For those who think teachers are "over paid"......

[Fishfriend1]

Sorry dude, but I stand by my point. You're posting about how great a job your teachers are doing, and clearly showing something else entirely. I didn't make any sort of judgments on you, just pointed out the vast difference between your sentiment, and your expression of it.

I'll be the bigger person here and say "ok, you win." My grammar sucked, oh dear, the worlds gonna end. Doesn't change my stance or my point, and you shouldn't judge the teachers of any school by one student with bad grammar.

 

[dundadundun]

nice read. good discussion. the whole thing's almost completely off topic, though.

good and bad points everywhere.

what stands out...

take politics out of school. there's no place to pay people to agree to disagree... or disagree altogether creating stale waters. we're far enough behind in education as a "super power" as it is.
everyone here seems to have had differing experiences in there schooling. this illustrates the differences in schooling not only from one state to another but from district to district and even school to school.
let's be realistic. we're human. therefore we live our entire lives learning, and school/teachers/structure for our children is the topic at hand. i think someone qualified (maybe a panel of independents) should be traveling and seeing what's working and standardizing teaching thus constantly raising the bar through learning/studying itself. it's only logical and an amazingly simple concept. i've been to some phenomenal schools and never once seen anybody studying the curriculum nor setting. in contrast, i've been in some so-so warehouses and seen panels of dozens of men/women with notepads taking notes for days on end to learn how to implement just above standard practices and market it on a mass scale.

our priorities as individuals serve as masks from the entire truth and our priorities as a nation/community seem to never line up in a row. unfortunately our education and structure as a nation are suffering... and that's what made our country the super power it's somehow still known for to this day. without the economical resources that education and infrastructure bring there'll eventually be no way to fund the military technology to keep that status. where does that lead us during later times of need as a nation?

the road to the future is looking bleak and it's all we have to give to our children. that's the bottom line.

back on topic... teachers SHOULD get paid what they're worth... but as long as humans are involved...........

EDIT: can't believe i almost forgot; we, as a nation, as a people HAVE to force OUR decision makers to do what's right that we know to be right and true. unless we do so and keep those who ultimately have to make the decisions informed they cannot and will not make decisions based on our priorities. facts, stats, qualifiable, quantifiable measures, actual accounts of incidents, both sides of the story all must be taken into account and our legislatures/decision makers must be held accountable. that's how reform is made. go to the meetings. let your voice and opinion be heard. join a committee and see how decisions are made. write petitions. contact your local decision makers. get involved. if you know something, pass it on. this is how reform works... as a community of concerned individuals working together, by making your voice heard and finding the truth/bottom line that cannot be denied to back your stance. stalemates will happen from time to time, but if we keep plugging at it eventually victory will prevail. we need to stop being herded like cattle and swayed by what we do not understand and ignoring the fine print. we have to start making the decisions and writing the fine print... and not let it slide until there's no hidden agenda.

that's another thing... almost all complain, yet so few do much to change it.

 

[katschamne]

One school district last year was asking for a 6% increase in pay and no cuts to benefits. Negations didn't go their was so they were on the picket line so school didn't start on time, they finally settled about 2 weeks later. I personally don't believe in picketing when school is supposed to be in session. To me that is using our kids as pawns. The unions then strong arms the talks because no one wants to see the kids out of school.

My take..... If you want to decrease the cost of schooling, but still have the benefits, i.e. education level..... Then take the government out of the picture. Mike D works for a Charter school. After talking to him about their course plans and education requirements, it is just as good if not better than any public school system. But charter schools just lose all the fat-cat salaries that go along with "administrating" at a higher township/state level. They are held to the same standards of teaching as any public system, they just have less "monitoring" by elected officials. They have figured it out. it is about results on a broad scale. Heck, Mike's Charter school even steps it up and will let students earn college credit while attending high school. I don't know of too many public schools that offer that incentive.

Competition within school townships would prove beneficial. Instead of schools knowing they are getting X number of kids, they have to compete to draw in those kids by providing a better service. Charters schools do the same things or better with less money and I've never heard Mike complain about his salary any more than I do as a procurement guy for a private sector company.

I do believe that Charter schools work. I am the product of the private school sector (not the schools you see visualized on TV). The public schools in my area growing up where horrible so my mom and dad sent me to private schools for a better education. My parents sacrificed everything for me to go to school. We had holes in the roof, had only one car, drove beaters, but we always had the necessities and my parents support Private school teachers make a fraction of what public school teacher make without all the benefits. They are there because teaching was a calling, not because they couldn't decide on a career to path or they just wanted the weekend and summers off (believe me I do know a couple of people that choose being a teacher because of those reasons). At my high school we had a principle, a secretary, a librarian, a janitor, and a 3 lunch ladies. I couldn't tell you everyone that works at my son's middle school. I agree that taking the government out of schools might help. When the government takes over things it isn't always the best situation but that's another discussion.