School districts, layoffs and other things of interest....

[WyandotteTX]

Chickened, I teach in Texas where it is illegal for any teacher to be a part of a union. We have teacher organizations that support teachers in the legislature but we have no union. Like I said every school district I have worked for has fired teachers who didnt do their job. In our state just two days ago an state senator proposed a bill to take away our entire state pay scale and all of our contractural rights. My concern is that young people who want to become a teacher and have the desire and drive to be exceptional will choose another profession. We will lose a generation of teachers because of what is being done in this state.

Thank you Dunk, I do appreciate it.

Pineapple, our world is very different even from the world we grew up in(70s and 80s for me). I always joke that there is a Demon on the loose and its name is technology. It does do so many extraordinary things for our lives but at what cost are we tethered to them. There are many days when I think of moving back to our ranch in rural Texas and stepping away from all of these "necessities".

 

[Dunkopf]

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But you live in Arlington I believe. When I lived in Ft Worth I could buy a 3 bedroom 2 bath, 3 car garage house for 45k. My sister still lives there and has a nice house for 90k, my Mom did too. In Colorado the crummy houses in neighborhoods that require bars on the windows start at about 150k. If you want the same as what I had in Tx they are about 180k. That's about 1300 a month for mortgage alone. So you're talking 15k or so just for mortgage. I'm sure the average teacher salary in TX is somewhat less than 45k too.

 

[chickened]

I have owned a business for over 20 years and trust me when I say I have had some rough rounds like not knowing whether my equipment will be repossed during dry times to being able to keep my help working but one thing that I have done is not overspend and yes that means going with out. I support our local school monetarily by taxes and my own donations and I do not support every whim that comes along but I can choose to give money for what I support. And if I am not mistaken you can donate money to the schools for those of you who want to redistribute wealth that is not yours and you are free to do so. I am a product of government schools so you might be careful judging me you may have educated me teachers.
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[Gargoyle]

mom'sfolly :

Yesterday, I was laid off from my job as a crossing guard. I was planning to quit anyway, so this was no loss; but the topic of discussion is the cutting of safety personnel.
<snip>
Texas spends so little money on schools to begin with, it breaks my heart that they have to cut further. In "rich" districts, like my own, we are limited by the legislature on raising taxes. Our tax rate can't be higher than a certain point, and we give money to the lege so they can redistribute it. Only now, we give tax dollars to the lege, and it isn't coming back.

At least you can feel good about the fact that you pay more income tax than General Motors, Citibank and Bank of America combined. (Since with their combined profit of something over $20B last year they paid $0 in corporate income tax). However, maybe if they paid a fair share you wouldn't have been laid off.

 

[chickened]

You may be right on about Texas but most teachers are represented by unions. I am sorry that what is happening to teachers there is happening but I cannot believe that the great state of Texas is throwing you guys under the bus. I do know that some states do have less of a need for higher education than others. Part of the problem may be what the jobs are like that are available. If an area has low skill jobs then it is pretty hard for someone barely surviving to stay in school. Kids are not carbon copies not all will make it despite a great education. The education system in this country sets its benchmark at an unrealistic outcome in that all people will go to college and get high paying jobs. Some very wealthy outstanding people that I have met have barely an 8th grade education and do just fine and I cannot tell you how many times I hear about over educated people out of work it just does not add up I mean how long are we going to pay for poor results? and I mean that to apply lazy parents that use school as free daycare and nothing more also, and do not take part in their childrens education..
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[Spookwriter]

In my years I have known many teachers. From pre-school teachers to elementary
to high school and even college professors. Principals, school cooks, the bus drivers
and even the custodians.

They have been among some of the finest, most dedicated people I've had the honor
to know.

We can argue all day about why teachers don't get the respect they deserve.

You can measure the money, but you can not measure what they give to our children.

How many times has a teacher acted as a mother, or father, to the children in their school
because the real parent isn't getting the job done? I bet there isn't a teacher out there who
hasn't paid for a child's lunch, gave a coat, or even a pair of shoes. More importantly, that
one teacher in a child's life is there to be a kind ear, unjudging.

These people we call teachers are the mentors in our childrens life. In every child's life, there
are certain teachers that will never be forgotten.

There's a lot of things in my life I've forgotten...a lot of people. But teachers...the good ones
will always be a part of you. And not because of what was in the book...they, in some manner
will have changed your life forever.

It takes a special person...

 

[WyandotteTX]

Very well put Spook.
My father being number one and second would be my high school Ag teacher, Mr Partain. Will always love that man, may he rest in peace.

When I get the nerve to type it I will tell you a story about what happened to me just a few days ago with my track girls. I coach as well as teach and I get to experience extraordinary things that young people accomplish. I am a big guy, 40 years old, rough ole offensive line football coach and those girls brought me to tears. Kids always amaze me.

 

[PineappleMama]

That's precisely why I only spoke of cost of living here, since it's where I live. And only spoke of the pay scale here in this district, which is available online for anyone (taxpayers to prospective employees) to see. And spoke of how we're able to live on our salary, which is a good portion less than the rookie salary. I KNOW without any doubt that things vary VERY much in other places, as well in other districts. I would never try to assume I've got a clue of what life is like for people, including teachers, in any other city. Again all my thoughts are based on less than $30k, NO benefits, living and working in Arlington only.

Wyandotte, I agree. I'd love to move out to the boonies, go off grid, raise my own... we're working towards that. DH will begin grad school in the fall so he can make a better living... in funds yes, we'll be thrilled if he gets a teaching position that makes that $45k, but also in that he won't be out in 100 degree heat and 30 degree sleet so we've a roof over our heads. He's choosing to work his arse off to change his life... and if he can do that, working 40-60hrs per week, raising two children AND married to a complete nut like me than anyone can.

In any case, once we know where HE'S going to end up (which could be anywhere from UTA here to North Dakota) then we'll know where it is we need to stake our roots. So yeah... some day. *wistful smile*

ANYWHO... anyone else think that maybe part of the problem with teacher appreciation so to speak is that some parents figure they're just glorified babysitters? I know that's not every parent. I know there are tons who fully take on the responsibility of bringing kids into the world, fully support them with no aid, and would gladly die for them n'mind giving up a career, etc. But some people... the attitudes and it's possible I'm just not hearing them right... but some folks seem to just be glad to dump their kids... and even resent if there's a snow day, holiday, etc because they've got to rearrange their lives to 'deal with' the children they birthed... n'mind kids having the audacity to get sick. Maybe they were all just having a bad day and I just happened to catch them at the wrong time, but I swear some have made me worry just how exactly they view their kids, and as a consequence the teachers and staff that educate and care for them for 1/3 of every single day. Am I totally nuts or has anyone else run across that feeling?

 

[WriterofWords]

I'm still waiting to hear where I can make 45k! I want to know where that figure came from. I could live much better on 45K than I do now, I might even buy clothes in a real store instead of Goodwill!

 

[PineappleMama]

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I know right! Heck I'd be doing a happy dance... but prolly still shopping Texas Thrift (Goodwill is too high and no tag sales) as it's just in my blood. That number is only Arlington ISD's hiring info... don't have a CLUE about Ft Worth, Austin, or anywhere else. If you go to aisd.net and search pay scale it'll pop up easy enough... well that is if you're on DH's puter. On mine it's a pain in the bum hence just giving instructions.