Comments on: Oakland teacher layoffs: the breakdown

By: J.R.

J.R. — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:21:00 +0000

Starshaped,
If it is so bad, you have the freedom to change careers(might be an improvement for the kids and for you too, who knows), and there will be all those new teachers that just got pink-slipped ready to step in(I take that back, the union has the system politically gamed and they would never allow that to happen)there is too much tax money riding on this. Oakland has too many small schools and teachers anyway(partly because people are leaving and taking the kids with them).

By: J.R.

J.R. — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:07:54 +0000

Starshaped,
That line of reasoning is well known, and it seems to make sense(at first glance), but it does not work that way these people get a fraction of what teachers do. Day care providers YMCA,Kindercare,puddles(who also change diapers BTW make 10-12 dollars per hr.)max.Teachers make $35-45 per hr or more in most bay area districts with more vacation time(summers off) and better hours and benefits. There is no comparison(although the good teachers do deserve these perks).

By: Starshaped

Starshaped — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:55:36 +0000

J.R.,

If I were a babysitter, I’d be paid more. 25 kids x $10 an hour x 7 hours a day x 5 days a week. I’d make more in one week than in two months of my regular salary. Plus, I’d have no lessons that I had to teach. No tests to give. No report cards to fill out. Freedom. I could sit them all in front of a tv set all day and have it entertain them while I get this wonderful golden pot of money. Yeah!

Does anyone want to get into the highly paid babysitting racket with me?

By: Ms. J.

Ms. J. — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:25:34 +0000

J.R.,
I am not defensive. I am reflective on my own practice. As a teacher, as a parent, as a banjo player or a hiker or whatever I do, I try to improve. I think this is an important way to be. Sometimes I feel like I’ve done my best and sometimes I feel I haven’t. In the former case I feel proud; in the latter, I feel bad and then try to improve. If someone is spending a lot of energy telling me I’m no good, I try to figure out why, separate out the truth from their own psychological issues, and make the changes necessary.

But to put aside the personal part–I feel offended by your attacks, whether they are meant towards me or not, because I feel solidarity with the other people who spend their days in schools, trying to serve children and their families.

By: oakland teach

oakland teach — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:05:36 +0000

Thank you Crankyteacher. I am most likely going to be one of those teachers and I am still trying to figure out the chance that I will be without a job next year.

Is there info on how far up you need to be on the senority list to be safe?
I’ve been with OUSD for 4 years.

The only thing my principal is saying is that she doesn’t know who will be teaching my class next year. Does that mean a teacher with more senority might take my job?

By: Cranky Teacher

Cranky Teacher — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:11:19 +0000

Um, all the talk is about seniority?

How about the fact that 10 librarians and 10 art teachers are being cut?

That class sizes are going to go through the roof?

That morale among those teachers left in each school is going to plummet?

That kids will forever have learned the lesson that when it comes to fancy cars or well-staffed schools their society chose the former?

That 231 elementary school teachers who CHOSE this underpaid, overworked profession are going to be handed a note saying “you might want to look for another career” this week?

Have some perspective on what is happening.

Nobody has seen anything like this since Prop. 13.

By: J.R.

J.R. — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:53:51 +0000

Gordon,
I stated that I meant what I said, I never backtracked, if she(or anyone is defensive then it must bother them for personal reasons(whoever the description fits, I don’t care). It is what it is, and I won’t back away from it. Once again the good and dedicated teachers have my sympathy, for the ride is about to get really rough(even for you). There is also a spike in retirements coming(pension tsunami)so it only gets worse from here for the taxpayer.

By: gordon danning

gordon danning — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:52:38 +0000

JR:

Don’t you think you would have a better claim to the moral high ground if you were to take responsibility for your actions? Your original post explicitly referred to Ms. J, yet now, instead of being a man and apologizing, you claim that you were referring to someone else.

But, of course, you don’t have to; it’s your funeral.

By: J.R.

J.R. — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 08:12:23 +0000

Gordon,
The record speaks for itself, numbers don’t lie and excuses don’t fly(the records are there for all to see). I meant what I said 100% to whomever it applies to, (and they know who they are)so if it doesn’t apply to her then she has already figured that out and it wouldn’t bother her. The kids aren’t just incidental here they are the reason a teacher has the opportunity to do what they do(If anyone doesn’t feel that way, I promise you we won’t shed a tear when they leave the profession). If you haven’t got the message or are oblivious that taxpayers have had enough, just pay attention to the news. I am only sorry that the good teachers are caught up in all this negativity, it’s a shame.

By: Gordon Danning

Gordon Danning — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 07:46:46 +0000

J.R.:

How odd that you assume that Ms. J “would be satisfied with the status quo babysitting[.]” I guess that is how you would act, since you seem to assume that is the norm. Or, do you assume yourself morally superior to Ms. J, whom you have never met?

Ms. J EXPLICITLY said that she would use extra money to lower class sizes. If you want to argue that most teachers want extra money, fine. But lay off the personal attacks; they make you sound like – well, lets just say you make Charlie Sheen look good.