Re: FCPS Pay Raise!
Posted by:
Mr.Kotter
()
Date: January 13, 2011 11:43AM
show them the door Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mr.Kotter Wrote:
> > I actually am writing during my off period, but
> I
> > was grading papers before that. Since I will be
> > staying here until 9pm tonight for something, I
> > figure I can take a few minutes to talk to you.
> > What brings you here pray tell? You seem to
> have
> > plenty of time on your hands. I am sure it is
> only
> > teachers who frequent this locality during
> their
> > workday correct?
>
> I have no one to answer to but myself, so if I
> waste time on FFXU, well, I can make that choice.
>
>
> >
> > First of all, I would venture to say almost all
> of
> > us work more than 45 hours per week, so your
> point
> > there falls completely flat.
> > Your statement that I am presenting a
> > "misdirection" is a deliberately deceptive ploy
> on
> > your part; we are getting paid at a rate that
> > equates to 180 days- no need to "normalize"
> > because our contract is what it is.
>
> I agree the contract is what it is. But the
> defense teachers consistently use is the 184 day
> contract, to which I say: We all live, work, eat,
> etc. 365 days a year. Most employees work 250 or
> so days per year and we rightly look at thier
> salaries as annual compensation. We should look
> at teachers salaries the same way - compensation
> for your time for the entire year. You are
> correct that you did not design the school day and
> the school year in its current form. But as a
> result of it, you can work in the summer time.
> You say your run a side business - good for you.
> So you are being paid a wage that is intended as a
> full years compensation AND you can, if you want,
> supplement with additional work. Plus coaching,
> extracurriculars, tutoring, etc. offer further
> opportunities for compensation that are directly
> related to your field. Something which, in the
> private sector, is done only for hourly employees.
> No one in a private company is getting paid extra
> to take on an additional assignment.
>
>
> >Also thanks
> > for recognizing that I have the "opportunity"
> to
> > work more often, although I do concede that you
> > are correct there and that I , personally, do.
> I
> > also spend a great deal of time in the summer
> > preparing my lessons for the year: i actually
> love
> > doing that and won't complain about it. In fact,
> I
> > don't often complain at all because our unions
> do
> > protect weak teachers and allow them to slack
> off
> > and do a terrible job without worrying about
> > getting fired. I personally wish there was a
> merit
> > pay system, but that will most likely never
> > happen.
>
> The concept of merit pay seems great, but I'm
> afraid it would just become another poorly managed
> mess. I think that was borne out by what happened
> in DC - to get merit pay in place they ended up
> giving everyone a rather substantial raise. The
> top of the scale prior to the merit pay contract
> way 87K, it is now 147K. If doubling salaries is
> the teachers union idea of merit pay, I think FCPS
> should pass.
>
> >
> > What I do complain about is people like you.
> Why
> > don't you just admit that your kid has a
> specific
> > issue with some teacher and that is getting you
> > all fired up.
>
> I've actually come to my conclusions after many
> years for dealing with different teachers and
> administrators. My kids are doing just fine in
> FCPS - straight A's for the most part. They'll do
> just fine, and if FCPS fails them in some way, I
> have the ability to supplement FCPS or replace it
> entirely if I need to at some point. I have my
> doubts about private schools being any
> different/better, though. I work hard to make
> sure I have that option.
>
> > It is also causing you, who I think
> > must be a reasonably intelligent person, to
> fall
> > into a nepotism based rant against all of us.
>
> I'll tell you what I tell my kids when someone is
> unhappy about what the other has - you can be
> treated as an individual or a group. Everyone can
> get the same exact thing, or you can be treated as
> an individual and there will be some variation
> based on wants/needs/circumstance/etc. If you
> don't want to be lumped together as a group, I
> suggest you not have the head of the union on TV
> talking about work to rule.
>
>
> > I,
> > and many of my colleauges , are just like you:
> we
> > live here, send our kids to school here, and ,
> for
> > the most part, enjoy many advantages of being
> > reasonably financially secure. However, that
> > doesn't mean that we won't get upset when, year
> > after year, we are denied COLA or step
> increases,
> > yet se money being devoted to pet projects,
> pilot
> > projects, and the newest educational fads that
> > will soon fade into obscurity.
>
> Here's the thing on wanting a raise: There is
> 9.4% unemployment right, and double that if you
> include underemployment. You have chosen a
> profession that is paid for by taxpayers. That's
> where you cast your lot when you chose your job at
> FCPS. Now that worked great back in 2000-2007,
> when tax assessments were going up 10% a year like
> clockwork. Now, times are tough for the county
> and the state, due to both unemployment and the
> real estate collapse.
>
> Also, a bright light is being shone on your
> benefits - healthcare and retirement - that seem
> to be significantly better than ones in the
> private sector. You can make all the arguments
> you like what any employee SHOULD get on
> healthcare or retirement - this is just the way it
> is right now. It puts the teachers (and actually
> most public employees) in the position of
> defending the indefensible.
>
> For retirement, I'm on my own and that counts for
> most private workers. I'm ok with that - let's me
> know I've got no one to fall back on but myself.
> But when I look at FCPS paying both the employer
> and the employee portion of VRS, it seems like not
> just a good deal (take less pay now, get better
> benefits later) but more like a corrupt deal.
>
> On work to rule, I will tell you this - someone
> who shows up at a private employer one day and
> says 'Without a raise, I'm not working as hard'
> would be packing up their desk that day. That's
> what your union has said. Now you won't get fired
> for that at FCPS, but don't expect the community
> to rally to your side with that kind of approach.
>
>
> >
> > FOr the record, I don't feel that all parents
> are
> > assholes. I actually have a great relationship
> > with many of the parents at my school,
> > occasionally even hang out with them socially,
> and
> > often keep in touch with their children for
> years
> > after they graduate. It is also not uncommon
> for
> > me to employ former students in side businesses
> > that I run. I DO, however, think that you are
> > being an asshole: you are using a specific
> problem
> > that you are having to condemn all of us and
> argue
> > that we don't deserve a pay raise. How does
> that
> > make sense?
>
> I'm not sure calling me an asshole reflects well
> on on you as a teacher. I've been called worse by
> better, so it doesn't really matter to me. Just
> something to think about.
>
> > The other guy , who says that the
> > teacher should basically work to help his
> daughter
> > when HE wants the teacher to, is nuts. There
> has
> > to be some degree of respect on both sides of
> the
> > coin.
>
> I agree with that.
I am not sure how the fact that my salary is being provided by the taxpayers should preclude me from wanting a raise, particularly since most taxpayers, including myself, see glaring flaws in the way their tax dollars are being spent regarding improving education. I hope you don't also feel that our police and militarly personnel shouldn't receive raises.
I get the sense that you are a stay at home, and if so , I bet you get very upset when someone says that is not real work, especially since it is clear that your children are school aged and you could work while they are at school if you chose to. If you are not a stay at home, I guess I am off target, but you seem to have a lot of time to research what we get paid and to form opinions. I will say that, if it is true that your students get straight As, it is unusual for the parent of an academically successful student to have an axe to grind.
Further, I didn't CALL you an asshole, I said you are being one, which means when you are not being one you are something else.
Thanks for conceding the last point at least.