I will be living in Beauort, teaching in Jasper County Schools. They just posted the salary
or next year, and the district raised salaries a good bit. :-) The first reporting date for
new teachers Aug 10th.....and they hae openings. :-)
You coming down?
The area is very beautiful, and the folks nice...I'm looking forward to it! I will lear
more about the benefits when I get there.
Will
On 7/07/07, they pay for health care??? wrote:
> PA teachers pay some for health care?? In MI teacher's pay NOTHING for their premium
> every month. They have deductibles and co-pays but they don't pay anything for their
> premium. MI is the WORST state for teaching jobs and I see MI going the way PA is now in
> regards to health care. Beginning teachers would have difficulties but teachers making
> $50,000+ can pay some for their premium. Even if it was $20 a month or something, that
> would be huge after you add it all up. I know the south has problems with education but
> I think the north is really asking for trouble. Where in South Carolina are you planning
> on moving will?
>
>
>
> On 7/07/07, Will Rogers wrote:
>>
>> 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&37; to
> 48&37; 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&37; 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