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

By: Concerned Faculty, Staff and other Georgia Citizens

Concerned Faculty, Staff and other Georgia Citizens — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:00:23 +0000

Governor Perdue and Legislators are fully aware of the “deferred presidential compensation” packages that the Board of Regents gives to the USG presidents (David Bell, Macon State College, is scheduled to receive a $600,000 check in less than 5 months), yet his response in an email one of many concerned USG faculty, staff and Georgia taxpayers was that the Board of Regents has “exclusive authority” to do what they want with ALL of the $2.09 Billion dollars they received last year. Oh, that’s right – $400,000 is coming from the college’s Foundation funds – were the Donors informed!!!!!

By: What makes my butt burn

What makes my butt burn — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:43:08 +0000

People ACTUALLY believe teachers get paid in the summer! We are contracted employees for 190 days. We have 180 with students; 10 days for planning for students. Our contracts are per diem (per DAY) for the 190 days we work. The total amount of money is divided by 12 months so we get a paycheck each month but do NOT get our daily salary throughout the yer – even when we are not working. However, in order to stay employed in some counties, there is required training and professional development through the summer months. For these days, we do not get our contracted amount. We get a STIPEND (sometimes). These stipends usually end up to be around $10-$15 per hour. My 19 year old son has a part-time job making this amount!

By: Former Georgian

Former Georgian — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:03:18 +0000

As a teacher in SC and AL, I have always worked more hours than the time for which I am financially compensated. However, it appears that teachers in Georgia are expected to report to school on their furlough days whereas other state employees(such as my sister who is a social worker) get to use their furlough days as vacation days. And you wonder why there’s a shortage of math and science teachers?

By: martha

martha — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:48:44 +0000

i lost 20 HOURS A WEEK — I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE JUST HAD THREE DAYS A YEAR WITHOUT PAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! QUIT YOUR WHINING AND COMPLAINING

By: RSM

RSM — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:05:50 +0000

I am a teacher and DO appreciate my job. However, I do NOT appreciate contracts being broken (even with the tiny printed clause that allows it on our contract). If we (teachers) broke our contract, it is highly likely our licenses would be revoked. As far as the comments of us “whining” and/or “biotching” about this, it is NOT contained to the teaching profession. Turn on the news people! Everyone is whining about the state of the economy!

Most teachers I know are in the business to “make a difference”. This does not mean our paychecks do not matter. It also does not mean we would be doing it if we were not able to meet our financial obligations by our “chosen” careers. Most, if not all, teachers do not have that luxury! Don’t be naive! AND be careful what you ask for…many teachers DO leave the profession of PUBLIC EDUCATORS and teach those who are capable of paying US what we are worth (or enter some other profession)! When this happens on a large scale, you can forget about those who are not paying income tax or other taxes being “equally educated”. You can depend on them spending money and not paying attention to an extra penny on sales tax.

This picture is much bigger than a lot of fortunate teachers (who have chosen wisely the profession of their hearts) and a state government which looks to US to fix all of societies ills (including a budget short-fall). Society has consistently whined and complained about the AWFUL conditions of public education. This will only make matters worse.

By: Right to work does not mean right to bargain

Right to work does not mean right to bargain — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:34:14 +0000

J – saying that unions are illegal is incorrect in that it’s an oversimplification. You’re right that Georgia is a “right to work” state, and it’s correct to say that teachers are not mandated to join any of the three “professional organization” (they don’t generally call themselves unions either although they may have affiliation with a national group). What IS illegal is for teachers to collectively bargain – that’s why most teachers will get prickly when folks want to “blame the unions” for state of education in Georgia and teacher work conditions. Basically the union cannot do for teachers here what it can do for teachers in other states, rendering it mostly ineffective except for lobbying. Hope that helps.

By: Public vs. Private

Public vs. Private — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:18:11 +0000

Elsie;
You out of everyone were the most out of line. I have been in private school all my life in Atlanta…maybe the same ones you kids now attend. I had an idea of what I thought public school was supposed to be like and I’m sure I once sound like you…but since I now have had the opportunity to see inside some amazing teacher’s classroom I know I was wrong. So are you! The teachers in public compared to private are not different; the “hoops” they jump through are. Hope you wise up one day or stop breeding.

By: J

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:49:49 +0000

Unions in Georgia are NOT illegal. Georgia is a right to work state. You cannot be FORCED to join a union but that doesn’t mean you can’t join one. The people in power would love to continue to perpetuate the idea that unions are illegal but they are not.

By: GCPS Employee

GCPS Employee — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:53:20 +0000

The students will not miss days of school, nor will subs be brought in. These furlough days will only be more days that teachers work without pay. When are we supposed to set up classrooms, plan instruction and close grades? How about we cut out all the “meetings” administration and the county insists on and let us actually plan and teach our students on the days we are getting paid. Then we can actually take our furlogh days without having to do all the work without pay. I am tired of hearing that we went into education for the kids, not the pay. I still have a family to support, and bills to pay. Stop trying to make us feel guilty for expecting to be paid what we are worth. This “take one for the team” attitude is a bunch of baloney!

By: giggles

giggles — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:27:43 +0000

way to go lol, stateworker2, lol well said and I applaud you