UPDATE 7/29: Was the State Board right to approve furloughs?
UPDATE 7/29: Atlanta Public Schools joins several others districts in saying they wont furlough teachers. Read the story here.
UPDATE: As expected, state board members cleared the way for school districts to furlough teachers. Wait there’s more: the unanimous vote gives school districts the opportunity to use up to seven more furlough days.
The State Board of Education is meeting today to vote on amending rules so that any of Georgia’s 182 school districts could change the terms of the teachers’ contracts to allow for furloughs.
Last week, Gov. Sonny Perdue requested that public school districts furlough teachers for three days to save the state about $100 million.
State employees will be furloughed three days and state agencies must cut their budgets by 5 percent because of a $900 million hole in the budget.
Perdue can’t make the districts furlough teachers. But he told system leaders that the amount of money they receive from the state will be cut to reflect furloughs. If schools systems don’t want to furlough, they have to find other places to cut.
Of course, school districts have been slicing and dicing their budgets for years because of austerity cuts and other reductions in state funding.
Some school districts – such as Gwinnett, Forsyth and Cherokee – decided to furlough. Many other systems have done the same, cutting into teachers’ pre-planning time as they prepare for the new school year.
Other systems – such as Cobb and DeKalb – have found other places to cut.
Several systems that furloughed teachers told them not to come in yesterday or today. Teachers, are you still doing work from home?
It’s expected that the state board will approve the change to allow for furloughs. But what message would the board send if they voted it down?
NOTE: The State Board of Regents is expected to take up furloughs and budget cuts for Georgia’s public colleges and universities when it meets Aug. 11 and 12.
STORY HELP: Reporter Nancy Badertscher is looking to speak with private school parents who are using scholarships funded by the tax credit approved by the General Assembly in 2008. If you would like to participate in this story please contact Nancy at nbadertscher@ajc.com.
MORE STORY HELP: A co-worker is writing a back-to-school story looking at who is volunteering in schools. If your PTA or school has an interesting group — whether it be all fathers or all grandparents or employees from a local company — we want to hear from you. Send a note to gstaples@ajc.com if you’d like to participate.
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322 comments Add your comment
happiest teacher
July 28th, 2009
9:03 am
It sure is nice working for a charter these days. We aren’t burdened by a parasitic textbook contract, so we’re not being furloughed. And we aren’t bloated with a giant bureaucracy, so I’m really looking forward to my Christmas bonus…
DeKalb teachers
July 28th, 2009
9:04 am
If DeKalb teachers are not livid about the fact that the largest education organization in DeKalb used their future retirement income as a bargaining chip to save teachers furloughs, while at the same time refusing to openly and adamantly demand cuts in the extra one hundred million dollars DeKalb pays in administrative salaries compared to Fulton, then it is extremely hard to have any sympathy for anything DeKalb teachers are suffering, including the teaching conditions, and the violations of their rights as teachers, under the Crawford Lewis and company.
Of course when DeKalb teachers have made an organization that represents administrators their main spokesperson, it’s hard to have any sympathy in the first place. When administrators who pad the payroll to the tune of an extra one hundred million compared to Fulton, are also members of the same organization that you expect to look out for you, well, what do you expect?
Robert
July 28th, 2009
9:25 am
The relationship of the GAE group with the Crawford Lewis administration is indeed incestuous. How can a group be the watchdog for teachers when administrators are members of the same group? It doesn’t make ANY sense. How can this group fight for teachers when the administrators are also members? The Lewis Administration appears to be big time afraid of MACE. I will stick with MACE. MACE represents ONLY teachers, not administrators.
Not Jeff
July 28th, 2009
9:26 am
What are the demographics of the Georgia legislative body?
ScienceTeacher671
July 28th, 2009
9:27 am
I’m using my extra days of vacation to contact our elected “leaders” and urge the General Assembly to get back to Atlanta – on their own dime.
They knew the economy was bad and getting worse in February when they drew up the budget. Now we’re 3 weeks into the fiscal year and already $1 billion in the hole?
The Savannah Morning News has recently published 3 editorials with suggestions for making up the shortfall. I urge you all to read them, and I’m including the links.
http://savannahnow.com/node/756872
http://savannahnow.com/node/757724
http://savannahnow.com/node/758019
As per the last editorial, you might also want to contact those who aspire to be governor next time.
And there’s that sales tax holiday coming up…it might save the average family $5-20, which may be balanced out by higher prices some stores charge during those days. Does the state really need to forego $10-13 million in revenue at this time?
Stephanie B. Usher
July 28th, 2009
9:30 am
I was shocked to hear of the furlough news. Now, I am afraid of further required furloughs since the board may vote for our contracts to be “open” to almost any changes. My main concern is for the students. Teachers are already stressed to the max with all of the required testing and data collecting. Each day it seems more and more changes are decided by an autonomous board of education. It is difficult to understand how those on the board expect the schools to obtain and/or maintain the standards set before us when we observe more and more acts reflecting how little we are appreciated or supported. In the end, it ultimately affects the students in many negative ways. Isn’t educating our future citizens enough of a reminder to think about these latest decisions with the main focus being on the education of our young people? Teacher performance and student performance are linked together. We are placing teachers in an evermore stressful environment that will ultimately be detrimental to student performance.
ScienceTeacher671
July 28th, 2009
9:30 am
By the way, Senator Eric Johnson’s office informed me that it’s against the law for the General Assembly to meet without getting paid. I pointed out to him that until the state board meets today, it’s also against the state rules to furlough teachers…
gwinnett educator
July 28th, 2009
9:39 am
I sometimes wonder if this state can get any more backwards than it already is. sigh
Thinking
July 28th, 2009
9:40 am
Does anyone know how much the sales tax free weekend will cost the state?
ScienceTeacher671
July 28th, 2009
9:46 am
Thinking, yes…$10-13 million, according to state officials. (It’s in my post that hasn’t shown up yet, too…)
ScienceTeacher671
July 28th, 2009
9:49 am
While waiting for the missing post to show up, here’s another piece of a South Georgia newspaper editorial, this time from Swainsboro’s Forest-Blade:
I think “Go Fish, Georgia” is about as relevant as a wart on a rhinoceros’ rump. I believe it will be a marginal economical development program at best. Given that Alabama and Florida have effectively rolled us for all the water in Lake Lanier, I think the governor should have been focused on the water, not the fish. I think also that making teachers take a three-day furlough to help offset the budget deficit while still funding “Go Fish, Georgia” is just short of immoral and tells you where the governor’s interests lie.
Elaine
July 28th, 2009
9:58 am
One thing nobody’s talking about:
Metro districts pay teachers much more than the state base. For most veteran teachers, the state’s portion of his/her salary is roughly half (a higher percentage for new teachers, and even lower for seasoned veterans). So, If the state yanks three day’s pay, it’s not really three full days’ pay. The counties are already paying the rest. Systems like Cherokee and Fulton need to be transparent about where their share of the savings from these furloughs will be going. Is it to something more important than paying teachers to prepare for the school year? And why not cut 1 1/2 days instead of all 3?
And lets get this straight: a majority of the work teachers do to get ready for the school year can’t be done from home. Unpacking boxes of books, setting up learning centers, unpacking, sorting through and organizing manipulatives, games, art supplies, making bulletin boards, arranging the furniture, setting up listening stations, procuring materials from the media center for the first unit(s)etc. None of this is lesson planning which most teachers do on their own time, anyway; it’s physical classroom setup. Many schools were painted or retiled/carpeted over the summer, or are alltogether new schools. Everything, absolutely everything is in boxes. This can’t be done in 2 days….especially if one of them is meet-and-greet when the parents and students are going to be there.
If your child attends in Cherokee or Fulton, and if you show up to meet-and-greet or the first day to a classroom that looks ready for learning, thank your teacher. He/she worked for no pay so your child wouldn’t be affected. And most teachers will because they’re like that.
Stephanie B. Usher
July 28th, 2009
9:59 am
Enter your comments here
DeKalb Conservative
July 28th, 2009
10:01 am
Here’s a question for the group. If a furlough is not acceptable, what aspects of the education budget are not necessary? What programs, or budgets would you reduce or cease?
ScienceTeacher671
July 28th, 2009
10:03 am
From the Savannah Morning News, Thursday July 23:
Teacher furloughs would save about $99 million. However, it means dumbing down schools…In a special session, the General Assembly could restore those funds to education in one simple move: Enacting a cigarette tax increase of $1 a pack. While Georgia’s cigarette tax is currently 37 cents per pack, the national average is about $1.25.
A tobacco tax increase would bring in an additional $400 million in revenues.
Elaine
July 28th, 2009
10:10 am
DeKalb Conservative:
Almost everyone who works in the district office. They tie themselves down with meetings with each other and rarely ever darken the door of a school. Back when I was in the classroom fulltime, we used to joke that the entire admin building could be abducted by aliens and not a schoolchild would notice. Admin services to keep: payroll and benefits depts., facilities depts, and purchasing. And possibly content area coordinators. Seriously, though, we might save money on facilities with a better paid “facilities manager” instead of a head custodian at every school, and give him/her a facilities budget to use with private contractors. County maintenance is wasteful–one guy to change a doorknob while two watch and a fourth sits in the van with the air running so it doesn’t heat up.
And speaking of facilities, in DeKalb, you have such wonderful, wonderful small schools. And I know no one wants to see his/her neighborhood school close. But honestly, it’s very, very expensive. Think about it: say you’ve got two elementary schools with 200 and 300 students respectively. Imagine how much more cheaply you can serve them in one school of 500. Same number of teachers, same pupil/teacher ratio, but only one principal, one secretary, one site to pay taxes on and maintain, one media specialist, one larger library with more books instead of two small ones with fewer…etc. I understand the precious blessings of a small school, but they come with a very hefty pricetag.
ScienceTeacher671
July 28th, 2009
10:11 am
Currently missing 2 posts….
mift
July 28th, 2009
10:16 am
Furloughed these first two days but working at school anyway- how many other jobs require folks work for free?
DeKalb Conservative
July 28th, 2009
10:23 am
Mift-
I sometimes work weekends and holidays. Its what adults that want to have nice things and nice lifestyles do. The alternative would be to:
– add up all the furlough days by school district
– divide by the total number of school days
– this gives you the number of teachers you would need to lay off
– have the teachers all draw straws (yes that crude) and the shortest straw(s) get laid off
Way Down South
July 28th, 2009
10:24 am
Brooks County and Valdosta City Schools told Perdue to stick it and will not be taking furlough days at this time.
high school teacher
July 28th, 2009
10:29 am
Elaine, since we are not working at all, then the county won’t pay us the local supplement portion either.
The front page story on ajc states that the state could furlough teachers as much as 10 days, which would eliminate every teacher work day that we have. According to Kathy Cox, students will be still be required to attend 180 days: “‘Systems will not be allowed to reduce the 180 days of instruction,’ she said. ‘We’re going to stand up for our teachers and our students so they can achieve academic success,”’ Cox said.” Call me crazy, but taking all of my planning days away doesn’t sound like standing up for teachers.
Semantics is underrated. They should just say that teachers are going to have a 5% pay cut and spread the cuts over the entire year. Teachers will still work the same amount of time whether or not they are furloughed, so just say that our salaries will be cut instead of saying we will have unpaid days. I understand that everyone is sacrificing and I don’t mind sacrificing with the crowd. However, it doesn’t sound good to hear that we aren’t getting paid for days that we will still work (at least good teachers will, anyway).
flipper
July 28th, 2009
10:29 am
Why not just cut the school year by two weeks and then cut out all the ridiculous indoctrination and fluff that takes up so much of the school day to make up for the first week and actually teach until the last day of school rather than having a week of parties and field days and just general chaos during the last week of school. Kids get more summer (my kids learn as much in one summer as they learn in a school year) – schools get more efficient. Teachers have a long enough summer to work on advanced degrees or get a summer job which would more than make up for two weeks of lost pay. Everyone wins.
Elaine
July 28th, 2009
10:29 am
DeKalb Conservative:
I agree with your point to mift. Professionals–not hourly wage earners–do often work after hours. And teachers need to conduct themselves as professionals if they want to be treated as such.
I think the outrage about the furloughs during preplanning stems more from the feeling that the buck always stops with teachers. Very rarely is anyone else in a system asked to pick up the slack. A rumor circulating in Fulton schools that may or may not be true: the Superintendent isn’t taking any furlough days, but teachers are taking all 3. The Supt. easily makes 3-4x the average teacher. The supt. by nature of her job teaches no children. Yet the people who do the very business of a school system–the teachers–are repeatedly “dumped on.” I seriosly doubt this rumor is true. I hope it isn’t.
DeKalb Conservative
July 28th, 2009
10:51 am
Leadership starts at the top. Same issues playing out here are the ones that played out in Atlanta furloughs. School administration, starting at the top should be on the front lines subjecting themselves to the same furloughs they want to push downstream. I think alot of people have taken offense that the Atlanta mayor’s office hasn’t imposed the same furloughs as where immediately down for police and fire
– isn’t if funny how police, fire and education are always the first programs to go when times get tough?
Since we’re talking about saving money, another consideration would be why does school start in the middle of August when the temperature outside is the hottest? The overhead to maintain temperature in these buildings during the hottest time of the year must be outrageous.
I should run for governor.
July 28th, 2009
11:02 am
It’s against the law for the General Assembly to meet without getting paid, but it is “ok” to give teachers “furloughs” from teacher work days? Every teacher, administrator, and law maker knows that those days were created to allow teachers to get paid for the enormous amount of work that happens outside the classroom. Just because you are given a furlough does not mean that work disappears.
Rosie
July 28th, 2009
11:13 am
Off topic, but very important to teachers- What about the new teacher evaluation instrument? What do teachers think?
State Board of Education takes up furloughs | Get Schooled | Georgia Today
July 28th, 2009
11:19 am
[...] Excerpt from: State Board of Education takes up furloughs | Get Schooled [...]
Gimmee Gimmee
July 28th, 2009
11:22 am
Why would anyone work for free?
State Board of Education takes up furloughs | Get Schooled « Education Blog
July 28th, 2009
11:24 am
[...] Read more here: State Board of Education takes up furloughs | Get Schooled [...]
TW
July 28th, 2009
11:28 am
Get what you pay for.
Alabama now tells Georgia jokes…sad.
But really, what has all this school nonsense have to do with Sonny’s $27 million fish park is South Georgia?
Leave your head in your butt, drop put of school, go fish, continue to let the wealthy Republicans pull your strings and make fortunes off your ignorance…
Morons.
Northview (Ex)Teacher
July 28th, 2009
11:33 am
I know that Kathy Cox and Sonny Purdue must be extremely proud of their “accomplishments” in making education in Georgia even more of a joke than it was. The irony, of course, is that many teachers were so disgusted with Barnes that they voted for Purdue. Well, the cure here is certainly worse than the disease, isn’t it? As long as the people of this state continue to vote for these moron Republicans, they should not be surprised at the results. Kathy Cox could not even manage her personal household budget, so it should come as no surprise that she is incapable of managing something as important as education. But the point here is that education is not important, so Kathy Cox is actually probably the best face to show the world what education in Georgia means.
I would not be surprised to see a good bit of passive-aggressive behavior on the part of teachers this year, especially towards the Republican parents. We all agree that most teachers are not in a position simply to walk away, so they will continue to work for a system that completely devalues them and their contribution. When you are not in a position to do the little extras this year, please feel free to quote Ms. Cox: “It kinda stinks.”
The truth is that teachers matter more than these people on this blog who spend their time bashing them. If you teacher-bashers don’t do your job, so what? Many of you teacher-bashers are wasting your lives in completely meaningless, boring, wasteful jobs. Go back to your cubes, rats. No wonder you hate those who have meaning in their lives, given what you live through every day.
But teachers matter. Teachers matter in ways that you would never understand because teaching is a vocation, although the likes of Purdue and Cox are doing everything possible to make it just a job, no more meaningful or valuable than what a cube rat does.
Take heart teachers and start looking for new positions outside of Georgia. I know that this year will be hard, but you can rise above whatever the despicable Republicans throw at you.
Here’s a poem that may speak to you:
God Has Pity On Kindergarten Children
God has pity on kindergarten children,
He pities school children — less.
But adults he pities not at all.
He abandons them,
And sometimes they have to crawl on all fours
In the scorching sand
To reach the dressing station,
Streaming with blood.
But perhaps
He will have pity on those who love truly
And take care of them
And shade them
Like a tree over the sleeper on the public bench.
Perhaps even we will spend on them
Our last pennies of kindness
Inherited from mother,
So that their own happiness will protect us
Now and on other days.
Yehuda Amichai
My advice to you teachers is to do whatever you must to get through this year (remember, no extras for any Republican parents) and simply forget about Georgia and all the benighted, malevolent, bellicose moron Republicans that run this so-called state like a plantation. Run away from here. Leave. Breathe free and follow your precious vocation somewhere that has some light.
Doni
July 28th, 2009
11:36 am
Someone asked what other items could be cut to make up the budget?
Start with looking at testing. The state of Georgia spends about 35 million dollars on student testing each year. 10.7 million of that is spent on tests required just by the state – not tests required by NCLB. Georgia spent 23 million last year to outside contractors for printing, developing, distributing, and scoring the CRCT.
Another place money could be cut is at the state DOE. Look at some of the jobs they have. I know of two former principals who were both kindly asked to resign who then got jobs with the state. Some of these jobs are ridiculous.
In the last few years, support positions have been added to improve test scores and graduation rates – these should be the first to go in tough times – LET THE TEACHERS TEACH – (not just test prep) and you will get better results. Sorry, but do we really need Literacy Coaches, Math Coaches, Graduation Coaches?
What?
July 28th, 2009
11:37 am
Rosie, what new teacher evaluation instrument? And who got paid off to develop a new one?
zoemol
July 28th, 2009
11:39 am
The retirement money Dekalb chose to use was NOT TRS money, it was a “perk” they used to match 403b contributions. Not every teacher had a 403b and I think Dekalb was one of the few systems in the area that did a matching contribution. I know our system doesn’t match, it just allows us to make contributions pre-tax from our paychecks.
Jack
July 28th, 2009
11:46 am
mift — No teacher can be “required” to work for free. It can be “suggested,” “encouraged,” whatever … but it can’t be required. According to both professional educator organizations, if the systems are not offering pay, the teachers are not required to attend — and the system cannot penalize them. (They open themselves to lawsuits if they do.) Many teachers will choose to go in on furlough days; many won’t. It doesn’t say anything about the professionalism of the teacher, whichever they choose. Sometimes, the right thing to do really does rest with the individual.
Rosie — It bugs me no end that tne evaluation instrument used for teachers had no teacher input. But then, what stuff that we have to deal with is discussed with us first anyway?
Guess What?
July 28th, 2009
11:50 am
How is Dooly County going to achieve the 3 days of furloughs? They started school July 17 and have already used 4 planning days before the furloughs were announced.
State Board of Education takes up furloughs | Get Schooled | kozmom news
July 28th, 2009
11:52 am
[...] Excerpt from: State Board of Education takes up furloughs | Get Schooled [...]
Northview (Ex)Teacher
July 28th, 2009
11:55 am
Postings seem to get lost today.
I know that Kathy Cox and Sonny Purdue must be extremely proud of their “accomplishments” in making education in Georgia even more of a joke than it was. The irony, of course, is that many teachers were so disgusted with Barnes that they voted for Purdue. Well, the cure here is certainly worse than the disease, isn’t it? As long as the people of this state continue to vote for these moron Republicans, they should not be surprised at the results. Kathy Cox could not even manage her personal household budget, so it should come as no surprise that she is incapable of managing something as important as education. But the point here is that education is not important, so Kathy Cox is actually probably the best face to show the world what education in Georgia means.
I would not be surprised to see a good bit of passive-aggressive behavior on the part of teachers this year, especially towards the Republican parents. We all agree that most teachers are not in a position simply to walk away, so they will continue to work for a system that completely devalues them and their contribution. When you are not in a position to do the little extras this year, please feel free to quote Ms. Cox: “It kinda stinks.”
The truth is that teachers matter more than these people on this blog who spend their time bashing them. If you teacher-bashers don’t do your job, so what? Many of you teacher-bashers are wasting your lives in completely meaningless, boring, wasteful jobs. Go back to your cubes, rats. No wonder you hate those who have meaning in their lives, given what you live through every day.
But teachers matter. Teachers matter in ways that you would never understand because teaching is a vocation, although the likes of Purdue and Cox are doing everything possible to make it just a job, no more meaningful or valuable than what a cube rat does.
Take heart teachers and start looking for new positions outside of Georgia. I know that this year will be hard, but you can rise above whatever the despicable Republicans throw at you.
Here’s a poem that may speak to you:
God Has Pity On Kindergarten Children
God has pity on kindergarten children,
He pities school children — less.
But adults he pities not at all.
He abandons them,
And sometimes they have to crawl on all fours
In the scorching sand
To reach the dressing station,
Streaming with blood.
But perhaps
He will have pity on those who love truly
And take care of them
And shade them
Like a tree over the sleeper on the public bench.
Perhaps even we will spend on them
Our last pennies of kindness
Inherited from mother,
So that their own happiness will protect us
Now and on other days.
Yehuda Amichai
My advice to you teachers is to do whatever you must to get through this year (remember, no extras for any Republican parents) and simply forget about Georgia and all the benighted, malevolent, bellicose moron Republicans that run this so-called state like a plantation. Run away from here. Leave. Breathe free and follow your precious vocation somewhere that has some light.
Howard
July 28th, 2009
12:00 pm
Perdue has given little support to Georgia’s public schools and so it is no wonder his “solution” to the budget crisis is to cut their funding further. And, legislative lawmakers seem to have no problem with the economic pain being experienced by public school teachers. Perhaps the Governor and legislators can share in this burden by reducing their costs as well.
Northview (Ex)Teacher
July 28th, 2009
12:04 pm
Some problem with posting today.
I know that Kathy Cox and Sonny Purdue must be extremely proud of their “accomplishments” in making education in Georgia even more of a joke than it was. The irony, of course, is that many teachers were so disgusted with Barnes that they voted for Purdue. Well, the cure here is certainly worse than the disease, isn’t it? As long as the people of this state continue to vote for these moron Republicans, they should not be surprised at the results. Kathy Cox could not even manage her personal household budget, so it should come as no surprise that she is incapable of managing something as important as education. But the point here is that education is not important, so Kathy Cox is actually probably the best face to show the world what education in Georgia means.
I would not be surprised to see a good bit of passive-aggressive behavior on the part of teachers this year, especially towards the Republican parents. We all agree that most teachers are not in a position simply to walk away, so they will continue to work for a system that completely devalues them and their contribution. When you are not in a position to do the little extras this year, please feel free to quote Ms. Cox: “It kinda stinks.”
The truth is that teachers matter more than these people on this blog who spend their time bashing them. If you teacher-bashers don’t do your job, so what? Many of you teacher-bashers are wasting your lives in completely meaningless, boring, wasteful jobs. Go back to your cubes, rats. No wonder you hate those who have meaning in their lives, given what you live through every day.
But teachers matter. Teachers matter in ways that you would never understand because teaching is a vocation, although the likes of Purdue and Cox are doing everything possible to make it just a job, no more meaningful or valuable than what a cube rat does.
Take heart teachers and start looking for new positions outside of Georgia. I know that this year will be hard, but you can rise above whatever the despicable Republicans throw at you.
Here’s a poem that may speak to you:
God Has Pity On Kindergarten Children
God has pity on kindergarten children,
He pities school children — less.
But adults he pities not at all.
He abandons them,
And sometimes they have to crawl on all fours
In the scorching sand
To reach the dressing station,
Streaming with blood.
But perhaps
He will have pity on those who love truly
And take care of them
And shade them
Like a tree over the sleeper on the public bench.
Perhaps even we will spend on them
Our last pennies of kindness
Inherited from mother,
So that their own happiness will protect us
Now and on other days.
Yehuda Amichai
My advice to you teachers is to do whatever you must to get through this year (remember, no extras for any Republican parents) and simply forget about Georgia and all the benighted, malevolent, bellicose moron Republicans that run this so-called state like a plantation. Run away from here. Leave. Breathe free and follow your precious vocation somewhere that has some light.
abacus2
July 28th, 2009
12:10 pm
Has anyone heard anything about Fayette’s decision?
Y oh Y
July 28th, 2009
12:19 pm
It is interesting that the fiscal conservatives in Atlanta tell us these cuts are necessary due to falling revenues but maintain the sales tax holiday. If tough choices are encessary then make them and cancel the sales tax holiday. Let everyone share the problem. Sadly the state Republicans swept to power by the teachers are trying to court votes with their antics. However the legislature should be mindful that next year is an election year.
It will be ironic if Roy Barnes who was swept FROM power by the teachers is restored TO power by the teachers due to Sonny Perdue’s war on public education.
quint
July 28th, 2009
12:21 pm
If the state cuts salaries by any percentage it will be hard to get that percentage back later
Ex Georgia Teacher
July 28th, 2009
12:21 pm
I know that Kathy Cox and Sonny Purdue must be extremely proud of their “accomplishments” in making education in Georgia even more of a joke than it was. The irony, of course, is that many teachers were so disgusted with Barnes that they voted for Purdue. Well, the cure here is certainly worse than the disease, isn’t it? As long as the people of this state continue to vote for these moron Republicans, they should not be surprised at the results. Kathy Cox could not even manage her personal household budget, so it should come as no surprise that she is incapable of managing something as important as education. But the point here is that education is not important, so Kathy Cox is actually probably the best face to show the world what education in Georgia means.
I would not be surprised to see a good bit of passive-aggressive behavior on the part of teachers this year, especially towards the Republican parents. We all agree that most teachers are not in a position simply to walk away, so they will continue to work for a system that completely devalues them and their contribution. When you are not in a position to do the little extras this year, please feel free to quote Ms. Cox: “It kinda stinks.”
The truth is that teachers matter more than these people on this blog who spend their time bashing them. If you teacher-bashers don’t do your job, so what? Many of you teacher-bashers are wasting your lives in completely meaningless, boring, wasteful jobs. Go back to your cubes, rats. No wonder you hate those who have meaning in their lives, given what you live through every day.
But teachers matter. Teachers matter in ways that you would never understand because teaching is a vocation, although the likes of Purdue and Cox are doing everything possible to make it just a job, no more meaningful or valuable than what a cube rat does.
Take heart teachers and start looking for new positions outside of Georgia. I know that this year will be hard, but you can rise above whatever the despicable Republicans throw at you.
Here’s a poem that may speak to you:
God Has Pity On Kindergarten Children
God has pity on kindergarten children,
He pities school children — less.
But adults he pities not at all.
He abandons them,
And sometimes they have to crawl on all fours
In the scorching sand
To reach the dressing station,
Streaming with blood.
But perhaps
He will have pity on those who love truly
And take care of them
And shade them
Like a tree over the sleeper on the public bench.
Perhaps even we will spend on them
Our last pennies of kindness
Inherited from mother,
So that their own happiness will protect us
Now and on other days.
Yehuda Amichai
My advice to you teachers is to do whatever you must to get through this year (remember, no extras for any Republican parents) and simply forget about Georgia and all the benighted, malevolent, bellicose moron Republicans that run this so-called state like a plantation. Run away from here. Leave. Breathe free and follow your precious vocation somewhere that has some light.
quint
July 28th, 2009
12:24 pm
Our school system will have the buildings closed and locked on the furlough days, effectively making sure that teachers can’t come to work. It is probably to make sure that we are not “encouraged” to come to work for free. It is probably a smart thing so that someone doesn’t decide to sue later on.
Cherokee Parent
July 28th, 2009
12:25 pm
Elaine– the Governor, in addition to furloughs, announced that each school district was to receive an ADDITIONAL 3 percent cut in QBE funding (on top of the cuts already applied AND the ongoing austerity cuts). This has been lost in all the furlough talk, but it amounts to another $4.8 million in Cherokee School District, on top of the furlough (which amounts to $2.2 million in state salary dollars). Cherokee is using reserves to cover some of that, and applying the local supplement savings to bridge the rest of the gap, plus extending the furlough to all employees who work 190 days or more (including Superintendent). They were very transparent about it at the School Board meeting last week, and it is all posted in a document on the school district web site.
Happy St. Pat's
July 28th, 2009
12:26 pm
Of course this means people are working for free. Performance standards remain unchanged, so the time investment will also remain unchanged. Maybe it would be better to just impose pay cuts. But then, people would realize that these cuts are permanent, not temporary, just like the “austerity cuts” which have this state permanently underfunding education statewide, in violation of the state constitution. If we de-porked the state budget and fired all the state-employed cousins, nephews and friends of friends who do nothing constructive, we wouldn’t have a state budget problem right now.
The Truth
July 28th, 2009
12:26 pm
Has anyone heard of Atlanta Public Schools’ decision regarding furloughs?
I’m against furloughs for the simple reason that it continues to send a message that education is of little importance to Georgia’s economy, Georgia’s quality of life, and to the future of Georgia itself. We can’t keep turning out graduates at the low end of the spectrum and expect things to get better.
frustrated teacher
July 28th, 2009
12:27 pm
3 day furlough (after tax cost to me) about $600. With holding payments to the county retirement savings (cost to me) about $3700. Lucky for them I went to school in Dekalb Co and can’t do the math myself. Where is all this extra savings going? To fund 2-3 county level administrators who sit around and do NOTHING!!!!! Seriously though, the Crawford Lewis administration borders on criminally negligent, they are so incompetent. Then I find out, they are planning on busing teachers all over the county next week during preplanning to attend a meeting to hear him speak about his vision or goals for the system. Is he going to sing “If your happy and you know it….” like Johnny Brown did a few years ago? Or is he going to threaten us with our jobs over test scores, like he does the principals at every meeting he has with them? Some how in all this, I seem to have lost track of what it is we are here for.
flipper
July 28th, 2009
12:33 pm
Federal law does not require that states test children in 1st and 2nd grade. How about if the state cuts CRCT testing for those kids? How much would that save? Plus, it is insane to have six-year-olds filling in bubble sheets.
Jane
July 28th, 2009
12:34 pm
Leave the teachers alone!!! Also add police and fire fighters to that list.
Robert
July 28th, 2009
12:40 pm
Crawford Lewis is a joke!
nana
July 28th, 2009
12:41 pm
ex ga/northview or whatever, enough already.
johnny too good
July 28th, 2009
12:42 pm
So an aspiring teacher like myself shoud consider other options huh?
ShooShee
July 28th, 2009
12:46 pm
Doesn’t Dr. Lewis have access to technology? It would be so easy to post a You Tube video of his message for teachers to watch… if they care to. Why does he think it’s so important to spend all this money busing teachers around to listen to his “vision”? We all know that this vision will change by Thanksgiving break. Wasteful spending abounds!
Red Foreman
July 28th, 2009
12:49 pm
I say, for the next year, Sonny and the Georgia Legislature work for FREE!!!!!
If I did my job like they do theirs, I would get FIRED!
25-yr. DeKalb Teacher
July 28th, 2009
12:53 pm
Frustrated teacher, I completely agree with your comments. I have seen DeKalb become a chaotic shell of its once proud self over my 25 years. I would rather loose $1100.00 in pay than to have my retirement savings further decreased. This decision is one of many that this administration has made that I find completely asinie, but not surprising, given DCSS’s current leadership.
25-yr. DeKalb Teacher
July 28th, 2009
12:55 pm
Enter your comments here
School Level Administrator
July 28th, 2009
12:55 pm
As an elementary administrator, I see my teachers working all summer (for free). These dedicated individuals come in as soon as the building is clean to start setting up their room because they love their children and love to teach. Now these teachers will still come and work on furlough days (not only for free but also losing money) because they can’t stand the thought of children coming to open house and not seeing a room that is perfect. Teachers are undervalued and greatly underappreciated.
Allen
July 28th, 2009
1:03 pm
$27 million for a fishing hole, $23 million for a hole of another sort–the CRCT, in DeKalb alone hundreds of thousands wasted on “administration” . . . seems to me there’s plenty of ways to make up funding deficits that don’t involve compromising our children’s education
catlady
July 28th, 2009
1:03 pm
Let’s furlough during CRCT! Instead of testing! NOT at the beginning of the year (what a harebrained idea) when we are supposed to be getting things ready. Of course, they count on teachers to work anyway, throwing the guilt trip on them (it’s for the children!) Puhleese: if it was important to be ready for the children, we SURE wouldn’t be scheduling furloughs then. Do it when we have the worthless “training” meetings–it will save time and money (the cure du jour they bring in) and aggravation!
25-yr. DeKalb Teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:04 pm
Amen, ShooShee! Didn’t we listen to Dr. Lewis last spring on a pre-recorded video; one where we had to sign off that we attended? Wasting time and resources seems to be de riguer in DeKalb!
Flyfish
July 28th, 2009
1:07 pm
Interesting..in a non union state there is little for teachers to do, except follow whatever their local school board decrees. I do wonder though why Georgia still has early start. I believe we are the only state that has not gone back to a normal start to school (Florida & SC recently have gone back to later start). the savings in fuel & electricity (during the hottest month) would be significant.
Teachers will have to accept the furloughs, since they have no way to fight it, and education is not the only business that has gone in this direction. In Georgia, be thankful you still have a job, and if your benefits are still being picked up during the furlough, be thankful again.
Erase the board...the DeKalb Board of Ed
July 28th, 2009
1:15 pm
I have an idea…..if the crazy DeKalb Board of Education will not wise up and get rid of Crawford Lewis, then let’s get rid of the DeKalb Board of Education…Sara Copelin-Wood, Zepora Roberts, Jay Cunningham, Eugene Walkers and all of their cohorts. Shhhhhhhh. The DeKalb Board of Education is worse than the Clayton Board of Education, and that is saying something. The media needs to focus on the board members…they are the ones who put up with that pitiful Crawford Lewis. Fellow DeKalb Citizens: Let’s Erase the Board in the next Election!!!
25-yr. DeKalb Teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:16 pm
Thank you School Level Administrator. What you decribed is so true. Even we veterans still want that open house to be perfect for the children we greet and spend the next 10 months with. Despite knowing that society in general underappreciates and undervalues us, many teachers stay because we love what we do and understand the positive impact we can have in the lives of the children we teach. It’s not always all about the test scores!
fred
July 28th, 2009
1:16 pm
When will the Gwinnett Superintendent be taking his furlough?
It has been through his poor leadership that the schools find themselves in this mess. I have lost confidence in his ability.
Perhaps if they hadn’t wasted Tens of millions of dollars on a duplication of a testing device (GATEWAY) or buy the Taj Mahal (ISC)and pretend they needed all the office space, when they really don’t. They would not have to ask the teachers to be “true professionals”.
In reality, if the superintendent had been a true professional this would not be necessary.
Teacher’s Union anyone? I’m tired of getting stuff jammed down my throat without a lick of consent (furloughs, increased class sizes (IE2))
Mr. T
July 28th, 2009
1:17 pm
I believe the worst part could be that the state voted to take as many as 10 days for teachers. These are days that we will never get back even when the economy is better. I already know that the state plans to announce three more furlough days in January 2010. I strongly encourage all teachers and staff to stay home on the furlough days. If classrooms are not ready on the first day of school, oh well! We can let the students help. I hope everyone remembers this come election time.
Art teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:22 pm
Dear “Happiest Teacher”,
Anyone who gloats like that while his or her fellow professionals are suffering may not be fit to be involved in the field of education. Do you treat your students with such an utter lack of empathy? Shame on you.
jdawg
July 28th, 2009
1:22 pm
If you are going to furlough….then turn the lights off and lock the doors…watch…they will leave open so the little teacher can go in and do work….when they furlough a vital records person in Atlanta….they aint showing up and doing work….thats the reason for 6 wks to get a copy….you will also see long time teachers retire….so have at it….elections are just around the corner….jdawg
25-yr. DeKalb Teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:25 pm
Thank you School Level Administrator. What you described is so true. Even we veterans want that classroom to be perfect on open house day for the children we will spend the next 10 months with. Despite being undervalued and underappreciated, we teach because we understand that what we do has a positive impact for the children we encounter. It’s so much more than just a test score!
legal egal
July 28th, 2009
1:27 pm
Teachers, ckeck with your attorney concerning local BOE’s changing your contract. Every contract has language refering to state funding decreasing. BUT, the funding referred to is state apportioned funding. That is written into law. The state school board cannot change that. They reduced the number of required days to the local district. They did not, nor could they, change the terms of the district’s contract with its teachers. That change can only occur by act of the general assembly. Why then are they (the governor and state school board) doing this? They have no money and they are hoping that enough local systems will go along with this idea that it will become law. It is very similar to the story of “The Emperor is wearing no clothes”. I’m just the little boy saying “he’s naked”.
Money pit
July 28th, 2009
1:28 pm
While I understand cuts are necessary, I truly find it mind-boggling that our elected officials could not come up with a better way to save money than to introduce furloughs for teachers. The only solace I have right now is that Perdue can’t run for reelection to the governor’s seat. Sonny, you’re absolutely useless and worst kind of politician. How about we stop funding pre-kindergarten programs with lottery funds ($337 mil plus). Instead of preparing kids to enter kindergarten (really?) and subsidizing day care for parents who can afford it, let’s spend that money to teach children and young adults who have a more immediate opportunity to contribute to the economy in the near future. Even if that program only subsidized care for at-risk families and families who qualify based on financial need, which I could support, the money left over would be an enormous boon to the educational budget.
Download your state’s budget here: http://www.opb.state.ga.us/
Marie
July 28th, 2009
1:30 pm
abacus2-
Fayette County is deciding tonight at a board meeting at 7pm what they will do. I have been waiting too, not because I work in the county- I work in another one, but because my daughter goes to school in Fayette and I want to know if it will change her calendar at all.
fred
July 28th, 2009
1:30 pm
They better not even think of using HOPE scholarship money for anything else. EVER
Art teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:33 pm
As a new teacher in my district last year, we were given presentations by our PAGE and GAE local reps. I find it interesting that no one mentioned that PAGE (which appeals to teachers due to lower fees) has fought against the creation of a teachers’ union. GAE is in favor of creating a teachers’ union, and has been lobbying to do so. So when it comes time this year to choose a professional association- remember this moment. It’s time for a strong teachers’ union!
DeKalb teachers and GAE
July 28th, 2009
1:34 pm
Zoemol you are completely missing the point.
Bottom line whether it was technically TRS or not, GAE in Dekalb used monies that teachers were counting on in retirement as a bargaining chip for restoring teacher furlough, even though DeKalb spends one hundred million a year more in administrative salaries than Fulton.
Where was the loud, vocal, and public demand from DeKalb GAE that Lewis cut some fat from the extra one hundred million in administrative salaries so that a teacher’s retirement won’t be affected in the future? I’ve yet to see a statement in the paper that GAE pushed that option but that it was denied.
Did GAE push for administrative positions to be cut, seeing as there is an extra one hundred million in salaries compared to Fulton, or didn’t they? And if they didn’t shouldn’t teachers feel that GAE placed a higher priority on protecting administrative deadweight than they did teachers retirement?
And, if this is indeed the case, how should teachers feel if an organization they joined to look out for them, considered looking out for administrative deadweight positions a higher priority than looking out for teachers retirement?
And if DeKalb teachers can’t, or won’t question why the largest organization in DeKalb thought losing retirement benefits was the better tradeoff for keeping furlough days, and thought losing retirement benefits was worth it to keep the one hundred million dollars extra in administrative salaries intact, why should anyone feel sympathy for DeKalb teachers when they say their concerns are not being heard?
Mrs. L
July 28th, 2009
1:45 pm
Many counties DO NOT have 10 days left to furlough. So how are they to furlough additional days without interruption of the 180 days of student instructional time? I DID NOT go to my school yesterday or today- 2 of my 3 furlough days. My not working for FREE does not make me a bad teacher. I can not justify to my family working during this time. My students will help with class set up and they will learn in the process. Parents will just need to understand why the classroom is not perfect.
Teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:50 pm
don’t like the furloughs, but am glad to have a job. The post about teachers not being able to do at home what they do during pre-planning is spot on. I am going to do the best I can with the time they give me. I alredy get to school about 45 min to 1 hour early everyday in order to get things done. When not coaching, I stay for 30-45 minutes after we are contractually allowed to leave to wrap things up. I already work at least an hour and a half everyday for free, and it gets very frustrating to be given less in time, pay, and respect while being expected to do more.
The previous poster is correct. Teaching is becoming more of just a “job” for me…..Georgia will never make gains in its educational rankings until the politicians and the citizens of this state make education a priority. There is nothing more important for the future of this state than the education of its children. No matter how much I love teaching, the kids, etc. you can only bend so far.
Ernest
July 28th, 2009
1:50 pm
Perhaps I’m missing something. I thought we were in a recession with less revenue coming in to the government. Property tax revenues may be lower, partly due to SB55. SB55 requires tax accessors to factor in foreclosures in determining the ‘fair market value’ of homes. Areas that have been hit hard by foreclosures have also seen other properties devalued by up to 30%, resulting in lower property tax revenue. I’m not sure if we’ve seen the worst of it yet.
As a result, there must be some ‘belt tightening’ to go along with that. Possible remedies?
-Layoff employees
-Across the board reduction in salaries
-Reduce expenses
-Increase taxes
Most school systems have performed a combination of the first 3 above prior to this latest request for more cuts. Anyone want to talk about a tax increase during a recession?
Elementary teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:53 pm
Want to save money? I know of 2 jobs in every elementary school that are a waste of money: Literacy coach and Math coach….
I am an elementary school teacher and did not see either one in my classroom at all …. worthless
Eliminate these jobs and no furloughs are needed…
Derwood
July 28th, 2009
1:55 pm
I guess the contract my spouse signed was not binding. My wife usually will work on days off and also furnish supplies. She won’t work this Friday (1st furlough day ) as I am not sure she would be covered under workers comp if she got hurt. You never know when putting buliten boards together you may fall and break a bone. She will not be buying class room supplies this year. Don;t call her selfish, un caring, etc she has taught some 28 years and she said enougn abuse is enough abuse. Oh yeah, they also lost ther local supplments, they being class room teaches–coaches and administration kept theirs.
How showing up devalues the children
July 28th, 2009
1:56 pm
School level administrator, you can make the case that showing up on furlough days in the long run devalues the children. When teachers allow themselves to be treated this way, and show up and open themselves up to injury without job protections in place, it sends a message that teachers can and will tolerate being utterly disrespected, abused even, and that they will tolerate having their voices and concerns as to what’s best for students ignored as well.
In the long run, sending the message that you will tolerate your concerns not being addressed is bad for students, as they lose the voice of the those in the school best suited to speak to their concerns.
I would have far more respect for an administrator who told their staff to respect themselves by not reporting on furlough days and while I would ask for the children that your lessons be in place, maybe if enough parents and enough media see bare walls and hallways, and see the effects of this furlough, then maybe our legislative leaders will conduct themselves in such a way that this doesn’t happen again.
Would school level administrator praise a mother whose husband slaps her in the face repeatedly for staying in the home for the sake of the children? Then why would school level administrator praise teachers who are being slapped in the face and taking it silently for the sake of the children?
DeKalb Conservative
July 28th, 2009
1:58 pm
Mrs. L. has a good point.
Kudos to her for not going in on furlough days and for planning to have the students assist in class set up.
I’ve got another idea for Mrs. L. — how about teaching the students how to grade tests?
– Considering the school day ends at a certain time each day, isn’t it unfair to expect teachers to grade papers at night when they are not getting paid.
Derwood
July 28th, 2009
2:00 pm
I forgot in above post. Everyone is welcome to join us. A bunch of us are going to go up to Perry, Ga this long weekend (we are furloughed Friday) with our campers and boats. We want to use the nice boat ramps that Perdue had built with tax dollars. Does anyone know exactly which one is closest to So. Ga via I-75.
Derwood
July 28th, 2009
2:02 pm
Hey Dekalb Conservative. If I am not mistaken, students are allowed to help grade test. Think this is part of teh NCLB crap
Gwinnett Parent
July 28th, 2009
2:02 pm
Where I live in Gwinnett County there are 4 new parks within 2 miles of each other as well as a new multi-million dollar stadium. My daughter’s 1st grade class this year will have 20 students and no parapro. Last year there were 17 students in her class. Real estate has been declining for 3 years and unemployment started creeping up in 2007. Therefore, we knew the shortfall was coming. Guess it is obvious what matters most in Georgia.
Derwood
July 28th, 2009
2:02 pm
Oophe above post is incorrect. It should say students are NOT allowed to grade test.
gw.teacher
July 28th, 2009
2:04 pm
I totally understand the need to balance the budget but two important factors concern me. The more educated you are, the more money per day you pay. In addition, I am in a 2 teacher family, so we have been affected x2. There are MANY households where both spouses are teachers, and I have not heard any reference to this. We have 3 advanced degrees between us and have over 15 years expereince in the classroom. This 3 day furlough is costing us $450 a month for the next 5 months and not the state has agreed to approve up to 7 more??? I don’t know how you would figure it out, but I wonder how many HOUSEHOLDS this teacher furlough is affecting – not how many teachers individually it is affecting. I am blessed to have a job – really I am! But with up to 7 more furlough days you have to wonder how this really affects the ECONOMY- not just the state budget. With the 3 day furlough, you have taken 120 million out of the economy. This is 120 million less in spending. It is bound to HURT the economy more than help it. On a side note… I have not even gotten my state tax refund yet.. the state has some real issues, and they are making irrational decisions.
ScienceTeacher671
July 28th, 2009
2:10 pm
Gwinnett Parent, apparently everyone knew the shortfall was coming except the General Assembly! How can we be nearly ONE BILLION dollars short on the budget 3 weeks into the fiscal year? Dubose Porter, Eric Johnson, Nathan Deal – you want to be considered for governor in 2010? Better show some leadership now!
DeKalb Conservative
July 28th, 2009
2:10 pm
The only viable reason I see not to go into school was brought up by Derwood. That reason was if a teacher was to have an accident, ex. slip on the floor, which resulted in injury, it could be argued that the claim could be potentially declined.
Teacher
July 28th, 2009
2:13 pm
not to mention all of the conferences and training we are expected to go to on our own time….
Art teacher
July 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
Anybody know if there’s a way to recoup some of the lost salary at tax time?
DeKalb Conservative
July 28th, 2009
2:18 pm
Students can’t grade tests!?!? That’s crap.
In all seriousness this could be an excellent opportunity to teach children about civics, hopefully it is possible to deviate from lessons plans for this.
Marie
July 28th, 2009
2:18 pm
7 more days just blows my mind! And like someone else said by January we won’t even have 7 days left of “workdays” to use so the students will have to have their days cut. I am losing $268 a day before taxes plus an additional $10 more out every month for TRS contributions since that went from 5% to 5.25%, plus health insurance is going up AGAIN! This is just awful!
Ofcourse my school system still has us doing all this stupid training crap during preplanning….God forbid if they cut that. I never get anything out of it anyhow. I already do everything they want us to “learn to do” during this training….such a waste!
Joe Wilson
July 28th, 2009
2:18 pm
I am a 28 veteran of DeKalb County Schools and I am proud of my school board over the last few years finding ways to counter massive cuts from the State of Georgia. Supt. Crawford Lewis did try to make cuts this past year to central office personnel and other cost savings, but the state is largely defunding state education and the university system. Many teachers voted against Roy Barnes in 2002, only to find Perdue has made drastic cuts in education funding over his tenure. Perdue was making this cuts well before the economy turned bad and increased out of pocket costs for health insurance. The Republicans are all about giving tax breaks to the wealthy and cutting government services. In this economic downturn, my school’s neighborhood will see more students return from private school. People are buying less at Borders and Barnes & Noble and making use of our public libraries. Perdue closed schools for two days, due to the high gas prices for Katrina, and being the only governor to do this–made Georgia the butt of jokes. Save money by cutting all the standardized tests, especially the CRCT that goes well beyond that required by other states. The time taken by these test cuts from instructional time and learning by students.
Danielle
July 28th, 2009
2:21 pm
Since many teachers are unhappy in Dekalb, I suggest that you LEAVE as I did 3 years ago. Stop complaining about Crawford Lewis and his croonies. It is obvious you are stuck. Get out or SHUT UP!!!!!!
Marie
July 28th, 2009
2:22 pm
Great point about the CRCT taking instructional time away. I mean why in the world do we have 1st graders take this test for 3 days! If you want them to have some “practice” in 1st and 2nd grade so they can do it on their own in 3rd grade then have them do it one day or something. Plus, having a huge test in every subject from 3rd grade up is just ridiculous. It is like having final exams in 3rd grade on everything you have learned all year. Too much for 3rd graders and too much stress for teachers of these small children!
DeKalb Conservative
July 28th, 2009
2:24 pm
Joe Wilson is right, we ax 2 much from are public skools:
“Save money by cutting all the standardized tests, especially the CRCT that goes well beyond that required by other states. The time taken by these test cuts from instructional time and learning by students.”
On a national level, GA is a joke. I would expect a 28 veteran of DeKalb County Schools to want to increase CRCT standards and keep increasing standards until GA increases its rank nationally.
State Board of Education takes up furloughs | Get Schooled - Himanchals Org.
July 28th, 2009
2:27 pm
[...] the original post: State Board of Education takes up furloughs | Get Schooled :182-school, amending-rules, change-the, change-the-terms, Education, georgia, meeting-today, [...]
Davis
July 28th, 2009
2:28 pm
After completing my first year as a high school administrator, I have to point out that many school systems in Georgia do not pay their building level administrators nearly as well as others. I made barely $2000 more to be an administrator than I did as a teacher. Sadly though, I spent an average of 60-80 hrs a week at the school all year long, and while I’m good at my job, it is never ending and there is no such thing as overtime pay in this profession for teachers or the building level administrators. I am a hard worker, used to working two jobs to make ends meet and I have never, ever worked this hard in my entire life! Like many of our overworked, underappreciated, often maligned teachers, I too am a single parent and these cuts hurt! I’ve always been a team player, supportive of the system and state. Right now though I’m appalled at the fact that teachers are getting this news right before the beginning of the school year. We all know it’s a tough economy. However, why is it that fire, police, EMS, and teachers continually get pillaged time and time again when the local, state, and federal governments continue to spend, spend, spend on ridiculous programs we can’t afford! As for the comments that teachers, etc should do their part like everyone else, they have been for decades! Quit bashing the very people who are raising your children for you! You give them cell phones and car keys and turn them loose. We feed them, transport them, educate them, teach them morals when they come in the door without them, we teach them how to dress, we teach them about personal responsibility and accountability, we provide them with supplies when you won’t, we spend our own money to help those who are without find a way to pay to take the SAT, we show them how to apply for college, we try to help them find hope when no one cares, and we use every tool we can to hold these kids together to get them to graduate when for many of them there is no one else!. Great for the elite who can afford to have someone else care for their kids or those who have the ability to homeschool. For the vast majority though, we are the only hope some students have of making it. Sure, there are some mediocre teachers, however by and large most people are in this profession because they love helping kids. Too bad the powers that be do not share this same love. As for some of the bitterness many people have towards public school, keep your kids at home and teach them 8 hrs a day! I can’t wait to see how much they raise my health insurance costs, how much the federal government’s new programs will tax me, and what new requirement will be put in place to continue to help the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. So this is how we lead the nation in improving student achievement. I hope those in power start taking a hard look at all these vouchers dollars being sent to private schools and all these cuts being made to the private schools and finally realize you either support public education or you don’t. At least say what you really mean. For the sake of my own kids, perhaps it’s time I quit killing myself for someone else’s lack of priorities and reevaluate my own.