Comments on: Romney uses debate to attack educator-led unions — again

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:25:29 +0000

If any of you have children of ANY age, you know that the fewer students we can put into a classroom, the more effectively and powerfully the teacher is able to work with each of them. If you understand that education of your child is one of the greatest importances in our USA, then you also know that we scrape and save to help them get through college, but with government backed scholarships, we can have a little bit of much needed support. Obama has spoken to educators and knows these issues are SO important!
Who knows what Romney might or might not do?…..He is trying to “please” us all…and in the meantime, has made me very skeptical. VOTE for Obama, he is an education backer and he too has kids of his own.

By: Anitra

Anitra — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:56:57 +0000

Wendell,
Under a Romney administration, where do you think that all of this revenue will come from. It is always interesting to me when people say no more big government when it comes to small business, education and taxes; but when we talk about womens health and choices they are fine with the government having a say. What hypocrisy.

By: Kerry Hyman

Kerry Hyman — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 18:33:36 +0000

Wendell, why do you think we have lost 9 million jobs, have witnessed 50,000 plants closings in favor of offshoring, and have witnessed a declining middle class over the past 30 years, a phenomenon that has caused downward pressure on wages to compete in a “global economy” for jobs, and reduced disposable income to boost the consumer retail market, a net decline in income tax from a declining middle class, an average of $600 BILLION in trade deficits over the past 10 years resulting in a GDP that barely operates our government because of the resultant decimation of the tax revenue base which for the past 50 years, has depended on a vital middle class with a decent wage?

By: Wendell Hurst

Wendell Hurst — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 06:11:47 +0000

Obama said he would hire more teachers. Doesn’t he know that local school boards, not tha president of the United States, hire teachers? The sooner the federal government gets out of public education, the better. I can’t wait for a new administration to get our economy moving again, so local school boards will have the revenues they need to hire teachers and provide the kind of education all children deserve.

By: Babs

Babs — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 03:25:50 +0000

I agree with Debbie. I have taught for the past 23 years; 11 in my current state; 5 in Texas; 5 in Nevada and 2 with the Department of Defense. In my 23 years of teaching I have never ever been paid for a summer vacation. My salary is for working August -June and is paid over the course of a year, as directed by the board of education. I do not get paid for parent-teacher conferences; grading papers at home; preparing authentic lesson plans, report cards, and extra curricular activities. While at school, not only do we provide your child with a quality education, but in my county we attend numerous meetings before, during and after school to include : professional development workshops for the new common core curriculum, which is to be implemented in 2013; grade level meetings weekly; staff and proffesional development meetings twice a month; Individual Education Plan (IEP’s) meetings; school improvement meetings; professional development meetings twice a month with the language arts and math specialists. Leaving teachers in my county with maybe 15 minutes in a 7.5 hour day to scarf down their lunch, while making copies; returning phone calls to parents; meeting with parents who want a conference and handling discipline issues.

Not to mention that we have not had a pay raise, cost of living increase and/or step increment over the past three years. The state has recently increased our mandatory contribution to our retirement account to 6%. Even though there is a strong possiblity that we will not receive our contributions or a portion of those when we reach retirement in the next 10 years. Teachers have often been referred to as “glorified babysitters”, if we were you wouldn’t hear us complain about the hours we work; the papers we grade; the subjects we teach academic and life skills. As a babysitter we would make (this is a low estimate) $7/hour/child/7.5 hours a day= $1260/day (24 kids in a class) X 185 days =$233,100. After working 23 years and having a masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction, I can honestly say I don’t make close to have of a “glorified babysitters” school year salary.

As for Govenor Romney’s claim that his state is number one in education, may have been accurate when he was in office. However during the last four years Maryland has been name #1 by the Washington Post, NEA and other sources.

Please stop making uninformed statements and untrue statements about our countries educators.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 23:03:49 +0000

I don’t know who you have been talking to but, teachers have NEVER received a paid summer day in the history of education. I have been a teacher for 30 years and I have NEVER received a paid vacation day. All the other state workers I know get vacation days. Teachers do not. The pay I receive in June and July was worked out from Jan.- June. I get paid for 185 days period. The week Spent in the classroom before the school year is officially began is unpaid. The duty I do before school, and at ball games and at parent teacher conferences is donated time. The extra days we work at after school developing curriculum, coaching school teams and tutoring is UNPAID TIME. The matching funds that my employer is supposed do have contributed to my retirement fund has NEVER been added to my account and I will be paying a higher percent starting in 2013. My employer will still not contribute their share to my retirement fund. I haven’t had so much as a 1% cost of living pay increase in five years and since my retirement is based on average pay it has cost me $500/ month for the rest of my life. So please don’t make false and uneducated statements about things you know little to nothing of.

By: poppyitis

poppyitis — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 19:56:37 +0000

WELL SAID. THANKS.

By: poppyitis

poppyitis — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 19:55:04 +0000

I am sure Mr. Romney LOVES TEACHERS. After all he sends his kids to private schoolS with tuition running into the thousands. Yes, I do believe that Mr. Romney LOVES TEACHERS. He JUST DID NOT FINISH HIS SENTENCE. :: I LOVE ALL TEACHERS WHO ARE NOT UNION MEMBERS AND WANT TO TEACH FOR $10.00 DOLLARS AN HOUR WITHOUT ANY BENEFITS”". NOW THIS I BELIEVE! There is no use trying to decide upon the ‘worth’ of a teacher. We ‘trust’ the greatest asset we have, our children, to teachers.. Do we/ you truly want an inexperienced person to teach ‘30-40 + students in a class, work only 6 hours a day, get paid in the summer for not working, days off, who take care of our children, with illnesses, mental problems. physical problems, attitudes ( OFTEN from parents) cold, hungry, some abused, some frightened and lately a large number of students entering our schools WHO speak no level of English and so on. Yes, a ten dollar a hour job seems appropriate.
Yes, I have family members and friends in the teaching profession and am aware of what some of the ‘public’ think of their job. However, I just cannot understand why if the teaching preparation which only costs about $125,000.00 to get , if it is so lucrative and easy, why are not those complaining entering the teaching force? Maybe that is the 8th. wonder of the world.
l think the greatest ‘thing’ we can give our children is the best education we can with qualified and compassionate staff who work 10-12 hours a day, weekends, summers, with NO PAY, continue their education and training and LOVE THEIR JOB AND THEIR STUDENTS.
I wish Mr. Romney well in his pursuit and desire to further education for our children.

By: Barb

Barb — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 19:50:54 +0000

I’m assuming that those of you complaining about your local, state, or national education association are active members who are involved in negotiations and political action. Sitting at home and waiting for others to do the work, then complaining when the realities of the situation don’t match what you expect, is ludicrous. Get educated and get involved instead.