Comments on: State sued for cutting pay of top teachers

By: NBCT Teacher

NBCT Teacher — Fri, 28 May 2010 02:41:38 +0000

There are only 2,500 NBCT in Georgia. My husband and I are both one of those 2,500. Our combined pay loss is roughly $900 per month. This loss is more than our childcare payment for our newborn son. We don’t have a large house. We don’t drive fancy cars – WE’RE TEACHERS. $900.00 a month to most people may be NOTHING AT ALL, but to us, it is devastating. We are already trying to think about how to make ends meet, but no matter what we choose, taking on an additional job will cause us to have to spend less time with each other, and we only had three hours in the evenings to spend together anyway, because teachers DO work from 7AM – 7PM……oh wait, the GOOD teachers work those kind of hours…..you know, the ones who actually CARE about their students’ progress…….like NBCTs. (Sigh.) Thank you, Georgia legislators, for ruining what little time I had left with my family by forcing us to take on a 2nd job. Un-freaking-believable.

By: BidRed

BidRed — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:47:00 +0000

Hey teachers, all you got to do is get a second job. Stop whining. I hear Walmart is hiring holiday help.

By: World Way

World Way — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:53:50 +0000

Sad to say it’s the way of the world. I’m glad the teachers are sticking together through this. I am a former technical teacher who quit my teaching job because the administration would not follow the state rules dealing with student situations. I somewhat agree that there are those who do not stick up for what they believe. It is true teachers are different than others….they do put their whole lives into what they do. They live, eat, and breathe their jobs! For what? Surely not the excellent state pay!! Think about it. Don’t criticize until you walk in their shoes! I say go for it teachers!!! Fight for it. I’d rather spend money backing you than “GO FISH”….http://www.peachpundit.com/2008/10/26/perdue-to-taxpayers-go-fish-to-hell/ . I wish you well!

By: Georgia Teachers sue for Promised Pay : Georgia Liberal

Georgia Teachers sue for Promised Pay : Georgia Liberal — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:05:00 +0000

[...] Teachers group has come together to sue for the payment they were promised. I, for one, am glad teachers are fighting for better pay. With [...]

By: jordan

jordan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:31:02 +0000

I have NB certification and I resent your comment that I received it just because I paid for it. I have 3 degrees and none were as difficult or time consuming. I also feel that the process made me a better teacher, and I can say the same for all of the teachers I know who have earned this certification. By not giving the money that was promised and the state mandated furloughs and my districts pay cuts I have lost a significant portion of my salary (more than those around me because I happen to be in this group). I would be ok with any cuts tied to recertification or newly certified, but the governor should have honored the commitments already made.

By: National board teachers take their salary fight to court » iThinkEducation.net!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:33:24 +0000

[...] AJC reporter James Salzer says the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, the state’s largest teacher group, is suing the state for cutting the 10 percent salary supplements going to about 2,500 National Board Certified teachers [...]

By: Hard working Teacher

Hard working Teacher — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:45:21 +0000

After 17 years of teaching and a master’s, I recently decided to look for a way to improve my instruction. I reviewed the National Board process and looked at the coursework for a Specialist’s degree. I chose to work to earn my NB certification because the work is entirely focused on my teaching and the experiences of my students. For 9 months, I created class lessons focused on teaching content and critical thinking skills, assessed my student’s academic growth, retaught and evaluated again. The process was the most grueling, yet rewarding professional exercise in my career. My students benefited from my research and the self-reflection that led to better instruction. I focused on National Board because I spend each summer strengthening my content knowledge. In the past three summers, I have studied with renown professors from Yale, Columbia, Northwestern, Harvard and NYU. This is how I (and many teachers with me) spend our “summers off.”

I do agree with the comments that there are many teachers who do not perform in the classroom. Having also worked in the business world, I found the same types of behaviors in my offices.

While people are quick to point their fingers at teachers, I have yet to hear anyone question whether there are larger factors at play. What about the student whose parent is so involved in her/his soccer that the child spends more time at practice after school and on the weekends than studying or completing homework? What about the child who was never taught the basic school skills needed to succeed? What about the classes that we teach without access to textbooks because of budget cuts?

I find the whole debate very sad. Yes, I knew that I would never make a large salary teaching, but I did expect integrity and respect for the legal contracts I am obligated to sign to fulfill my passion with students.

By: bad teachers

bad teachers — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:22:18 +0000

God! Teachers egos have grown out of control. Idiots!

By: bad teachers

bad teachers — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:05:25 +0000

I dont have children and if I did I sure as heck wouldnt let public school in Georgia educate them. Teachers are overpaid and overrated. Teachers pay should be based on the achivements of their students which of course you will raise ten kinds of cain about because you know you would be making 50 cents an hour. Get over your own self importance, a high school educated parent with half a brain and the right motivation could do ten times the job you do as log as religion is kept out of the mix.

By: sickoffoolishness

sickoffoolishness — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:40:57 +0000

I’m sick of the foolishness! I too am a teacher and I am going to stop getting all of this professional development, etc. without getting paid for it. People are real quick to say we suck in GA education, but real slow to encourage us getting paid. Last I checked, you pay for what you want! You want to get good quality education for these kids, you better start paying teachers! Or the ones who are trying to teach their butts off will stop! Mark my word. Then you see how bad education really is. Oh yeah…to those who feel GA education sucks, what state is better? I wonder how much they get paid….