From Harford County Public Schools:
On Monday, April 2, 2012, the Public School Labor Relations Board (PSLRB) issued a ruling regarding the negotiations matter between the Harford County Education Association (HCEA) and the Board of Education of Harford County. The PSLRB ruling confirmed that Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) bargained in “good faith” with HCEA during negotiations last school year by dismissing five of the six allegations made by HCEA.
The HCEA claim alleging that Harford County Public Schools renegotiated in “bad faith” by meeting its obligation to submit reconciled budgets to the Harford County Council in April 2010 was upheld. The PSLRB deemed that the timing of the budget reconciliation process was inappropriate.
The school system has filed a petition for judicial review of the PSLRB’s decision in the Circuit Court for Harford County as it believes that the part of the decision relating to renegotiations for the 2011-2012 Fiscal Year negotiated agreement was erroneous.
“The Board of Education of Harford County is looking to reach a favorable and timely conclusion to this process,” said Harford County Board President Dr. Leonard Wheeler. “It is the responsibility of this Board to make the best decisions for our students.”
The decision by the PSLRB not only affects Harford County but has long-reaching statewide implications as well. School systems throughout the state are paying close attention to the initial decisions from the PSLRB as they will set precedent throughout the state regarding negotiations.
“The local school system superintendents have been impressed by the openness and inclusiveness with which the new Public School Labor Relations Board (PSLRB) has begun its work. We appreciate the opportunities they offer for input and look forward to future collaboration. There are many issues that will need to be sorted out over time under this new structure. Revisiting and redefining settled law was a major concern that the superintendents shared during the 2010 legislative session,” said Carl D. Roberts, Executive Director of the Public School Superintendent’s Association of Maryland.
Roberts added, “Unfortunately, the PSLRB’s decision in Harford County does not support the legislative history and intent regarding renegotiations. The local superintendents’ position remains that the local board of education retains the final decision-making authority after renegotiations occur and this view was supported by the Office of the Attorney General in 2010. The stance of the superintendents and attorney general on this point was confirmed by the proponents of the legislation that established the PSLRB. The PSLRB decision in Harford fails to uphold this premise, unnecessarily confuses and prolongs the negotiation process, and challenges the fiscal relationship between the local board of education and the county government.”
In addition, local boards of education are also taking note of the impact this decision will have on the function of the local board with respect to the negotiation process.
“The PSLRB decision in this case highlights why it is so problematic to have a new labor relations board, instead of local boards of education, make the final, and binding, decisions on teacher and employee contracts, including annual pay raises. The negotiation of teacher and employee contracts is a core function of local boards of education; boards comprised of active and informed community members dedicated to fulfilling the mission of their local school system to provide a high quality education for all children. Local boards of education, which are accountable to local constituents on policy priorities and fiscally dependent on state and local revenues outside their control, must retain the authority to make final budget decisions and communicate these decisions to employee organizations at the bargaining table. The importance of maintaining local board accountability to negotiate employee contracts within the boundaries of available local government funding cannot be overstated,” said John Woolums, director of governmental relations of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education.
For more information on the Collective Bargaining process and to read the full report from the PSLRB, please visit the Board of Education of Harford County’s Collective Bargaining webpage.
Editor’s Note: Below is an excerpt from the Labor Board finding of bad faith regarding the May/June 2011 labor re-negotiations between the Harford County School System (HCSS) and the Harford County Education Association (HCEA). Please note that the original negotiated agreement between both parties for the 2011-12 school year included a 3% cost of living increase, step increases and longevity increases. Re-negotiations resulted when the Harford County Executive and Harford County Council (HCC) did not fund the salary increases called for in the original negotiated agreement.
Unbeleivable.
1) HCPS agrees to teacher salary increases that it knows the County Council won’t fund.
2) After the County Council rejects the HCPS proposed budget, HCPS immediately approves a new budget that perfectly matches what the County Council was willing to approve. Sounds like Scumbags Tomback, Craig and the County Council knew all along how this was going to work out.
3) HCPS fails to renegotiate with HCEA before approving their “new” adjusted (but predetermined) budget and makes the excuse that it doesn’t have to because there is “nothing to renegotiate since the County Council didn’t fund any salary increases”. Not only is this bad-faith bargaining, it is illegal.
4) The labor board simply asks HCPS to sit down and renegotiate with HCEA because of HCPS’s bad-faith antics. HCPS says “f you!!!”. We’re going to court. We don’t have to listen to you.
How any citizen in this county can tolerate a superintendent like Tomback who has destroyed any credibility that HCPS has is beyond comprehension. If the citizens of this county do not stand up and demand his removal as well as demand that HCPS return to the bargaining table with HCEA, you can expect teachers to lose all faith in their school leaders and no longer provide any services that are not explicitly defined in the current negotiated agreement.
Looks like the union threw a bunch of charges against the wall hoping one would stick. Anyone notice that five others were thrown out. The union wants money the school system doesn’t have. So you go back to renegotiate what?
Negotiations are not all about money. If money is not available for salary increases, although it clearly is, there are many working conditions associated with salary that could have been renegotiated, but HCPS chose not to follow the law. It is outrageous to me that evan after having that fact explained to them by the labor board that they still do not feel it is necessary, let alone professional, to work in good faith with their employees. As a taxpayer you should be ashamed of your lack of respect for teachers when all they want is to be treated as professionals and ashamed in the HCPS leadership for making Harford County an unfriendly place for teachers to do what they do…educate the future taxpayers.
How about negotiating with or suing those who actually have the money for a change? Currently its like a kid arguing with his older brother for an allowence increase, regardless of what the brother says, their parents aren’t required to dole out additional funds.
Actually, the analogy you used is a false one. HCPS does have money to provide for increases in teacher salaries. HCPS just did not receive an increase in their budget from the County Council to help pay for them. HCPS chose not to reallocate their resources within their own budget so that teachers salaries could be increased. What effect that would have had on the services HCPS provides is uncertain, but at the very least, HCPS was required by law to renegotiate with the HCEA. Instead of salary increases, HCPS could have modified teacher working conditions and expectations. Do not releive HCPS of responsibility here. They are the one’s who develop their budget. They chose not to fund teacher salary increases. They are the one’s who are going to court instead of sitting down like professionals and working with the HCEA. Should the County Council have funded the original HCPS budget? I don’t know. But they didn’t. That is not the issue and HCEA does not have recourse to do anything about that. However, HCPS has should horrible leadership but denying it’s employees an opportunity to bargain in good-faith.
I’m pretty sure that outside legal counsel is being utilized to handle this case. I’d be interested to know how much money has actually been spent fighting HCEA in this continuing battle.
According to the HCEA:
“To date, Harford County Public Schools has spent in excess of $300,000 on attorney fees instead of meeting its commitments to bargain in good faith and follow accepted labor practices.”
Over $300,0000…
Ryan – One of the great things about the union is they can throw out any number and not be accountable to it. Unlike goverment agencies, the union can say almost anything and not be held accountable. You can ask for steps and COLA and benefits but you don’t have to worry about the consequences to taxpayers as a group or the impact to students.
Taxpayer,
I’m a bit confused by your comments. One, teachers fortunate enough to be able to afford to live in Harford County also pay taxes, therefore they are taxpayers also. Second, it is the students most impacted. When good teachers leave the profession for greener pastures the students suffer. When the cream of the crop of college graduates flock to other jurisdictions who respect their teachers students here suffer. Do you want teachers working 2-3 jobs just to afford to live? Do you want us falling asleep in class? Seriously, I don’t get it. If the citizens of this county recognized that thier children’s academic success was in some way related to the people providing that instruction, perhaps – and I’ll take a leap here – they might find a link between teachers and that success. Am I missing something?
Please step back and gain some perspective.
Contact your colleagues in Carroll, Frederick, Anne Arundel, Prince Georges,Dorchester,Worcester,etc. They will tell you they haven’t received a step increase in three years too(Call MSEA and ask them to confirm).Baltimore and Cecil cut teacher positions to fund steps. Maybe you can ask your teacher friends if they would take a layoff so you can get a step.
Do you think they feel great about their situations?
There are teacher candidates stockpiled around the nation looking for jobs.
This isn’t just a Harford thing!!
All of you who bad mouth teachers… Understand that we took our lumps for 3 years, pay cuts, frozen salary, increased benefits, higher demands, all while doing what’s best for kids. We will now only work the 7.5 hours we are paid, no longer do things like tudor, clubs, dances, plan creative lessons… You can give thumbs down and dislike it all you want but this is the only power we have.
tutor
Where is the documentation to back up the claim of $300,000 in legal expenses? HCPS has a full time attorney on staff. His salary should not be counted as part of the legal expenses.
If I understand the process correctly, using the HCPS lawyer is a conflict of interest in this matter; therefore, they hire outside assistance.
Although documentation has not been provided (I bet it is available as public record through HCPS), HCPS is using the lawfirm Hodes, Pessin and Katz out of Towson to manage this case. Several county school systems are using this lawfirm to do the same thing HCPS is doing (sounds a bit like someone in this lawfirm is well connected). It’s not hard to imagine that the lawyer fees for this case as well as other related cases filed by HCEA are over $300,000 dollars considering it has been ongoing for nearly 2 years.
What has been the cost to HCEA and their membership to bring this case forward? If MSEA is footing part of the bill what has it cost them?
Please ask Randy Cerveny for the documentation, he is making the claim. Given his track record I bet it is not close to what he claims.
Lawyers have specialty areas, and a proven track record of performance in that area will earn repeat business and additional customers.
Fighting against school unions and labor relation boards as outside counsel to a government entity is an extremely small specialty area.
Yes tutor… Thanks for the correction! Not so smart phone auto correct
If you distill it down, there is no money in the budget. No one in the private sector is guaranteed a salary increase each year. It is typically related to how well the business is doing and then, through merit objectives, tied to the individual’s performance and contributions to improve the business itself. In addition, there are many non-teachers who hold 1-3 jobs and work 10-14 hours a day just to stay solvent; it is a struggle for everyone. I know quite a few people who have had to move out of the county due to costs, none are public servants.
HCFamily,
Let me get this straight… If I 1) perform my job satisfactorily, 2) be part of the mechanism making this education system tops in the nation, and 3) have an employer that brags about saving tens of millions of dollars during its last year of performance; I can expect a pay raise? Because the scenario you laid out is exactly when I can expect an increase.
The reality is that for the past 4 years I have met my expectations and in some areas exceeded them = I held up my end; and the Board and County have not. The contract I signed said I could expect step increases as long as I was successful. I was successful and the county has not honored that agreement.
Most educators are not asking for raises, we’re asking that the contract we signed in good faith be kept in good faith by our employers (step increases). That has not happened.
This is directed to ANOTHERHCPSTEACHER,
First of all, the contract you signed was not with the County. The County is not obligated to honor a contract that they didn’t sign onto. Second of all, the school board and/or teacher unions should not offer contracts before they know what the County is going to approve for their budget each fiscal year.
Second of all, while I agree that HCPS teachers have an important job and certainly deserve pay increases, so do all the other County employees, HCPL employees, HCSO employees, etc. HCPS teachers are all acting like they’re the only ones affected by the budget shortfall. For years the teachers have only thought about themselves and screw everyone else!
While I think it would be wonderful if I could actually get a raise for once, I am one of those that wakes up every day just thankful that I have a job. Have you looked at the classified ads recently? The fact of the matter is, there aren’t too many jobs out there right now.
Actually not the case if you have marketable skills.
Since you felt the need to call me out, back at you.
HCPS was acting as an agent for Harford County. It is true the CE did not sign the actual contract – Jackie Haas did. However, it was a contract for employment and my check is drawn from county funds. As far as I can tell – it’s a Harford County obligation.
I agree we all deserve a little more recognition. I disagree with your perception – just because one is vocal does not make one selfish. If other county employees have complaints I’d say voice them! Advocate for yourselves!
I admire your statement – “While I think it would be wonderful if I could actually get a raise for once, I am one of those that wakes up every day just thankful that I have a job. Have you looked at the classified ads recently? The fact of the matter is, there aren’t too many jobs out there right now.” However, you ought to know Mr. Craig likes that you think this way – it allows him to keep on keeping on.
Mr Craig also makes six figures and didn’t cut his salary or benefits.
The private sector – public sector comparison is an old and tired one. What incentive do our best and brightest as well as our children have to aspire to be teachers? According to you, simply a job. That sounds worth it to me…go to college…earn a bachelor’s degree in a discipline while taking certification courses…go back to school to earn a masters degree…then continue to take courses every 5 years until you retire. Just for the certainty of a job…which by the way…veteran teachers who have had nothing but exemplary evaluations for years are now being targeted for dismissmal because they are a financial liability. I sure am glad I became a teacher.
And…what percentage of those people who are working more than 1 job and more than 10 hours a day have bachelor’s and master’s degrees?
Teachers are trying to get rich. A salary increase would be nice…but mostly what we want is to be treated like professionals and expect our administration to follow the law in the bargaining process. They have not done so. They don’t feel they have to renegotiate with us. If we can renegotiate salary increases, we should at least be able to renegotiate our working conditions and responsibilities.
Renegro.
I could not agree more.
If you want to be treated like a professional, act like a professional. Dissolve your union and prove your worth individually, don’t cover for the low performers collectively.
Phil,
As recent events have proven, without the union, we would be screwed even more!
Are we so mypoic that we dont see education as a priority and pathway to improving the lives of those living in Harford County? Do we really care so little about our children that we will sacrifice the quality of education once and for all here? As a TAXPAYER are you happy that YOUR money is being spent on lawyer’s fees versus going back to the table and talking about how the CONTRACT and promises made to teachers can be fulfilled after three years- maybe with that surplus??
Agreed- no teacher wants to be rich- that’s not why we do it. We do, however, want enough security to make the regular sacrifices made for our students- all the extra hours spent at school, unpaid, hard work we take home- that so many excellent teachers undertake to be good teachers- to be worthwhile- that’s all. Is this unreasonable?
The hard work teachers in the county do is totally unappreciated at the moment- but when we move to WORK TO RULE- as it seems we are headed, and all of those extras currently taken for granted are gone- you will get exactly what you pay for- and our students will suffer the most. The new, qualified, bright teachers will go elsewhere and we will be left with the bottom of the barrel. The teachers like me already invested for too many years to leave will stay but give up all of the extra things we do now that are not paid for- not in the contract- that make our schools excellent. Then perhaps someone will stand up and place value on this profession and our schools.
Harford County is a nice place to live, but as a parent and a teacher- I want a county that cares about the quality of education, cares about the kids they serve, beleives that education is the great equalizer- as our parents and grandparents did. I can’t beleive that when many of our grandparents sacrificed nearly everything to send their children to school and give them a promise of a great future, we are willing in this generation to just throw it all away. I want to live in a county that believes, as generations before them did, that education is worth the investment, who deal with teachers as professional, highly qualified and educated, valued empolyees, and who makes public education a priority.
There are plenty of other nice places to live- some nice places nearby that value public education more and make it a priority.
Not everyone will go- just the youngest and the best new candiates- and we will be left with the last choices and those like me- “highly successful” who do go above and beyond every single day and give up a lot to be involved beyond the required contract-who ask once and for all after another bad year if they can continue to sacrifice for other people’s children in a county where they are not treated as professionals even in so much as negotitating an unfulfilled contract – or maybe the neccesary second job will take precedent….regardless- the results won’t be pretty.
Morale has never been so low and this is just the icing on the proverbial cake.
Disgraceful,
I’m not at all myopic. Let me tell you where I am coming from. No additional taxes. None. Period. If the school board and the county and the HCEA (what a joke they are) can come to an agreement to pay teachers more and spend less elsewhere I am all for it. Especially based on a negotiated and ratified contract. I don’t dislike you or think you are overpaid. I have simply drawn the line at no additional taxes. Government must take what they have and spend it more wisely. They waste plenty of it so I’m sure they can find some for you and less for other silly stuff. I’m sorry you are caught in the middle for now but you really haven’t helped your cause by electing the current HCEA leadership. They reflect poorly on all of you.
Alex,
I actually agree with you. Thus I feel confident you will join me to petition the county executive to delay the new emergeny operations center ($20 million) and the broadband project ($10 million) and use that $30 milloin to provide the step increases promised when we signed our contracts. This would be one small step toward acknowledging education, and the educators that do the work, really matter. Thank you.
I don’t begrudge anyone a raise (and lets be honest, a step increase is a raise). While there have definitely been negative impacts to the public sector employees, your benefits are still significantly better and less costly than those in the private. I also think it’s great that you are meeting or exceeding your goals. The problem is that the incentive structure doesn’t allow for a merit based reward and, as a result, the high performers are stuck in the same bucket as those who do the minimum.
In answer to another point, I know very few professionals on the private side who work less than 50 hours per week. In fact, many work more as they are expected to be available over the weekend and at all hours depending on the needs of the business.
HCFamily,
Truth be known, in my previous life in the private sector my employer paid all my health benefits – not true now as a teacher. I believe it is true for many people, but not in my experience. I’m not asking for more employer contributions to health insurance, either.
Don’t be fooled that merit based pay in education will work the way it does in the private sector. In education it is tied to test performance – little of which a teacher has direct control over. Put it this way – I can assign homework, grade it, etc…, but if they don’t do it is that my fault?
Indeed a step increase is in essence a raise, but only in recognition of years experience of successful teaching. After 15 years HCPS teachers signing the contract understand that an increase after that time was no promise unless COLA or bonus time. To be fair the highest level step is sufficient income for the job I do and I expect nothing beyond that. I merely ask that I have a chance to reach that level.
HC Family–When you factor in the hours of grading I do in the evenings, on weekends, on holidays and add that to all of the time I spend here at school- after school or returning for events unpaid in the evenings and on weekends, I am quite certain I work more than 50 hours a week on average during the school year. I do not get paid for the summers, weekends, or vacation times when I am not here. I don’t get paid for a lot of time that I volunteer to BE here to support my students. I don’t get paid for being here to sponsor the club I am in charge of. I don’t get paid to come in early or stay late or provide extra help. I am more than happy to continue to do these kinds of extras as I have for the last 15 years without pay because I genuinely care and want to serve and help my students. However, when my family is struggling to make ends meet and HCPS won’t even go back to the table to renegotiate my CONTRACTED salary and want to cut my health benefits yet again, I have to tell you- I am feeling less and less inclined to continue to work that many hours- for free- any longer. Also- I can no longer afford to pay the child care costs to stay so involved with no compensation. Perhaps if we had stuck to the salary scale that is currently published (false advertisement?)- which was NOT very competitive compared to surrounding counties in the first place- but enough to live securely, work hard, pay the bills, and have the assurance that we could make the mortgage payments on time- no one would be so unhappy right now. I personally will have some serious soul searching to do about giving up these extra things that I love, that make a difference in the lives of many kids, and are very meaningful to my students if the current climate continues as it is….
Reggie is right- the money is there, but there is no priority on education and errant, wasteful spending.
Alex- Thank you for your reasonable comment. I can agree to disagree with you on points- and I certainly appreciate that you recognize how caught in the middle and powerless we really are. I actually agree with you as well that there is plenty of wasteful spending. Unfortunately- I have no control over how the money is spent. It is poor leadership (and I’m not talking about Cerveny) that pays HOW MUCH for “performance matters??” and reorganization of department chairs versus fulfilling our contract?? What about that huge surplus in the budget?? And I think the delay of the broadband thing and new emergency center is a good start as well…..
I find it amusing that the Harford County never has the money for raises, yet they always “find” a surplus at the end of the year. I also find it mildly amusing that the Board of Education is making claims that they cannot sustain the current benefits model because of expense, yet they were just refunded millions of dollars in overpayment by employees.
The money is there. It is all about priorities. Right now, education is not a priority in Harford County.
Can anyone tell me the link to the place on the dagger where nurses complain? How about the one where the garbage man gripes? Maybe the plumbers’ complaining would be interesting. What those don’t exist? Only countless articles of teachers complaining?
Can anyone show me a site that consistently publishes articles and comments that demean other public servants in Harford County?
the sheriffs department gets it too, but the deputies don’t complain constantly
You must have slept through the last 10 articles.
April,
What a ignorant comment!
All of those positions may make more than a 4th year teacher stuck on year one.
Let me take a minute to gripe for the other county employees. It is ridiculous that instead of paying our county workers their fair wages, our county executive is funding his pet projects and funneling money to his buddies and his home town. Our sheriffs, who risk their lives every day deserve to have raises. Our trash men who haul our garbage deserve their wages. All of our county workers deserve what they were promised when they were hired, not a continuing pack of lies. I also have a suggestion for them…UNIONIZE! This is not happening in the counties where the workers have union representation.
Ryan,
Unionize? Unionize? What planet are you from? You mean they way the Harford County teachers have unionized?
If joining a union were the answer then the teachers of Harford County would have been well taken care of thru the efforts of the HCEA. That would be the HCEA that can’t get them a measly little bonus that the County Executive actually offers. And the HCEA that continues to support O’Malley and his Dem/Lib buddies in Annapolis who are putting the screws to teacher pensions by transferring the responsibility for funding them to counties but keeping the money the State will continue to collect for themselves.
Ryan, wake up and smell the coffee. HCEA has failed miserably and your continuing to support it makes you look ridiculous.
Alex,
The HCEA is not a union. It is an Association. Maryland prevents it’s teachers from unionizing. Until teachers have the power to truly unionize, teachers have no recourse but to play what are mostly childish games that have little to no impact on the education environment. Unfortunately, HCPS administration knows that and it too plays the childish games of doing what it wants without consideration of its employees. I would think that in something that is so important as education that adults would actually be able to sit at a table and work out what is best for our community. The entire system is broken and teachers, taxpayers, but most importantly our children are suffering for it.
HCEA is a union. MD prevents many typical job actions not just by teachers but by all unions. However, if teachers begin to rally around the issues and stand together we will change the climate.
Ryan,
I truly hope that teachers do (with the limited actions we can take) and lose this repuations that we are acting like children. But without strong leadership, that will not happen. The stimulus for us to act is there. All we need is for someone to step up and lead us with a direct and specific strategy that puts tremendous pressure on our community to bring about change. Who is that leader and what is the strategy? I actually think that for once HCPS looks like the big baby by taking the labor board’s decision to court, so maybe right now teachers need to continue working as hard as ever to educate their students. Hopefully the community will recognize our commitment to education and join us in demanding regime change in central office. Hopefully we can get back to the bargaining table and find a solution that benefits everyone, especially our students.
Reality,
Call the HCEA office or get hold of me.
Ryan
Ryan,
Now more than ever, you, the HCEA, HCPS and Harford County Government need a call from Reality.
But seriously, all teachers do need to come together as a unit and work specifically to the negotiated agreement IF HCPS does not come back to the table and bargain in good faith. We (and all other County employees) have for too long been lied to and disrespected by the administration of both HCPS and the Harford County Government. It makes me wonder if, without leadership changes on both sides, any differences are reconcilable.
On a personal note, every single teacher I work with seems to be at an edge where any more added stress will cause a serious disruption to their ability to not only teach effectively, but simpy be healthy. I see it not just in teachers, but almost everyone in the community. Where are the leaders that give us a sense of direction, purpose, hope that we are all together and not divided? The leaders of Harford County have eroded the trust of its citizens for too long. With Haford County in a relatively protected bubble from the recession placed in a state that is in a relatively protected bubble from the recession, I cannot beleive our public servants and the services they provide have been diregarded for as long as they have.
What’s worse is that all I can do about it is uselessly post messages on the Dagger because I teach, work a second job, while my wife works and we raise 3 kids and are barely getting by. Well at least we are getting by. I guess all I can do now is stop writing curriculum, coaching, working on the school improvement team, tutoring kids before and after school, being department chair, mentoring new teachers, reviewing on weekends with my AP students to prepare them for their exams, helping students with HSA bridge plans and running HSA remediation programs after school. Why did I ever do all of that in the first place?
Why would anyone ever want to be a teacher in Harford County?
Rather than look for leadership become a leader. I have the same issues. I work, have a toddler, a teenager and a wife to care for and am stressed to the max. We all must come together to make a difference. I share your frustration. Let’s get together an talk.
That is the problem. Most teachers did not get in to the teaching profession to be leaders of other teachers. Most (not all) that did are now administrators and are making the decisions we are working to change. Most teachers want to spend their time leading their students. But you’re right, teachers do need to step up, find a unified message and entrust someone who can effectively deliver that message to the community.
Reality,
Ryan Burbey says it is a union. He should know. A union that initially turns down a Christmas bonus unless the provider of the bonus ‘negotiates’ with the union leadership. A Christmas bonus that is just now getting paid. A union that he says has ‘made mis-steps over the years’.
HCEA has made mis-steps over the years. However, any union is only as strong as the activism of its membership. I can assure you that the little lion is roaring now and will continue. HCEA will never be silent again. As to the bonus, it gets paid in April. County workers in Baltimore County have better benefits and better pay. You know why…Their Union!
So Teacher 4 Ever, your point is that since education is not a priority in other counties- or the nation for that matter ( though everyone talks and talks as if it were) that makes it acceptable? We should just settle for mediocrity and mold in the ceilings? Perhaps that is why countries like Japan and The Netherlands are outperforming us in innovation and testing. It is a different world than ever before, and education is they key to chartering it successfully without a lifetime of struggling. As a parent, there is nothing more important to me than the guarantee that my children are assured a high quality education and the possibilties and opportunities it provides. I want their schools to be excellent. I want the kinds of teachers who inspired me to read and learn and think. I consider it the most important investment of all- for all of us- but mostly for my children- full of promise provided the opportunities and inspiration the best teachers will provide.
So Teacher 4 Ever, your point is that since education is not a priority in other counties- or the nation for that matter ( though everyone talks and talks as if it were) that makes it acceptable? We should just settle for mediocrity and mold in the ceilings? Perhaps that is why countries like Japan and The Netherlands are outperforming us in innovation and testing. It is a different world than ever before, and education is they key to chartering it successfully without a lifetime of struggle. As a parent, there is nothing more important to me than the guarantee that my children are assured a high quality education and the possibilties and opportunities it provides. I want their schools to be excellent. I want the kinds of teachers who inspired me to read and learn and think in every classroom. I consider it the most important investment of all- for all of us- but mostly for my children- who are full of promise provided the opportunities and inspiration the best teachers will provide.
Phil, most would love to but it’ll never happen…
Right there with you Reality!
If the union is forced to take a stand through drastic measures, and the teachers in this county band together and make the difficult decision to work to rule- Over 200 kids at my school will be directly impacted by mine and my husbands actions alone-every student he will no longer coach, every student who partakes in the numerous, unpaid, extra activities I sponsor including the club I am in charge of with 100 members, every student in my classroom who will no longer receive my extra help before and after school and who will no longer benefit from the kind of academic rigor I currently provide which entails planning and grading for many hours unpaid at home, the curriculum I won’t write anymore. I truly pray that it doesn’t come to this but when faced with hard choices I must choose my own children and family and future above all.
@WORK TO RULE!
Whining selfish miscreants conniving miscreants. Taxpayers, students and parents would be better off without you. Leave now!
@WORK TO RULE!
Whining selfish conniving miscreants. Taxpayers, students and parents would be better off without you. Leave now!
@Patrick
So if teachers agree to fulfill their contract but decide they no longer want to work additional hours for free, they are “whining selfish conniving miscreants”?
Interesting…I noticed that some of the same people who insist that the county has no obligation to fulfill their contractual agreements with teachers are the same people who ridicule teachers who are willing to fulfill their contractual work obligations, but nothing more.
Maybe we should ask ourselves how it got to the point that education professionals are expected to work for free, and approaching the job with the attitude of doing only what one is paid to do opens the door to being ridiculed by people who want to get something for nothing. I know of no other occupation where workers are expected to work for free and are treated with contempt for refusing to do so. In fact, what many people expect of teachers they would never even think of asking of anyone else (“I only paid you to cut my grass, but you better trim all the weeds and mulch the gardens too, or I’ll report you to the Better Business Bureau!”)
Not only work for free, but if we do manage to get overtime we are paid 3/4 of our salary while every other job in the”PRIVATE” sector gets 150% of theirs… Interesting