10.7.22: Re: Andy Serwer-Influencers interview with Cardona
Cordona stated that Public School Teachers are underpaid compared to their counterparts of professionals working who have B.S. degrees. This is not true. Other teachers of secondary programs in private colleges, universities, colleges, career schools have at least B.S. degrees, work year round, have limited time off, have 401Ks not pensions, no union representation. I'm tired of hearing about public school teachers who work 9.5 months per year and get paid for 12 months, have more time off than any other profession or job, and union representation and get locked into their positions with tenure after 5 years with the same district, and can't loose their job unless they commit a crime, bah, we all deserve this kind of job security and benefits and schedule, 7:30-3:30 M-F school year, summer off, two weeks during winter, a week off in fall, holidays, PTO, sick days, paid education, group insurance, TRS, their pensions don't fluctuate like 401Ks!!!!!
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Tricia Smith commented
Public school teachers get paid the same wages as other professionals who have equal education and experience, and often they get paid more, especially based on the size of the community they serve. They work 9.5 months per year compared to everyone else working year round with 2 weeks to 1 month top time off per year. Maybe public school teachers need to focus on what they do have, and be thankful for what they got.
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Tricia Smith commented
Daycare teachers work year round as do all other teachers except public school teachers. Maybe teachers need to work year round and families would save on summer daycare expenses and keep students stable and not let them regress in their education with summer gaps. Put public school teachers on the same schedule and other professionals who have year round jobs, 401K not pensions and their retirement funds fluctuate based on the economy, like now, and don't have much time off even after many years of working for the same school (public school teachers get 2.5 months off over the summer, 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week in the fall, 1 week for Easter/Spring, holidays, PTO, SIck leave, paid education and days for education workshops etc). Other teachers pay for all of their education, if they work remotely they pay for all of their own internet, equipment, phone, and work year round. Now who has the right to complain??
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Tricia Smith commented
Parents rely on childcare as well if they work. Child care Teachers have a minimum of a two year degree and many are credentialed teachers waiting for a public school job or have B.S themselves or more. They get paid minimum wage, is that fair? The playing field needs to be equal for all teachers!!
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Tricia Smith commented
Public school teachers know that esp previous to COVID when parents relied on schools for free compulsory education, and transportation, so that they could work during school hours and be home at night with their families, and without schools in session, like during COVID, parents took over and took the responsibility of their children's education, and children didn't get a quality education with the schools that continues to the issue today. Parents were the real heroes. There needs to be mutual respect between teachers and parents and parents need to be more involved with their children's education and have a say in how and what their children are taught. Parents are the most vested in their own children and their children's well being. Listen to the parents too.
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Tricia Smith commented
Another comment about public school teachers: they got comfortable working remotely/virtually during COVID and don't want to be in the classroom anymore, like many other workers they want to work remotely and will strike to get their way. Public school and all teachers are valuable in our society and communities.
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Tricia Smith commented
Let's compare public school teachers in reality for what they do get. They are the first ones to strike and it's always about their pay, not the children or quality of education. I think that other teachers need to get just as much representation as public school teachers like pre school teachers, daycare teachers, college level and secondary and career education teachers. The difference is huge in how much other teachers have to work in the field compared to public school teachers, they are in a class of their own. Talk about the benefits that they do get, time off, pension, school year work with full year pay, education, and they are recognized because k-12 students are required to go to school with mandatory attendance, even though there are other options like home schooling, public schooling, as well. Private school and religious school teachers don't get paid much, how about that topic as well? All teachers need to be recognized and the public school teachers have assistant teachers in their classes who get paid very little as well, what about the bus drivers, and other support staff??? Why are the public school teachers teaching? (to have the same schedule as their own children, for the school year schedule and summers off, or to make a different in the lives of children and their future?).