Comments on: National board teachers take their salary fight to court http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/09/national-board-teachers-take-their-salary-fight-to-court/ Your source to discuss and learn about education in Atlanta, Georgia and the nation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:55:16 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Tired Teacher http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/09/national-board-teachers-take-their-salary-fight-to-court/comment-page-1/#comment-17223 Tired Teacher Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:37:27 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2224#comment-17223 Wow!! This is why we are at the bottom of the list. I can't believe that people don't get this. If you were a doctor and you were certified in a practice, nobody would question anything. Nor would they retract the monies that you earned. You are absolutely right about NBCT teachers not having to prove anything but neither do doctors or lawyers that are certified. Why are not ever considered professionals?? Wow!! This is why we are at the bottom of the list. I can’t believe that people don’t get this. If you were a doctor and you were certified in a practice, nobody would question anything. Nor would they retract the monies that you earned. You are absolutely right about NBCT teachers not having to prove anything but neither do doctors or lawyers that are certified. Why are not ever considered professionals??

]]> By: Busted and disgusted http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/09/national-board-teachers-take-their-salary-fight-to-court/comment-page-1/#comment-16524 Busted and disgusted Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:12:42 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2224#comment-16524 I don't feel that National Board Certified teachers should be fought for anymore than the teachers who don't hold that certification. As was mentioned here, why should they be exempt from the economic crisis we ALL are in currently? If one group can be exempt, then NO teachers should have been furloughed. After all, teachers sign a contract with a set salary and for there to be a cut AFTER the contracts were signed should be illegal. So, if contracts were not honored, why should a 10% pay increase be honored because a group of people payed the $2500 fee and recorded some video footage of their lessons? I know PLENTY of non-nationally board certified teachers who are excellent teachers and I also know some Nationally board certified teachers who are very ineffective and I wouldn't place anyone in their classes. If National Board Certification was something ongoing, where the teachers had to constantly prove their ability, then I could see it but that is not the case. Once they have submitted their application and documents, they are done for a number of years until it's time to renew. What they do in the meantime may or may not be great teaching so I don't feel that they are any better or better equipped than anyone else. I don’t feel that National Board Certified teachers should be fought for anymore than the teachers who don’t hold that certification. As was mentioned here, why should they be exempt from the economic crisis we ALL are in currently? If one group can be exempt, then NO teachers should have been furloughed. After all, teachers sign a contract with a set salary and for there to be a cut AFTER the contracts were signed should be illegal. So, if contracts were not honored, why should a 10% pay increase be honored because a group of people payed the $2500 fee and recorded some video footage of their lessons? I know PLENTY of non-nationally board certified teachers who are excellent teachers and I also know some Nationally board certified teachers who are very ineffective and I wouldn’t place anyone in their classes. If National Board Certification was something ongoing, where the teachers had to constantly prove their ability, then I could see it but that is not the case. Once they have submitted their application and documents, they are done for a number of years until it’s time to renew. What they do in the meantime may or may not be great teaching so I don’t feel that they are any better or better equipped than anyone else.

]]> By: Jeremy http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/09/national-board-teachers-take-their-salary-fight-to-court/comment-page-1/#comment-14618 Jeremy Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:02:13 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2224#comment-14618 Maureen, I don't know about that, but I do know this teacher also teaches AP US History and these students pass (I think they call that meets) and few if any Exceed. That implies they are getting the material on their own. Maureen, I don’t know about that, but I do know this teacher also teaches AP US History and these students pass (I think they call that meets) and few if any Exceed. That implies they are getting the material on their own.

]]> By: Maureen Downey http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/09/national-board-teachers-take-their-salary-fight-to-court/comment-page-1/#comment-14599 Maureen Downey Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:58:49 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2224#comment-14599 Jeremy, The unknown for me is whether that National Board teacher was given the harder-to-teach kids by virtue of the certification. Maureen Jeremy, The unknown for me is whether that National Board teacher was given the harder-to-teach kids by virtue of the certification.
Maureen

]]> By: Jeremy http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/09/national-board-teachers-take-their-salary-fight-to-court/comment-page-1/#comment-14596 Jeremy Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:53:11 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2224#comment-14596 I agree that National Board Certification is meaningless. We do not need to fund raises for these teachers. At my child's school the test scores prove it. The students of the US HIstory teacher with National Board Certification continually make lower scores on the End-of- Course-Test; than classes of 3rd year teachers without that certification. I agree that National Board Certification is meaningless. We do not need to fund raises for these teachers. At my child’s school the test scores prove it. The students of the US HIstory teacher with National Board Certification continually make lower scores on the End-of- Course-Test; than classes of 3rd year teachers without that certification.

]]> By: Been There. . . Done, well. . . just done! http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/09/national-board-teachers-take-their-salary-fight-to-court/comment-page-1/#comment-14237 Been There. . . Done, well. . . just done! Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:28:03 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2224#comment-14237 To 'Perturbed', your dig at the Gwinnett Board of Ed. about their Denver trip reminds me of the Gwinnett County Commission (I haven't lived there in years - "my bad" if I've got the name wrong) and their "business trip" to New York in the mid-1980s that ran up a $20,000+ total tab (I may be underestimating badly - I don't remember the final price tag, but it was outrageously high, even if it's held up against current totals). And yes, it certainly appears the large step increases for master's and leadership degrees would be next on the political chopping block. I realize the term "union" is considered a five-letter curse word where some are concerned in the Southeast, but SOMETHING has to be done to push back HARD to regain some ground from politicians & school boards alike. While the teacher's associations have helped, not having the "u" word seems to have the appearance of not enough of that political power. Could teachers and/or their dependants/supporters form "volunteer" political action "groups" (yes, I'm choosing my words carefully here for their benefit) to fill the power vacuum on the side of the rank-and-file?! To ‘Perturbed’, your dig at the Gwinnett Board of Ed. about their Denver trip reminds me of the Gwinnett County Commission (I haven’t lived there in years – “my bad” if I’ve got the name wrong) and their “business trip” to New York in the mid-1980s that ran up a $20,000+ total tab (I may be underestimating badly – I don’t remember the final price tag, but it was outrageously high, even if it’s held up against current totals). And yes, it certainly appears the large step increases for master’s and leadership degrees would be next on the political chopping block. I realize the term “union” is considered a five-letter curse word where some are concerned in the Southeast, but SOMETHING has to be done to push back HARD to regain some ground from politicians & school boards alike. While the teacher’s associations have helped, not having the “u” word seems to have the appearance of not enough of that political power. Could teachers and/or their dependants/supporters form “volunteer” political action “groups” (yes, I’m choosing my words carefully here for their benefit) to fill the power vacuum on the side of the rank-and-file?!

]]> By: Been There. . . Done, well. . . just done! http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/09/national-board-teachers-take-their-salary-fight-to-court/comment-page-1/#comment-14236 Been There. . . Done, well. . . just done! Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:17:49 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2224#comment-14236 Ms. Crabtree, you've nailed the bull's eye with both arrows! "Smilin' Sonny" - my nickname for the pol - looks sincere & has the "golly-gee" persona memorized on his political face! If he REALLY valued education like he says he did on the campaign trails for both elections, then education wouldn't be taking the hits other, relatively-unimportant, less-vital-to-future-generations agencies should be taking! For championing the Hope Scholarship & associated programs, has any other recent GA Governor REALLY made a lasting, positive impact like Zell Miller?! I wasn't a fan of Barnes at all, but Perdue undoing anything enacted by Roy Barnes - as Ms. Crabtree noted - is nothing BUT politics! I'm glad the man will NOT be able to lord over funds, smile, & "dis" education anymore after this term mercifully ends! Barnes had said some awful things to & about Georgia teachers in the past, so if he is elected again, I'll nervously wait to see what his approach would be. Ms. Crabtree, you’ve nailed the bull’s eye with both arrows! “Smilin’ Sonny” – my nickname for the pol – looks sincere & has the “golly-gee” persona memorized on his political face! If he REALLY valued education like he says he did on the campaign trails for both elections, then education wouldn’t be taking the hits other, relatively-unimportant, less-vital-to-future-generations agencies should be taking! For championing the Hope Scholarship & associated programs, has any other recent GA Governor REALLY made a lasting, positive impact like Zell Miller?! I wasn’t a fan of Barnes at all, but Perdue undoing anything enacted by Roy Barnes – as Ms. Crabtree noted – is nothing BUT politics! I’m glad the man will NOT be able to lord over funds, smile, & “dis” education anymore after this term mercifully ends! Barnes had said some awful things to & about Georgia teachers in the past, so if he is elected again, I’ll nervously wait to see what his approach would be.

]]> By: EducationCEO http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/09/national-board-teachers-take-their-salary-fight-to-court/comment-page-1/#comment-14234 EducationCEO Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:00:40 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2224#comment-14234 If there was a teacher's union (not association), this would not be an issue. Why is it that once you sign a contract, you have to either be on your deathbed or on your way to prison in order to be released? Yet now the districts that have irresponsibly spent funds want to cut days from teachers, the contracts have not been changed? The education system in Georgia is anti-teacher...no matter the situation, they never win. It's time for some new leadership, that is in touch with today's issues-not those of 20, 30, and 40 years ago, as most superintendents, local, and state board members are. If there was a teacher’s union (not association), this would not be an issue. Why is it that once you sign a contract, you have to either be on your deathbed or on your way to prison in order to be released? Yet now the districts that have irresponsibly spent funds want to cut days from teachers, the contracts have not been changed? The education system in Georgia is anti-teacher…no matter the situation, they never win. It’s time for some new leadership, that is in touch with today’s issues-not those of 20, 30, and 40 years ago, as most superintendents, local, and state board members are.

]]> By: Perturbed http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/09/national-board-teachers-take-their-salary-fight-to-court/comment-page-1/#comment-14229 Perturbed Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:12:21 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2224#comment-14229 PS - Murphy edited the story, she originally posted that we won. PS – Murphy edited the story, she originally posted that we won.

]]> By: Perturbed http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/09/national-board-teachers-take-their-salary-fight-to-court/comment-page-1/#comment-14150 Perturbed Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:09:17 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2224#comment-14150 With Board members like this, who needs enemies: http://www.theweekly.com/news/2009/October/09/Mary_Kay_Murphy.html Um, we didn't win Mary Kay. Yes, we got some money, but not the million. What is amazing to me are the cost savings they won't enact: How about not renting trailers at $5000-$8000 each, and having teachers share rooms! What other business would intentionally leave 15-20% of the building empty for the convenience of people, then cut their pay? What workers would want that? I'm a teacher, and let's face it, it's a convenience, not a necessity. How about the Board of Ed in Gwinnett, plus the Super plus some assistants going to Denver to look at stuff? I'm guessing that was at least $25,000. It's only going to get worse, as education is dependent on property taxes. Lots of vacant homes around here... With Board members like this, who needs enemies:

http://www.theweekly.com/news/2009/October/09/Mary_Kay_Murphy.html

Um, we didn’t win Mary Kay. Yes, we got some money, but not the million.

What is amazing to me are the cost savings they won’t enact:
How about not renting trailers at $5000-$8000 each, and having teachers share rooms! What other business would intentionally leave 15-20% of the building empty for the convenience of people, then cut their pay? What workers would want that? I’m a teacher, and let’s face it, it’s a convenience, not a necessity. How about the Board of Ed in Gwinnett, plus the Super plus some assistants going to Denver to look at stuff? I’m guessing that was at least $25,000.

It’s only going to get worse, as education is dependent on property taxes. Lots of vacant homes around here…

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