Reply to The wisdom of rewarding Montgomery’s school employees (Washington Post)

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[quote=Anonymous]Yes, I'll answer this.

If we poured more money into education - resources and salaries - we'd continue to attract AND RETAIN teachers.  Furthermore, by being proactive - by educating ALL children - there would be fewer drop outs, fewer kids sent to juvie, and fewer kids joining gangs.

We could offer more options for alternative routes to graduation, such as expanding Edison, where students learn trades.  Trades are suffering because we expect every student to go to college.  And let's face it; college isn't for everyone.  I want a reputable plumber!  I want a reliable electrician.  I want to trust someone to style my wavy hair so that I walk of the salon looking like a million bucks!

So be proactive, people, and invest in our youth.  And if you think that teachers are so giving that they'll opt for Mac 'n Cheese each night b/c they're choosing to pay for materials out of pocket, you're sadly mistaken.  We have families to feed, too.  I did not enter this field to become a martyr.  I am educated with multiple degrees and am very successful in the classroom.  I've had many opportunities to leave the profession and to climb by working in central office.  I chose to stay for many reasons.

But not all talented teachers will do so, as I've already seen quite a few leave w/in the first five years.  very sad indeed

But so many of you look at this investment as a drain.  That's absolutely pathetic b/c you don't see the big picture.

An investment in education is an investment in the future.  cliche' but true

[quote=Anonymous][quote]I have no problem with teachers being paid more than police or firefighters, based on education or a host of other factors.  In fact, for the most part teachers in MoCo ARE better paid than police and FF.  But that's not the issue here.  The issue is, in a difficult economic climate, where many people in the private sector haven't received raises (and in fact have had salaries cut), AND where other municipal employees, including FF and cops, are not getting raises (but $2000 bonuses), why should teachers be treated differently?  Would the population scream and holler if the cops, FF, and county offices cut services in order to give raises?  You bet they would. But that's what is happening in schools.

The obvious answer, as a PP pointed out, is that the money had been allocated to the schools, and the internal budgeting process is at the superintendent's and Board's discretion (I think).  So it's not like the same decisionmaker preferred teachers over other municipal employees.  But regardless of who made the decision, the reality is that some employees who are paid by tax dollars got raises, while others didn't.

No one's saying teachers don't work hard, or deserve raises (well, at least I'm not).  But working hard and deserving something isn't the end of the equation.  The money has to be there, and the schools have decided reducing services is an acceptable tradeoff to finance the raises (whatever they are).  Other government entities haven't made the same choice, and that's why people are puzzled (and perturbed) by this.  Add to that people in the private sector who are working just as hard (if not harder) than they were 4 years ago, and who are making the same (or less) money, and whether you agree with it or not, the reaction is understandable.  [/quote]  No teacher is going to attempt to answer this?  [/quote][/quote]

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