Your Aug. 30 editorial “Dispute with teachers shows need for ways to fix impasses,” regarding contract talks between the Boston Public Schools and the Boston Teachers Union, describes the impasse that had been reached as “a sad way to begin a new school year.” I couldn’t agree more.
At a time when teachers are already preparing their classrooms (before the start of the school year and on their own, unpaid time, and with supplies they have to buy with their own money), it must be discouraging for teachers to have to shoulder the blame for the impasse in negotiations.
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ELIZABETH HEGARTY SAID IT BEST!
Thank you, Elizabeth Hegarty!
But it's so much easier to demonize others. Since no one appreciates teachers anyway, maybe it's time to force parents to educate their children on their own and see just how long we survive as a nation.
How do you feel about vouchers? Private school teachers seem to do an excellent job and they don't hold the city/towns hostage by insane demands; see the latest BTU kerfuffle. I really feel bad for the parents of children in he Boston school system.
Well put. I recently was assailed by a colleague who is from Wisconsin and spouted the Scott Walker talking points demonizing teacher unions. The money poured into the Wisconsin recall for "professional services" that simply demonized teachers and firemen is really beyond the pale. Certainly the local governments there could have done a better job negotiating to manage their budgets, and certainly the public servants could have negotiated as well. But the form of attacks on professionals and the manner of riling up ignorant supporters causes a blot on our society that diminishes the values we create and leave for our children. The sponsors of such demonization seem to have no care for the quality of life of the next generation, despite their blow-hard ranting about deficits. As the economy turns up, slow as healing may be, those government officials showing respect for their public servants will be far away better off in future negotiations. And local governments that legislate the end of negotiations will likely end up with the least dedicated public servants.
Teachers get budgets for school supplies and tax write offs for others. People seem to feel the need to put teachers on a pedestal or under the bus. They are just people working a job with good pay (rivals the 50 weeks a year crowd) and excellent benefits (tons of vacation and medical, etc). That it takes 2 years to get a contract is sad and unfortunately the individual teacher may feel that they are getting blamed, but it is the union leaders who are the issue.
You are misinformed. There is no teacher "budget" that teachers use to buy the supplies that we need. The tax right off is $250 - most teachers spend thousands over the course of a school year. What does 2 years to get a contract mean? Teachers are contracted either under provisional status (0-3 years) or may get professional status if they maintain the same position satisfactorily for over 3 years. This system protects and values experience. States that are unionized are the highest performing states in the United States. Why are union leaders the issue? They fight for better working conditions - which are student learning conditions. MA, if we were a sovereign country, would be ranked #3 internationally in education.