Patty. on the 4,000 - I was shocked too! But it was in the papers, and a couple of
teachers in my grad classes confirmed the number. PHEW!
As to why I think unions have been bad in PA (A shotr list, can do more n a private e-
mail or phone if you wish, no problem.)
1. Steel unions drove wages up so much PA steel factories could not be upgraded, now
the steel mills are less than 10 I was told (By a union rep).
2. In the local schools districts, you have a majority of older pennsylvanians in
western pa, and the millage rates keep going up and up and up...on people on a fixed
salary. Who much do you need to make as a teacher? The average person in latrobe gets
around 28,000....teacher salaries top out around her at anywhere from 70,000 to 98,000
depending on the district. I know of one teacher who's salary will go up 16,000 over
the next three years...that is INSANE!
3. Pa teachers did not pay for health care until the last few years, everyone else
around them have had payroll deducstion for over 20 years. Is that fair?
4. In PA, you have to use ONLY UNIOR LABOR on ALL jobs valued at 10,000 or more. What
ever happened to spending only what you need....you know, save the taxpayers money?
5. With very few exceptions, teacher salaries and benefits consume from 30% to 48% of
the school district budget....that is CRAZY! There needs to be more money IN THE
CLASSROOMS, not a teachers pocket.
a. On the other hand, I think teachers should recieve reduced or free housing in
the district where they teach, get their student loans paid off by the federal
government at the rate of 8% every completed teaching year also.
b. We, as teachers, deserve to be taken care of in our communities, not treated
like punching bags, as some administrators treat their teachers. The principals
and administratirs should only be former teachers. Also, school boards need to
have minimum qualifications, or at the very least, be required to be trained
in proper budget properties, instruction, textbook selection, etc. Unlike a
local district (Hempfield) which approved a FIFTEEN MILLION football complex, a
football coach is making over 70,000 a year and doesn't even teach or work for
the district in any other capacity! The team is a periennial loser team, to
boot. To me, that is criminal neglance ( i know I misspelled it) and
malfeasance...and those people who voted for it need to go to jail for a year
or two. I believe it is stealing from the elderly.
6. Teachers want to be considered professionals, but hide in unions. I believe if you
want to be treated like managers, managers are not permitted in unions. Also - no
school district can operate when the local teachers (union or not) work together and
report every violation to the proper authorities, take the to court, and have
administrators imprisioned for breaking the law. Instead, most teachers say nothing,
and just take it, because they are NOT properly educated in our political process. They
are great math teachers, english teachers, etc, but the reality is every single teacher
needs to be politically active and politically astute. NO admininstrator is going to
mess with a teacher whom they know talks to the Senators and Congressmen often.
Politics drives EVERYTHING with schools - get educated, and now! PLEASE!
Well, I'll stop now. Sorry I was ranting there. Teachers have such potiential to
achieve great things, and too many of them just let the opportunities pass them by. I
hope we can find a way to lose the "bad" teachers, and bring in more high-quality
teachers to replace them!
I wish you the best of luck in all you do. I hope we can all find a way to make our
profession better, and fun at the same time! Any ideas, please let me know, I'm up for
it!
Will Rogers
On 7/06/07, unions no good?? wrote:
> I've been hearing that the unions are destroying the school districts..but I see
> that without them (maybe just in the mid-west) they need them, or else the teachers
> would have serious issues and be treated horribly. What trouble has the unions
> caused for PA??
>
> Patty
>
> P.S. Here in MI we had more like 1,700 applicants, I can't believe 4,000 that is
> INSANITY!!!!
>
>
>
>
> On 7/06/07, WillRogers wrote:
>>
>> Let's see...in Western PA, --seriously here now-- it is almost impossible to get
>> jobs right now, as we are between waves of retirements. In 5 or so years, the next
>> waves I am told. Here's how tough it is to get a job in western PA - last year
>> Hempfield school district had 83 job openings, and OVER 4,000 YEA-FOUR THOUSAND
>> applicants! You can get a job in Philadelphia, but I was told wear a flak jacket.
>>
>> South Carolina really needs solid, professional, caring teachers who are willing
> to
>> hang tough until they get established. PA is even tight in the catholic schools. I
>> have a 3.86 GPA with straiight A's in my field (ELEM ED) - and I cannot get a job
>> around here....but after I read and studied the unions round werstern PA, I would
>> not work here. period.
>>
>> PLEASE COME TO SOUTH CAROLINA!!!!
>>
>> Will
>>
>>
>> On 7/05/07, question for mr. rogers... wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I'm new to the post and was checking out PA and anything south for teaching
>>> jobs. Is PA like Michigan?? I live in MI and am having a really difficult time
>>> (I qualified for the the Earned Income Credit on my taxes if that gives you a
>>> hint and I don't have children) and my parents help me pay my health isurance as
>>> my job as a paraprofessional is pretty crappy. Is it safe to assume by your post
>>> that there are no jobs in PA for elementary teachers???? Also, are you from
>>> South Carolina by any chance?? There was a girl on the MI chat quite some time
>>> ago that mentioned Greenville Schools Do you know anything about them? I see
>>> someone else has asked earlier on the post but didn't get much of a response. I
>>> thought it wouldn't hurt to ask someone....Thanks!
>>>
>>> -P
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 7/05/07, Will Rogers wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I worked for John Wieland Homes as a Neighborhood Production Coordinator. It
>>>> was my job to ensure all the labor and meterials were at each jobsite/home on
>>>> schedule, the production schedule was maintained for each house, and support
>>>> the team of builders directing construction at each house.
>>>>
>>>> I also completed the permitting process for each house, directed inspections
>>>> for each house, monitored the budgets of each house/lot.
>>>>
>>>> When 9-11 happened, the stock market crashed, and 20&37; of the company was
>>> laid
>>>> off. I worked for a parking lot company for a bit after that, but when the
>>>> shopping in atlanta area died down, so did the job there.
>>>>
>>>> My wife wanted to return to her home in Western PA, and we did. (I'm here now
>>>> since nov 2003) The only problem is jobs are leaving this place like planes
>>>> launching off an aircraft carrier! Oh well.
>>>>
>>>> I liked Wieland, and my work - challenging and never dull, to be sure! Feel
>>>> free to e-mail me directly if you like, no problem.
>>>>
>>>> Will
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