The Education Wonks
Denver teachers were just granted their first pay increase in two years. They haven't even been getting their step raises. I watched the news last night and those interviewed were as happy about the fact that part of their new contract also relieves them from time required each week in mandatory meetings. Sometimes it seems like there is not one thing about the way some schools are administered that would help them ever be better.
Time clocks??!! You've GOT to be kidding me! Unfortunately, I'm sure you aren't. Would you please explain to us your board's rationale for such a slap in the face? Are you expected to punch in and out according to your contract day, or the time you're actually there (usually much longer, unless you take hours of work home)?
Unbelievable! Where's CTA in this? If there's one place the "syndicate" should be, it's here!
We have time cards, too, though in my school we simply move them from the "out" to the "in" column. They have to be punched for afterschool programs.
This is the first year I've heard anything about teacher appreciation day/week; one of our new teachers mentioned it this morning. In five years, NO parent or student or administrator has ever said or done anything to acknowledge it. I don't really care - all of these people have certainly done other nice things for us over the years - but I still found it kind of funny that today was a holiday more-or-less in my honor that I'd never even heard about until now.
It's the same situation in Michigan. We were given bagels (as an afterthought?) the day after what we were told was national teacher's day. There were also a couple of nice emails of appreciation from administrators.
That's all good, but it doesn't take away the feeling one gets when administrator salaries (with hefty increases) are published in the local paper. It's a deflating, punched in the stomach feeling when I realize we haven't seen a cost of living increase in over 3 years, and they are after our benefits in every negotiation. How can administrators expect everyone to pull together and ride out these financial crises when they are exempt from the sting of these financial problems?
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