>I’ve found all of this debate very intersting over the past few days. Please allow me to share my pespective.
I spent the beginning of my career in the Ridgewood Public Schools before moving to another affluent Bergen County school district.
While in Ridgewood, I worked with many gifted teachers. But, I also saw the arrogance of some of the staff and administration at work, and it was making the district weaker even then, and that was almost a decade ago. Sure, some of the teachers were catty and competitive types. I remember having great enthusiasm when I was there, in my first two years, and basically I was a threat in the eyes of a few of the teachers I worked with. I know that when I left, the parents in the students in the building felt a loss based on who replaced me. I don’t think Ridgewood has always hired well over the past few years.
Another part of the problem in Ridgewood is the administration. The Central Office group is a joke, moving through superintendents, although I can’t judge the current one, Fishbein, as I don’t know much about him. But how many dollars were wasted during the Porter years for those that remember those? Porter was brought in to change the philosophy of the district to a “standards based” approach. His philosophy was so out there he couldn’t so much as articulate it himself.
The district also brought in some horrible principals as the years passed. Several of the elementary schools today–with just a few exceptions–have horrible leaders at the helm. I personally saw one particular school ruined by a woman who is now a supt. elsewhere in the county after a longtime principal left. Friends experienced the same thing at some of the other elementary schools.
I didn’t find the parent community to be bad to work with at all. I found them to be very supportive. I had no complaints there. You had some jerks, but you have that everywhere.
People should really think about what they say when they bash the entire profession. In Ridgewood, I felt that the majority of the staff, despite some of the losers mentioned above (not by name), were dedicated teachers who wanted the best for their students.
Most teachers work hard to earn every single dime that we make. Take a look at salary scales. Where is it that we’re doing so well? After the first dozen years of teaching, one’s salary finally hits the range of professionals who do far less every day in some fields.
When people say don’t give teachers raises and take away benefits, do they realize the cost of this? If you want to attack school districts for crazy spending habits, look at how top heavy their administrations are.
You’re going to find bad teachers out there. They exist. And it’s a shame the union protects them, but we do. I know, I’ve been a rep for years. One of the things that is frustrating is having no choice but to defend certain bums. But the majority of the people I represent, I can proudly say, are true professionals, and it is an honor to represent them.
So, when teachers ask for a 4% raise and to keep benefits, don’t think that is so unreasonable. After taxes, and considering how the money is spread out on a salary guide, the average teacher may be lucky to see 2%. Now, add in paying for health benefits. And, where exactly would the raise be then?
It’s cool, and in style, to bash teachers right now. I understand how tough the job market is for people in other fields. But, here is my final thought: THE NEXT TIME SOME OF THE ARROGANT JERKS ON THIS BLOG WANT TO SAY HOW EASY TEACHING IS, AND THAT IT IS NOT A REAL JOB, I CHALLENGE THEM TO SPEND ONE DAY IN A TEACHER’S SHOES. JUST ONE DAY. THEN, IF THEY STILL FEEL THE WAY THEY DO, THAT WOULD BE FINE WITH ME. WHY DO I SAY THIS? BECA– USE I KNOW THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN’T DO THE JOB WELL. THEY CAN’T DO IT THE WAY I’VE DONE IT EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, AND UP UNTIL THE DAY I RETIRE.
