Perdue calls on teachers to take furloughs to fill $900 million hole

Our oh so loyal and education driven Governor calls on educators to take 3 days off.

Why don’t you lead by the example Governor and take 3 unpaid days so we can ALL feel the pain of the recession?

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I doubt if Sonny or members of his crew, like Michael Adams, are suffering at all.

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When teachers take furloughs, who teaches our children?

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As a fellow State employee…I am sick of all the budget cuts and talk of furloughs….someone please tell me why a budget that just started july 1 is already short $900 million. If that is not a crock of crap!! Departments are suffering left and right and no one can say where the money that was supposed to be in the budget is. Thank you Sonny for having “Georgia on YOUR mind”!!!!

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Answer: Some babysitter sub. off the street

Furlough all the six figure admin jobs in the county office…furlough Purdue and his stafff…furlough the administrators… Why on earth would you furlough police, teachers, and firefighters before them????

Answer #2: No teachers’ union in Georgia

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The governor doesn’t realize that strate employees are already getting furlough days. He doesn’t know how many thousands of state employees make less than $20K and won’t make the rent if they lose another three days pay.

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Leave it to some bright person to put it back on race: “This is just another way that rich white power brokers like Sonny Perdue try to keep the minorities and other working class down in this state!” There are plenty of “white” people affected by this furlough, too. I am glad to see that at least this time it’s being spread evenly across the whole state, and not just certain pay grades of certain agencies. That’s the way it should be, and the loss in pay commensurates with the salary because it is a percentage. No one should be exempt if it has to happen. But this should apply to legislators, oo. I’d like to see them working without pay. I’ve yet to see ANY of that. With the next gubernatorial election, anyone that is currently in office and has supported this nonsense (millions for fishing and wildlife museums, etc.), I’m voting them out!!

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Here is all that Hope and Change people wanted. I sure am glad things are so much better now.

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The money went away because this recession is worse than expected and state revenues are tied to highly flexible income streams (sales). Their lack of foresight isn’t a party problem but a stupidity problem. Dems in DC overestimated the resiliency of our economy and Repubs/Dems did it here in Georgia, too. Big whoop. To blame Perdue for poor work in incredibly theoretical economics work is absurd. Cuts have to be made. If I were Perdue, I’d give my salary back before cutting teachers anymore, though.

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I am a state/DoD employee and my Wife is a teacher.Taking unpaid leave of 3 days is ok with us. We understand that we are different then private sector jobs. We are not facing layoffs. We also dont live beyond our means.I have lived and worked in the real world before and have faced layoffs.

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Instead of all the teacher’s work days during the school year, why not use these as the furlough days. It beats the alternative.

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Why doesn’t Sorry Sonny and the Goofy Glenn legislature take the cut and furlough,.. where is their contribution.Our unemployment keeps growing and the Republs don’t know what to do. Throw them out.

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So they will pay a substitute teacher to fill the classroom on those 3 days? What’s the savings difference? Minimal I suppose. Sonny needs a furlough for the rest of his term, as does Kathy Cox, Casey Cagle and the rest of the state’s leadership.

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The teachers will be furloughed on their in-service and pre-planning days when the kids aren’t there. Of course most teachers already work 10 to 15 days a year above and beyond what they get paid for because they have more to do than can be done in the days allotted.

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I changed my mind. Sonny, et al, need to work for free for the remainder of the calendar year so the state can save money.

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AARRGHH. Instead of cutting frivolous state programs or services, our incompetent legislators cut into the heart of state employees. Just like other posters have said – why not make the highly-paid administrators take larger cuts or furloughs? A 10 percent hit off $110,000-200,000 doesn’t keep food off their table or gas from their tanks.

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I am a public school teacher. I will spend my three furlough days at school, in the classroom.

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Okay this makes SO much sense! (Note the sarcasm.) First, of all, we have to pay substitute teachers to fill in when teachers are not in the classroom. Secondly, with all the attention on test scores, do you really want teachers away from their students? I am flabbergasted here!

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Sonny Purdue is an idiot! It is really starting to show just how dumb he really is. I’m feel sorry for anyone associated with him. Better luck next time. TB

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Emma,
Wrong way to handle these guys! Do you really feel good about the work you do? Is it worth less than the work I do? Are you on Sonny’s staff? Please act informed and give your own money away (not anyone elses) and please don’t write anymore just in case someone reads this.

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Get a grip!!! It’s happening nationwide. Teachers in Florida are being laid off left and right. Be grateful that you have a job.

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Georgia families can use tax dollar money for their private school tuition. That should be stopped, then there would be enough so our teachers and children are not put in this position. Read about HB 1113.

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SOME SENSE: That makes “some sense” if you haven’t been working in your classroom all summer like many of us teachers do. Working a day or two for free on my own time in the summer makes it seem less like I’m doing it for free. If you have been working on school work during the summer, I’d like to suggest you “chill” some while you can. Take yourself a little “mental health break”. You’re going to need it this year. Time for us to think about ourselves a little more. The highly paid administrators, governor and DOE folks do.

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Getting even worse in future years as Obama’s “change” attacks capitlaism with punitive taxes on businesses. Jobs are too much hassle when you can hire family.

All the “Change” people can move on to a different country or enjoy the unemployment line for a change. Jobs won’t reappear until Republicans and the Constitution are recognized again

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Actually, there’s a substantial savings between teachers’ daily rate of pay and what systems pay subs. Certainly, more money could be saved by actually cutting school by three days because you’d save transportation and energy costs, but they could still save money by paying subs vs. teachers.

You have to remember that teachers are paid based on 190 day years, so even though the yearly salary isn’t impressing the daily rates usually are.

But, teachers have to do planning for the subs to use the instructional time effectively. It’s going to seem harsh to tell teachers, we’re cutting your salary by three days but we still expect you to do the planning work for those days.

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Pay subs create more employment and all need to tighten their belts as Obama destroys capitalism.

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I know everyone is feeling the pinch of this economy, and the school system that I work for led in an effort to save jobs. Cobb Co. teachers took a 2% pay cut and 1 furlough day. I wonder if Sonny is still planning on giving teachers 100.00 dollars for their classrooms. Yes the thought is nice, but saving jobs is better. If I have additional days off, I don’t mind. I am just thankful for having a job!

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As a teacher, I would much rather take three furlough days, spread over nine months, than have a salary reduction that affects me for 12 paychecks. They just better not take away my sick leave credit.

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A powerful teachers union is the answer. With a real union, this wouldn’t happen—the school couldn’t force any teacher to take any days off! We need to organize big time after this slap in the face and get all the teachers in the union to prevent this from ever happening again. Unions are the only answer employees have to protect their rights against the state!

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Where is the $1B in Federal recovery money that was awarded on May 11th? http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/05/05112009b.html. Is Perdue taking a furlough as well?

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We are in the middle of a terrible recession people, quit bitching about reduced pay and be lucky you have a job at all!

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I know a lot of folks don’t like the idea of teacher unions or any kind of union, but unfortunately there are times when they are needed to that the “little people” (us!) don’t get take advantage of. Maybe if Sonny and Company would take a pay cut and unpaid furloughs people wouldn’t be so bitter.

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People, I know that this is a blog, but instead of pointing fingers we need to call our elected officials and tell them that we need to cut out the PORK. I voted for Obama, and he has a lot on his plate. I can remember when President Clinton ran into the G.O.P wall headed by Newt, that’s when spending stopped and America started saving. We need a Democratic Prez, and a Republican Congress!

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When state employees start whining just keep in mind that is why they are Government Employees. In every business sector in the Country we have seen cutbacks, layoffs, furloughs and closings. To all those who think the Government Tax Payers owe you something..Think again. The next time one of you liberal bleeding hearts says any of the following statements you need to remember this is why we are in this environment:

I want Government Healthcare so I do not have to pay for any longer.

I don’t mind the illegals here because they do jobs Americans will not do.

I will vote for that millage increase so the schools have more.

Taxing the Rich is fine with me, I do not make enough money.

I am going to apply for one of those no money down home loans.

Oh that credit card has such a low interest rate and a high charge balance.

I want to buy that foreign car..it is made better.

I shop at Walmart because it so cheap( and everything is made outside the U.S.)

I am waiting on my check.

These are many of the things that got us into this trouble we are in. And if you dimwits think it is going to get better under the DEMOCRATS Control in D.C. you are so sadly mistaken. Government does very very little but take what you have and dispense it to those who WILL NOT do for themselves. Government is not the answer and the less we have involved in our lives the better off we are.

Where in our Constitution say we are entitled to Healthcare, Free Food, Nice homes paid by others, a car, a cell phone, a 65 inch Plasma T.V., rims for your car, using the hospital as your primary physician.

Those folks who vote for these laws are scamming you and it is time to wake up and take back your government. I can grow my own food, raise my own cattle, barter for services needed and teach my kids at home, and practically anything else, including protecting my property. Police, fire, Judges, roads, and the basics are all I need to make my life safe. Many ( i said Many..not all) are just government created add on programs to get votes from you. Lower our taxes and take the burden off our shoulders and you will see our country rise again.

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Can the state of Georgia endure the remaining days of Sonny Perdue and his Bush-like Republican cronies? What a horrible job and there is still time for more ineptness.

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Why don’t we increase the state sails tax so that the illegal immigrants pay for some of the decrease in revenue. They pay no state income tax. Or just get rid of them. We teachers are not getting a raise this year and have not complained about it. Fulton County has not adopted new books in two years. The covers are falling off. We were told that students would not get social studies books for another two or three years. The books will be nothing but scraps by then. Fulton County doesn’t have the money to buy new books but they spend 100s of thousands to people in the administration office who do nothing but socialize. What a joke. Change we can believe in. Not

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Sorry Sunny, but enjoy your little time in office left. Teachers make up the largest voting occupational group. Just ask Barnes.

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I just think that the timing is horrid. Why now? Why, when all options of moving to a different state, or even a private school aren’t options? Sonny Perdue, I wish that I had never voted for you. I’m going Democrat just to keep goons like you out of office.
I agree that we need to unionize. I agree that the martyr who will be in her classroom needs to take a dose of reality. We are the whipping boys, and will continue to be until we demand better salaries, better conditions and better respect.

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I too work for a state agency (DFCS) and is it any wonder that a six year old boy, who had numerous complaints reported by his teachers, was beaten to death by the mother’s boyfriend! This is what happens when the case workers are spread so thin and you don’t have enough people to do the job that they were hired to do! Children will continue to be underserved and harmed in this state as long as we don’t provide the proper supervision for them!

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Just to clear up a point: Teachers would not be taking furlough days on days when students would actually be at school, so no substitute teachers would be needed. The days would be taken from the teacher work days when students already have the day off. If this helps, I’m willing to give up 3 days of pay; it certainly beats the alternative of having no job at all. In addition though, I’d hope that leadership would lead by example and take a few furlough days themselves.

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…..by leadership, I mean the people who made the decision to have furlough days

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Review administrator salaries for the Board of Regents and I think you’ll find salaries decent salaries; I’m sure Chancellor Erroll is really going to be hurting. All agency salaries can be found at http://www.open.georgia.gov/index.html
SALARY TRAVEL EXPENSES
DAVIS,ERROLL B CHANCELLOR $ 558,378.13 TRAVEL $ 15,604.31
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
HERBST,SUSAN VICE CHANCELLOR $ 321,766.72 $ 6,956.07
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
WATTS,ROBERT E VICE CHANCELLOR $ 219,300.00 $ 4,249.80
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
MAIER,THOMAS LEE VICE CHANCELLOR $ 190,000.08 $ 17,130.57
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
KETTLEWELL-HENRY,JANET VICE CHANCELLOR $ 183,891.73 $ 5,221.04
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
DANIEL,THOMAS E VICE CHANCELLOR $ 178,358.52 $ 3,451.74
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
DANIELS,LINDA M VICE CHANCELLOR $ 168,019.12 $ 3,367.24
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
RAMACHANDRAN,USHA CHIEF $ 167,946.14 $ 3,073.85
BUSINESS/FINANCE/ADMI
NISTRATIVE
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
STONE,SANDRA S VICE CHANCELLOR $ 162,400.08 $ 13,610.91
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
PAGE,DEBBIE L DIRECTOR, $ 160,358.28 $ 1,436.81
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
AD
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
BIESINGER,KRIS A ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 147,943.14 $ 13,217.03
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
HUDSON,CATHIE MAYES VICE CHANCELLOR $ 143,126.99 $ 5,270.96
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
STARK,RONALD B ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 142,100.16 $ 5,226.56
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
HICKEY,PETER J ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 139,337.69 $ 6,972.33
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
NEWSOME,JAMES BURNS VICE CHANCELLOR $ 138,619.48 $ 598.71
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
HULME,GALE D DIRECTOR, $ 131,950.08 $ 1,453.35
SUBDIVISION/UNIT AD
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
VEATCH,JULIAN LAMAR ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 130,080.48 $ 6,191.32
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
NICKEL,SHELLEY C ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 129,062.43 $ 1,972.94
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
MILLSAPS,JOHN H ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 127,871.64 $ 2,403.31
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
NORWOOD,BEVERLY C DIRECTOR, $ 125,643.60 $ 1,490.46
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
AD
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
LAM,TONYA R ASSOC/ASST VICE $ 125,428.61 $ 10,810.30
CHANCELLOR
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
SCOVILLE,JOHN T DIRECTOR, $ 124,647.00 $ 4,211.55
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
AD
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
WILLIAMSON,VIKKI L DIRECTOR, $ 120,295.05 $ 4,201.06
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
AD
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
GA, BOARD OF
SOMERS,JESSICA A DIRECTOR, $ 113,679.00 $ 1,927.97
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
AD
7/

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Finally the teachers will have a taste of what ALL state employee’s have gone through for a long time. School bus drivers get to drive their buses home, how much money could the state (or county) save if they didn’t pay for that fuel, let the bus drivers drive their vehicles to pick up their buses. State employee’s haven’t had a raise in a long time, some of them might get a raise since the minimum wage is going up.

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Wow, I can’t believe some of the things being said. I can’t believe so many people are blaming Obama for the problems that have happened on Bush’s watch. People we did not step into this mess in six months, It took 8 years and the republican prez and congress started this spending spree. (Two wars, tax cuts for the wealthy, refund checks) Yes, we are in a mess! No Obama can’t do it by himself…. but don’t let the media fool you! Go out and spend your money! The more you spend, the better and faster our ecomony will recover!

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I love how the republican posters on here jump in to try and blame Obama when we are in this situation because of the past 8 years.

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Wow. All of you who are complaining about the government teat–yes the nipple part of the breast you are sucking on, QUIT! Come on over to a private secter job. Lets see how you fare. The comments I’m reading scare me. So many of you rely on the government because of the stupid life decisions you made. I own my own business. When I need more cash, I work more. When the economy sucks and there are budget shortfalls, I cut back.

And screw you Billy Bob. Go back inside your trailor. I bet you have relatives who are inmates. Having the DOC in Forsyth is a brilliant move. How much do you pay in state taxes anyway?

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Look at what there own folks at the Teachers Retirement System are making. If I was a teacher, I would be pi#$%d.

CARY,CHARLES W CHIEF INVESTMENT OFF $427,480.08 $2,668.55 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
BOEDY,NANCIE H CO-CHIEF INVESTMENT $427,480.08 $2,989.79 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
MAJURE,MICHAEL K DIRECTOR OF EQUITIES $335,733.34 $1,481.43 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
HORKAN,THOMAS A DIRECTOR OF EQUITIES $335,733.34 $4,718.60 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
HAROZ,DONALD P SR. EQUITY PORTFOLIO $255,020.64 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
WOLFERSBERGER,MATTHEW DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH $245,500.01 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
MATTKE,MARK SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $244,164.12 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
SHIPP,CLANTON C SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $235,740.01 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
LEONG,KAR M SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $225,533.26 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
CHRISMAN,KATHLEEN C SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $224,367.38 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
BUSCH,JO KAREN DIR OF INVESTMENT SV $221,166.66 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
PHILLIPS,BRENT D CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFF $208,000.08 $1,771.89 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
KLINGLER,GIZELLE SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $190,786.76 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
BERK,JEREMY SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $189,800.08 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
QUARELLO,SHERRY A CHIEF EQUITY TRADER $188,750.12 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
WIEDEMANN,SPENCER B SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $185,387.26 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
GIVENS,JOHN R SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $174,240.08 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
EZELL,JEFFREY L EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR $173,903.16 $5,995.99 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
POWELL,SABRINA L INVESTMENT ACCT $169,166.64 $515.62 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008
KINSEY,SHIRLEY R SENIOR INVESTMENT AN $165,916.76 $0.00 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF 2008

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What is Yellow, with eight legs and can be found under a tree?

A GDOT Maintenance Crew Truck.

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Why are all you people complaining? This is what you get when you put Republicans in charge. The lesson here is don’t hire people who don’t believe in government to run government.

We need change, not just in Washington, but in Georgia too. That includes you folk down in the southern part of the state who are a drag economically and culturally on the rest of the state. I know that’s harsh but it needs to be said.

We can no longer afford politicians that don’t believe in public education. We cannot go back to the 20th Century where most people were illiterate and only a few wannabe aristocrats ran the state for their benefit.

This is a mess made by Republicans and it is high time to take responsibility for the mess. No blaming a President who has been in office for 6 months and wants to help. This is your mess and it’s time to replace you.

I hope all of you people who are facing these cuts and who have lost your jobs face the reality that tax cuts for the wealthy and businesses do not lead to jobs and prosperity for all.

Time to put away our childish behaviors. No more distractions like homosexuals, abortion, creationism, etc… Time to put some actual competent people to fix this mess we’ve been trying it the conservative way, and it has been a smashing failure.

Y’all remember that come next the election. They’re going to try to distract you with lots of stuff but don’t fall for it…again!

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As a state employee, I see plenty of waste and ways to save money, but the idiots that make twice what I do are the ones blowing it on a daily basis. But they are the ones that are protected. Their mistakes don’t matter. Let a small worker make a mistake because they are overworked and they are let go. Anyway, when I’m on a furlough day, if you can’t get your e-mail, etc… DON”T CALL ME…I don’t work for you that day!

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Georgia On my Mind must be one those getting rich from the DOC moving to tift college Also I live in a brick house and I work 2 jobs the DOC is one of them and I am college Educated. Guess Like so many I will have to find a 3rd Job while Brian Ownens and his cronies are going to TIFT COllege

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Don’t try to reason with these Republican rednecks who think Jesus is the real president but yet are the first to be hypocrites and act un-Bible like. If Sonny was a Democrat they’d be ripping him apart, just like if Bush was one. You’re trying to get through to people that listen to the media or FOX news and think they know everything. They have no mind of their own and are just followers(hence why they think religion is the most important thing in life). If someone fucts up, I’ll point the finger before looking whether or not there is a (D) or (R) in parenthesis next to their name on TV. Form an opinion based on what your heart tells you, not what you’re brainwashed to believe. Now, when is Sonny announcing his pay-cut or furlough?

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If I were Barack Obama, I’d kick Barney Frank and Chris Dodd square in the A$$!!

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I find it interesting how “iron-clad” our contracts are when teachers want to get out of them, but it means nothing when districts and the state want to amend them. If I want to leave, I am threatened to be reported to the Professional Standards Commission, never mind that I had to sign it in Feb, before districts start hiring for the next year. But my paid 189 (my district already furloughed one day) days can become 186 whenever the Governor sees fit.

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Why do we have to wait until Nov., Let’s recall those PORK spending people!

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When I signed my contract for next academic year at my associate degree-granting college, it included language that would allow the college president to mandate up to 10 unpaid furlough days.

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i am an educator and i understand the horrible conditions of the economy. i am willing to be furloughed 3 days out of the year, if that means that georgia will not go the way of california.

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I work for a state agency. We have been taking furlough days since September of 08. If ALL agencies had taken furlough days as early as we did (teachers too) we would be in a much better position. It is not fair by no means that we are still being punished. Sonny Perdue is an incompetent Goober! The best thing he can do for this state is resign!

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I’m a teacher in this state and sick of how education as a whole has been ripped the past 7 years. We’ve taken cut after cut in funding (even in prosperous times) and now being asked to work more magic for less! I wonder if the government will include teachers in the free lunch program this year?? It’s time for the true fluff to be cut (in the department of education and district central offices)! Classroom teachers are the ones that do the true work anyway!!!

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I am a teacher and we gave up $500 a year so other teachers would not lose their jobs. If the government would stop wasting money for trips to 5 star hotels and trips overseas maybe the average folks would not have to suffer. I wish I could get paid to go trip overseas!

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I meant spending. I’m so mad I can’t type!

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hey Vernell, can I buy you a plane ticket? one way?

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Quint, I by no means meant to spit on you. That was for Billy Bob who I still think is an idiot.

Thankyou for what you do. My Dad was an educator. 38 years. Kudos for going the extra mile for your students.

Are you complaining about the furlough though? That is where you and I disagree. The entity you work for is having a budget crisis. They choose to furlough you rather than lay you off entirely. That’s good right?

I apologize to you and any other teachers I may have insulted. It wasn’t my intention. My statement was intended to criticize those who choose to work for the government and then have a problem when the government disappoints them. Good grief, name one program the gov’t has gotten right besides the military?

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so are test scores suck already, so lets have certified people in our schools less. i totally see how this will help failing schools pass and passing schools continue their success. guess more parents will complain when house values fall b/c the public schools suck in the are.

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Confused:

I want you to call your teachers and thank them for the gift of grammar!

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I’m always amused when folks try to turn issues into Dem v. Repub, Right v. Left. Wake up you partisan-blind *idiots*. The Dems and Repubs are having upscale dinners *together* and laughing all the way to the bank at YOUR expense. PARTISANSHIP will be the ultimate demise of America. *idiots*

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I’m more disgusted for the fact that our Governor decides to blare this to the media and not tell us personally. If he wants this to be headline news, at least tell us through our supervisors first and then blare it to the news. I’m disappointed I learn I have to furlough through the AJC and not my boss.

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Georgia On My Mind fails to see what a state worker does. We keep killers and child molesters in prison and out the community. State workers do the states dirty work. Work in a prsion see a grown man pleasure himself out in the open and you will think diffently of us and you will understand what we deal with. Better he does in prison then in front of your little GIRL!!! We a the over worked DFCS worker that has makes unthinkbale decisons everyday about the safety and welfare of the states abused and neglected child. We do this for little pay and no Gratitude. We do this while our leadership enjoys the fruits of our LAbor. Take tour some time at state prison and you will Look at us Diffently.

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Georgia on my mind…

July 21st, 2009
7:30 pm

Apology accepted. Thanks for clarifying. No, I am not complaining about the furlough days. If it keeps people on the job, then I say we need to do our part too because their are people who are much less fortunate than teachers. I just don’t want this to be forgotten later when the good economic times return.

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Roy Barnes took away my flag. Sonny Perdue promised to give it back, then took back his promise. Roy never lied to me or took any money out of my pocket but Sonny did. For you people wondering what your kids will be taught while their teacher is furloughed. The lesson is clear. Never vote for a flag.

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So just because California has issues it should be okay that we have to deal with them too? We don’t vote for these state leaders just expecting them to be failures, so call me crazy for being a little disapponted that Sonny, who promises that “Sonny cares” has been a major failure as governor for this state. It’s okay, once these good old boys in South GA die out maybe we’ll have some voters here that are living with a mentatlity that it’s 2009 and not 1865 and we’ll get rid of these backwoods hicks that get elected. Legalize Sunday liquor sales and gambling already!

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For all of you calling on teachers to get real jobs (i.e. private sector jobs), I’d be happy to resign my job as a teacher and become the baby-sitter you say I am. I’ll even give you all a group discount; I’ll watch your kids for $5 an hour per child. Wait a second, that would be a huge raise ($142,500 based on the 5 five hours I actually spend with students for 190 days) I wouldn’t dream of charging you for actual planning, instruction, grading, and parent communication!! Count me in.

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My district already laid off 100 teachers and we are also getting a 2.8% pay cut. It burns me up that this furlough program is announced less than 2 weeks before pre-planning is supposed to begin. (we received our agenda for the pre-planning days today) So now we have to take a pay cut on top of a pay cut. What a mess! I’m really worried for 2010 and beyond as I see even deeper cuts ahead.

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Sell booze on Sundays.
Reduce school utility bills – longer days – 4 days/wk school, daytime football games.
Assign chain gangs to those shovel ready construction jobs.
Furlough legislators.
Cut Shirley’s flower budget.
Shakedown panhandlers’ collection cups.
License 1950s era state flag.

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Enter your comments here

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OK Sonny-Who’s gonna pay for the sub’s when all the teacher get together and take the same day off? Just extend summer break for everybody by 3 days so the teacher don’t feel cheated and you don’t have to worry about finding someone to cover the classes.

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I love the fact that this is happening right at the last minute-just as the teachers are coming back. If the furloughs were really about saving jobs, I’d be all for it, but in the great county of cobb, we’re hiring new folks who really don’t need to be hired in the made up positions created by top officials. My favorite comment was Kathy Cox describing how they will work to keep morale up while keeping student achievement as the top priority. I’m confused…how will student achievement increase when teachers aren’t there? As for me, My parking spot will also be empty on my furlough days.

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Hey Smile216
We are not happy because we ALREADY HAVE MADE CONCESSIONS. Our pay does not match up to other professions with our degrees if you look at it hourly. Our insurance is going up every year, we don’t get pay raises, we are expected to do more for less every single year.

We are not happy because the state government never gets creative in ways to find money because its just easier to take our pay. This is not the first time this has happened.

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I was thinking if i were a student today i would pray for furloughed teachers. think how easy it would be to skip school, because none of the subs know who u r. or if they furlugh teachers on professional days for them to plan then i would know i would have more free time because my teachers did not have anytime for planning because they were always answering calls/e-mails form parents and administrators. win win in the kids mind. i am sure it won’t hurt education at all.

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This should wake people up to the fact that the government can’t afford to provide you with everything. We need to get back to the basic functions of government.
To start we need to stop providing retirement to government employees. We can’t pay people for life. It doesn’t make sense. Those of us working in the real world must save for our retirement.

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Could be worse. Monroe Academy in Forsyth, GA closed for good today. What would you do if you taught there? Furlough sounding a little better than losing your job completely? Sad. really sad.

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Just one thing, and not saying non-teaching state employees are more expendable, but when you look at facts, teachers are paid for 190 days, other state employees for 260. 3 unpaid days hurts the teachers 26% worse than it hurts the other employees.

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What’s the signed contract for? It said 190 days paid, not 187 days!! This a lawsuit in the making.

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“What’s the signed contract for? It said 190 days paid, not 187 days!! This a lawsuit in the making.”

Are you kidding? They don’t even include a salary in that contract. Just sign here in Feb. and we will pay you what we feel like after the budget is settled in May.

All you private sector workers, how many of you are put in that position?

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Instead of making TEACHERS take unpaid time off why dont you go to downtown and lay some off the employees taht stand around all day. Or let the local goverments lay off the four people who are watching the fifth person do all the work? Why dont we lay off the Dr.s that way police, firemen and teachers will ALL be laid off. What a load of complete GD BS

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Reading a lot of these comments makes me realize why we are where we are – the stupidity of so many people! We are in this mess because the federal government pushed for mortgages to be given to people that couldn’t afford them. Then the idiots who took out the loans with no money down didn’t realize they couldn’t afford them. You also had greedy people that tried to make money providing the mortgages that people couldn’t afford, then packaging and selling them as investments. Everyone wanted to live beyond their means, everyone “deserved” to have a house, and it was all a house of cards. Now those of us that lived BELOW our means are being affected. Our taxes are going to bail out everyone who was irresponsible. Responsible people are losing their jobs through no fault of their own. I work in the private sector and my company has been through round after round of layoffs until we could layoff no more, so now the few that are left have 3x the amount of work and have taken a 7% pay cut. These 3 furlough days amount to a 1.58% pay cut for the teachers (do the math those of you that can which is probably precious few – 3/190 = 0.01578…). Of course, to really do the math you would then have to figure out that you have to multiply the result by 100 to get the percentage. We are rapidly becoming a 3rd world country filled with whiners and losers that expect the government to give them everything from houses, to healthcare, to cars, to gas. Yeah, Obama will save us all!! What a joke. Class warfare = communism. Here we come Soviet style economy. We’ll be waiting in line for hours to get our loaves of bread in a few years. History has shown us communism doesn’t work. Of course the political elite will live like kings while the middle class is destroyed.

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“Also, it’s funny how during the “good economic times” that people were saying that there’s no way they’d teach because they don’t get paid enough. Now, everyone thinks teachers get paid too much. I’m not a teacher by the way.”

I felt this needed to be repeated. Thanks again, LOLO. Utterly flabbergasted at some of the comments in here bashing educators.

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I’m sick of Sonny Perdue and republicans trying to cut teacher benefits and salaries! We work hard enough as it is on weekends and nights grading papers, etc. and don’t get paid for it. We don’t get paid in the summer either! Our contract is supposed to pay us for 190 days and rich republicans can’t suddenly change the rules because they screwed up the budget with waste and fraud. I’m calling other teachers about starting a union—enough is enough.

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Based on how this Jerry Springer Show of a state votes, there’s really no need for school at all in Georgia, America’s anus. Want an education? Move North. We welcome those of you who value an education.

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To John:

It would be good pay, if we really did only work part-time. I have been up to my classroom every week this summer just to be prepared (that’s not part of my 190 days of pay). During the school year, I work 12 hours a day and even on the weekends to get things done, with no overtime. Part-time my A$$!!!

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I work as Plant Manager for a manufacturing company. So far this year, every employee at our plant, including me, has seen a significant reduction in salary, incentive, and wage payments. By significant, I mean as much as 15% – 20%. My wife is a teacher, and I hate to see us lose three days of her pay … but I don’t understand all the griping and complaining by the teachers. If you give up three days out of 190, that’s less than a 1.6% reduction in pay! Count yourselves lucky! Many teachers sound as if they are the only ones suffering due to the ongoing recession. In fact, their pay and benefits are far better protected than most private-sector and even most other government employees … regardless of race, region, or income level. Like it or not, we’re all in this together. Let’s live within our means, help those around us who are in need, and pray that the economy doesn’t get much worse before it gets better again.

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John you are an IDIOT if you think teachers only work 190 days a year. Teachers are required to go to workshops over the summer and during breaks. Not to mention coming in early and staying late every day! Sonny Perdue AND John can kiss my A$$!!

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Still LMAO@ “Educators being overpaid”. MANY of my fellow co-workers, in better economic times, held TWO jobs JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET. Don’t give me that “just be thankful you have a job” crap. We’ve been fighting this battle for DECADES. Now that times are tough, not only should we cease and desist but let some of you tell it, we should also be thankful for our meager earnings. You know what? Many of you wouldn’t put up with HALF the crap educators by and large have to endure on a daily basis for minimal pay, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS NOTWITHSTANDING. Or maybe you would NOW that you have no other choice. A friend of mine once said he’d never teach even if his life depended on it b/c we don’t earn enough. Guess who just asked me to keep my ears open on job postings?! A LOT of you are eating crow right now, bet those teaching jobs look more secure and appealing to those of you who swore by the “those who can, do. Those who can’t teach” mantra. Fact is, you wouldn’t willing spend a day in our shoes so YOU shut up and continue to collect your unemployment. BET IT’S STILL MORE THAN WHAT I MAKE.

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If this actually happens and I’m sure it will (if not even more days) they SHOULD shorten the school year by 3 days. The savings will also help the local school districts by not transporting students and not heating or cooling schools. Teachers need every planning day they can get.

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Everybody wants low or no taxes, but sooner or later, we have to give something up. Also, teachers who join PAGE should thank that hideous organization for all its help in getting teachers the right to buy a car tag.

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Send me some money and the Lord will bless you 10 fold. I don’t care if you are black, white, or illegal Mexican so as long as your money is green. Make that check payable to Citizens Against State Handouts or CASH for short. See you in church on Sunday.

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CRAP,
There is one called GAE, but it’s been eclipsed by PAGE, because PAGE is cheaper…….and worthless.

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OK first our pay cut, no 2% raises, and now three furloughed days. Why does Purdue and his adminstration not take furlough days themselves? As a matter of fact did his salary get a cut? and if so I wonder if it was merely a tickle for compared to us working class citizen trying to survive. Man what are they doing with the money?????????

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Why all of this negative republican/democrat banter? It reminds of some of the students I taught, very childish. I am a Liberal Retired Teacher. Be glad, teachers, that you have a job. Be glad that new teachers won’t have to be let off in larger numbers. Most of the teachers still have jobs and will have jobs minus 3 days pay which will be prorated over 12 months. You will hardly miss it, but YOU WILL HAVE A JOB when others are jobless and suffering.

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Dont be axing me to take no dayum furlow days…..fo shizzle. I beez needin dat money since my wellfare chek beez just enuf fo my rint and my lotto tickits. Whitey bee tryin to keep a sista down….fo shizzy up in tha hizzy

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Martin is my new hero.

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For the last time – PAGE and GAE are NOT UNIONS!

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See ya Vernell.

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I will say this to GA TEACHERS, ya’ll got what you wanted in Sonny. Played you like a bigmouth bass. maybe next time around, you won’t kneejerk and vote for the…..(insert YOUR OWN adjective here).

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For the macho, neo-conservative, private sector heroes that bash teachers, and other state employees, you should be aware that there are plenty of people who work for large private firms who work in cubicles and know how to artfully dodge an honest day of work. There’s also a lot of idiots on bar stools in these right-wing hangouts that like to come up with all kinds of contrived crap as to why people who work in the public sector are draining our economy. I worked in industrial sales in Atlanta for over ten years, and did it quite successfully. That was a job where you clearly had to pull your own weight, plus some of the weight of a lot of other people with guaranteed salaries who worked in administration. As a high school math teacher who has taught for 15 years at the same school, I can tell you that teaching in these times is very challenging, and is a lot more stressful than you can comprehend (if you’ve never done it). As far as pay, like the poster above mentioned, we sign a contract to work 190 days (180 teaching days). We do not get paid for Summer days off. For those teachers who work for school systems that are already taking days off to ease budget conditions, they damn sure have a right to complain. Yes, there are those teachers who whine about any and everything, because they have never worked anywhere else. What am I getting at? Aim with a rifle and not a shotgun to target your criticism to those who deserve it.

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For the record – this teacher did not vote for Sonny. What does a veternarian know about running a state? Nothing! And Sonny’s proved it.

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This is Obama’s fault. We should have voted for McCain because Republicans care about education more than democrats. Obama is a Socialist. Taliban, 9/11, and uh, whatever else the gullible American public believes on any give day. Hallelujah.

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I don’t care about Vernell being black but if ALL the transplants, ESPECIALLY YOU NORTHERNERS, would head back to their respective (ha) states we southerners would greatly appreciate it and maybe, just maybe, there’d be more jobs for us

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I no wut a soshalest iz. A soshalest is a TEROREST and all TERORESTS shud be kilt! death to the soshalests!!!!!!!!!!!

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So what about the School Supers and the Assistant Supers and School Principals, does this apply to them as well Mr. Perdue? And are you taking 3 days of furlough as well along with all the legislators and people in your office? Lets make cuts where it will really counts. I am sure if the Supers of the county have to take 3 days of a pay cut they will truly understand what life is all about. If we are going to make a difference then you need to do it the right way and do it fairly, don’t just hit the teachers. Hit thier bosses too, all the way to the top, better yet start from the top you first. Let’s really make a difference.

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Sonny Perdue is one of the greatest men alive and the decider for your state you people should be more respectful to your decider!!! And you loud mouthed, liberal hippie teachers should be thankful you still have jobs in this economy. Some of US are indeed suffering! God Bless America, amen.

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Let Fatboy and the Ga Congress work for free until the next election cycle…bunch of effn tards…They are about as bad as Presbo da Clown and the Surrender Monkeys….Im voting Libertarian next time…God this country is turning PUZZY!!!!!!!!

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WHEN will we wake up and send half of mexico, that has moved to the US, back to Mexico!

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Why is everyone complaining, you help put this man in office, the only person this governor is concern about is himself, his wife, his children and his grandchildren!!!! Wake Up and realize this people and do something about it, why don’t you demand a watchdog group to see where the stimulus money is going: answer– It’s going right into his BIG BANK ACCOUNT.

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Why all the job bashing? It takes all types for a community to run. Read what people are saying. No wonder people don’t want to teach. You need a bachelors degree, if not a masters to afford in the metro area of a city like Atlanta. So, yes, a few days is a big deal. Would we all do it? Of course. The typical teacher has a high set of morals and extreme dedication to children and a career which is basically thankless. How else could we continue to do it every day?

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None of this would have happened if you dummies had made the right decision in 2000. God is punishing America for being stupid. It took 8 years to create this mess and you numb nuts are expecting for it all to be “fixed” in 8 MONTHS. If only the American public could be as forgiving toward Mr. Obama as they were toward GWB. God doesn’t like hypocrisy, you’re being punished.

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I think Dad of two makes a good point–where would we be without our public schools? In the 14 years I have been a Georgia public school teacher, I have seen class sizes rise, fall, and rise again. I have seen salaries rise (when Zell was Governor), stagnate, and now decline.

This country was built on the backs of the public schools. It is time to treat teachers with respect as was done two centuries ago. Teachers are highly trained professionals who devote their lives to the betterment of society.

A public school teacher will earn, in a lifetime, what a pro athlete will earn in one season. As Dad of two said, “lets rethink this.”

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Fine. If they want to pay us for ONLY 186 days– fine. I say we, as teachers, get together and do an informal strike.

Since we can not form unions or officially strike, I say we pull a work-to-the-rule strike. Work-to-rule is an age old protest action in which teachers would do no more than the minimum required by the rules of our contract and follow guidelines during our contracted hours.

This would mean no more coaching, no more tutoring, no more help sessions, no more parent- conferences (unless during the operating school hours of 8Am- 4PM) and no more GRADING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. My English 101 papers would take months to grade. Goodness, I don’t know if I’d even get to the Freshman research paper.

Sounds lovely to me. I have problem at all working my newly contracted hours.

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To George Dubya

I’ll be praying for your poor lost soul

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bendover: you’re a left wing liberal hippie aren’t ya??? Why can’t you see that Sonny is a great man and that Republicans have America’s best interest at heart?? Are you a terrorist??? Don’t you support our troops?? YOU’RE UNPATRIOTIC!!!!!!!!!!

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Would someone with a legal background please explain why teachers can’t have a union in Georgia?

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If there is any way to avoid it, please don’t send your kid’s to government schools especially in GA…..all will regret it eventually

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Why are YOU people complaining now. After all you voted him in by overwhelming margins, so now just BEND OVER BABY..and take it..

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But IT IS Obama’s fault though. So what he’s only been in office 6 months? He’s supposed to have been able to fix everything by now! He’s a Socialist terrorist. Rush says it’s so, therefore it MUST be true. Are you calling Rush a liar? You will be arrested for treason if so, I can trace your location.

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I really don’t care. I really don’t. I chose to send my kids to a private school. Have fun with your government problems.

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I know that other agencies have already taken 3-4 furlough days this year without a raise in sight for I don’t know how long. I am a huge supporter of teachers. However, I think that this step is inevitable. If teachers aren’t furloughed how many more days would this add to the other agencies. Like someone stated earlier some of these agencies are spread too thin already. Social Workers, Inspectors. PCA happened before furlough’s what will happen now?

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“You can’t blame Obama as he has only been in office 6 months”…..?????? I am sorry but isn’t that 1/8 of his term? If I got nothing done in the first 1/8th of my day I would not have a job any longer.

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I am calling the governor’s office tomorrow to let him know I do not appreciate being furloughed during the time of year when they know we put in endless hours to begin with. Basically all teachers will have to work those days anyways, now just without pay…RIDICULOUS!

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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I will be calling the govenor’s office tomorrow to let him know that I do not appreciate being furloughed during the time of year that teachers are the busiest. We already work lots of overtime preparing for school, and now are going to have to work these days for FREE! Anyone with me on calling to voice your disappointment?

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For those teachers that have jobs be happy that you just have to be furloughed for 3 days and didn’t lose your job like me. The county I worked in still had teachers losing there jobs. It was just the luck of the draw as to if you go cut and I did. If I still had a job I would not be complaining about taking 3 days unpaid. The school I worked at is losing 2 days of preplanning and a teacher workday in December.

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Why doesn’t Perdue follow his fellow idiot Republican Sarah Palin’s lead and just take the rest of his term off? We’d save his salary and the money wasted on his foolish initiatives. His staff could follow, and the legislature. What would we lose? On second thought, our schools are so great that we can afford to furlough teachers. Just make sure the furloughs happen after the CRCTs. My son’s school doesn’t do anything after that anyway.

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To Evil Old English Teacher:

I’m with you…if it can’t be done in 8 hours, it doesn’t get done! If we all did that then everyone would realize how much we really do based on what was not being done anymore. Oh, and did I hear someone say, “Let them eat cake!” Just waiting for the heads to roll. Good luck this year…

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How many of you teachers out there have already worked in your classrooms this summer? Thousands of us across the state, I suspect. Of-course without pay.

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We are already at the bottom in education, so three days is not going to make much of a difference. Why not cut the sports program? Ooops, I forgot sports are more important than academics.

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Let me say to start with that I am glad I have a job. I realize that many, including my spouse, are losing theirs. BUT…this is the second time Sonny was part of breaking a contract with me! As a National Board Certified Teacher, the state has already failed to uphold its contract for earning this certificate. I have taken a huge hit on my salary. The way I understand it, we are being asked to take three days between now and Dec. 31. That means there could be more to come before the end of the school year.

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What happens to the days that we already have earned?

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Perdue and the lying Republicans can all go to <<<$%$%~

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maybe there are people with secret deals with daycare centers. i am sure they won’t mind the extra money they can get from parents needing someone to watch their kid so they can go to work. I just would like to know where the days will fall. Looking at my county’s calendar for first semester all the teacher work days are half-days which means i would have to leave work early and lose pay or find a daycare and lose pay. boy am i winner.

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You tell ‘em, 8th graders Papa. See you at Che’ Louis tomorrow for our usual fillet Mignon dinner? *wink*

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We need to strike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Educator X3, you are exactly right that we could (and likely will) be asked to give back more days before the end of the school year. I absolutely see the writing on the wall…..

Oman and the Change Gang…..what are you going to do to fix this economy? Or is this part of your plan to drive the country towards socialism.

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Vernell

July 21st, 2009
5:39 pm
I work at a state agency and I shouldn’t have to take any days off. They should make the rich high paid administrators take days off instead of the employees who do all the real work. Sometimes, I have to work past 5 PM at regular pay and not overtime. This is just another way that rich white power brokers like Sonny Perdue try to keep the minorities and other working class down in this state! I’m getting tired of this and may move back to New Jersey!

Please don’t start making this about RACE! I didn’t read anywhere where our Governor was only making black teachers take a furlough!…Teachers are many colors and it affects all of us…not just black ones! I am so tired of the race card bein dealt! Get over it!!!!!!!!!!!!

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To “Put Away Your Crooked Speech”, you really show your arrogance and ignorance with the statement: That includes you folk down in the southern part of the state who are a drag economically and culturally on the rest of the state. Only someone who has spent NO time in the southern part of the state would make such a foolish statement. Additionally, your statements are disconnected and do not make a rational argument. Perhaps you should considering attending a college in south Georgia to learn literature and improve your writing skills.

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Atleast you are able to work a second job. I have a friend where a second job has to be approved by the department, they say it is a conflict of interest.

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You know, I love it how you endearing citizens think that State employees should take the bath and have our pay docked. Someone who does what I do, which is Audits, my goal is to look out for your rear ends, looking out for the taxpayers to try to ensure that your beloved State agencies don’t blow your tax dollars. Maybe they should shut us down and fire us all. Let them pi** away your tax dollars. Without us, they’ll all go unchecked. You really want to see a world of hurt, let all the auditors go. I don’t think it’s fair that my pay should be cut anymore than your pay should be cut. So all this BS about State employees being the crooks, you can all go to the extra hot place in He**. You want to furlough someone, cut someone’s pay, start with the do nothing Congress. I’m a die hard Conservative, and I’m appalled with this Governor and appalled with this State Congress.

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Im sure theres no waste in State Government!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I understand the downfall of revenue. I hope that the days will be planning or inservice days. I don’ t believe it should be instructional days. Perdue knows that teachers have been working in their classrooms during the summer when students aren’t there. We do this in order to make sure things are ready when they return.
I disagree with many of the comments about how teachers have “whined” about the job. If you ask someone to walk in your shoes for 1 day, 1 week, or longer, many of them will say “I don’t know how you do this everyday.” Much of the public does not understand that teachers do many other things as well as teach on a daily basis inside of a classroom. I am a teacher and I am glad I have a job. I will continue to do my job and enjoy working with my children each day…furlough or no furlough.

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As a teacher, I have signed contracts for 190 days of work for many years in Georgia. Somewhere near the blanks where they amount to be paid per day/year for the contract was a statement that the amount could be adjusted lower based upon availability of state revenue or funds. If that clause is still on teacher contracts statewide, a furlough would not “break” the contract. It would amount to adjusting the money portion of the contract.

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Sonny is not the problem.All states across the US have problems. Everyone, including the higher paying people get days off. Get over your wealth envy. run for offices if you can do better!!

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I’ll cut you a deal, Sonny. Give every Georgia teacher one free renewal of credentials. “Free” meaning not having to acquire (and pay for out of our own money) the PLUs required to renew our certificates. I just spent $1700 this summer for 6 PLUs. Yes folks, that’s what teachers do during the summer – we take REQUIRED classes that we pay for out of our own pockets.

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Gov. Purdue can’t take any furlough days, he has to pay for his summer home at Lake Jackson.

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Education makes up approximately 70% of the budget. The state is $900 million in the hole. Just one day of statewide furloughs saves $33 million dollars. Legislators make $17k thousand a year for four months of straight work, plus tons of meetings in the summer and fall. A small per diem is given for daily travel expenses, like $100 bucks. I guarantee you the Legislators are not in for the money. There is very little so called pork in budget. The legislature cut 10% from the budget last year. Georgia is constitutionally, not just required by Republicans, to be a balanced budget state.I challenge everybody complaining about government waste in Georgia to find a program that should be cut at this point and call their legislator with suggestions. Teachers need to suck it up. If they don’t like it, find a job with better pay and benefits in the private sector. I guarantee you won’t find a a private sector job offering a better pension plan or any defined benefit retirement plan these days.

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Shame on you Sonny! Your grandfather would kick your butt right now for doing this to the teachers. He was a dedicated educator and fought for teachers every day he worked in the Houston County Schools. That’s why there is two schools in the county named after him. Why not furlough the senators and representatives and keep the kids and teachers in school? Why not take some days without pay as govenor, since you don’t need the money anyway. You could do without your summer home or your cattle better than the kids of this state can do without their education to save a few dollars.

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Lucky you, 2 teacher income home – two paychecks. What about the single parent teachers with one paycheck who have already had to make adjustments because of paycuts? There has really been only one perc in teaching – a reliable paycheck. Now that the reliability is gone we might as well take our chances out in the “real” world. The pay will be better and we won’t have to work nearly as hard.

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Hey Einstein, it based on expected revenues. Current revenues are lower than have been in years. Legislators have already furloughed themselves more than other state employees. If you are so bright, find another way to balance the budget. While you are it, learn the basic rules of grammar.

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I ain’t suprysed that are skools rink so hi ley in the naishun. The way are edukaters are treated is reflekted in the populashion as a hole. I wood like to think my chillins has a better chance to get ahead than we all dun got. Maybe Sonny just wants to keep the youngins as smart as there folks are so he an his frends can keep on runnin Georgia like it has been for the las hundret years or so.

Meybe Sonny is rite after all.

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W should have a sales tax to support our schools rather than the current property tax system. As long as the economy is humming along with folks working and buying stuff there were will plenty of cash so the children can learn and become prepared for the world.

When the economy is bad, like it is these days, they can learn another life lesson. That one is that they will not be educated and ultimately wont work unless they understand enough spanish to know what their boss is telling them to do.

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Sonny, maybe you should have thought about that before handing out the “Sonny Money” – I would gladly pay back that $300 instead of my furlough…

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Seems to me like teachers need to make a stand before this gets out of control. Budget cuts, furloughs, hiring freezes, forced retirments…what’s next? Our ace in the hole is a statewide strike of all teachers and maybe now is the right time.

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EVERYONE WANTS TO BLAME 8 YEARS OF BUSH. I’m sorry guys! It goes back a little further to Billie Bob CLINTON! That democratic,give-your-$-to-the-lazy, sorry @$$ is where this REALLY started. He was too concerned about where his next BLOW JOB was coming from rather than being concerned about the terroristic threats that were building and finally blew up not long after George W. took office. George W. just happened to be prez when 911 happened and THAT my friends is where the economy took the NOSEDIVE. George ain’t as responsible as you think. HECK, HE HAD ONLY BEEN IN OFFICE A FEW MONTHS BEFORE 911 HAPPENED! THINK ABOUT IT! AND IF YOU THINK MORE, YOU WILL REALIZE THAT 911 IS A LOT OF WHY WE ARE IN THE MESS we are in TODAY. (thank you….stepping down from my 2 cent podium)

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I think it is a bunch of CRAP! Come on Sonny is this really the right thing to do The 3 overworked and underpaid you need to leave alone are the teachers policemen and firefighters. Can you really sleep well knowing you are affecting the students. I barely make 12,000 a year and you mean to tell me that counts as being overpaid? If so you need to wake up go after the 6 figure incomes. That’s where it will help the most. Leave educators alone we are here for the children we use our own money for our classrooms and for the needs of our students we don’t ask for it back we do it because we love the job and you are going to hurt us like that and want us to work for free! Come on Sonny!The school year has not even started and we are already in the hole $900 Million wheres the money going? Let us do our job and that is teach the future of Georgia the children!!!

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Let’s see. With the furlough day and 2% pay cut Cobb has already imposed – plus the three days granted by Mr. Perdue, I am now looking at a reduction of approximately one month of take-home pay. It won’t break the bank, but it does mean that I will not be paying for classroom supplies out of pocket this year. Parents, I hope you understand. Administrators, I hope you understand when I leave promptly after 8 hours every day, decline extra projects and scale back my attendance at after hours functions. As much as I love my job and working with the kids, enough is enough. School Board, I hope you understand when I tender my resignation letter mid-year because I’ve decided to pursue other opportunities – especially if you don’t dip into the reserve fund to cover the shortfall. That 10 million or so will buy the district a lot of goodwill – something you’re going to need once the economy does recover and people leave in droves.

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Administrators, legislators and other management level state employees are facing the same cuts and furloughs. Why are teachers special? Yes, they have an important job. So do others. And I just saw on the news someone lamenting that “the children will be hurt.” Well, it’s a recession. Children live here; they’re part of society like the rest of us. Children of the Depression weren’t immune to the problems then, so why should they be now? Suck it up. They’ll learn more self-reliance and resourcefulness if everyone would quit treating them like fragile gems of blown glass and let them be part of the world they live in. The economy sucks, people are losing their jobs, everyone is making adjustments. Let the little ones do their part by doubling up in a classroom now and then. We did it as kids and we survived.

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I know what our administrators are going to expect. They will expect us in on those pre plan days that they will furlough anyway. And if you don’t come, you will get a little black mark by your name. I’m going to have a very hard time with that one. If you ain’t gonna pay me, I aint gonna be there. I spend enough extra time and personal money AFTER HOURS ALREADY without them telling me they’re not going to pay me but come anyway. Intelligent people know that teachers have to go above and beyond the school work day to be a successful teacher anyway. I see this as a slap in my face. Let all the double dippers go (retired personel who come back part time making 40-50,000 dollars a year PLUS their retirement money. MY PARKING SPACE WILL GET A SUNTAN ON THAT DAY FOLKS!!!!!! : )

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I am a teacher and do not have a problem with the furlough days. I hope the furlough days are given during the school year (teacher work days) rather than the pre-planning days. I will teach at a new school and the pre-planning days are needed for procedures and other plans. I have worked at the school already and will continue to do so. Times are tough for everyone so I am thankful I have a job and will continue to teach. GAE did tell us not to go to school on furlough days before school to get the room ready. I understand why we were told this but who does this hurt? The children- I will not hurt the children. It is time for teachers and parents to work together. Stop blaming each other for children not learning.
Those asking for unions need to look at how it has helped the american auto industry. Unions are not what we need. We need to get rid of the vast central office higher ups and put them back in the classrooms to reduce the class size and help out children. Think of the money this will save. Most teachers know what the kids need and are unable to teach due to the adminstration. Central offices are putting the blame on NCLB- not the blame. Money has been wasted and blamed where blame was not due.
Thank goodness I do not teach in Cobb where the board gave the super a $25,0000.00 dollar pay raise a month before cutting all pay across the board by 2%, giving 1 furlough day, and reducing the step pay. Also, several elementary schools now have additional Assistant Administrators. I can honeslty say these are not needed. Some schools have never had them and now a third administrator- this is truly not needed. Let me cut out the needless spending!

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That’s right on Ga. teacher…..an elementary school does not need an assistant principal, especially in rural areas where the schools are smaller. and there are a bunch of those!!!!!!

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I’m a teacher and I’ll take my medicine if it helps assure my job, matter of fact I probably will go fishing! All this economic hardship can be traced directly to the failed Republican control of both the state and federal governments over the last eight years. This is what “faith-based” willful ignorance and greed does for those of us on the low end of trickle-down economics. They got the gold mine and we get the shaft.

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Dr R., have you taken a pay cut to save jobs? I already have as have many other teachers in this state. We’re saying that we’ve had our turn – give someone else a chance to take one for the team! We’re played out.

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Understood, Abacus. No, I just had to forgo my annual raise so far. My business is scuffling, too, and when that day comes, I’ll take it. I didn’t say anyone had to like it or welcome it. I’m just saying that no one is immune. Well, unless you own a bar, video store or car repair shop. They’re all doing pretty well. As for who’s to blame politically for our economy, that’s a harder thing to pin down. Some say the GOP because they were in charge; others say the housing bubble came from the Clinton years with the insistence that banks give home loans to people who couldn’t pay them. At this point, it doesn’t matter how we got here, it’s more about what we’re going to do now.

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Amen Sister wrote-, “That’s right on Ga. teacher…..an elementary school does not need an assistant principal….” These elementary schools already had assistant prinsipals. The school system added a third adminstrator to the elementary schools called an “assistant administrator.” This is a step below an assistant principal. Just wanted to clarify.

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As I read about how teachers will cut back on extracurricular duties and the like, I see in this an opportunity. For too long, our schools have become social clubs instead of places of learning, with too much emphasis on non-scholastic pursuits. That’s all fine and good, but in an economic crisis, those activities should be sacrificed. Maybe if teachers, students and schools went back to the basics of learning instead of the superfluous nonsense, kids would focus on their studies and we’d see more achievement. I have no problem with teachers calling it a day after eight hours, provided they put their full effort into that eight like the rest of us. If you’re not going to do that, then do everyone a favor and find a new profession. In the private sector, those who work hardest and perform best are going to survive the purges when the job cuts come. It should be the same in the public sector as well. Unfortunately, too many people now think the world owes them a paycheck and that they own their own job. Nobody owns their job; the person who signs the check owns it.

By the way, my wife’s a teacher and she doesn’t totally agree with me on any of this, so I suppose I’m a voice in the wilderness. If all schools were run by private companies instead of the state, they’d be more efficient, teachers would be more qualified and paid better and the students would learn more. But we’re not ever putting the genie back into that bottle, so it’s not worth discussing.

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Tell it like it is Oh Great! Doesn’t it get under your skin when uninformed people like boo hoo think their tax dollars are paying for teachers to have “time off”! Get your facts straight boo hoo before you make ignorant comments… And Marshal obviously you had a bad school experience, but guess what that is not every teacher in Georgia’s fault! We are certainly far from overpaid – and you could care less about education anyway if you think class size needs to be increased. How is that going to be in the best interest of students? You probably wouldn’t last 2 days in a class of 20! Why don’t you volunteer to be on your local BOE – know they’d be proud to have a winner like you!

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Furlough days would most certainly be teacher duty/inservice days. Students would not be told to stay home as that would effect federal funding. Regarding school contracts-we signed ours in April but the contracts have not been returned to us. The contract is not valid, I believe, until approved by the board and signed by the superintendent.

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Dr. R., with respect, private companies can pick and choose their raw materials. As someone has already stated, some of the raw materials that come through my classroom door are pretty raw, and I don’t get to send them to the reject pile. I work my behind off, and many unpaid hours, getting the raw material to function.

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Proud Educator – Well said!!

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Dr. R – I work with many Cobb teachers who are now the sole breadwinner in their families due to spousal layoffs. My own family has experienced rounds of layoffs in the past 12 months. Thankfully, we had emergency savings set aside just in case. So, yes the pain of the current economy is very real to me. I am not any more entitled than the next person. What sacrifices have you, Dr. R, had to make in this down economy? I’ve made “sacrifices” for the past 8 years since leaving the private sector for education. I did so willingly and with my eyes wide open. It was an opportunity to give back and enjoy a better life/work balance. People like me who get things done and think outside the box to solve problems are “rewarded” with salary cuts and have even more responsibilities added to our already overflowing plates. I don’t mind doing my part to help other teachers keep their jobs and am happy to do so. However, boundaries have to be established or this job will suck the life right out of you. But if Cobb can afford to add six-figure administrative positions that weren’t there a year ago, it has no business asking employees to eat further salary reductions – in my opinion.

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The provision of an adequate public education for
the citizens shall be a primary obligation of the State of Georgia.

Apparently the state Constitution doesn’t matter to this governor.

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Solution for all, especially learners: Year Round Schooling.

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Dr. R –

The problem with your thought of not providing that child the necessary tools to be successful is that I AM HELD ACCOUNTABLE for the failure of that child – not the parent.

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LOL,

Time for me to go to bed too, “DR. J” !

I meant Dr. R

: )

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Nia…get a life. Most teachers have twice the amount of education as you do!

I’m also glad that I’m so overpaid. All that extra money helps me purchase class supplies, snacks, and lunches for my students.
I’ll continue to be a dedicated and committed teacher. Teaching is calling. I have decided to leave my classroom each day by 5:00 p.m. No need to reduce my wages to $ 4.30 per hour. LOL……..

All of your angrier should be directed to W……he destroyed this country. Liar…liar…pants on fire!

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Sales tax folks. This will get all the illegal immigrants taking our jobs to pull their weight. They dont own property for the most part and therefore don’t pay property taxes. But they along with EVERYONE ELSE will be pulling their fare share. To me, it’s not fair to punish ME because I worked hard, saved money and PAYED MY TAXES by making my property tax go up while the freeloaders get off scott free….think about it! yes we would pay more for stuff BUT we would have more to spend! Furloughing teachers will yet DEAPEN the pitt we are in. Less money for teachers means less money out and about spending.

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What a moron!! He won’t cut wasteful spending, but he will cut people’s salary in a down economy. Ask Roy Barnes how well things go when you double cross the teacher’s unions!!

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I was attracted to moving to Georgia because of its long history of treating its teachers well. However, I can see that this is not going to hold true much longer! I thought making us suffering by turning of the ac in the summer in various parts of the school was cruel and unusual, but this is ridiculous! Teachers are a HUGE part in keeping Georgia’s economy afloat. Sonny, next time your in Wal-Mart stop and ask who’s doing the shopping for school supplies. Oh, wait you probably don’t shop at Wal-Mart and if you did, you’d show up in your limo with your entourage of morons! Nevertheless, a large majority of those people standing in long lines to buy school supplies is comprised of your educators. And guess what?! They are probably paying for a good chunk of their school supplies for the students they teach out of their pocket. Yes the same pocket you want to dip into! This is ludicrous and a slap in the face to educators in Georgia, and more importantly, it’s a slap in the face to the young men and women who sit in classrooms across the state. They will be the ones who suffer the most…

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TJ: “Ask Roy Barnes how well things go when you double cross the teacher’s unions!!”

TJ…Perdue is in his second, and constitutionally limited, term as Governor of Georgia. He can’t run again and won’t be seeking another office. So, effectively, the votes of teachers, or any other group, will never trouble him again. That’s part of the fun of your second term. You get to make the decisions without fear of what the people think…even those who rant on the AJC’s comment space while spelling your name incorrectly. Come on people, have enough self respect to at least learn to spell the name of your own governor correctly, whether you like him or not. Its Perdue, not Purdue. Think “chicken” not “midwestern University.”

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Sonny, can we please just fire a bunch of teachers and state employees so people will stop complaining about 3 furlough days. That’s obviously what they want.

People in this country act as if a job is a right. Think again. It’s a privilege. Go work in the private sector in this economy, and you’ll find how pretty quickly how true that is.

Idealistic democrats will try to tell me that the beauty of democrat principles lies in the belief of the good of society over the good of the individual. If that were actually true, I would think liberals would embrace furloughs that save jobs. To the contrary, I’m finding out that being a liberal is about feeling a sense of self-entitlement.

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As a state employee, I understand the need for furloughs but they need to be more intelligently used:
1. By imposing them on federally funded state positions as well as state-funded positions, we are shooting ourselves in the foot. We are losing millions of federal dollars intended to be spent on services to Georgia residents. Since most federall funded grants and cooperative agreements are mostly for professional positions, it’s impossible to redirect all the salary not spent because of the furloughs. That funding is lost to the state and goes back to the U.S. Treasury. And then the following year’s funding is cut because we didn’t spend the current year’s. Few federal funders allow carryover of funding from one year to the next anymore.
2. Agree that the Governor, Legislators, and everyone else on state funds should be equally affected by furloughs so they can understand the true pain.
3. Cutting the already rock-bottom salaries of government workers is creating more need for government services, a vicious cycle. The middle class, one of the most important stablizing forces in most Western societies, is disappearing.
4. Between absurdly low salaries and furloughs, it is hard to attract any real talent to state government work. Because of the economy, there’s loads of applicants, but not much talent. Do you really want incompetent or unmotivated folks in charge of your safety, health, roads, and regulations?

Not a teacher, but have children in public school. Please triple the number of furlough days for educators earning over $100,000 per year (top administrators) and cut by 1/3 the number of furlough days for those earning under $50,000. Our children need those front-line classroom teachers and paraprofessionals every minute of every school day. We need top administrators too but not every minute of every day.

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As a former educator now working in the private sector, I am amazed at how little we value educators and education. I had no idea of the “perks” you get in business. Better health benefits, flexible working conditions, great vacation and I am not blamed for what the state and parents refuse to provide. My sister is a career educator with advanced degrees from “real universities.” I have spent less time at my company ,and I make thee times the amount that she makes. How do we expect to attract bright individuals to education? I have tired to lure her away from teaching, but she loves her job. She works with special needs children. Before our company makes a big presentation, we plan for it. The planning is critical in making certain that we are prepared to do our best. I cannot believe that the governor feels that educators do not need planning days to prepare for one of the most critical jobs in the world, educating our children. There are some states that have gone to four day school weeks, to save on transportation and energy cost. The students and staff work longer days. Why was this plan not considered in Georgia? Has the governor looked at the “pet” projects that are funded by the state? The Georgia Department of Education is loaded with directors, deputy superintendents, consultants and managers. Consider cutting some of those people, who only issue mandates to the schools, but that do not have any clue how to fix them. To decide right before the beginning of school that educators should take time off demonstrates no understanding of what is needed to prepare for school. Why not cut the staff at the governor’s mansion? Get rid of some of the state issued cars? We will never be able to attract major industry to Georgia until we are serious about improving our schools. The message that these furloughs send speaks very loudly about the value we place on education. Some of these people making comments about educators need to teach. They have no idea of the demands that are placed on educators. As parents, my husband and I support the schools. They cannot raise our children. We raise our children. What a great way to set the tone for the beginning of a new school year?

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As a private sector exec turned teacher, I must say that teaching is the hardest yet most rewarding job I ever had. It’s like being an performer with no downtime eight hours a day with practice for two hours before the performance and two hours after, plus documentation and grading on top of that. Teachers who only work an eight hour day aren’t doing their job. It’s at least a 12 hour day if you’re any good.
Some of us are already at the breaking point in terms of salary. Having been downsized after 21 years with the same company, I’m in that predicament. My salary as a teacher is 70% less than what I made before. Three days might not sound like a lot to many, but where is that money going to come from to pay the bills? Will teachers need to take on part time jobs too?
Unfortunately, things are going to get much worse. Interest rates can’t stay at next to nothing. As soon as interest rates start to rise more people will suffer economic burdens, more businesses will cut jobs and tax revenues will go down further. If life was a video game, many of us would be hitting the reset button about now.
In these troubled times our state needs to be focused on Health Care and Education. Those two sectors must attract the best of the best in terms of employees. Our children deserve the best teachers and we deserve the best in health care – we’re paying for it! America spends more on healthcare than any other nation is ranked third in spending on education. There’s obviously a flaw in both systems. Teachers should be getting raises instead of furloughs. Georgia is ranked 26th in spending per student. Maybe if we paid teachers more and kept the good teachers around more we’d have smarter people running the government. Someone’s getting rich and it isn’t the teachers. What a shame.

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Lead by example GOVERNOR this should not be on the backs of our EDUCATORS. Why is it they always look to cut EDUCATION first. They should make EDUCATION our FIRST PRIORITY!

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Teachers, professors, administrators, elected officials, any individual who works for the state SHOULD take the furlough days. My husband has done it now for the last 4 months. Yes it is a burden to loose any income, however we are doing our part.

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I think it is time that a lawsuit is brought against Perdue. I think he should be impeached. He has done a poor job and its our children who are paying. It is time for Perdue to go.

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Sonny has got to be the worst “education governor” in modern Georgia history….No edcuator should vote for another Republican Governor as long as they have a memory of Perdue’s “Go FISH Georgia” policy initiative (sic) and his “Go to Hell Teachers” policy approach.

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Our school system has already cut our heath insurance and dental insurance benefits and all of our supplements. With my husband and I both being teachers it already cost us about 500 dollars a month. What is this going to do to our salaries?

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This whole mess is directly tied to the economy. When did the economy really begin to tank? Last August/September. Why?

At first, the enormous cost of gasoline (blame politicians, especially those with “green” ties for not permitting drilling here in our country, as well as dragging feet to come up with a plan that will make us energy independent.)

2nd….Collapse of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac…..directly tied to politicians who insisted everyone own a home and businesses willing to make money by approving loans for folks who had NO BUSINESS getting them! John McCain tried to sound the warning that Frannie and Freddie were not being run in a solvent way and was shot down by Barney Frank, among others.

3rd Collapse of Wall Street in direct relation to Fannie, Freddie and other lending/banking meltdowns.

4-Beginning of job lay offs…..If you don’t make money, you are not going to spend money

5-Election of BHO…..You know, folks were not sure what direction this man was about to take the country in. The economy continued to decline. If he was the answer, why didn’t Wall Street soar in answer to his election?

TARP, Omnibus…..Did these “stimulus” plans work? Absolutely not! No trickle down benefits have been felt. In fact, you see it getting worse. A better solution? Coming up with a way to give businesses an incentive to build and hire.

We will not drag ourselves out of this mess until the Federal Imperial Government backs off and lets the country operate as framed. They are trying to turn us socialist and give us all the “benefits” of that kind of society.

No thank you.

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I am really astonished at all the people speaking out against teachers on here…you do realize that you wouldn’t have the ability to write and post your opinion if it wasn’t for teachers right?…Teachers never get to “clock out” from their jobs, it is an around-the-clock occupation; especially in an era when many parents do not even care enough to provide the same high standard of care toward their own children that teachers do in their classrooms. Are you seriously ignorant enough to think that this is okay? Soldiers, teachers, and service employees never get the respect that they deserve and it’s simply pathetic that the only people we ever hear advocating salary cuts in these areas are people who have, or will have, benefited from their service…

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Hey Marshall, maybe you should have paid more attention to such trivial matters like spelling while you attended those overcrowded classrooms. Isn’t the word overpaid one word?

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I agree with Surprise. When is Governor Perdue going to “furlough” himself as a State employee.

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Why not include the school superintendants in this furlough instead of just the teachers? The Cobb Co. teachers already took a 4% paycut but the Cobb Superintendant got a bonus. When asked if he would return it, he avoided the question. There are plenty of other things that could be cut, we need to provide quality education for our kids. How about collecting the taxes that are actually owed? How about cutting wasteful spending?

As for the state employee from NJ, please don’t try to make this a race issue. These furloughs are affecting teachers from all different races and the people in charge and so called bosses are all different races as well. It is not a case of mean white men taking from poor minority people. If you noticed the headline in today’s AJC, the white males are the highest percentage of unemployed.

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Why not just take the whole week of Thanksgiving and a Columbus day off. Morale goes up when you get more breaks.

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This has nothing to do with race. This has to do with the inability to budget. There are plenty of ways to cut budgets besides making one of the lowest paid college degree holding employees take a day off without pay. Teachers are the most important profession out there. If it wasn’t for them we would know very little. If anything they need a raise, and no I’m not a teacher.

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I am just curious as to when “His Excellency” will be taking his 3 furlough days since he should be covered under “all state employees”.

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Correct me if I am Wrong, But isn’t the APS Aft Affiliated?

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Don’t complain now…….you all wanted REPUBLICAN….you got it. NOW DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “You people” have the audacity to complain be elected the man into office, HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA It’s about time that some of you feel what “white-collar slavery” feels like-welcome to the other side of the tracks!!!

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Most teachers will work at home on their furlough days, or they will go to their classrooms if the buildings are open. As someone has already commented, teachers have more to do than the alloted planning days allow. They put in long hours all year grading papers and writing lesson plans at home at night and on weekends. This is done without overtime pay. One doesn’t become a teacher for the money for sure! It is a sad day when teachers are asked to sacrifice a pay check after all they do!

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Is Perdue a damm idiot or what he’s in for a rude awakening if he think the teachers in this state who are already under paid will go for this mess .

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Dr. R, Congratulations on your comments about the “REAL DEPRESSION”….the one in the 1930,s! Kids from that era {now seniors for the math challenged},really do know how we,as a generation were included in the sacrifices of family…..when unemployment rates were in the above the 30% rate,forcing a lot more than temporary layoffs! Education was a survival exercise,taught by my widowed mother,made a reality,by a family scrambling to eat!Not to denigrate any one here,just saying my peace,about some not-too-old history lesson,that serves me now in retirement,funded by hard and intelligently consistant planning by an individual……..not by any governmental plan! BRAVO for the individuals out there!..It will work for you….try it! Mtn. Man

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Frustrated Cobb Teacher, you are right on the mark! In fact, I don’t know why, Dear, you are asking the administrators to understand your decisions. All you are doing is stating that you will now ONLY work the hours required of you by your contract. No need to understand that– seems self-explanatory to me. Teachers as a group have long since martyred ourselves in the name of future generations. Look where that has landed us–out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Mom in Georgia– you sound like a student I had ages ago. She used to structure her arguments just like that. Nicely done, rhetorically speaking, and what lovely suggestions. Perhaps you should send that as a letter downtown. Maybe the good old boys would like to read it?

At the risk of repeating myself, I am going to repeat myself (Ha!). I have a solution for all teachers that won’t require striking or visiting Sonny in his territory. I suggest we do what Frustrated Cobb Teacher is suggesting. Then we send Mom in Georgia down there with her ideas and help poor, confused Sonny sort this all out.

I say we work-to-the rule.

If they want to pay us for ONLY 186 days, I say we, as teachers, do just what they say.

Since we can not form unions or officially strike, I say we pull a work-to-the-rule strike. Work-to-rule is an age old protest action in which teachers would do no more than the minimum required by the rules of our contract and follow guidelines during our contracted hours.

This would mean no more coaching, no more tutoring, no more help sessions, no more parent- conferences (unless during the operating school hours of 8Am- 4PM) and no more GRADING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. My English 101 papers would take months to grade. Goodness, I don’t know if I’d even get to the Freshman research paper.

Sounds lovely to me. I have no problem at all working my newly contracted hours.

Ok–the senile old English Teacher is going back to reading Mark Twain now. Ya’ll (yes I said ya’ll) let me know when you get it all worked out.

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I am willing to do what I need to do, however, when I see leaders still living extravagant lifestyles I become infuriated. If we all must sacrifice, then we ALL must sacrifice. In reference to Vernell’s comment below, it isn’t only rich WHITE leaders, race has nothing to do with this.

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Don’t complain now…….you all wanted REPUBLICAN Is Perdue a damm idiot

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It’s About Time–

Make sure you proofread, Dear.

Sincerely,
Your Evil Old English Teacher

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boo hoo—-FU

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I’ll take the three days off and parents can come take my place during those days. We can not get even them to come to meeting about their children. We are blamed for the short coming of the parents. I’m real tired of being told how bad our school are and how bad teacher are.

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Why didn’t Perdue find out if he can legally furlough teachers before he went to press with this. My contract says 180 days. I don’t mind the furlough if he is going to make EVERYBODY including himself do it as well.
However, here we go again… now you wonder why Georgia is on the bottom of the heap as far as education is concerned.

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It wasn’t announced in this article but I am looking forward to hearing about Gov. Perdue’s furlough days, the district superintendents’ furlough days, and everyone else in the school systems and state education department taking equal unpaid time off.

The run of the mill citizens are being asked to sacrifice and give up and take it; how about the our leaders leading the way, especially with their higher incomes and benefits! And if the Lt. Governor is truly ready to step in a moment’s notice he and the Governor can stagger their days off so one is always at work. There are assistant superintendents who take over when their bosses are on vacation so they could do so in this situation too. If teachers and police officers and other vital people can take furloughs so can everyone else.

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Common Sense Steve,

I agree completely. That is why I think teachers should work our newly contracted hours complaint free. Of course, I also think we should work ONLY our contracted hours. Which means I come in at 8AM and leave at 4PM. Whatever I do not get completed within that time frame is left until the next day. I won’t have to coach the Academic Bowl Team or offer SAT tutoring sessions for free. I won’t have to get up at 6:30 in the morning to help tutor little Nikki so she can pass the GHSGT. I won’t even have to stay after 5:30 to meet with Alvin’s Mom about his performance because that is the only time she gets off work. All in all, seems like a fair deal to me.

I hope my students don’t mind waiting months to get papers returned. I know! I’ll just explain to them the “seriousness of this recession… this is real stuff.”

Yes! They will absolutely understand that.

In all fairness though, your heart is in the right place if you think educational leadership should also take leave. It is very sweet, naive, but sweet,

That will never happen until we, as teachers, get off the cross and stop sacrificing ourselves.

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Great idea. Work your contracted hours only. But work them. Don’t kick back and b.s. 1/2 your day when more of your work could have been done during your “contracted working time”.

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I feel the last place we should cut is schools. Georgia is at the bottom of education as it is. This will not help. I think that all the upper management should take all the fur-lows and see how it feels not to be able to pay your bills. What do we do tell our creditors sorry but the state made me take days off without pay so you will get it when I do. Yeah, that will go over well. I am so discussed with all of this. It seems we all have to live within a budget but the government does not. They can spend any amount and then tell us to take fur-lows to pay for their mistakes. They are always cutting from schools, police, and firemen, my question is why not start at the top instead of the bottom for cuts?

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“my question is why not start at the top instead of the bottom for cuts?”
Why is it that you should be penalized for making more. Percentage cuts across the board, not just take fom the top. Unless you are looking for some sort of socialism/communism system. We can all get paid the same, regardless of work. Sounds terrific.

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Ok teachers, do the math. You get paid 190 days of which 180 of those days you actually are in the class room with the kids. So that mean you have 10 days away from the kids which mean you will be getting three of those 10 days furlough (take you pick). Now do you all understand how that works or do we need to have another lesson on this.

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CJG-
“Percentage cuts across the board, not just take fom the top [sic].”

Well that is the MOST sensible thing you have said yet! Absolutely! 2% from everyone (not just teachers), take away scheduled raises from everyone (not just teachers), AND three furlough days from everyone (not just teachers).

Here, here!

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It is sad that teachers are being called upon to take 3 days furlough. These are people that work many days and nights for which they are not paid. I agree that Governor Perdue and his staff also should take 3 days furlough.

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[...] Perdue calls on teachers to take furloughs to help fill $900 million hole. [...]

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Here is an example of work to the rule in another state:

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/homepage/x1895694455

It has also happened in North Carolina, California, Boston, Baltimore and even in England, Australia, and France.

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Evil Old English Teacher – I’m sure more agencies will be experiencing the same as time comes. Just a shame that cost control weren’t used when times were better, then maybe the blows being suffered now wouldn’t be so severe.
Educators are not the only people out there taking their work home btw. The 40 hour work week, in essence, has disappeared. They should feel lucky however that they do have the opportunity to finish “overload” at home. My previous position had no such luxury. 70-80 hours per week, 6 day week, while being paid salary with no overtime. Still ended up leading to a lay-off in the end.
Bottom-line, you can gripe about a small cut, but I know many who would have gladly taken a cut across the board rather than becoming unemployed.

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How can furloughing teachers help very much when someone still has to be paid to be with the classroom? Cut school to 4 longer days/week and save on salaries, buses, electricity, etc…

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This not only concerns teachers. Just think your inmates will be left unguarded as well.

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So I am sitting here thinking about what I can cut or do to make up for lost income. I believe I will start by not working the Running Club at our school, there are extra nights and weekends that I can use to get another job. I will not participate on the Community Involvement Committee, where I spent countless hours volunteering to tutor “little Johnny” for free. This will free up some more time I can use for second job. Maybe I will also step off of the Literacy Team which helps work with the students to improve their writing abilities, that frees up two afternoons a month. I will not stay until 5 or 6 working on PTO, parent and school meetings that benefit the children. I will not use my time away from school to prepare lessons, field trips, programs, fun days, activities or other things that would benefit the children…… gee it looks like I can cut back as well!

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I forgot.

Repub. Govs are sitting on stimulus money hoping this administration will fail. That is it in a nutshell!

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To Evil Old English Teacher – Other state agencies have already taken pay cuts and furlough days. No raises, insurance and everything else going up but our pay. We work overtime as well and get no more money for it. So teacher get over it and be a team player, take your furloughs and stop crying. The rest of us have been taking our fulough for 4 plus months now. Teachers you are already getting 10 days pay for nothing and a summer vacation.

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If the public only new how much money goes into central office employee salaries, then they would be outraged. You can research this as it is public knowledge. Go to this link:

http://www.open.georgia.gov/

You might be shocked to know how much those central office employees (local school systems) make yet do little to nothing. Eliminate all of the waste there and that would save a LOT of money! Oh yeah, Cathy Cox is a joke to the education system in Georgia.

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My wife and I are teachers (public school and state university). Teachers and college professors can and should absorb their share of the state budget shortfall. However, if the state can get away with calling it a furlough, then the teachers must not work on those days, nor students taught. (What a shame that would be.) Why not call it what it is and say it’s a pay cut? Teachers would work the same number of days for less money. The faculty I know will not stay home or cancel classes if they aren’t required to do so. They put their students’ welfare above their personal income. Obviously, any reduction in pay is more of a hardship for some than for others. Targeting “easy” parts of the population just because you can is neither good policy nor good politics.

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Wine, wine, wine, you all sound like a bunch of babies!!!

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What a complete embarassment! We are already one of the lowest ranked states in terms of education, and this just reinforces the message that Georgia doesn’t give a rat’s nose for or about education.

It’s clear that Sonny is a lame duck. Kathy Cox can’t even manage her own money; why does she have any control over education funds?

Georgia just does not care about education. Just. Does. Not.

Expect the welfare rolls to swell in the coming years, as these children grow into unprepared adults, and fail. A legacy to be proud of, Sonny, eh?

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Well said Desperate Annie!!

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To R. Kessler (teacher) – took away your $100.00 gift card, so what. for years teachers have sent home a list of supplies for ki