Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Teacher's Union: Screw the kids

Teacher's strike looms in Oregon Trail School District
With a strike scheduled to begin Tuesday in the Oregon Trail School District, parents are beginning to debate the option of bringing in substitute teachers.

Other parents say that option would produce animosity between the teachers and substitute teachers, and they do not want their children taught in a hostile environment.

A 1999 strike by Fern Ridge area teachers near Eugene involved substitute teachers who were jeered and threatened when they crossed picket lines.

Threatening someone is a crime. Are your kids being taught by criminals? If you heard Lars Larson yesterday he had a board member for the Oregon Trail District talk about this issue and apparently the board is not on the side of the children or the taxpayers. (or law abiding citizens) When election time rolls around some heads should roll in the Oregon Trail District.

This news story is about a teacher strike, substitute teachers, and violence by teachers but KATU's accompanying photo is one of several sad faced kids. How about a picture of teacher's screaming at other teachers? Wouldn't that be more appropriate?

8 comments:

Localfella said...

But Daniel, its all for the kids!

Anonymous said...

The whole purpose of a Union is to advocate for its members. The teachers union does not represent the students interests any more than a nurses union represents patients or a police union represents victims of crime.

Unions are antiquated. Unions are a way for employees to extort their employers. If you don’t like the way your employer is treating you go work somewhere else!

What really ticks me off is the news media interviewing students who claim to support teachers who are on strike. First of all, I would argue that most students would do just about anything to get out of class. I would have honored a picket line if it meant I didn’t have to go to class. Second, whose side do we expect students to be on? Most students spend more time with teachers than with their parents, and students don’t pay property taxes (yet).

"If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart, and if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no head."-- Winston Churchill

Some people just don't grow up.

Anonymous said...

ARRRRRGH- Every day we have to hear from these poor oppressed teachers. Has there ever been a year when the schools thought they had enough money? Not in my memory. Remember, It's all about the kids, and how they can use them to advance the teachers agenda. When was the last time you heard of the teachers offering to give up a portion of their raises to hire extra teachers to decrease their class size?
I'm sorry if I don't have sympathy for these people that can't live on 40-50 grand, but I've been cut back to what I made in 1987. They don't seem to understand that the ability to pay them depends on economy of the state. If they did, they wouldn't be the champions of every bit of legislation that comes along that makes it harder to make a living in this state.

Also how come private schools provide a better education at about half the cost per student?

In the Willamette valley area they have just decided to rearrange the districts and force the athletic teams of two of our local high schools to travel up to 150 miles to play. This extra travel will cost an estimated $100,000 dollars in fuel cost alone. What about local rivalries? What about family and friends that want to watch the games? What about the extra pay for bus drivers and chaperones? What about the effect on study times? This is just more of the never ending non-sense. Keep it up and we will have private schools and vouchers for everyone sooner than I thought.

Gunslinger said...

Cascade School District, in Turner, OR is holding a special election to ask for the princey sum of $19.5M. To achieve that, they are asking for a mere $1.90 per assessed $1000. That has the potential to be a lot of money. They are having overcrowding in classrooms, and want to build a new elemntary school in Aumsville. I am absolutely voting no on this. Perhaps they will do again what they did in 94 when voters said no to money. They cancelled bus service, then put restrictions on how early or late you could drop off/pick up your kids. Both of these times were conveniently the same times people who actually work for a living had to be at work.

Until they stop building sports complexes with taxpayer dollars, and start living within the budgets alloted, as far as I am concerened, they shouldn't get any more money

Gunslinger said...

Yeah, that is too bad about the health expenses. I had a job at a private company that had health insurance (regence blue cross) and it cost me 264 a month out of my salary, hich at the time was 1500 a month plus commision which usually made about what the health care cost. the one and only time I used them, was at an urgent care clinic, and the deductible was still $300. Wow, kickass bennys.

So boo friggity hoo to your health insurance costs. Ask the majority of self-employed individuals if they have health insurance at all, and if so, what does it cost them?

Anonymous said...

Hey Gunslinger! Are you self employed? Sounds like it. So am I, and you're right, it costs a ton! I have teacher friends and they know where I stand. I have NO sympathy for their "plight." I work my ass off on roofs, ALL year long and I make more money when, that's right, I work more! Yes, being a teacher can be demanding (during the school year) and they often put in unpaid overtime (during the school year) but it doesn't even come close to the small business owner. I tell you what, if my employees ever tried to go union I'd just shut my business down and start a different one. All right, enough venting.

Anonymous said...

One of the main problems we have with teachers is they have been fed a line of crap that they are the be all and end all of salvation. They go to school to learn that going to school is everything and that they are promised a given return for their efforts. I heard a caller on Lars justifying his wife's salary because she has a masters degree. That's great, but she teaches 13 year olds. Why do you need a masters to teach 13 year olds. In the real world you get paid what someone is willing to pay you reguardless of your education, there is no guarantee. If I go to work as a cashier at Walmart I don't think they would pay me extra for a masters degree. So to the teachers I say: get over yourself. If you don't make enough money teaching, then step out into the real world where you can try to earn what you really think you're worth. Sorry, but using kids as hostages really ticks me off.

The Cheezer said...

In the real world, you get a raise when you earn it. Most of the working class DO NOT get a cost of living increase. Almost all but government employees pay a percentage of their insurance cost. I pay close to $300 month for my family.
what other job can you get that pays you a full years wage to work only 9 months?
They want more money? work 12 months a year with 2 weeks un-paid vacation. You want better benefits? find another job.
I work for a living. I have worked 70 hour work weeks and not been able to pay rent and had no insurance and I had NO paid vacation.
Give us a break and do your JOB!