Iron Range teacher contract unsettled after 18 months

The union representing St. Louis County School District teachers has yet to settle with the district on a contract for the 2007 to 2009 period, less than six months before the contract would expire.

[Hello]

Let them eat cake.

[John Galt]

The Iron Range is noted for paying semi-skilled mine workers up to $65,000 per year, wages and benefits. A teacher starts at less than one-third that amount. For that matter, the majority of degreed professionals in the Iron Range area make less than that.

I guess if I were a teacher on the Iron Range in particular, I'd have some serious problems "settling" for anything approaching what is being offered. And regardless of the salary package offered, it's going to be very hard to teach effectively when the overwhelming message from the community is that if one wants to make money, all one needs is sufficient education to break rocks.

[Hello]

John Galt wrote:

The Iron Range is noted for paying semi-skilled mine workers up to $65,000 per year, wages and benefits. A teacher starts at less than one-third that amount. For that matter, the majority of degreed professionals in the Iron Range area make less than that.
I guess if I were a teacher on the Iron Range in particular, I'd have some serious problems "settling" for anything approaching what is being offered. And regardless of the salary package offered, it's going to be very hard to teach effectively when the overwhelming message from the community is that if one wants to make money, all one needs is sufficient education to break rocks.

You try working in a mine before you open your mouth again.

[John Galt]

I have worked in mines. Any further questions?

[Kermit the Frog]

My husband wouldn't work in a mine if his livelihood depended upon it. For the most part, people who want to work hard get punished by their peers, resulting in widespread laziness. Now, I know plenty of mine workers who are not lazy, but most of them complain about the general attitude they must work with. So, sorry, but I have to agree with John - the attitude of most mine workers is what can I get, instead of what should I give? Between laziness and theft, they are working themselves out of a job.

[Natasha Badanoff]

John Galt wrote:

The Iron Range is noted for paying semi-skilled mine workers up to $65,000 per year, wages and benefits. A teacher starts at less than one-third that amount. For that matter, the majority of degreed professionals in the Iron Range area make less than that.
I guess if I were a teacher on the Iron Range in particular, I'd have some serious problems "settling" for anything approaching what is being offered. And regardless of the salary package offered, it's going to be very hard to teach effectively when the overwhelming message from the community is that if one wants to make money, all one needs is sufficient education to break rocks.

The living is a lot cheaper on the range.