Furlough day sought from Fitchburg teachers - Sentinel & Enterp...

Superintendent of Schools Andre Ravenelle will ask the teachers' union to approve one furlough day in anticipation of midyear budget cuts that could affect the school system.

[truffles]

Please. I am always amazed at the stupidity of school administrators. Seriously, do you think teachers are going to be engaged and productive at the very end of the school year? Most have professional development plans of their own, courses to take in the summer, rooms to reorganize, and a well deserved vacation. Cut back on administration and the school department could save lots of money. Better yet, let the superintendent go and hire a couple of secretaries at an hourly wage.

[pollygirl]

truffles wrote:

Please. I am always amazed at the stupidity of school administrators. Seriously, do you think teachers are going to be engaged and productive at the very end of the school year? Most have professional development plans of their own, courses to take in the summer, rooms to reorganize, and a well deserved vacation. Cut back on administration and the school department could save lots of money. Better yet, let the superintendent go and hire a couple of secretaries at an hourly wage.

I agree! i could not have said it any better

[sure]

Yeah God forbid our sainted teachers give anything back

[former teacher Tom]

We could go back and fourth all day on how many hours the teachers work and don't work. Yes they/we only work 180 days a year. If you think that the teachers work stop at 3pm when the bell rings you are wrong. They have grades to do, homework themselves, lesson planning. How many of you sit at home for two maybe three hours after you come home from the office doing work related things? How many of you are a counselor or a mentor to say 150 different young souls? How would you like to work the same amount of hours for 1/4 less pay and be crapped on by every tax paying citizen. Most of these teachers live in the district they teach in. When they get a "raise" their taxes in the city go up, when their healtch care costs increase their pay goes down. As for avoiding layoffs, I would agree that a 1 day Furlough may avoid a few layoffs. As a union member for 35 years I applaud them for trying something before an axe is waived......

[Bob the Builder]

Gee that sounds a lot like REAL jobs that rest of us have to work. Schools and teachers have not seen the full effect of the economic times we live in and thats the way it should be because they are vital to the success of the nation.

Asking them to take a non-paid day for the good of the school system is not too much to ask. Pray things get better...

former teacher Tom wrote:

If you think that the teachers work stop at 3pm when the bell rings you are wrong.

[Hmm]

Bob the Builder wrote:

Gee that sounds a lot like REAL jobs that rest of us have to work. Schools and teachers have not seen the full effect of the economic times we live in and thats the way it should be because they are vital to the success of the nation.
Asking them to take a non-paid day for the good of the school system is not too much to ask. Pray things get better...
<quoted text>

Until you have actually done the job and had to jump through all of the hoops the state makes you go through to just get your license you have no business implying that teaching is not a "real" job. Whats the matter, did teacher yell at you 25 years ago and your still not over it?

[Publius]

In the midst of "the sky is falling" rhetoric last spring, Superintendent Ravanelle and other administrators received a raise. How about leading by example and not taking a raise while reducing staff and cutting pay through furloughs?

It would be interesting reading for the Sentinel to review their coverage from last spring and bring it up to date with what has happened since. Raises to the top school administrators is incongruous with their rhetoric about the need for furloughs.

[Mike from Leominster]

Hmm wrote:

<quoted text>
Until you have actually done the job and had to jump through all of the hoops the state makes you go through to just get your license you have no business implying that teaching is not a "real" job. Whats the matter, did teacher yell at you 25 years ago and your still not over it?

Typical teacher. "I'm not like you because I actually work extra hours, and ummm, I need special education to do my job." Welcome to the rest of America.

I'll give you this - teachers are very different than most working folks in two ways: 1.) they have a "good old fashoned" union that protects the lazy and the incompetent, and 2.) they get a pretty sweet pension. Pensions for most folks have gone the way of the do do bird.

[Resident]

Mike from Leominster wrote:

<quoted text>
Typical teacher. "I'm not like you because I actually work extra hours, and ummm, I need special education to do my job." Welcome to the rest of America.
I'll give you this - teachers are very different than most working folks in two ways: 1.) they have a "good old fashoned" union that protects the lazy and the incompetent, and 2.) they get a pretty sweet pension. Pensions for most folks have gone the way of the do do bird.

But they only get summers off, thanksgiving vacation, christmas/new years vacation, February vacation, April vacation and every national holiday as well.

[Hmm]

Mike from Leominster wrote:

<quoted text>
Typical teacher. "I'm not like you because I actually work extra hours, and ummm, I need special education to do my job." Welcome to the rest of America.
I'll give you this - teachers are very different than most working folks in two ways: 1.) they have a "good old fashoned" union that protects the lazy and the incompetent, and 2.) they get a pretty sweet pension. Pensions for most folks have gone the way of the do do bird.

Im paying 11 percent into my retirement. You pay that much into your own retirement and you will have a nice retirement also. I never said we were "special", but we certainly are not "less-than".

[Bob the Builder]

Lets face reality teachers work what amounts to a full time job for 180 days +/- each year. They have lots of time off during the school year and they have a the opportunity to use some of their free afternoons to take care of household business. During the summer teachers can take on part time work, vacation, or do something related to school.

Those of us that work REAL jobs are expected to be in by 7 or 8 work till 5 or 6. After commuting time there is no time to deal with household business except weekends. The days of 14 paid days off are long gone. Taking time off during working hours is discouraged. And those of us with REAL jobs do this 260 days a year without a break.

All I'm saying is that your workload as a teacher is the norm and then some for the private sector. Asking teachers to take a day off is not too much to ask if it financially helps the school district.

Hmm wrote:

<quoted text>
Until you have actually done the job and had to jump through all of the hoops the state makes you go through to just get your license you have no business implying that teaching is not a "real" job. Whats the matter, did teacher yell at you 25 years ago and your still not over it?

[truffles]

Bob the Builder wrote:

Lets face reality teachers work what amounts to a full time job for 180 days +/- each year. They have lots of time off during the school year and they have a the opportunity to use some of their free afternoons to take care of household business. During the summer teachers can take on part time work, vacation, or do something related to school.
Those of us that work REAL jobs are expected to be in by 7 or 8 work till 5 or 6. After commuting time there is no time to deal with household business except weekends. The days of 14 paid days off are long gone. Taking time off during working hours is discouraged. And those of us with REAL jobs do this 260 days a year without a break.
All I'm saying is that your workload as a teacher is the norm and then some for the private sector. Asking teachers to take a day off is not too much to ask if it financially helps the school district.
<quoted text>

Sorry Bob the builder, but I don't believe you have a Real job. Teaching is a valuable profession; pity the teachers that get one of your offsprings. That would amount to a Herculean task-sorta like making a silk purse out of a sow's ear or better yet, getting Bruce Marien to make sense.

[Resident]

truffles wrote:

Please. I am always amazed at the stupidity of school administrators. Seriously, do you think teachers are going to be engaged and productive at the very end of the school year? Most have professional development plans of their own, courses to take in the summer, rooms to reorganize, and a well deserved vacation. Cut back on administration and the school department could save lots of money. Better yet, let the superintendent go and hire a couple of secretaries at an hourly wage.

Well deserved vacation????? You mean the vacation days in November, December, January, February, April aren't enough? And all of the other national holidays that go with it?

Truffles, Percenters, whatever you happen to be calling yourself right now, you're nothing more than an annoying troll on these boards. You've got an unhealthy obsession with Bruce and you should seek help.

[CONCERNED TAXPAYER]

The governor did not "propose" any cuts to local aid or education for the mid year "proposed" reduction.Everyone needs to read and listen better. The next budget is July 1,2010 so relax for now. Also, the union already voted in May against furloughs. We have the same contract which can not be broken. Again,relax and concentrate on the kids.The school calender did not have to be changed. That was a rush to judgement, but the super. makes mistakes too......

[Hmm]

Bob the Builder wrote:

Lets face reality teachers work what amounts to a full time job for 180 days +/- each year. They have lots of time off during the school year and they have a the opportunity to use some of their free afternoons to take care of household business. During the summer teachers can take on part time work, vacation, or do something related to school.
Those of us that work REAL jobs are expected to be in by 7 or 8 work till 5 or 6. After commuting time there is no time to deal with household business except weekends. The days of 14 paid days off are long gone. Taking time off during working hours is discouraged. And those of us with REAL jobs do this 260 days a year without a break.
All I'm saying is that your workload as a teacher is the norm and then some for the private sector. Asking teachers to take a day off is not too much to ask if it financially helps the school district.
<quoted text>

I have no problem with the furlough day, just the implication that teaching is not a "real" job.

[instigator]

Mike from Leominster wrote:

<quoted text>
Typical teacher. "I'm not like you because I actually work extra hours, and ummm, I need special education to do my job." Welcome to the rest of America.
I'll give you this - teachers are very different than most working folks in two ways: 1.) they have a "good old fashoned" union that protects the lazy and the incompetent, and 2.) they get a pretty sweet pension. Pensions for most folks have gone the way of the do do bird.

Sounds like you are a bit jealous. You can take the test and join the teaching ranks also and enjoy all the so-called benefits you're bashing.

[instigator]

I love how all the teacher bashers are so jealous. You all can/could have taken the test and chosen teaching as a career. Get over it or do something about your own lousy careers.

[godforbid]

hey i got the answer to all you lazy good for nothings that put most of the burden of teaching back on the parents that actually work full time. drop music and art from the curriculum and save on the salaries associated with those classes put the money back into much needed school supplies you saps constantly beg us working (full time) parents for. quit your whinning and stop saying your part time job with full time benefits and salary isn't enough. as for "the former teacher Tom" what guidance have you provided the souls fitchburg

[Bob]

OMG, You don't mean to suggest the Union actually consider an Unpaid day. This should have their Knickers in a snit.
I can tell you already they will say no.
I can't wait to hear the stories of how they spend their evenings and summer working on lesson plans. Funny stuff.

[Bob]

former teacher Tom wrote: If you think that the teachers work stop at 3pm when the bell rings you are wrong.

Tom, I'd hate to tell you but the majority of people know a teacher and SEE what they do after work. Poppycock I say.