The choice: Higher taxes or lower expectations for schools
Is a time for a tax increase to keep our schools afloat?
Last night, parents crammed a DeKalb meeting protesting an end to magnet programs and theme schools. (I arrived for the end, but the place had been full of unhappy parents.)
Also, Cobb school superintendent Fred Sanderson told the school board Thursday night that teachers would need to take three furlough days this semester; Sanderson targeted Feb. 15 – there are no classes on that day — and wants to also apply the snow day earlier this month and the flood day in September. He said Cobb will not be able to turn to reserves to prevent furloughs this semester as it did in the fall. See the AJC story.
A few desperate districts outside of Metro are joining Peach County and adopting four-day work weeks. Others are dropping back to 160 days of longer classes.
In the last week, I have attended three hearings about education budgets. I don’t believe we can ask schools to sustain or improve quality of instruction at the same time that they are facing such crippling cuts. This is not a matter of getting rid of a few central office staff- which I think some systems could easily do. The cuts exceed a few personnel. They are colossal, and I just don’t see how they are not going to downgrade our classrooms.
We need a combination of responses – Yes, reduce expenses but also bring in new money. Yet, our Legislature is talking about more corporate and employer tax breaks.
Is it the time for that? Or should we follow the example of most other states and raise taxes?
Many of you disagree, but I think this a pivotal moment in the state’s history. We have to shed the reputation of an education backwater and signify in a clear way that we understand that the states that succeed in this new century will be the most educated, the most able to respond to change and the most willing to confront problems decisively and honestly.
Raising class size, cutting back on the school calendar and dumping teachers doesn’t seem to say any of that to the larger world, too much of which readily believes we are eating clay and marrying our cousins down here.
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210 comments Add your comment
Blosha
January 29th, 2010
10:38 am
End pension plans for all teachers and other public employees immediately. Convert them all over to 401ks.
ajcsux
January 29th, 2010
10:41 am
i would pay more only if the teachers were able to be fired easier. there are so many pathetic and worthless teachers in cobb that it woudl make me sick to think that some of the money is going to keep their paychecks going. quid pro quo. you want better pay and no furloughs, make it easier for us to fire your a**.
Fulton County Educator
January 29th, 2010
10:41 am
As a human being that is concerned with educating ALL human beings, I would do whatever is necessary to insure a better future for our state and country. Many arguments have been made over the last year about education and healthcare for reasons I don’t understand. If the selfish individuals that claimed they worked so hard for what they have can get their heads out of their behinds and understand that a healthy, educated society will save money in the long run, America will continue to fall behind other countries.
Everyone that claims to have worked hard for what they have are not being truthful. We can discuss American History to undersatnd what I mean.
Stack o' $$$ w Googly Eyes
January 29th, 2010
10:42 am
“I would prefer that the prop taxes go up so that DCSS can flush more of me down the toilet. My good $$ brothers have already gone down the drain, and now I want to follow them.”
Hey MD, since you feel that trimming the fat will not do it, why don’t you add defending the DCSS school police force with an annual budget of 11.5 million to your resume’?
concern
January 29th, 2010
10:42 am
Something needs in our budget needs to be fixed. Save our children’s education.
Brian
January 29th, 2010
10:43 am
Raise taxes? for what? so we can put more money into the gapping hole that is public education. The taxpayers have payed billions into this broken system over the last 20 years and we still have a system that is no where where it needs to be to be competative into today’s global economy!
Lets try this: 1 .Get rid of the unions that hold cities, counties and local gov’t hostage with countless stipulations that prevent are children from receiving the best education possible.
2. Implement nationwide charter and magnet school programs that are proven time and time again to improve a childs chances of graduating and moving on to college.
3. Implement the voucher programs so the low income families can send children to better schools which is proven to enable next generation family members to climb out of poverty.
These are 3 major areas where if we implemented them ASAP we would see instant improvement in are education system without wasting billions on the same no working solution people.
Nature Dude
January 29th, 2010
10:49 am
How about cutting the mega districts down to smaller, more easily managed districts. Tell me how Fred Sanderson is qualified to run a billion dollar corporation because that is essentially what he is doing. Smaller districts make for easier accountability of money, and to take it a step further how about having separate elementary/middle and high school districts? Teens learn differently than younger students, and we could get rid off all these curriculum advisors. Cobb has over 20 employees working at the district office in the field of continuing ed for teachers, and for every subject area they have an elementary/middle and a separate high school admin in charge of say social studies. Do we really need two people to tell social studies teachers about opportunities to further education or about field trips, etc. Get rid of 49ers, it’s cronyism at it’s ugliest.
While we’re at it I’m not sure the furloughs are even legal. Teachers are contract employees, and they signed contracts to work x number of days for x amount of money. Cut that, and the county in question is breaching the contract. Would you expect a contractor to give up the money just because his customer said he ran out. Better yet, can I tell my mortgage company I’m going to pay them $200 less next month because I don’t have the money? I would still owe it to them. It’s not my fault that the state and the districts can’t manage money. I need to go over my contract and if there is no slippery loophole, I’m seriously considering filing in federal court if this goes through.
It’s time we hold those in charge accountable, a man should honor his word!
old teacher
January 29th, 2010
10:52 am
We cannot get rid of all AP’s, but we can certainly trim them significantly, get rid of “teachers on special assignment” at the county office, trim the number of fluff jobs at the county office, raise property taxes by 1%, raise sales tax in each district/county to go toward school expenses (not more buildings), stop paying for athletics and let them be self supporting, and finally, rid the school of out of district students. Teachers are grossly underpaid and continue to buy supplies for their own classes. It is unlawful in Georgia for teachers to start a union…but again then a union’s concern is NOT about children! This is not about partisanship; it is about lowering the standards of our children’s education.
College Professor
January 29th, 2010
10:55 am
I teach at a public community college, and I have been furloughed six days this academic year. I and many of my colleagues believe we are very fortunate to have jobs at all when the unemployment rate in Georgia is 10%. The furloughs have not reduced the quality of education my colleagues and I provide our students. Public school teachers at all levels are under paid and over worked; nevertheless, we will always do our jobs to the best of our ability.
Although I would probably benefit from a tax increase, I oppose all tax increases for schools until schools turn to other sources of revenue. Maureen, I and several other writers identified several such sources in a recent blog. You never responded. I repeat some of those sources here again.
1. Sell advertising on school buses. Advertising will not in any way affect the ability of the bus to transport students to and from school. But it will bring in millions, perhaps tens of millions, of dollars for schools.
2. Raise the price of admission to school sporting events. Raise the price of concessions at these events. Charge for parking at these events if it is currently free; if there is already a fee, raise it.
3. Sell corporate sponsorships for school-owned property such as stadiums. What would be wrong with renaming Grady Stadium Home Deport Stadium at Grady High School? How much would Home Depot pay for this sponsorship?
4. Sell corporate sponsorships for the schools themselves.
5. Reduce by 10% all non-faculty positions.
6. Reduce by 5% all non-faculty positions at every individual school.
7. Somehow parents must become more involved with the school their child attends.
The success of public schools depends on a partnership among teachers, taxpayers, parents, and students. When only teachers and taxpayers fulfill their responsibilities,which is now too often the case, schools are inevitably doomed to failure regardless of how much money they have.
n
January 29th, 2010
10:57 am
Why is there a shortfall. It seems in general property tax appraisals have not been lowered to reflect the market so most of us are still paying taxes higher then what is fair market. Has anyone had their taxes drop significantly??
PMC
January 29th, 2010
11:01 am
I just don’t think people understand where the money goes in education. Most public school Teachers in this state aren’t making more than around 45K a year and they are forced to spend a big part of that money in some cases on thier own classroom supplies. Where does all this education fund money go? The president has spoke about transparancy. I wonder if more transparency would expose where the wastes in education are and where the significant deficiencies are as well.
RJ
January 29th, 2010
11:01 am
Maureen, hmmmm…apparently her school didn’t make the list since it’s so small (tuition rates are more than $5000 though). From my understanding top schools go to them every year, that’s one of the reasons they chose that particular school. I would think that if they’re going directly to the school, the graduates have done quite well once they’ve entered college. For the record, my sister in law is an attorney and her husband a surgeon. They can afford Westminister, but they chose a smaller more diverse school.
Hardworking teacher
January 29th, 2010
11:02 am
Thank-you, Maureen. You stated the obvious, but unfortunately most people cannot see the obvious! As a teacher, I appreciate your verbalizing what our state needs to do.
Maureen Downey
January 29th, 2010
11:02 am
College Prof, I am OK with ad on buses and raising sporting event admissions. Not sure what concession stand increases would do as most are run by parent booster clubs so the school doesn’t benefit directly. (The boosters put the money back into the sports, often picking up uniforms and fees for low-income players.) I am fine with charging for parking, but that would entail a workforce to collect and police parking so it would have to pay off. (In my town, people would just park free in the surrounding neighborhoods.)
Not sure about corporate sponsorship of schools themselves. That raises some ethical issues.
Ok with the 10 percent non faculty reduction. And I am all for parent involvement, but still wonder how you legislate that. I know parents working two jobs now, so I am not sure how much they can be at school. One issue is that there are systems where parents can afford to underwrite programs rather than see them cut. The age-old problem crops up, however.
Poor schools end up with less because their parents cannot chip in and pay for a band teacher. How do you deal with that inequity? I was just talking about that with a neighbor who supports public education but believes that more affluent communities should be able to bring their riches to their schools and add programs and extras. That was a big issue in New York a while back.
Maureen
The Problem
January 29th, 2010
11:04 am
I am a teacher in GCPS. I am not happy about the furlough days, but I do not think they should only be taken out of planning days. Planning days are absolutely necessary to help teachers plan meaningful lessons. With every day of planning that is taken away, teachers become MUCH less effective. Losing a day of school at least allows a teacher to plan for assignments and be prepared for the school day.
However, there is a big problem with worthless teachers not being able to be fired. Some teachers are terrible, and they continue to be guaranteed a job year after year, even though other teachers have to do their work. In a private sector job, these people would be fired very soon after being hired, but they continue to be employed for years and years and years in public schools. It’s terrible.
Also, when we do get furloughed, it would be nice to GCPS to TELL US when we will be furloughed. They are waiting, and waiting, and waiting and still haven’t let us know. It’s really hard to plan for anything when they don’t tell you about furlough days until right before they happen.
Also – no comments about not working…home with the wonderful stomach bug.
Maureen Downey
January 29th, 2010
11:10 am
RJ, It sounds like your niece’s schools is one of the better privates. I don’t mean to suggest that it’s only large private schools that produce top scholars. I meant that there are wide variations among private school and that those with higher student achievement tend to be more expensive schools. I know some great small privates in Atlanta, but they are still in the $12,000-plus range.
Maureen
James
January 29th, 2010
11:13 am
“I also want to again say that the top private schools charge as much as $20,000 a year tuition, Yes, there are small basement schools charging $5,000 a year”
Public schools are obviously not competing with the top-end private schools. I don’t expect them to. HOWEVER; even the bottom of the barrel private schools charging $5,000 a year *still* do far and away better than public schools. Yes; I’m sure there are some bottom of the barrel private schools that *don’t* perform better than some public schools; but generally most do.
Many people have previously pointed out the answers :parenting. Responsible parents who are engaged in their kids lives and have at least a bit of a clue as to the grades that their kids are getting. Disciple: private schools just plain don’t have to put up with the same discipline issues that public schools do. If your kid acts up persistently in a private school then they get expelled. Maybe ESL is an issue too; I honestly don’t know how much some of the rural communities are spending on ESL. I know some counties have more of an issue with that than others.
However; I say all this to attempt to make the point that I truly do not believe that simply “more money” will solve the problems that GA have with education. More money will simply be misspent and we will continue to have the worst education as a state-wide average of almost all of the states. It’s tragic really. When I was in school here we were #49 out of 51 [states + DC]. We’ve since more than doubled the education budget and we’re STILL #49 out of 51?
Teacher&mom
January 29th, 2010
11:15 am
Cut standardized testing to the bare minimum. I suspect the increase in new hires at the GaDOE are tied in one way or another to standardized testing. Several administrative jobs at my local level are the result of mandates and paperwork created by standardized testing.
Many bloggers refer to education funding as a huge black hole. They point a finger at teacher salaries. Perhaps reading this http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/4/10/124117/627 will shed some light on the profitable industry created by standardized testing.
Brent
January 29th, 2010
11:23 am
We do not need to throw more $ at an education system that does not work. The US spends the second most amount of $ per pupil in the world yet we are in the bottom of industrialized nations on the results. Sorry but teachers have it to good compared to the private sector and are going to have to take some cuts. They work 9 months a year and can retire after 25 years of work on a tax payor financed pension. In addition if your child goes to public school a full 1 year out of the 12 years they will be taught by a substitute, so teachers can get a ridiculous number of days off. Where in the private world can you work for 9 months of the year, retire before age 50 with a pension and while they are working get so money extra days off from work? You can’t… yet we are expected to pay for this and continue to turn out under educated students?
jdawg
January 29th, 2010
11:24 am
If you cut out the Golf Carts at Paulding County High School for the administrators, we could save a bundle…Have them walk like the teachers do everyday..haha….but this is true…
Westminster Mom
January 29th, 2010
11:27 am
As a private schooler mom, I have to warn parents that if they expect a quality private school, they should expect to pay for it. James, I’m not sure which private schools you are talking about – we searched high and low a few years ago and never found a private school that cost less than $9,000 – $10,000 that we would have felt comfortable sending our children to, much less one that costs less than $5,000.
Bell Curve
January 29th, 2010
11:31 am
Dear Brian, do you know where you are. Unions, the “kicking boy” of the right do not really exist in the South and we certainly do not have any teachers unions.
David S
January 29th, 2010
11:38 am
That is of course NOT the real choice. For clearly we all have been paying WAY TOO MUCH for poor performance all these years. More money will NOT deliver higher anything except salaries and waste. Higher expectations do not come from goverment run ANYTHING. Governement is a failure at everything it does, and the schools are the best example. In Washington DC they spend nearly $15,000 per pupil and have the worst system in the nation. Money has nothing to do with quality, but phrasing questions like the title of this blog post in that manner only serve to reinforce the LIE that it does.
Shut the schools down. End the government funding mechanism. Give the money back and let everyone keep the taxes they now WASTE. Let the private sector solve these problems. It solves every other problem, including the ones governments cause.
Go to mises.org, homeschool your children, get a real education on why government schools are absolutely the WORST possible way to provide sound affordable education for anyone, and stop being intimidated by the educational establishment whose only purpose is to scare everyone into believing that without government and tons of money, your kids will be ignorant for their entire lives. You owe it to your kids.
East Cobb SAHM
January 29th, 2010
11:39 am
Are there any lawyers on here? Would it be permissible to start up a fund/endowment that my son’s school could draw on to replace the cuts mandated by the state? Even if the endowment can’t be used to fund teacher’s salaries, maybe my neighborhood could fund a bonus pool for the teachers to replace their lost income.
Mike D
January 29th, 2010
11:39 am
We probably don’t need as much school time as we used to because all of our wonderful business leaders have pushed most of our jobs to India and China. Now that all we have left our Walmart and McDonalds, we can probably get by with dropping grades 9-12.
Raie King
January 29th, 2010
11:40 am
We are living in the Republican Dream. This is what less taxes and government really means. Taxes are needed for things besides welfare. That is what is driving the base. ANGER ,ANGER and more ANGER. Wake people and realize that you need schools, roads and libraries to accomplish an intelligent society.
Long-time Subscriber
January 29th, 2010
11:40 am
Brian – get your facts straight. FYI, teachers are contracted for 10 months out of the year and in GA you can only receive full retirement benefits after 30 years of service NOT 25 as you stated. It also takes 10 years to even vest in the teacher retirement system. And the pension isn’t strictly taxpayer funded either. Five percent of a teacher’s salary is automatically deducted from their pay. Think of the employer part as the “match” of a 401(k) – unfortunately, teachers have no say so in how that money is invested. I’d love to see an investment plan option where I can own and control my portfolio rather than having the govt responsible for it.
North Fulton Mom
January 29th, 2010
11:43 am
East Cobb SAHM, I was wondering the same thing. Kids already give their teachers gifts for Christmas anyway, so I can’t see why giving teachers end of year monetary gifts to show our appreciation for them in the face of the state cuts, would be illegal.
GA Citizen
January 29th, 2010
11:45 am
The claim that Rhode Island teachers were forced to work 40 days for free is fiction. This was proposed by the Woonsocket RI city government but didn’t materialize. One of the alternatives that WAS adopted was a 5 percent increase in school taxes in Rhode Island.
Parent and Taxpayer
January 29th, 2010
11:48 am
I urge lower expectations. Better yet, a 10% across the board pay cut for all school personnel, including administrative and district level, would solve the budget crisis. Otherwise, start laying off teachers and administrators. There is nothing preventing the teachers from assigning a large amount of homework on the days when school is forced to be closed. There is nothing to prevent the students from reading, doing math problems, a writing papers on the off days. Give the teachers a taste of unemployment, and they will be a lot more reasonable in their expectations.
Parent and Taxpayer
January 29th, 2010
11:51 am
Dear Long-time Subscriber: From that 10 month contract, the teachers get a paid two week vacation at christmas, a paid one week Spring break, a paid one week Fall break, a paid one week Winter break, a couple days at Thanksgiving, and who knows how much more. Yet teachers dare to compare their “10″ month salary to my 12 month salary.
Bell Curve
January 29th, 2010
11:52 am
Give the teachers a taste of unemployment, and they will be a lot more reasonable in their expectations. Perhaps you should go the “wizard” about that brain. It is this attitude that you pass on to your children. I’m not sure why people are so angry with teachers, exactly what did we do to create this budget problem?
Cutty
January 29th, 2010
11:58 am
Its not about money, but attitude. This state doesn’t believe in the importance of education, just the unimportance of taxes. Those who can send their kids to private schools, those who can’t are screwed. Until the attitude changes, starting with the leader of the state funneling the money for his Go Fish program to education, this state will forever be lagging behind.
Cobb Mom
January 29th, 2010
11:59 am
I don’t have a problem with letting us parents with kids in the public schools step in and help fund some of the gap. I just sent out an email to my daughter’s third grade class about ways to lessen the pain for our teachers and many replied that they would be happy to create a gift fund to replace the income lost from the furloughs.
I think this would be a great time to explore the issue of parent donations to their local schools and what’s considered legal/not legal as well as ethical/unethical. There are a lot of parents willing to help but are unsure of just what is permissible.
irisheyes
January 29th, 2010
11:59 am
@Too Easy, I am a teacher, and for the last year, I’ve been the major support of my family of 5, so I know it feels to be stretched thin. A 1% increase is $10 out of the pay of someone who grosses $1000. I believe a large portion of that money should fund the return of the “Sonny Money” cards. I loved those cards because they allowed me to purchase the supplies for my classroom that I knew would be the greatest benefit for my students. Contrary to what many posters on this blog think, the majority (notice I said MAJORITY) of teachers really do know what works best for kids. What we need are the freedom and the resources that allow us to do what’s best for kids.
@Brian, Georgia does NOT have teacher’s unions. We have professional associations that can really do very little to improve working conditions for teachers. Remember that the next time you want to come on here and bash the teachers. Knowing your facts is always helpful.
BTW, I’m eating lunch at my desk, so no comments about posting and working!
Mike Hunt
January 29th, 2010
11:59 am
Parent and Taxpayer – I can tell you are not an educator. Come visit a public school or better yet several different public schools and see what kind of crap teachers have to deal with. You may change your mind.
irisheyes
January 29th, 2010
12:03 pm
@Parent and Taxpayer, we are not paid for any of those holidays. We have a contract that pays me for 190 working days. (184 for this year) I am paid a daily rate for each day I work that is spread out over the whole year. Mine is divided up into 12 eaqual payments, and I receive my check at the end of each month. I am paid over the summer, but that is the money that I earned during my 184 days of working during the school year.
@Bell Curve, what did the teachers do to cause this budget problem?
Public School Teacher
January 29th, 2010
12:06 pm
To “Don’t think so…”
I appreciate your feelings and I certainly understand your decision to send your child(ren) to a private school. That is a personal decision. So is choosing the community in which you live. And what many people don’t think about is that a community improves as its education level improves. Improving the schools in a county or city improves the standard of living for EVERYONE in that community. Good schools bring in more and better businesses which pay more taxes which …I’m sure you can figure out the rest. So continue to send your child(ren) to a private school if you so choose. But never think that taking funding from the public schools doesn’t impact everyone who lives in that community.
waiting moderation
January 29th, 2010
12:07 pm
You people are so stupid. I support no tax increase. Our Little Babies are not going to suffer. When are all of you God fearing people going to wake up and smell the coffee. You have to have ditch diggers and doctors for our system to work. Some people are meant to be rich and some people,not so rich. That is called harmony. We Americans have become such morons. My God! wake up America!! By the way, I have done well being a ditch digger and slum Lord. Go America.
lovebugs
January 29th, 2010
12:09 pm
Thank you to the Georgia educators who are hanging in there with our kids while the state deprioritizes both the students and their teachers! Its time we reset our priorities as a society. Less corporate welfare and more community commitment!
irisheyes
January 29th, 2010
12:10 pm
Sorry, Bell Curve, didn’t realize you were quoting Taxpayer and Parent. That’s who my comments are directed to.
College Professor
January 29th, 2010
12:21 pm
Maureen:
Require the booster clubs that run the concession stands to give a percentage of the money to the schools for education. If this change means fewer sports and fewer children participating in them, so be it. Education is far, far more important than sports. By the way, of the boys on a typical high school football team, how many ever play in a game? How many play an average of more than 5 minutes per game? How many will earn college scholarships? Don’t get me wrong: I like sports, especially baseball (which costs much less than football), but we in the South place way too much emphasis on athletics and way too little on academics. This focus needs to change.
What ethical concerns would corporate sponsorships of stadiums, schools, and other school-owned property raise?
Your neighbor is exactly right. If the affluent choose to spend their money on their children for band, art, music, etc. at the school their child attends, let them do it. Inequity is a fact of life.
Parental involvement is a moral imperative and a civic responsibility, no different from paying taxes or showing up for jury service.
catlady
January 29th, 2010
12:27 pm
Brent: those other countries you compare us to don’t take every child, either, no matter how handicapped. They also kick out the disruptives. We do a good job if you consider how we take everyone in and keep them in until they are 16.
Ms. Downey, I would posit that “parental involvement” does not only mean showing up for PTA meetings and volunteering to assist. There are LOTS of ways parents can be involved in their child’s education and not those requiring showing up at the school once a week.
Bright Idea
January 29th, 2010
12:28 pm
All you have to do is read these blogs and realize how important it is for education to improve everywhere. Most folks in Georgia that do not work in a school are totally clueless as to what goes on and what the problems are that costs so much. I still don’t understand why so many Georgia citizens are under the impression that teachers are in a union. They are not! I don’t work in a hospital so I offer little advice on how to control the cost of healthcare. John Q. Public knows everything about a school. Amazin!
oldtimer
January 29th, 2010
12:35 pm
Teachers are only PAID to work 190 days. There is NO paid vacation time. Parent and taxpayer you do need to visit a variety of schools and I believe you would change your mind.
I think the gifting idea is good. Using my previous experience, rather than money, why not donate supplies. Paper, markers, computer ink, white board markers, and hand gel would all help teachers. One girl I had the last year I worked gave all her teachers Wal Mart gift cards. We all really appreciated them. Another thing is just to tell a teacher thank-you sometimes.
I just do not get the anger. I loved and taught your child for over 30 years. I retired with over a year and a half of sick leave. I stayed late and came early to work on skills and have club meetings. Why are you making a teacher the enemy?.
oldtimer
January 29th, 2010
12:37 pm
Oh, and prof in Clayton County the concession money goes to the band..VERY important to education. I think cuts from everyone who makes more than $100,000 and 10% admin costs whould clear up a lot of money problems.
E. Cobb Parent
January 29th, 2010
12:38 pm
Throwing more money at education is not the answer. I know that Cobb has all kinds of overhead that could be trimmed. Area Supervisors, 2 and 3 assistant principals at some schools, no one knows what they do. Times are tight for everyone, raising our taxes so the school system doesn’t have to tighten their belt is not the solution. I have relatives that have been furloughed in tough times and no one took up a collection to offset their salaries. I can’t believe people would do that. That almost appears like a bribe to the teacher. If you want to bring in supplies that is okay, but give them money to offset days, no!!! Are you willing to do the same for the postal workers, garbage men etc? It is tough all over, education receives the largest portion of the budget, we spend more per student than most states yet are results are still dismal when compared to other states, much less other countries. It is time for each county to truly examine their budget and cut the waste.
Another voice
January 29th, 2010
12:43 pm
As the spouse of an educator who works so that my spouse can have the privilege of teaching your children, let me recount some of our activities over the last two weeks. We have paid the electric bill to get power turned back on for a student who was living in an apartment without any electricty. We bought winter clothes for a student my spouse noticed was always dressed in shorts and freezing. The student said his mother didn’t have any money for his clothes. We also provided a gift card for groceries for still another student.
This is in addition to all of the extra hours my spouse spends every single day grading papers, working with students, coaching and sponsoring extracurricular activities. Many of you have no idea what teachers do on a daily basis. My family sacrifices a higher income and time that could benefit our family so that these students will be able to have a teacher who cares about them more than the hour a day they spend in the classroom.
East Cobb Mom
January 29th, 2010
12:46 pm
I agree raising taxes is not a palatable solution. However, I see nothing wrong with giving teachers money to offset cuts to their salaries. I should be able to use my own money however I see fit. Someone in my son’s class actually sent us an email about a collection this morning and we put in $100. I see it as an investment in my child and to show the teacher how much I appreciate her excellent work. I would do the same for postal workers/garbage men if they interacted with and taught my children 8 hours every day.
Mac
January 29th, 2010
12:54 pm
Parent and Taxpayer said:
“From that 10 month contract, the teachers get a paid two week vacation at christmas, a paid one week Spring break, a paid one week Fall break, a paid one week Winter break, a couple days at Thanksgiving, and who knows how much more. Yet teachers dare to compare their “10″ month salary to my 12 month salary.”
Batting 0.0 there buddy – teachers get paid for none of those days you listed. They get paid for exactly the days they are at work – nothing more.
Ignorance is bliss, huh?