School system faculty, staff face furlough days
The Lamar County board of education is advertising a $19,372,431 budget for the 2011-12 school year that will not include a millage increase – but it will include three furlough days for all faculty and staff.
You picked your job - if you think teaching is such a great career - go be a teacher or quit whining. How is that a teacher's fault that you picked a lesser paying career with your "honor roll" self? (and it's "our" not "are" - I am guessing you weren't english majors?) Good grief!
Isn't it your responsibility, as a NEW teacher, to ensure that the children in our community are receiving the education they deserve and you are paid for? Sure it's tough work but really, it's a career you chose because you're supposed to have passion for helping the children develop and learn. It's not a career you choose to make money, unless that is, you further your education with specialist degrees or a Ph.D. These are the days when a 4 year college degree is almost the equivalent of a high school diploma as far as pay grades go.
So go, enjoy your paid summer vacation and come back this fall ready to teach the children of Lamar County!
Thank you to all of our teachers. They are teaching the children that are one day going to run our country. They are the ones that many times are shaping our childrens' futures.
Many times the parents choose to let the teachers do 'all' of the teaching, and they get none at home. Many times these teachers are with our children many more hours of the day than parents are.
I commend all of our teachers for 'choosing' this profession. They should be paid much more than they already make. Thank you for caring and taking on this enormous responsibility.
And as far as the 4 day school week proposed, I hope everyone researches the facts behind such actions. According to PAGE (Professional Assocation of Georgia Educators):
"First of all, our students, particularly those who are struggling to succeed, need more – not less – time for their studies. We believe that all students can learn, but they do not all learn at the same pace. Reducing teaching and learning time for students is not the way to go in our view. Already our students have one of the shortest school years in the world and reducing it further cannot help but degrade the quality of their education.
Secondly, we are kidding ourselves if we believe that by adding marginally to the length of the other four days –a few minutes here or there – we are actually making up for lost instructional time or student time on task. There is a limit to what a student can absorb in a given day and it is doubtful that a few extra minutes of math, for example, will help a struggling student master a difficult concept.
Third, the savings generated by such a move hardly equal the loss in instructional time and severely punish the lowest paid employees in the school system. Students and teachers are going to “pay” the costs of the lost day in the weeks, months and years to come. The money saved by cutting the hours of bus drivers and cafeteria workers will not offset those educational “costs” and will do real economic harm to the households of lower paid staff who can ill afford the loss, particularly during this economic crisis.
We strongly encourage systems that are considering this option to fully discuss and review with their communities the points we have raised. It is understandable, but no less regrettable, that we are moving from how best to educate our students to how cheaply we can do it."
1. Kids with Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.) who zone out and daydream because they aren't given their prescribed medication.
2. Kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (A.D.H.D.) who cannot remain in their seats, talk all the time, and usually wind up in trouble a lot for the same reason.
3. Kids with fetal alcohol syndrome because somebody didn’t care enough to stop partying long enough to properly care for their pregnancy.
4. Kids with food-born allergies where I have to sanitize my classroom and make sure other students are not eating foods or snack to which the kids with allergies might be allergic. And, if they do come in contact with such allergens, I suddenly get to become an untrained medical professional administering a shot or cpr until the school nurse or paramedics get there.
5. Kids with diabetes for whom I have purchased crackers and orange juice to have on hand in case of emergencies.
6. Kids whose only medical care is when I give them a Band-Aid or when they get to see the school nurse.
7. Kids who desperately need dental care or glasses but no one will take them nor sign the paperwork so the school system can help.
8. Kids who have no money for fees, food, or field trips, nor water or electricity.
9. Kids who wear the same clothes every day.
10. Kids whose parents don’t have a job, or have recently lost a job, but are too proud to ask for government assistance causing the kids to worry and take on the emotional burden.
11. Kids whose only hot meals are the ones they receive at school.
12. Kids whose only contact with their parents is when they get a letter and/or picture from them in prison.
13. Kids who live with irresponsible foster parents who only want that check they get from the state each month.
14. Kids who fall asleep in class because the only sleep they get is when they nap in the car at night while mom is prostituting. And, if a conference is called, her pimp comes with her and does all the talking.
15. Kids who have same-sex parents and come to conferences together.
16. Kids who come from broken homes and play parents against one another and use their broken home as an excuse not to do homework.
17. Kids who have parents who always want to blame the teachers or somebody else for their child’s behavior problems.
18. Kids whose parents have passed away.
19. Kids who are disruptive and live out of zone or in another county.
20. Kids who are already on probation because the judicial system considers them to be “too young” to incarcerate in a Youth Detention Center.
21. Kids who have learning disabilities beyond what a public school can help.
And, you say I “have it made” because I get summers off when the state requires me to pay out of my own pocket to acquire 10 Professional Learning Units (PLU’s) of college level classes on my own time before I can be re-certified every five years?
I “have it made” when the governor and state legislators play political games with my salary, benefits, class sizes and the standards that I teach?
I “have it made” when I have to pay out of my own pocket to keep liability insurance coverage like doctors and other health care professionals?
I suppose you think I “have it made” because I enjoy my “cushy” teacher’s lounge where I have to work and make copies for lessons yet to be taught.
Or, I suppose you think I “have it made” due to my fat-cat salary of $43,000 and falling, or my absolute authority of who gets a hall pass to the bathroom.
And, you say that “teachers don’t care anything about those kids.” Given the obstacles mentioned above, would you care enough to take on this challenge?
But, you know what? When all is said and done, when my students overcome most of these obstacles, which are only a tip of the iceberg, and when I am still able to teach them how to balance an algebraic equation, or calculate the surface area of a triangular prism, and/or maybe, for the first time in their lives, they actually do enjoy learning about math, then you are absolutely correct. I really do have it made.
You really need to thank your past teachers for teaching you how to read, write, type, and the list goes on and on. Without them, you would not have the job you have today and bash the role of an educator.
When I state facts, you chose to respond with telling me that I whine, complain, and need to change careers. Please reread your comments. I am defending educators in Lamar County and in general. When certain individuals as yourself like to voice negative "opinions" instead of facts, the education of the students as a whole does not improve. Please research.
Like firefighters and police officers, you chose an admirable career. Educators chose the teaching profession so that they can have a positive influence on each and every student. They try, to the best of their ability, to help shape their lives - emotionally, intellectually and by helping them reach autonomy. A strong educational foundation is critical to success in life.
I am continually thankful to Georgia educators across the state and to those parents and community members who are committed to supporting our public schools.
We have important jobs, also, and deserve pay that is equal to what we do for children. That is my opinion. Thanks.
Just cut some of the fat out of the budget... assistants and those stupid half days of school. Who ever thought of that needs to be fired!
Oh I forgot he likes the whole spot light.
But I’m quite sure you didn’t say a word about George Bush right?
Oh, and I’m sure you think I’m white, but I’m black and I moved off the plantation decades ago. Maybe You should too.
The main reasons gas prices are so high right now is all the buying of future oil by investors, China buying up oil, plus the turmoil in the Mideast.
Get accustomed to the oil prices because it will never get better. We are no longer the big dog, we no longer can set the world market for anything except drug purchases.
There isn't a Republican or Democrat alive who can fix what we all allowed to break. Pretending like the problem is Obama isn't going to fix the real problem. The real problem is everyone we elected for the past 35 years on both sides of the aisle, and how we do business. The Chinese are just smarter than us.
We are borrowing 40 cents for every dollar we spend. The Gov. is spending more money than it takes in and yet, Obama wants to keep spending. Where is the money coming from, the rich? Well, if you take all of the money of the richest of the rich you still would not be able to pay for the $340 billion in interest on the national debt.
Raising taxes on the rich always trickles down to the middle class. Instead of Obama playing games by telling us that the rich needs to pay more, how about making those 40 million Americans who pay NO federal taxes pay their fair share. I work my butt off and yet I continue to watch people try and beat the system. We cannot sustain this spending the nation will collapses under it's own weight.
Look up a term called,
“Clipping Coins” in regards to the Roman Empire and you will see where America is headed.
Health Care 1,097.9
Pensions and retirement 979.3 billion
Defense 965.8
Education 880.2
Welfare, social security, earned income tax credits, and various unemployment and employment "social" programs 702.7
Actual "welfare" most people bark about is about 250 billion. About 450 billion of the 703 billon in "entitlements" are social security and other programs. If we got everyone off welfare and working minimum wage we would cut about 200 billion, or 20% of what health care costs.
The major problems are health care costs, we gave away all our decent paying jobs so now we have to help people who lost jobs, and the government gives away far too many retirement perks and holidays (plus has people sitting on their butts collecting wages).
In addition, I blame greed on the part of the buyer for purchasing more house than they could afford reasonably. The lenders were greedy as well. Moreover, the counties in GA and in other states were just salivating over the # of houses being built in their counties and cities and then they manipulated the property tax so as to get more money. With that data, they began to plan and create jobs with high salaries based on that false property value.
Let’s not forget about the Prosperity Preachers who were telling their parishioners that God wanted them to have all of hat nice stuff. They raked in millions from their flock but they still have their money and their parishioners get to here stuff like, “God is in the business of restoring what the devil has taken away”. Well, I think God wanted those parishioners to seek Him and His Kingdom first and they didn’t they worshiped Him for the stuff the Prosperity preacher told them God would give them.
Now counties and cities are furloughing teachers, policemen, firemen and the like because they over spent based on false data and greed from every aspect of society.
School Supplies are we having to pay for, for the people that are legal? How many free bus rides a year do these people get? If you stop all of this free or stealing for the tax payers crap we would not have this problem!
That said, to hold out 190 days worked at average 10 hours a day as something exceptional is outrageous. Most of the rest of us work at a minimum 240 days (most more) and are required to work average hours just as long or longer. How many teachers have to stand all night to get a job done?
I fully believe teaching is a difficult, stressful job. But the security (far less likely to be laid off than comparable private sector workers) and the extra 50 or more days off a year compensate wouldn't you say. So if the problem is just taking 3 furlough days, then you don't get much sympathy for those private sector workers, many of whom are on semi-permanent furlough.
If the students reach high school and cannot read or do simple math, then you need to look at their portfolio. Clearly, the child has been tested into special education classes with a 504 plan. However, that child would have a serious disability if he cannot read or solve simple math equations. We do have highly qualified teachers to teach our kids no matter what the IQ. That being said, all children do not have the same ability as others. You really need to back up your comment of "a lot of the kids can't read or do basic math in high school." If you would take the time a research how many of our high school students perform at or above level, you would quickly become silent. If your "a lot" is referring to your own child, have you been involved in your child's academic learning? Teachers cannot do but their job and the parents' job. The key is parent-teacher-school all working together to ensure each child's academic success. I do believe that parents are offered classes throughout the school year to help you help your child. Take one instead of griping and blaming the teachers.
By the way, my kids have a college education.
We taxpayers ARE the source of funds for the gov't, so we would be footing the bill.
And, I am a taxpayer along with all the other educators thank you.
There is no clear cut answer between private and public schools for our children. Yes, there are flaws within the government's view on public education and the heaviness of state testing.
You need to research the facts of which and how many teachers are out of their field before making your comment. Start with just Lamar County alone. Unfortunately, you will become disheartened to see how wrong you are.
Private schools do not cater to the special education group. In addition, drugs, alcohol, and crime are just as prevalent in private schools as in public. The only difference is the type of drugs and crime the students get wrapped up in.
All private schools do not teach Christian values either. Open your eyes! Do you want your taxes to pay for Muslims, Jews, Christians, etc. to go to their own private schools? Do you want there just to be a special education private school just for special ed. children? Do you want there to be a private school just for advanced children and one for just your average children? That is discrimination, and our tax dollars would be paying the bill.
Instead of defending your argument with facts you chose to resort to name calling and badgering. I was raised in a Christian home and continue to instill those values to my children. The majority of public school teachers are Christians and spread God's love within their classroom. I did not vote for Obama either, but that has nothing to do with this thread of discussion.
It is disheartening to think that you actually believe what is spewing from your mouth and onto your keyboard.