I would never cross a picket line, let alone interfere with teachers’
strike, even if I miss workdays for which I won’t be paid... and despite my
somewhat differ views…
Teachers are hard working professionals, whose quality of
work is judged, unlike other office and industry professionals, daily, by over 200
students, almost double that number of parents and guardians, peers,
supervisors, administrators …
When it comes to earnings, do I want a six percent salary increase?
Of course I do, but is it the most important part of the dispute? Teachers are arguing
now for far more valuable claims, and to fulfilling them, they should stress
resources over salary; funds to reduce class size, increase art and vocational education,
counselors, deans.
I don’t know much about elementary school teachers’ job, but
I can’t imagine their work load in preparation, and in grabbing so many young
students’ attention…
I do know, however, what it means for middle and high school
teachers to manage over 200 students a day, keep them focused, follow their
progress, spot students who need aid and help them, and evaluate everyone’s
achievements…
I do know about the need for extra curriculum classes where
students can experience success even when their academic accomplishments are
lagging…
I do know about the system’s demand on a teacher to be an
educator, discipliner, psychologist, social-worker, special needs expert and
parental like figure…
And I do see the damage that charter schools are doing to
our community schools, draining their resources, reducing their able bodies,
and all of that with very little to show as superiority in education; most of
them are concealed pro-profit institutes, with false promises, deprived
performance and poor results…
If I were a Union decision maker, I would stress the need to
solve first all the other budgetary needs for good education. And to show good
faith I would compromise on smaller raise in favor of larger funds, funds that
would also include appropriate compensation for teachers working in inner city and
lower performing schools…
