East Leyden techers go on strike

It seems all scripted as if we live in a world of robots. Contract Expires - Ask for more money - If negotiations fail - Strike - Carry signs - Settle. Something is missing in today's community.

I found this one on You Tube about the recent Huntley Illinois School District Strike.
The video was taken by a young boy on a bicycle. I applaud this young boy's getting out there and giving his opinion, even though it is a simple statement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Cae

Enola, PA

unionssuck wrote:

My Son is a freshman at east.
The economy is in the tank.
These teacher's make more than a decent buck.
But the kicker is the school has not met Illinois high school standard's for 4 yrs and they want more money? That's the greedy union for you.
Pathetic.

Is that true? can a teacher reply on this comment

Cool

It takes a boy wrote:

It seems all scripted as if we live in a world of robots. Contract Expires - Ask for more money - If negotiations fail - Strike - Carry signs - Settle. Something is missing in today's community.
I found this one on You Tube about the recent Huntley Illinois School District Strike.
The video was taken by a young boy on a bicycle. I applaud this young boy's getting out there and giving his opinion, even though it is a simple statement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch...

It's his video "message in a bottle" to the rest of us.

unionssuck

Yes it's true
Comment all u want.It's still a free country.
Are u a teacher at east?

unionssuck

Cae wrote:

<quoted text>
Is that true? can a teacher reply on this comment

Yes it's true
Enlighten me with your comment's

Informed

Schaumburg, IL

Judged:

I don't know what information you are getting but It is incorrect. Get the facts. The teachers aren't asking for more money,at all!!! They have offered a 0% increase over 4 years and it has been repeatedly denied. Stop assuming they are asking for more money, even if it is available. All I ask is that you get the facts before judging these teachers. They are not greedy. The economy will recover a s get stronger and for the next 4 years these teachers are offering to freeze their pay???? I don't think that's greedy at all. If you are going to get mad at someone, get mad at he board for not giving the taxpayers the facts.

fp resident

Forest Park, IL

Judged:

Informed wrote:

More ignorant comments. These are the typical parents the teachers have to deal with. Wow.

It's interesting that you think everyone is so unenlightened or as you put it ignorant. Deal with your damn job, if you have no patience with parents how can you begin to deal with our children? Giving you more money so you can live outside of Franklin Park in that dreamworld you created for yourself and your special little family isn't going to be a free ride on my money. It's all about you isn't it?

Teacher

Judged:

Cae wrote:

<quoted text>
Is that true? can a teacher reply on this comment

This is a two part response, please read both posts the system would not allow one post this long.

There was a question about meeting standards that was asked in a comment, with a request for a teacher to respond. I'm a teacher, and here is some information regarding meeting standards. The first thing I would advise is to go to the school or district web page. All Illinois schools must post their "Illinois School Report Card" on the their own website. This gives information that allows readers to compare the school to other schools in the state.
Second we need to understand what it means to meet standards, and how it is measured, and why it is measured. To meet standards students in the spring of their junior year take the ACT and WorkKeys tests in Applied Mathematics and Reading for Information, and a state written science exam. ACT is a college readiness exam, and WorkKeys is used by many companies to determine potential employees mathematics and reading abilities, to see if they are qualified for certain positions in their company. A combined score on these exams determines meeting standards. A student not going to college probably doesn't care too much about the ACT, and a student going to college probably doesn't care too much about the WorkKeys. Why these tests are given is the "No Child Left Behind" legislation. This is designed to hold schools accountable (which is a good thing). The problem is that it doesn't hold schools accountable for the growth students make while at the school, but rather simply measuring if by junior year students are performing at a junior level. So at a school where students most students enters 9th grade with a 10th grade reading level, if the school only helps that student grow one grade level over 2.75 years that student is considered to have met standards, and the school looks good. But if a student enters high school with a 6th grade level, and shows three or four years of growth by junior year and tests at 9th or 10th grade level, that student does not meet standards, and even though the school helped them to grow three our four grade levels in 2.75 years, the school still looks bad. At Leaden, hundreds of students enter each year below grade level, needing to take remedial course work such as pre-algebra and reading courses, and other courses with extra supports to help them grasp the concepts despite their reading deficiencies.
Please don’t take the above information as a slam on the junior high, middle schools and grade schools for “sending high schools these kids below level” because there are many factors that influence students high school readiness that are out of the control of the junior highs or middle schools. For example, they may have come to the junior high from another country without having had formal schooling, they may have come to the junior high with a good solid educational in another language, but having little or now English language skills (there are over 20 languages spoken by Leyden students and parents which is a really neat feature of the district), or maybe the student moved a lot and had a choppy educational experience.
But the fact of the matter is despite working with students at their level and helping them to make significant growth in the time they are at a school, even 4 or 5 years of growth a school can be rated as not meeting standards.

Teacher

Judged:

Here is part two...

You will start to see what many will point out as the “good schools” begin to not meet standards in the coming years as each year the levels of expectation from the state are raised to the point that in the year 2014 100% of students must meet standards for a school to be considered a successful school. Again that is despite the student’s entry ability, or even when they enter. A student could enter a high school during January of junior year, and that student will be tested with the rest of the juniors and his or her score will be figured into the schools rating even though the
school only works with the student for 2 or 3 months before they get tested.
So to make a long story short (or more accurately to end the long story), as a district, no Leyden did not meet standards, but please take into consideration how this is measured when using it as a measuring stick of a district’s success. Also look at the trend data, for ACT scores and you will see a positive trend (of course with occasional dips) but over time scores are going up. The same is true for WorkKeys scores.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I speak for myself when I say this, but I’m sure it would be echoed by my colleagues, we do care about our students and work very hard to give them the tools they need to be successful. I also understand your concerns and believe you have the right have them, voice them and act on them.

Teacher

Judged:

Not sure why part one did not post so here is part one again...

There was a question about meeting standards that was asked in a comment, with a request for a teacher to respond. I'm a teacher, and here is some information regarding meeting standards. The first thing I would advise is to go to the school or district web page. All Illinois schools must post their "Illinois School Report Card" on the their own website. This gives information that allows readers to compare the school to other schools in the state.

Second we need to understand what it means to meet standards, and how it is measured, and why it is measured. To meet standards students in the spring of their junior year take the ACT and WorkKeys tests in Applied Mathematics and Reading for Information, and a state written science exam. ACT is a college readiness exam, and WorkKeys is used by many companies to determine potential employees mathematics and reading abilities, to see if they are qualified for certain positions in their company. A combined score on these exams determines meeting standards. A student not going to college probably doesn't care too much about the ACT, and a student going to college probably doesn't care too much about the WorkKeys. Why these tests are given is the "No Child Left Behind" legislation. This is designed to hold schools accountable (which is a good thing). The problem is that it doesn't hold schools accountable for the growth students make while at the school, but rather simply measuring if by junior year students are performing at a junior level. So at a school where students most students enters 9th grade with a 10th grade reading level, if the school only helps that student grow one grade level over 2.75 years that student is considered to have met standards, and the school looks good. But if a student enters high school with a 6th grade level, and shows three or four years of growth by junior year and tests at 9th or 10th grade level, that student does not meet standards, and even though the school helped them to grow three our four grade levels in 2.75 years, the school still looks bad. At Leaden, hundreds of students enter each year below grade level, needing to take remedial course work such as pre-algebra and reading courses, and other courses with extra supports to help them grasp the concepts despite their reading deficiencies.

Please don’t take the above information as a slam on the junior high, middle schools and grade schools for “sending high schools these kids below level” because there are many factors that influence students high school readiness that are out of the control of the junior highs or middle schools. For example, they may have come to the junior high from another country without having had formal schooling, they may have come to the junior high with a good solid educational in another language, but having little or now English language skills (there are over 20 languages spoken by Leyden students and parents which is a really neat feature of the district), or maybe the student moved a lot and had a choppy educational experience.

But the fact of the matter is despite working with students at their level and helping them to make significant growth in the time they are at a school, even 4 or 5 years of growth a school can be rated as not meeting standards.

Teacher

Judged:

Ok so it did post the first time, but did not show up when I refreshed the page. Sorry about that everyone.

live in district

Davis Junction, IL

Judged:

I have had children go through that school, and I have a relative that teaches there. To say the teachers work nine months a year is a joke. Many teachers teach summer school, coach summer camps, work on curriculum projects to help make their classes better, attend school improvement team meetings, and travel to conferences on their own dime. To say they even work 8 hours a day is a joke. My sister was getting to school at 6:30 am and leaving at 6:00 after she coached (which was done for extra money needed to put herself through night school). Then in her off season, she was taking night classes to improve her knowledge of how kids think and learn to better serve THEM. When she got home to her own two kids, she had to find any spare minute to grade papers. These are not money grubbing egomaniacs, they are well educated and passionate role models for YOUR children. So when you bash teachers in front of your child, what is that doing for thier concept of getting a good education?

live in district

Davis Junction, IL

Judged:

Counter Strike wrote:

Some students tell me that on Monday there is a good possibility the teachers strike will happen.
That means the teachers will have to set up a picket line.
Let's come out in counter force and form a line across from their picket line.
We need protesters and signs.
Some suggestions for signs;
All feel the economy except teachers!
Pigs at the trough!
Money for Home Schooling!
Buy your own retirement fund!
$70,000 has more value today than yesterday!
$250,000 Superintendent!
New School Board Needed!
School Board = Pro Administration!
School Board not for US!
My Son is HOME SCHOOLED!
Justify your GREED!
Teachers follow dictates of Union!
Administration uses Students!
Think of More. Post them here.
A counter protest is our last hope. Where do we meet up?
http://www.youtube.com/watch...

again, another misinformed taxpayer, he really is getting "his" message out. It is unfortunate that we are not allowed to tell our side of the story in the media. Well here it is:

The teachers are fighting FOR the school, and the administration and board of education are AGAINST the success of the school. There are teachers that have been teaching there for 30 years and do not make near the amount that a superintendent makes. I went to Leyden, and now I teach there. But not for long. It has nothing to do with how much money I make...well, that is not entirely true. I was attracted to Leyden because of the pay scale. When I interviewed at 15 schools and got 14 offers, I chose Leyden because of the atmosphere and the support I got from my teachers when I was a student. I had so many role models there who encouraged my passion for education. I knew the admin and teachers had a good relationship. And at that time, we were in the top 6 schools (by the way, since then our rank is barely in the top 20 which means teachers have been conceding on contract upon contract as to not be the "demanding" teachers many people think we are). I moved back to Franklin Park in a heart beat because the taxes were the lowest around and the teachers were the best around. I wanted my kids to grow up there and get the same education I did. But the area had changed. The population was now very much minority and the violence that was happening right across Manheim road was frightening. We moved away, very far away because we could not afford to live in Schaumburg or Hoffman Estates or Naperville. I drive 50 minutes each way to get to Leyden. Why? Because of the people I work with. They are passionate and good at what they do. To work with kids who really need us is the most rewarding thing I have done for the last 12 years, next to raising my own children. But now I am going to work somewhere else. I will not stay in a district where the President of the Board of Education does not value the system. This is a new President, by the way, who budgeted $8 million more this year in a "time when the economy is so bad." Who remodeled the administrative offices which were perfectly fine before. Who orders elaborate floral arrangements for each and every board meeting he has. We also have a very low spending per student which is determined by how the school board wants to budget their money. We are asking for the cost of living increase schedule which EVERY SCHOOL in Illinois has in place. If we lose this schedule, many teachers will leave and it will not attract quality teachers. BAD SCHOOLS=BAD PROPERTY VALUE. Be careful what you wish for. So, I'm going to take a $15,000 pay cut now by going somewhere else where the teachers are respected by the board and the administration. I won't have to waste all that time driving. I'm just so sad to leave your children...they will always be in my heart.

Protester C

Judged:

live in district wrote:

<quoted text>
again, another misinformed taxpayer, he really is getting "his" message out. It is unfortunate that we are not allowed to tell our side of the story in the media. Well here it is:
The teachers are fighting FOR the school, and the administration and board of education are AGAINST the success of the school. There are teachers that have been teaching there for 30 years and do not make near the amount that a superintendent makes. I went to Leyden, and now I teach there. But not for long. It has nothing to do with how much money I make...well, that is not entirely true. I was attracted to Leyden because of the pay scale. When I interviewed at 15 schools and got 14 offers, I chose Leyden because of the atmosphere and the support I got from my teachers when I was a student. I had so many role models there who encouraged my passion for education. I knew the admin and teachers had a good relationship. And at that time, we were in the top 6 schools (by the way, since then our rank is barely in the top 20 which means teachers have been conceding on contract upon contract as to not be the "demanding" teachers many people think we are). I moved back to Franklin Park in a heart beat because the taxes were the lowest around and the teachers were the best around. I wanted my kids to grow up there and get the same education I did. But the area had changed. The population was now very much minority and the violence that was happening right across Manheim road was frightening. We moved away, very far away because we could not afford to live in Schaumburg or Hoffman Estates or Naperville. I drive 50 minutes each way to get to Leyden. Why? Because of the people I work with. They are passionate and good at what they do. To work with kids who really need us is the most rewarding thing I have done for the last 12 years, next to raising my own children. But now I am going to work somewhere else. I will not stay in a district where the President of the Board of Education does not value the system. This is a new President, by the way, who budgeted $8 million more this year in a "time when the economy is so bad." Who remodeled the administrative offices which were perfectly fine before. Who orders elaborate floral arrangements for each and every board meeting he has. We also have a very low spending per student which is determined by how the school board wants to budget their money. We are asking for the cost of living increase schedule which EVERY SCHOOL in Illinois has in place. If we lose this schedule, many teachers will leave and it will not attract quality teachers. BAD SCHOOLS=BAD PROPERTY VALUE. Be careful what you wish for. So, I'm going to take a $15,000 pay cut now by going somewhere else where the teachers are respected by the board and the administration. I won't have to waste all that time driving. I'm just so sad to leave your children...they will always be in my heart.

Don't Threaten to Leave - Just Leave!

Protester 12

Judged:

live in district wrote:

<quoted text>
again, another misinformed taxpayer, he really is getting "his" message out. It is unfortunate that we are not allowed to tell our side of the story in the media. Well here it is:
The teachers are fighting FOR the school, and the administration and board of education are AGAINST the success of the school. There are teachers that have been teaching there for 30 years and do not make near the amount that a superintendent makes. I went to Leyden, and now I teach there. But not for long. It has nothing to do with how much money I make...well, that is not entirely true. I was attracted to Leyden because of the pay scale. When I interviewed at 15 schools and got 14 offers, I chose Leyden because of the atmosphere and the support I got from my teachers when I was a student. I had so many role models there who encouraged my passion for education. I knew the admin and teachers had a good relationship. And at that time, we were in the top 6 schools (by the way, since then our rank is barely in the top 20 which means teachers have been conceding on contract upon contract as to not be the "demanding" teachers many people think we are). I moved back to Franklin Park in a heart beat because the taxes were the lowest around and the teachers were the best around. I wanted my kids to grow up there and get the same education I did. But the area had changed. The population was now very much minority and the violence that was happening right across Manheim road was frightening. We moved away, very far away because we could not afford to live in Schaumburg or Hoffman Estates or Naperville. I drive 50 minutes each way to get to Leyden. Why? Because of the people I work with. They are passionate and good at what they do. To work with kids who really need us is the most rewarding thing I have done for the last 12 years, next to raising my own children. But now I am going to work somewhere else. I will not stay in a district where the President of the Board of Education does not value the system. This is a new President, by the way, who budgeted $8 million more this year in a "time when the economy is so bad." Who remodeled the administrative offices which were perfectly fine before. Who orders elaborate floral arrangements for each and every board meeting he has. We also have a very low spending per student which is determined by how the school board wants to budget their money. We are asking for the cost of living increase schedule which EVERY SCHOOL in Illinois has in place. If we lose this schedule, many teachers will leave and it will not attract quality teachers. BAD SCHOOLS=BAD PROPERTY VALUE. Be careful what you wish for. So, I'm going to take a $15,000 pay cut now by going somewhere else where the teachers are respected by the board and the administration. I won't have to waste all that time driving. I'm just so sad to leave your children...they will always be in my heart.

We Are More Than Taxpayers!
We Are!

Protester 12

Judged:

live in district wrote:

<quoted text>
again, another misinformed taxpayer, he really is getting "his" message out. It is unfortunate that we are not allowed to tell our side of the story in the media. Well here it is:
The teachers are fighting FOR the school, and the administration and board of education are AGAINST the success of the school. There are teachers that have been teaching there for 30 years and do not make near the amount that a superintendent makes. I went to Leyden, and now I teach there. But not for long. It has nothing to do with how much money I make...well, that is not entirely true. I was attracted to Leyden because of the pay scale. When I interviewed at 15 schools and got 14 offers, I chose Leyden because of the atmosphere and the support I got from my teachers when I was a student. I had so many role models there who encouraged my passion for education. I knew the admin and teachers had a good relationship. And at that time, we were in the top 6 schools (by the way, since then our rank is barely in the top 20 which means teachers have been conceding on contract upon contract as to not be the "demanding" teachers many people think we are). I moved back to Franklin Park in a heart beat because the taxes were the lowest around and the teachers were the best around. I wanted my kids to grow up there and get the same education I did. But the area had changed. The population was now very much minority and the violence that was happening right across Manheim road was frightening. We moved away, very far away because we could not afford to live in Schaumburg or Hoffman Estates or Naperville. I drive 50 minutes each way to get to Leyden. Why? Because of the people I work with. They are passionate and good at what they do. To work with kids who really need us is the most rewarding thing I have done for the last 12 years, next to raising my own children. But now I am going to work somewhere else. I will not stay in a district where the President of the Board of Education does not value the system. This is a new President, by the way, who budgeted $8 million more this year in a "time when the economy is so bad." Who remodeled the administrative offices which were perfectly fine before. Who orders elaborate floral arrangements for each and every board meeting he has. We also have a very low spending per student which is determined by how the school board wants to budget their money. We are asking for the cost of living increase schedule which EVERY SCHOOL in Illinois has in place. If we lose this schedule, many teachers will leave and it will not attract quality teachers. BAD SCHOOLS=BAD PROPERTY VALUE. Be careful what you wish for. So, I'm going to take a $15,000 pay cut now by going somewhere else where the teachers are respected by the board and the administration. I won't have to waste all that time driving. I'm just so sad to leave your children...they will always be in my heart.

Bring In New Teachers!
You're Not The Only Teacher In The World!
Get Fired Once In a While!
Only Good Teachers Are Heroes!

Protester 124

Judged:

live in district wrote:

<quoted text>
again, another misinformed taxpayer, he really is getting "his" message out. It is unfortunate that we are not allowed to tell our side of the story in the media. Well here it is:
The teachers are fighting FOR the school, and the administration and board of education are AGAINST the success of the school. There are teachers that have been teaching there for 30 years and do not make near the amount that a superintendent makes. I went to Leyden, and now I teach there. But not for long. It has nothing to do with how much money I make...well, that is not entirely true. I was attracted to Leyden because of the pay scale. When I interviewed at 15 schools and got 14 offers, I chose Leyden because of the atmosphere and the support I got from my teachers when I was a student. I had so many role models there who encouraged my passion for education. I knew the admin and teachers had a good relationship. And at that time, we were in the top 6 schools (by the way, since then our rank is barely in the top 20 which means teachers have been conceding on contract upon contract as to not be the "demanding" teachers many people think we are). I moved back to Franklin Park in a heart beat because the taxes were the lowest around and the teachers were the best around. I wanted my kids to grow up there and get the same education I did. But the area had changed. The population was now very much minority and the violence that was happening right across Manheim road was frightening. We moved away, very far away because we could not afford to live in Schaumburg or Hoffman Estates or Naperville. I drive 50 minutes each way to get to Leyden. Why? Because of the people I work with. They are passionate and good at what they do. To work with kids who really need us is the most rewarding thing I have done for the last 12 years, next to raising my own children. But now I am going to work somewhere else. I will not stay in a district where the President of the Board of Education does not value the system. This is a new President, by the way, who budgeted $8 million more this year in a "time when the economy is so bad." Who remodeled the administrative offices which were perfectly fine before. Who orders elaborate floral arrangements for each and every board meeting he has. We also have a very low spending per student which is determined by how the school board wants to budget their money. We are asking for the cost of living increase schedule which EVERY SCHOOL in Illinois has in place. If we lose this schedule, many teachers will leave and it will not attract quality teachers. BAD SCHOOLS=BAD PROPERTY VALUE. Be careful what you wish for. So, I'm going to take a $15,000 pay cut now by going somewhere else where the teachers are respected by the board and the administration. I won't have to waste all that time driving. I'm just so sad to leave your children...they will always be in my heart.

Unions Look At Us as a Mugger Looks at Their Victim!
Union Fagans Out!
Stop Using the Students as a Means to your End!
Teachers Not Justified!

unionssuck

http://www.journal-topics.com/ro/09/ro091111....

Judged:

Informed wrote:

I don't know what information you are getting but It is incorrect. Get the facts. The teachers aren't asking for more money,at all!!! They have offered a 0% increase over 4 years and it has been repeatedly denied. Stop assuming they are asking for more money, even if it is available. All I ask is that you get the facts before judging these teachers. They are not greedy. The economy will recover a s get stronger and for the next 4 years these teachers are offering to freeze their pay???? I don't think that's greedy at all. If you are going to get mad at someone, get mad at he board for not giving the taxpayers the facts.

Teacher

Judged:

unionssuck wrote:

<quoted text>
http://www.journal-topics.com/ro/09/ro091111....

Please be advised that there is no way the dollar amount mentioned in the article posted is accurate. No teacher is making $200,000 not even with 30 years experience and coaching three sports. This number is either a lie by the Board President, or (what I believe is the more likely explanation) a poor job by the reporter. Search around on-line and you will find that their is only one person in the district making over $200,000 and that is the superintendent, and she has been doing a good job so please lets not rip her for making money comparable with other superintendents.

unionssuck