as well. Like in California and Florida, the county sheriff should provide police services to these towns. There should be a state law passed that mandates towns with a small number of residents or land area use county police services.
This is spot on. Unfortunately, it's really difficult to explain this to the voters, and the benefits of addressing this have delayed payoff (our costs today arise largely from yesterday's lofty promises).
Therefore, fixing the problem is difficult to accomplish politically. The unions certainly understand the implications of addressing these issues, and will campaign against any attempt to shut down the gravy train. So not only does a politician trying to shut this down end up enraging the unions, they aren't rewarded for the resulting savings (because the voters will wonder why their property taxes don't go down overnight)
It's not impossible to fix, but it will take someone with a thick skin to get it done.
Good, I hope he uses every possible tool at his disposal to knock some reality into the unions. They negotiated annual raises for 2009 and 2010 under Corzine, during a time when many in the private sector are losing their jobs or facing wage cuts. Well, that's just plain unrealistic, if not downright selfish. Perhaps if they had considered giving a hand in the past they wouldn't be facing losing a whole arm now.
Teachers' salaries are not what is breaking the bank in this state. The average classroom teacher will top out around $80K in most districts after starting at half that. The problem is that once we hire a teacher, we are essentially signing on the dotted line to pay them for life through guaranteed retirement benefits and lifetime health insurance.
That wasn't my point. I thought it was clear, but apparently not: incompetent teachers don't deserve to be hired, let alone paid well or given tenure and perks.
Right. And like I said, I'll continue to challenge incompetent teachers whenever I encounter them grousing in public forums. I wish everyone, especially competent teachers, would do the same.
(I appreciate and agree with your commentary on policing and county sheriffs.)
This is spot on. Unfortunately, it's really difficult to explain this to the voters, and the benefits of addressing this have delayed payoff (our costs today arise largely from yesterday's lofty promises).
Therefore, fixing the problem is difficult to accomplish politically. The unions certainly understand the implications of addressing these issues, and will campaign against any attempt to shut down the gravy train. So not only does a politician trying to shut this down end up enraging the unions, they aren't rewarded for the resulting savings (because the voters will wonder why their property taxes don't go down overnight)
It's not impossible to fix, but it will take someone with a thick skin to get it done.
And the rest of us to back up that thick-skinned and tenacious leader, whoever it may turn out to be.
That wasn't my point. I thought it was clear, but apparently not: incompetent teachers don't deserve to be hired, let alone paid well or given tenure and perks.
Right. And like I said, I'll continue to challenge incompetent teachers whenever I encounter them grousing in public forums. I wish everyone, especially competent teachers, would do the same.
(I appreciate and agree with your commentary on policing and county sheriffs.)
I don't think there are too many outright incompetent teachers out there. There are plenty of lazy ones, however. Though how could one not get bored robotically teaching to standardized tests?
I don't think there are too many outright incompetent teachers out there. There are plenty of lazy ones, however. Though how could one not get bored robotically teaching to standardized tests?
Simply by TALKING about it, Christie has done more than Corslime did to address the budget problems in four years.
As far as municipal workers are concerned, note your tax bill...
Half your tax bill goes directly for school funding...
Of the other half, Half of that, 1/4 goes to support the county you live in.
The entire rest of the municipal budget is the remaining 1/4 of your tax bill. This takes in office administration, Police, Street department, snow plowing, parks etc..
It seems easy to identify where some problems are waiting to be fixed. All it takes is the political will, and an ability to weather the storm of controversy.
EDIT, Before I get gang jumped, all percentages are approximate, but generally correct.
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