You're intentionally being provocative. Even the best of teachers will have students fail. But that doesn't mean that it's not our responsibility to really, truly try to connect with each child and make the lesson relevant to that child. Whenever I find myself feeling defeated and tempted to fall back on the excuses about the limits to what teachers can do, I always think of Anne Sullivan. If she could teach a child as wild and angry and disabled as Helen Keller, then surely I can teach my students, right?
Anne Sullivan was free to teach Helen Keller in the way she thought was best. She could use her professional judgement to change the curriculum and schedule to fit her student. Until IPS stops micromanaging teachers, stops trying to make every teacher teach the same thing on the same day, students will suffer. In Anne Sullivan's world bulletin boards, testing, templated lesson plans and principals beating up on teachers did not exist. Natural consequences rather than bracelets, trinkets or candy were Keller's reward. Sullivan did not have to compete with the achievement of other students, teachers, schools or nations. Her main concern was the student in front of her. Teaching and learning were her only goal; not getting her student to pass someone else's test that had never seen Hellen Keller.
The question is not whether you can teach students that are not as wild as Helen Keller. The question is if you will be given freedom to teach and if students will be given freedom to learn. That is worth fighting for. Join your local union and be a part of the movement to return professionalism back to teachers. Accountability cannot happen when teachers lack academic freedom. Browbeating does not work.
I agree that accountability cannot happen when teachers lack academic freedom. I disagree that the union will ever improve education or "return" the professionalism to teachers. It's a political lobby, not an education movement.
The union fights for better working conditions for teachers. Until better working conditions are gained, teachers will still be overworked, underpaid, treated like crap and hindered from doing the best for children. Part of the reason for the poor teaching conditions in IPS is that our hard won contract was raped by the state when they disallowed IPS teachers (but not others in the state) to bargain for anything but salary and fringe benefits. When that happened (with Public Law 340 or 221, not sure which) teachers lost a lot of the professional treatment that is common in other school districts.
IPS cannot keep or attract teachers when teachers are treated as scum. Many IPS good teachers are moving on because it is just too hard to teach with the added burden of "nothing you do is right, do it this way."
The teachers of IPS have little support from the brainiacs at 120 E. Walnut. Sometimes the Principal and staff at the school are behind the teachers, sometimes not. But, it is a damn tough position to be in when downtown opposes the administration of the the school, between a rock & a hard place is only the half of it.
The union is simply useless. They go along to get along. The IEA is a disorganized bunch of girls and boys who like titles without responsibility. Teachers vote this incompetent lot out and get some representation with some smarts and energy. The AFSCME would not put up with this sort of crap from their leaders. Why should you?
I have to laugh at the posts which state that IEA does nothing, just wait until IPS comes after you for "poor teaching". You will run to the union to "help you", just hope you are a member. IPS fired a lot of seasoned teachers this year, you could be next, if the principal doesn't like the way you look. If a student fails, then I fail. Many times I can not find the answer on how to turn around a student, I don't have the wisedom to see the answer, Yet, I regroup, and try again asking my fellow teachers advise on how to reach the student.
The union is not a thing. It's teachers. Unless teachers are willing to be part of the solution by joining the union they have no right to voice concerns about what the union does or does not do. In fact, they have NO VOICE.
If you would like to make IEA stronger, join and be a teacher leader with a voice. Get involved! Run for office or join the bargaining team if you feel you have better working ideas. Nothing will get done by non-dues paying, non-member union bashers. Until IPS teachers get different representation only the IEA can represent teachers at the bargaining table. If you do not want IEA to represent you then start a movement to get alternate representation. Your union bashing comments do nothing to better anything.
I didn't bash the union. I said I didn't want to be a part of it because it doesn't stand for anything I stand for. Me joining wouldn't change that. I don't know any teachers I admire who belong the union. If you do, then you're in the right place. Nobody's bashing anyone else's choices.
The president of the IEA is owned by Eugene White....he even gave her a do nothing job so she could campaign for the office....until she is gone, the IEA will accomplish nothing.
I know good teachers who are in the union, mostly democrats, and good teachers who aren't in the union, mostly republicans. I think most republican teachers choose to not be in the union because they don't like seeing their dues going toward political campaigns that they don't support.
The IEA should focus on representing its members interests in negotiations with the district and stay out of politics.
As for blaming teachers when students fail, I think there are too many variables that we aren't in control of to lay the blame on us. If and when one of us does something that actually harms a student, we usually get caught, fired and see ourselves on the news. That's just one or two a year. The rest of us are working our butts off trying to find creative ways to teach what's on the pacing guides.
You need to research your facts. Federal law prevents dues money from going to political campaigns. Not one cent goes to any political activity so take you misinformation and your anti teacher and anti union misinformation somewhere else.
Interesting that two posts above, the poster tried to make it a democratic vs. republican thing. I know MANY of both parties that are a part of the union. That poster speaks like the union is some mysterious entity. It is the members. It is all of us who are in it. If the union should do something, in your opinion, then lead the way! Show us by example. If the union should stay out of politics, then don't bring it into a discussion about the union.
"Federal law prohibits unions from using dues money or other assets to contribute to or otherwise assist federal candidates or political parties, in accordance with their tax-exempt status. The NEA Fund for Children and Public Education is a special fund for voluntary contributions from NEA members which can legally be used to assist candidates and political parties. Critics have repeatedly questioned the NEA's actual compliance with such laws, and a number of legal actions focusing on the union's use of money and union personnel in partisan contexts have ensued"
Based on required filings with the federal government, it is estimated that between 1990 and 2002 ninety percent of the NEA's substantial political contributions went to Democratic Party candidates.
Why is this so surprising to anyone? And who really cares? This blog is always off-topic. No wonder we have so much trouble reaching the kids. The answer to THIS topic is "YES!"
Teaching IS political. Do you want Tony Bennet's ideas to become the work-place reality for educators in this state? The union is the ONLY group trying to oppose what he wants to do with the educational system in Indiana. Go take a look at how he wants things to be run, realize that he has the power and right to say that things are to be the way he says, and then come back and tell me that it isn't political!
Hopefully when you take your head from the sand, you won't put it into a body orifice.
Mitch Daniels wants to do away with senority rigths and collective bargaining for teachers. Tony Bennett will follow the lead, both have no idea about teaching. My success is measured by the success of my students, even if I only move them up one-five of a grade level using the thirty days they have shown up for school. IPS will have to start expelling students, who miss too many days of school, after ADM, just like the township schools.
You can opt out of the political action committee, it is not hard, just fill out the form. As to the PAC, you are probably right about Ann belonging to Eugene, and the inaction of the PAC is evidence of that. The PAC didn't send out the candidate questioners in a timely manner, didn't endorse anyone until the day before the election, in an e-mail that arrived at 4:00pm on election day, and never donated any of the PAC contributions to any candidates. What is with that?
Any political donations from NEA/ISTA/IEA are from voluntary donations and not one cent from dues money as it is illegal. I hope our students learn to read and comprehend better than some on here who claim to be teachers.
As a non-union IPS teacher, I completely respect your right to unionize, promote seniority rights and collective bargaining, and oppose accountability, market-based solutions, parent choice, and teacher merit incentives to improve our public schools. But as an educated professional and an informed citizen, I think randomly throwing money out of my car window on 465 would have a better chance of being spent on a cause I support than giving it to the teacher's union. The only organization I can think of that has hurt more poor children in America than the teacher's union is the KKK. I would leave the profession before I would sell out my morals and integrity to the union. So quit preaching to me and others like me like we're not informed about what we're doing. We know the truth. That's why we don't belong to the union.
Regardless of the arguments for either side, the behavior of the apparent union members on here would dissuade me from joining just on principle. I wouldn't want to associate myself with such people.
And when a student and their parent acuses you of improper behavior I hope you have $100,000 buried in your backyard to pay your lawyer. The union is there to help teachers. Our staff has brought many problems to them and there is strength in numbers. Our unfair working conditions were resolved. Eveyone should join the union, we all need protection from unfair acusations.
I disagree with the non-union IPS teacher. I think the teacher's union has hurt way more poor children than the KKK every did. And to the ignorant selfish "teacher" above, do you notice that nowhere in your post do you mention the kids? You want your job protected, but you don't want to be accountable for actually doing any job at all. You want that put on parents. But you don't want them to have a choice to switch their kids to a teacher who, unlike you, actually believes in the job of teaching. You are the epitome of the union mentality and everything that's wrong with public education.
I have been a teacher for 12 years and not a single teacher I know who has been protected by the union was someone I would want teaching my children. Not a single one.
Well it looks like I'll need that 100 grand anyways, because the one time I asked the union for help I was told to ask a lawyer. So much for the "being there to help teachers"
If you aren't a union member you don't deserve their help. Or the raises they work for, for ALL the ips teachers. Even you people out there who bash them. Without the union's bargaining team we still wouldn't have a contract agreement or those nice bonus checks we all really enjoyed last month. You should give your bonus checks back.
Ok then the union should reimburse me for all the expenses and stress/hardship associated with the job searches I have had to go through for the past three years in IPS due to the fact that I did not have seniority. The union insists on maintaining a system that keeps the oldest instead of the best. My layoffs were due to age, not ability or performance.
Oh, and we don't even need the union for lawyers any more. As long as we act with good intentions, the state is required to provide our legal defense. Check House Bill 1462.
The school system will sell you out in a minute to save them money...who do you think their lawyers are concerned with...you or IPS...how naive can you be???????
The truth of the matter is that most non union teachers are too cheap to belong and pay their fair share..they want all of the benefits without paying a cent......freeloaders.....but the time will come when many of them will want representation...believe me, I have been there when they begged for protection but received none because they were not members and had not paid their fair share.............leeches...society has them at all levels.
Unions began for one purpose -- to protect the rights of the workers.
The union concept makes sense for those who work in dangerous environments (i.e., coal mines, iron foundaries, oil fields, etc.). Unions make sense for those who work in factories where the owners pay 'slave type' wages or abuse child labor laws.
Unions are concerned with protection, not the final product. Our product in education is teaching children.
Unions for teachers of children make about as much sense as trying to mix oil and water.
They should have negotiated that back pay with interest but we simply got the pay. I am pleased that we were paid and thanks IEA but, in fact, we were owed the money for over a year. Where was the union on this issue? We are really owed a lot more. But they were nowhere of course. We simply got what we were owed minus penalties and interest. Yeah. Great deal. We got paid.
You are obviou8ly forgetting the 1% bonus that was paid into your retirement account with VALIC. But that's okay you have already made it clear you don't support your fellow teachers.
I didn't need the union, me being a American Fellow, I have a Doctor degree from the univeristy of Belize. Me be teaching english and the old teachers need to retired let the young teachers be showing you how it be done and work with the thugs. Mrs. Shipp rocks.
None of the money received was a bonus. It was all money owed to us from the renegotiated contract. I am not bashing the union or being unsupportive of my fellow teachers. I am proud to work for IPS, but want people to know that we did not get a bonus. I am a teacher. I am not an administrator or someone that works downtown. I have been reading this site for months. My first comment ever on this site was the one about our back pay not being a bonus. After months of reading, all I can say is that it is a shame we are all so divided. It is too bad we can't put as much energy into doing positive for the district as we do bashing it.
IEA is funded by people like me. It should work for my interests. If you want students to be served better, then make sure that teachers' needs are met. We are very generous folk. The administration, the school board and the tax payers will never just give us a raise out of the goodness of their hearts. We have to fight for every hard earned cent we make. This is not sales. There are no bonuses if you work harder than everybody else. We have to stick together to make any headway in our pay.
We give and give and give freely of ourselves and sacrifice our time for our students. We spend our own money to make our classrooms a success. We work way beyond the regular work day to get done what needs to be done. Everyone I meet tells me we don't get paid enough. Are they just telling me that to make me feel good?
If you saw 60 minutes this week, you saw the story about the public boarding school in Washington D.C., SEED. Every child graduates and goes on to college. That tells me that if you take the parents out of the equation, then the public school institution can get the job done. So, no I don't feel like a failure if one of my students fails. I know I've done my part. Their parents raised them and brought them to the point that they are at now. If their parents have done a good job, then I can teach them. If there is too much drama going on in their lives at home, then their success in my classroom is not certain. I give it 100% and sleep well at night.
I think there is a perception, even if it is faulty, that the IEA backs certain political candidates. Since the candidates that are backed are always democrats, IEA alienates its republican teachers. Maybe republicans won't join unions anyway, so why try to not piss them off, but if getting more IPS teachers to join the union is a goal, then staying out of politics might be a good way to accomplish that.
If you look at the list of endorsements, there are always GOP candidates endorsed. Few in Marion County are due to the public education here but in the remainder of the state, many receive ISTA endorsements. This is a myth perpetuated by the anti union forces.
And speaking of Valic... What if you did not want to set-up an account with them for whatever reason? You don't get the 1% check. You cannot even have it deposited into some other retirement account. Sounds like someone got paid off onn that deal huh? And where is the union on that one? (Ooops. I asked a question. It must mean I don't support my fellow teachers.)
The IEA 'lost' me a couple of years ago when union member teachers began showing up at school wearing tacky black t-shirts with some simple-minded slogan printed on the fronts and backs. I did not wish to be associated with such blue-collar antics.
Each time I watch the local news and view IPS teachers attending a School Board meeting, I'm also bothered by the way IEA teachers dress for a public meeting. Maybe it's the media's fault; perhaps the TV camera intentionally is directed toward the teachers wearing sloppy sweatshirts and faded jeans.
The perception of IEA teachers is not good. That's simply a general perception; not a fact.
You talk as if there is some shame in being a blue collar worker.....they are the backbone of America and many earn more that teachers. It is this condescending attitude toward others that gives teachers a bad name.
The American Medical Association and the Bar Association are professional organizations/trade unions. The big difference there is that they have some control over their members. (This is not said in support of the IEA.)
No one said anything about Blue Collar workers. Whatever your job is, if you do it well and are dedicated, support your family, that's something to be proud of.
Re: blue collar reference above / blue collar workers are not shameful; however, teachers are not blue collar workers. Teachers are professional workers.
A blue-collar worker is a member of the working class who typically performs manual labor and earns an hourly wage. Blue-collar workers are distinguished from those in the service sector and from white-collar workers, whose jobs are not considered manual labor.
Blue-collar work may be skilled or unskilled, and may involve manufacturing, mining, building and construction trades, mechanical work, maintenance, repair and operations maintenance or technical installations. The white-collar worker, by contrast, performs non-manual labor often in an office; and the service industry worker performs labor involving customer interaction, entertainment, retail and outside sales, and the like.
A distinctive element of blue collar work is the lesser requirement for formal academic education which is needed to succeed in other types of work, with many blue-collar jobs requiring only a high school diploma or GED. Blue-collar work typically is hourly wage-labor. Usually, the pay for such occupation is lower than that of the white-collar worker, although higher than many entry-level service occupations. Especially skilled blue-collar jobs may pay very well compared to white collar jobs. Sometimes the work conditions can be strenuous or hazardous, also known as the three Ds: Dirty, Demanding, and Dangerous. Blue collar jobs typically are represented by unions.
Our principal got all teary-eyed at our staff meeting on Wed. when she announced all the teachers who were transferring to other schools. She said it was always hard to see people leave. Unfortunately, most of the teachers were leaving because she's too soft-hearted to discipline the students. Kids need love & compassion, but they also need rules & stucture.
Isn't that a liability................having students carry boxes, desks,tables and chairs down the stairs? What the hell do they pay the custodians to do? Sit on their Asses!!!! and they say teachers are useless............give me a break!
You're intentionally being provocative. Even the best of teachers will have students fail. But that doesn't mean that it's not our responsibility to really, truly try to connect with each child and make the lesson relevant to that child. Whenever I find myself feeling defeated and tempted to fall back on the excuses about the limits to what teachers can do, I always think of Anne Sullivan. If she could teach a child as wild and angry and disabled as Helen Keller, then surely I can teach my students, right?
ReplyDeleteTell that to our teacher bashing, bully of a superintendent.
ReplyDeleteAnne Sullivan was free to teach Helen Keller in the way she thought was best. She could use her professional judgement to change the curriculum and schedule to fit her student. Until IPS stops micromanaging teachers, stops trying to make every teacher teach the same thing on the same day, students will suffer. In Anne Sullivan's world bulletin boards, testing, templated lesson plans and principals beating up on teachers did not exist. Natural consequences rather than bracelets, trinkets or candy were Keller's reward. Sullivan did not have to compete with the achievement of other students, teachers, schools or nations. Her main concern was the student in front of her. Teaching and learning were her only goal; not getting her student to pass someone else's test that had never seen Hellen Keller.
ReplyDeleteThe question is not whether you can teach students that are not as wild as Helen Keller. The question is if you will be given freedom to teach and if students will be given freedom to learn. That is worth fighting for. Join your local union and be a part of the movement to return professionalism back to teachers. Accountability cannot happen when teachers lack academic freedom. Browbeating does not work.
I agree that accountability cannot happen when teachers lack academic freedom. I disagree that the union will ever improve education or "return" the professionalism to teachers. It's a political lobby, not an education movement.
ReplyDeleteThe union fights for better working conditions for teachers. Until better working conditions are gained, teachers will still be overworked, underpaid, treated like crap and hindered from doing the best for children. Part of the reason for the poor teaching conditions in IPS is that our hard won contract was raped by the state when they disallowed IPS teachers (but not others in the state) to bargain for anything but salary and fringe benefits. When that happened (with Public Law 340 or 221, not sure which) teachers lost a lot of the professional treatment that is common in other school districts.
ReplyDeleteIPS cannot keep or attract teachers when teachers are treated as scum. Many IPS good teachers are moving on because it is just too hard to teach with the added burden of "nothing you do is right, do it this way."
The teachers of IPS have little support from the brainiacs at 120 E. Walnut. Sometimes the Principal and staff at the school are behind the teachers, sometimes not. But, it is a damn tough position to be in when downtown opposes the administration of the the school, between a rock & a hard place is only the half of it.
ReplyDeleteThe union is simply useless. They go along to get along. The IEA is a disorganized bunch of girls and boys who like titles without responsibility. Teachers vote this incompetent lot out and get some representation with some smarts and energy. The AFSCME would not put up with this sort of crap from their leaders. Why should you?
I have to laugh at the posts which state that IEA does nothing, just wait until IPS comes after you for "poor teaching". You will run to the union to "help you", just hope you are a member. IPS fired a lot of seasoned teachers this year, you could be next, if the principal doesn't like the way you look. If a student fails, then I fail. Many times I can not find the answer on how to turn around a student, I don't have the wisedom to see the answer, Yet, I regroup, and try again asking my fellow teachers advise on how to reach the student.
ReplyDeleteThe union is not a thing. It's teachers. Unless teachers are willing to be part of the solution by joining the union they have no right to voice concerns about what the union does or does not do. In fact, they have NO VOICE.
ReplyDeleteIf you would like to make IEA stronger, join and be a teacher leader with a voice. Get involved! Run for office or join the bargaining team if you feel you have better working ideas. Nothing will get done by non-dues paying, non-member union bashers. Until IPS teachers get different representation only the IEA can represent teachers at the bargaining table. If you do not want IEA to represent you then start a movement to get alternate representation. Your union bashing comments do nothing to better anything.
I didn't bash the union. I said I didn't want to be a part of it because it doesn't stand for anything I stand for. Me joining wouldn't change that. I don't know any teachers I admire who belong the union. If you do, then you're in the right place. Nobody's bashing anyone else's choices.
ReplyDeleteThe president of the IEA is owned by Eugene White....he even gave her a do nothing job so she could campaign for the office....until she is gone, the IEA will accomplish nothing.
ReplyDeleteI know good teachers who are in the union, mostly democrats, and good teachers who aren't in the union, mostly republicans. I think most republican teachers choose to not be in the union because they don't like seeing their dues going toward political campaigns that they don't support.
ReplyDeleteThe IEA should focus on representing its members interests in negotiations with the district and stay out of politics.
As for blaming teachers when students fail, I think there are too many variables that we aren't in control of to lay the blame on us. If and when one of us does something that actually harms a student, we usually get caught, fired and see ourselves on the news. That's just one or two a year. The rest of us are working our butts off trying to find creative ways to teach what's on the pacing guides.
You need to research your facts. Federal law prevents dues money from going to political campaigns. Not one cent goes to any political activity so take you misinformation and your anti teacher and anti union misinformation somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that two posts above, the poster tried to make it a democratic vs. republican thing. I know MANY of both parties that are a part of the union. That poster speaks like the union is some mysterious entity. It is the members. It is all of us who are in it. If the union should do something, in your opinion, then lead the way! Show us by example. If the union should stay out of politics, then don't bring it into a discussion about the union.
ReplyDelete"Federal law prohibits unions from using dues money or other assets to contribute to or otherwise assist federal candidates or political parties, in accordance with their tax-exempt status. The NEA Fund for Children and Public Education is a special fund for voluntary contributions from NEA members which can legally be used to assist candidates and political parties. Critics have repeatedly questioned the NEA's actual compliance with such laws, and a number of legal actions focusing on the union's use of money and union personnel in partisan contexts have ensued"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.landmarklegal.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=161
Based on required filings with the federal government, it is estimated that between 1990 and 2002 ninety percent of the NEA's substantial political contributions went to Democratic Party candidates.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=95000771
Why is this so surprising to anyone? And who really cares? This blog is always off-topic. No wonder we have so much trouble reaching the kids. The answer to THIS topic is "YES!"
ReplyDeleteTeaching IS political. Do you want Tony Bennet's ideas to become the work-place reality for educators in this state? The union is the ONLY group trying to oppose what he wants to do with the educational system in Indiana. Go take a look at how he wants things to be run, realize that he has the power and right to say that things are to be the way he says, and then come back and tell me that it isn't political!
ReplyDeleteHopefully when you take your head from the sand, you won't put it into a body orifice.
Mitch Daniels wants to do away with senority rigths and collective bargaining for teachers. Tony Bennett will follow the lead, both have no idea about teaching. My success is measured by the success of my students, even if I only move them up one-five of a grade level using the thirty days they have shown up for school. IPS will have to start expelling students, who miss too many days of school, after ADM, just like the township schools.
ReplyDeleteSeniority rights are poor indicators of teaching ability.
ReplyDeleteYou can opt out of the political action committee, it is not hard, just fill out the form. As to the PAC, you are probably right about Ann belonging to Eugene, and the inaction of the PAC is evidence of that. The PAC didn't send out the candidate questioners in a timely manner, didn't endorse anyone until the day before the election, in an e-mail that arrived at 4:00pm on election day, and never donated any of the PAC contributions to any candidates. What is with that?
ReplyDeleteAny political donations from NEA/ISTA/IEA are from voluntary donations and not one cent from dues money as it is illegal. I hope our students learn to read and comprehend better than some on here who claim to be teachers.
ReplyDeleteAs a non-union IPS teacher, I completely respect your right to unionize, promote seniority rights and collective bargaining, and oppose accountability, market-based solutions, parent choice, and teacher merit incentives to improve our public schools. But as an educated professional and an informed citizen, I think randomly throwing money out of my car window on 465 would have a better chance of being spent on a cause I support than giving it to the teacher's union. The only organization I can think of that has hurt more poor children in America than the teacher's union is the KKK. I would leave the profession before I would sell out my morals and integrity to the union. So quit preaching to me and others like me like we're not informed about what we're doing. We know the truth. That's why we don't belong to the union.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of the arguments for either side, the behavior of the apparent union members on here would dissuade me from joining just on principle. I wouldn't want to associate myself with such people.
ReplyDeleteAnd when a student and their parent acuses you of improper behavior I hope you have $100,000 buried in your backyard to pay your lawyer. The union is there to help teachers. Our staff has brought many problems to them and there is strength in numbers. Our unfair working conditions were resolved. Eveyone should join the union, we all need protection from unfair acusations.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the non-union IPS teacher. I think the teacher's union has hurt way more poor children than the KKK every did. And to the ignorant selfish "teacher" above, do you notice that nowhere in your post do you mention the kids? You want your job protected, but you don't want to be accountable for actually doing any job at all. You want that put on parents. But you don't want them to have a choice to switch their kids to a teacher who, unlike you, actually believes in the job of teaching. You are the epitome of the union mentality and everything that's wrong with public education.
ReplyDeleteI have been a teacher for 12 years and not a single teacher I know who has been protected by the union was someone I would want teaching my children. Not a single one.
ReplyDeleteWell it looks like I'll need that 100 grand anyways, because the one time I asked the union for help I was told to ask a lawyer. So much for the "being there to help teachers"
ReplyDeleteIf you aren't a union member you don't deserve their help. Or the raises they work for, for ALL the ips teachers. Even you people out there who bash them. Without the union's bargaining team we still wouldn't have a contract agreement or those nice bonus checks we all really enjoyed last month. You should give your bonus checks back.
ReplyDeleteOk then the union should reimburse me for all the expenses and stress/hardship associated with the job searches I have had to go through for the past three years in IPS due to the fact that I did not have seniority. The union insists on maintaining a system that keeps the oldest instead of the best. My layoffs were due to age, not ability or performance.
ReplyDeleteOh, and we don't even need the union for lawyers any more. As long as we act with good intentions, the state is required to provide our legal defense. Check House Bill 1462.
ReplyDeleteThe school system will sell you out in a minute to save them money...who do you think their lawyers are concerned with...you or IPS...how naive can you be???????
ReplyDeleteThe truth of the matter is that most non union teachers are too cheap to belong and pay their fair share..they want all of the benefits without paying a cent......freeloaders.....but the time will come when many of them will want representation...believe me, I have been there when they begged for protection but received none because they were not members and had not paid their fair share.............leeches...society has them at all levels.
ReplyDeleteUnions began for one purpose -- to protect the rights of the workers.
ReplyDeleteThe union concept makes sense for those who work in dangerous environments (i.e., coal mines, iron foundaries, oil fields, etc.). Unions make sense for those who work in factories where the owners pay 'slave type' wages or abuse child labor laws.
Unions are concerned with protection, not the final product. Our product in education is teaching children.
Unions for teachers of children make about as much sense as trying to mix oil and water.
It wasn't a bonus check. It was backpay for money owed to us. Yes the union got it for us. For that I applaude them, but it was not a bonus.
ReplyDeleteThey should have negotiated that back pay with interest but we simply got the pay. I am pleased that we were paid and thanks IEA but, in fact, we were owed the money for over a year. Where was the union on this issue? We are really owed a lot more. But they were nowhere of course. We simply got what we were owed minus penalties and interest. Yeah. Great deal. We got paid.
ReplyDeleteYou are obviou8ly forgetting the 1% bonus that was paid into your retirement account with VALIC. But that's okay you have already made it clear you don't support your fellow teachers.
ReplyDeleteI didn't need the union, me being a American Fellow, I have a Doctor degree from the univeristy of Belize. Me be teaching english and the old teachers need to retired let the young teachers be showing you how it be done and work with the thugs. Mrs. Shipp rocks.
ReplyDeleteNone of the money received was a bonus. It was all money owed to us from the renegotiated contract. I am not bashing the union or being unsupportive of my fellow teachers. I am proud to work for IPS, but want people to know that we did not get a bonus. I am a teacher. I am not an administrator or someone that works downtown. I have been reading this site for months. My first comment ever on this site was the one about our back pay not being a bonus. After months of reading, all I can say is that it is a shame we are all so divided. It is too bad we can't put as much energy into doing positive for the district as we do bashing it.
ReplyDeleteIEA is funded by people like me. It should work for my interests. If you want students to be served better, then make sure that teachers' needs are met. We are very generous folk. The administration, the school board and the tax payers will never just give us a raise out of the goodness of their hearts. We have to fight for every hard earned cent we make. This is not sales. There are no bonuses if you work harder than everybody else. We have to stick together to make any headway in our pay.
ReplyDeleteWe give and give and give freely of ourselves and sacrifice our time for our students. We spend our own money to make our classrooms a success. We work way beyond the regular work day to get done what needs to be done. Everyone I meet tells me we don't get paid enough. Are they just telling me that to make me feel good?
If you saw 60 minutes this week, you saw the story about the public boarding school in Washington D.C., SEED. Every child graduates and goes on to college. That tells me that if you take the parents out of the equation, then the public school institution can get the job done. So, no I don't feel like a failure if one of my students fails. I know I've done my part. Their parents raised them and brought them to the point that they are at now. If their parents have done a good job, then I can teach them. If there is too much drama going on in their lives at home, then their success in my classroom is not certain. I give it 100% and sleep well at night.
I think there is a perception, even if it is faulty, that the IEA backs certain political candidates. Since the candidates that are backed are always democrats, IEA alienates its republican teachers. Maybe republicans won't join unions anyway, so why try to not piss them off, but if getting more IPS teachers to join the union is a goal, then staying out of politics might be a good way to accomplish that.
If you look at the list of endorsements, there are always GOP candidates endorsed. Few in Marion County are due to the public education here but in the remainder of the state, many receive ISTA endorsements. This is a myth perpetuated by the anti union forces.
ReplyDeleteAnd speaking of Valic... What if you did not want to set-up an account with them for whatever reason? You don't get the 1% check. You cannot even have it deposited into some other retirement account. Sounds like someone got paid off onn that deal huh? And where is the union on that one? (Ooops. I asked a question. It must mean I don't support my fellow teachers.)
ReplyDeleteThe IEA 'lost' me a couple of years ago when union member teachers began showing up at school wearing tacky black t-shirts with some simple-minded slogan printed on the fronts and backs. I did not wish to be associated with such blue-collar antics.
ReplyDeleteEach time I watch the local news and view IPS teachers attending a School Board meeting, I'm also bothered by the way IEA teachers dress for a public meeting. Maybe it's the media's fault; perhaps the TV camera intentionally is directed toward the teachers wearing sloppy sweatshirts and faded jeans.
The perception of IEA teachers is not good. That's simply a general perception; not a fact.
You talk as if there is some shame in being a blue collar worker.....they are the backbone of America and many earn more that teachers. It is this condescending attitude toward others that gives teachers a bad name.
ReplyDeleteThe American Medical Association and the Bar Association are professional organizations/trade unions. The big difference there is that they have some control over their members. (This is not said in support of the IEA.)
ReplyDeleteNo one said anything about Blue Collar workers. Whatever your job is, if you do it well and are dedicated, support your family, that's something to be proud of.
ReplyDeletePlease check the reference to BLUE COLLAR TACTICS above. What is it that blue collar workers do that is shameful and should be subject to ridicule.
ReplyDeleteRe: blue collar reference above / blue collar workers are not shameful; however, teachers are not blue collar workers. Teachers are professional workers.
ReplyDeleteA blue-collar worker is a member of the working class who typically performs manual labor and earns an hourly wage. Blue-collar workers are distinguished from those in the service sector and from white-collar workers, whose jobs are not considered manual labor.
Blue-collar work may be skilled or unskilled, and may involve manufacturing, mining, building and construction trades, mechanical work, maintenance, repair and operations maintenance or technical installations. The white-collar worker, by contrast, performs non-manual labor often in an office; and the service industry worker performs labor involving customer interaction, entertainment, retail and outside sales, and the like.
A distinctive element of blue collar work is the lesser requirement for formal academic education which is needed to succeed in other types of work, with many blue-collar jobs requiring only a high school diploma or GED. Blue-collar work typically is hourly wage-labor. Usually, the pay for such occupation is lower than that of the white-collar worker, although higher than many entry-level service occupations. Especially skilled blue-collar jobs may pay very well compared to white collar jobs. Sometimes the work conditions can be strenuous or hazardous, also known as the three Ds: Dirty, Demanding, and Dangerous. Blue collar jobs typically are represented by unions.
Thank god for the Union. If we didn't have one I would have had to carry boxes, desks, and chairs down the steps. Instead the students got to do it.
ReplyDeleteAbove taken directly from:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-collar_worker
Our principal got all teary-eyed at our staff meeting on Wed. when she announced all the teachers who were transferring to other schools. She said it was always hard to see people leave. Unfortunately, most of the teachers were leaving because she's too soft-hearted to discipline the students. Kids need love & compassion, but they also need rules & stucture.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that a liability................having students carry boxes, desks,tables and chairs down the stairs? What the hell do they pay the custodians to do? Sit on their Asses!!!! and they say teachers are useless............give me a break!
ReplyDeleteour principal treats our custodians like they are pack animals....let´s don´t berate those men and women....the administration does enough of that.
ReplyDeleteTIME FOR A NEW TOPIC!!!
ReplyDeleteThe blogmaster is trash....pw that is.
ReplyDeleteracist name calling...just another contributon from some Eugene White administrator.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to "Barbie"?
ReplyDelete"Barbie" has left the building.
ReplyDelete