Tag Archive for teachers

They’ve Got it Made!

May 22, 2020 Comments Off on They’ve Got it Made!

“They’ve got it made!”  We’ve all said this as we watch people doing their jobs.  We’re convinced they’re overpaid for what they do. Are they? Teachers have short days and long vacations (when do they do lesson plans and grade papers?).  Garbage men ride around all day, doing nothing but picking up trash (what health hazards do they face?).  Cops sit around eating donuts and are never there when you need them (except when they are).  Priests get to hear juicy confessions (how interesting can a story be on the 500th telling?).

Next time you hear yourself saying, “They’ve got it made,” assign yourself the task of finding out about their job: salary and benefits; required education and training, both original and ongoing; hours and duties expected from those hours; health and safety issues the job poses; job security and working conditions.  The Bible says that even Jesus called on a variety of workers, from fisherman to tax collector to tent-maker.  Seems like there’s a lesson there, that we must respect all work and value the worker.  After all, this is a pretty big vineyard we labor in.

Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

Why Do Teachers Strike? Don’t They Care?

May 29, 2019 Comments Off on Why Do Teachers Strike? Don’t They Care?

They’re out there with signs in the street rather than in their classrooms. Some people drive by and honk in support; others shout insults about overpaid/under-worked people always demanding more money.

Why is it that teachers strike? According to Rebecca Tarlau, who did extensive research on the subject, there are three main reasons that teachers take this action (and I quote her here):

First is the acceleration of market-based education reforms, including the expansion of charter schools.

Second is networks of teacher activists organizing and transforming their unions to focus on broader social issues.

Third is the framing of teacher union action as part of the struggle for racial justice.

All of these factors come back to one thing–the good of their students and offering them the best education possible.

Read about these factors and what else she discovered at What’s Behind the Teacher Strikes?

Uncategorized , , , , , , , ,