Teachers striking

[Chewbecca]

Our district teachers went on strike on Tuesday.
They are due to meet today with the board to attempt negotiations.
But our school board is chalked full of greedy bastids, so I don't know if the poor teachers will get what they deserve.
Good for them for striking!
I had to black and white a few of them because the snow and whites were BLOWN. And blown highlights are usually more forgiving in black and white.


Meh, I know this pic is tilted because I snapped it from my car. In fact, ALL shots were snapped from my car:









If you actually go to the website on the cardboard sign, you can see the unfairness and corrupt politics of the board of administrators that these poor teachers have been forced to endure.

[smkie]

Excellent!!!!!!!! HOpe you can send it to some of the teachers. I am sure they would appriciate. The newspaper ought to have them too.

[release the hounds]

I like teachers, I just don't have as much sympathy as they'd like me to have. But i'll check the link just to see

[release the hounds]

Why am I feeling sorry for them? quit whining and get to work. They average about 50K per year in an area that has a median income of around 35K and an average home value of 112K. I think they've got it pretty good.

They may have a corrupt board, so get rid of them.

[CaliTerp07]

Ehh...I went to the link, but I don't understand the specifics, so I'm not sure what they're striking on. Sounds like other people are getting raises in administration, but teachers aren't? Isn't that the way it always works in a recession? I know in my company, the only people who got raises the past two years are execs. I actually got a promotion (though I'm calling it a "nomotion") this year. More responsibilities, more hours, but no salary increase. It sucks, but I'd never strike over it.

Teachers have it pretty darn good, financially. I'm getting my masters to go into teaching, and while I'll never be wealthy as an educator, I will always be comfortable. I will make nearly $50k starting out with my masters, to work 9 months of the year (and the median home value here is more like 500k). I will only have students for an average of 5 hours a day (high school), with 3 hours of prep time built into my school day. Yes, there is prep time/grading/planning after hours, but once you've been teaching for 4-5 years, you can reuse a LOT of what you already have. I will be doing something fun, rewarding, and meaningful. And I'll be getting paid for it. I really can't complain about money at all.

I do believe that teachers are under appreciated and often have to deal with a lack of respect from parents and students, but I don't buy the underpaid nonsense. If the administration is crap, deal with that somehow--but striking isn't the way to do that.

[sparks19]

I agree with Cali

I'm not sure how the teachers unions work here but I know when my sister was an EA you didn't get a choice on whether to strike or not. if the union said strike you were out of work for the duration of the strike and while some of the teachers wanted what they were striking for... most of them just wanted to get back to work and start earning a paycheck again and not only did you not get a choice on whether or not to strike... you were required to put in so many hours on the picket lines.

If that is the case here I feel bad for the teachers that want to work

are teachers unionized here?

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by sparks19

are teachers unionized here?

In Virginia, you have the choice to join a union--they can't force it on you! Most teachers join because it provides them legal aid, in the event they are sued for sexual harassment or something (which is becoming VERY common), the union picks up the legal bills. It's a safety net. Unions also provide discounted insurance premiums, training opportunities, and information sharing networks.

There are several large unions and associations at both the state and federal level, but as far as I know it's all personal choice whether or not to join. I would be very confused why a district would require their teachers to join a union.

[Chewbecca]

I'm going to take this as you guys simply do not know the local politics here.
And where the heck did you get, release the hounds, that they are making 50k a year???

My son's teacher makes barely $30,000. a year.

Did any of you bother to go to the website that is posted on that cardboard sign?

Seriously, they're in a union.
It's their right to strike. And they should if they aren't getting what they deserve

Whine?? Whining? Are you all serious??????

So they should settle for less than they deserve???
Their class sizes have increased, and so has their workload, but their pay has NOT increased.
And this is ok with all of you????

Yeah, they'd all rather be teaching if the bunch of greedy bastids would simply give them what they deserve.

Did you all know that the administrators NEVER EVER go visit ANY of the classes???

Ok, so administrators (these in particular, I'm not claiming this for ALL adminstrators) get to do LESS work and get paid LOTS more.
Ok, so this happens. Whatever.

Does that mean it has to be seen as acceptable or OK?
No, it's not.
And since they are in a union, it's their d@mn right to strike.
And GOOD FOR THEM.

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by Chewbecca

My son's teacher makes barely $30,000. a year.

Yes, but I'm guessing she's an elementary school teacher with a bachelors and less than 15 years experience? That's pretty average, unless you live in a place where cost of living is significantly higher. If she has a masters and 10ish years experience, then I'd hope it was more in the $40k range.

Did any of you bother to go to the website that is posted on that cardboard sign?

Yeah, I actually did. (Here's the link for those who can't read the sign: k3teachers4kids [licensed for non-commercial use only] / FrontPage) Like I said, maybe I'm misreading what's there, but it sounds like they're angry because administrators got a pay raise, and they didn't. Again, that's generally how it works during recessions. I don't know why teachers should be exempt from the economy because they are in a public service field. Everyone in non-executive positions went without raises the past couple years. I've been in my current job 3 years, have received 2 promotions, and make less than 2% more than when I started. That's the way it works.

Originally Posted by Chewbecca

So they should settle for less than they deserve???
Their class sizes have increased, and so has their workload, but their pay has NOT increased.
And this is ok with all of you????

It's their opinion they deserve more--I really don't know anything beyond what was on their website, so I can't say that I believe they deserve more. Most peoples' workload in this country has increased over the past couple years, without comparable pay increases. Is it fun? No, of course not. But I don't think it's a reason to strike.

Seriously, they're in a union.
It's their right to strike. And they should if they aren't getting what they deserve

Oh, absolutely it's their right to strike. (I didn't mean to imply they shouldn't be allowed to strike, if that's how I came across). But it's everyone else's right to criticize their reasons for striking if they don't agree with them.

[Chewbecca]

No, actually, his teacher has more than "just" her bachelors.
Trust me, these teachers ARE underpaid.
And this is coming from a PARENT whose child is out of school right now due to these strikes.

Oh man. This whole d@mn city is as corrupt as the day is long, and we cannot wait to get the hell out of here.