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I wish they had done it after school was out, but I am well aware each teacher took leave time to participate.
Had the rally occurred after school was out (which it never really is), this entire thread would not exist. The issue would have been lucky to get 1% of the attention it is getting. And netbrad would have had to make up an entirely different reason for being incensed.
And thank you for your support. I've been an educator since 1991. I'm nearing the end of my career, and my children are adults. I've never suffered financially because I haven't been the primary breadwinner for our family. But I am deeply concerned about what I see and the direction we're headed. If we continue to make teaching unattractive through wages that aren't competitive and a lack of professional respect while we siphon funds away from public education, we will all suffer.
This is the curious part to me. The recession exposed a number of ways money was a bit of a shell game in NC government at the time. When funds started drying up, there was a lot of robbing Peter to pay Paul. And when it came to more cuts in education (which was never funded that well in NC, quite frankly -- see the discussion around the so-called education lottery), there just a general shrugging of shoulders and, sorry, just couldn't make that happen, from Purdue and the legislature at the time. Again I voted for Purdue and don't have a party line to draw (ended up being quite disappointed in her lack of leadership in the situation). But nary a word came from the teachers' organizations at the time. So why is *now* the time to protest? I still don't get it. The NCGA has made a ton of mistakes but at least they are trying to rectify the mistakes of the past in some level in this particular area.
With the recent protests in other states, this seems like a narrative created to generate some buzz and some news stories without a lot accuracy in the historical reporting.
First of all, there were protests in May of 2009. They weren't as large because state employees (including teachers) understood that the GREAT RECESSION and resulting shortfall were something the governor could not help. But after the next election, the NCGA began to directly target teachers by taking away master's pay, longevity pay, and continuing contracts. We can see exactly what they're doing and why. We have dedicated our lives to public education, and we're standing up to say - no more.
I'd honestly like to know what necessary supplies are not provided for them.
Have you ever gone to a teaching store? They are chock full of supplemental books, games, manipulatives, and tools that help children learn in fun and hands-on ways. Elementary school teachers probably spend a lot of money there buying things that will keep their students engaged and help them learn.
Middle and high school teachers may be buying things that are for the students more than for the classroom. For example: food. I know a lot of teachers that keep a stock of food in their room for hungry high school students. If they are hungry, they can't learn. Other teachers may provide backpacks and even clothing items (coats) to kids in need, quietly. This happens even in the more affluent schools.
It's not the responsibility nor job of teachers to feed and clothe their students. If they are including this under their spending money hopefully they are writing off charitable donations.
It's not the responsibility nor job of teachers to feed and clothe their students. If they are including this under their spending money hopefully they are writing off charitable donations.
No, it’s not. But it is sometimes reality. The genuinely care about these kids.
I don’t think the general public may fully understand what teachers see, hear, absorb, and help their students deal with daily.
Had the rally occurred after school was out (which it never really is), this entire thread would not exist. The issue would have been lucky to get 1% of the attention it is getting. And netbrad would have had to make up an entirely different reason for being incensed.
And thank you for your support. I've been an educator since 1991. I'm nearing the end of my career, and my children are adults. I've never suffered financially because I haven't been the primary breadwinner for our family. But I am deeply concerned about what I see and the direction we're headed. If we continue to make teaching unattractive through wages that aren't competitive and a lack of professional respect while we siphon funds away from public education, we will all suffer.
I'm sorry but I'm allowed to be incensed when my tax money is being used for partisan politics and my schedule is disrupted. You've had 10 years or more to bring this type of attention to this issue and chose to wait until a Republican majority to do so. I've seen the insulting signs and watched the livestreams of the chanting and shouting inside the GA building, something that would not be tolerated in any school. This is the Wisconsin Democrat model of disruption, including the "direction we're headed" talking point. What tax rate are you willing to pay and what services are you willing to cut to fund education to your satisfaction?
We're going to see some skyrocketing taxes around here in the very near future. Hope people are ready - no complaining!
What this really comes down to has nothing to do with teacher pay, and all to do with demographics. As mentioned above, schools where there's parental involvement seem to be doing fine.
What we *do* need to put money toward is relief of overcrowding, and funds to keep up with drastic population increases - cause it's only going to get worse.
Let's not hold up the Davis Drive trilogy of wealthy Wake County schools as an example of "doing fine."
They are doing EXCEPTIONALLY well. What about poor counties where parents might want to do more, but are working multiple jobs and cannot?
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one, I'd expect my administrator to wrangle the parents. And if I were an administrator, I'd start every conversation with "When you were young, what do you think YOUR parents would have said?"
I'd honestly like to know what necessary supplies are not provided for them. I know at all 4 schools my kids have attended, there's a "wish list" at the beginning of the year. It's mostly stuff that the kids should be bringing to school themselves. We always make such a donation, and I haven't heard of any teacher's real needs being unmet. Perhaps the schools in question are fortunate, and there are other schools where the parents DON'T send their kids with their own stuff and DON'T/CANNOT donate. The problem, oversimplified, then becomes:
Teacher says they need a $1,000 budget for supplies the kid doesn't bring in.
In half the schools, the parents make up that difference.
In the other half, they cannot makeup the difference.
Rather than suggest that teachers and schools should APPLY to their county system, we demand that the state supply ALL schools with the same $1K/teacher. And get up in arms when they don't.
I'm pretty socialist when it comes to spending on schools. Those that have the funds can do without some state funding, so that those who can't get more. You'd just be able to do this at a heckuva lot lower cost than $1K/teacher state-wide.
You don't think a teacher goes through 100 dollars a month in supplies for a 10-month calendar year?
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I'm sorry but I'm allowed to be incensed when my tax money is being used for partisan politics and my schedule is disrupted. You've had 10 years or more to bring this type of attention to this issue and chose to wait until a Republican majority to do so. I've seen the insulting signs and watched the livestreams of the chanting and shouting inside the GA building, something that would not be tolerated in any school. This is the Wisconsin Democrat model of disruption, including the "direction we're headed" talking point. What tax rate are you willing to pay and what services are you willing to cut to fund education to your satisfaction?
Why is higher pay and better funding a "partisan" issue? I know teachers who are all over the map, politically, and plenty of them attended this rally.
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