Teacher's to lose their jobs

[homerian]

According to Arne Duncan/Obama, many teachers will be handed pink slips next month. I wonder if these teachers would prefer having a job without the unbelievable retirement benefits they currently have, or having the pink slip? Welcome to the real world that most of us have been living in for decades!

[Lockport Opinion]

homerian wrote:

According to Arne Duncan/Obama, many teachers will be handed pink slips next month. I wonder if these teachers would prefer having a job without the unbelievable retirement benefits they currently have, or having the pink slip? Welcome to the real world that most of us have been living in for decades!

All union employees will have to wake up during this economy, but it can't end there. They have to go after the administration too.

The days of tenure, cushy pensions and low cost insurance benefits are a thing of the past and if any of these neogtiators aren't stressing this, then we are going to fail. If we truly want to compete globally, they will take away summer vacations too.

The sad part is how many union negotiations where the workers weren't willing to take cuts to save jobs? Very few of them are willing to take the cuts necessary to save jobs, they would rather see people unemployed than spread the pain.

There are plenty of people in the unemployment lines that would love to have the security, pension and benefits that teachers have.

[Lockport Leroy]

Lockport Opinion wrote:

<quoted text>All union employees will have to wake up during this economy, but it can't end there. They have to go after the administration too.
The days of tenure, cushy pensions and low cost insurance benefits are a thing of the past and if any of these neogtiators aren't stressing this, then we are going to fail. If we truly want to compete globally, they will take away summer vacations too.
The sad part is how many union negotiations where the workers weren't willing to take cuts to save jobs? Very few of them are willing to take the cuts necessary to save jobs, they would rather see people unemployed than spread the pain.
There are plenty of people in the unemployment lines that would love to have the security, pension and benefits that teachers have.

If anyone is going to wake up, it is you.

How dare you speak out against our fair, and reasonable benefits, afforded to over 90% of employed Americans. Teachers are on a level playing field, except one thing, we don't get social security! Funny how you failed to mention that!

How dare you criticize our pensions, our benefits, or our salaries. We work for fair salaries, equal to those of other people in our community. Look around.

In fact, we aren't on vacation during the summer, we are unemployed and 95% of teachers must find other work to make ends meet.

How dare you criticize our pensions.

I bet you are on board with trout's plans for an e-school too. You are clueless.

[homerian]

Lockport Leroy wrote:

<quoted text>
If anyone is going to wake up, it is you.
How dare you speak out against our fair, and reasonable benefits, afforded to over 90% of employed Americans. Teachers are on a level playing field, except one thing, we don't get social security! Funny how you failed to mention that!
How dare you criticize our pensions, our benefits, or our salaries. We work for fair salaries, equal to those of other people in our community. Look around.
In fact, we aren't on vacation during the summer, we are unemployed and 95% of teachers must find other work to make ends meet.
How dare you criticize our pensions.
I bet you are on board with trout's plans for an e-school too. You are clueless.

You are wrong to think you work for comp salaries. Look at the number of days you work per year and compare that to about 250...the average American. Social security is worth a pittance compared to how much I pay in...and thats if I see any of it by the time I retire. The teachers pension is better than ANY that I am aware of in the private sector. I have friends who are teachers and administrators, and they would'nt trade it for any private sector compensation. Be real and admit that you have a great job, are paid well, and have fantastic benefits including a pension that is better than anything in the real world! I respect your profession and think teachers should be paid fairly...but should not be over paid at the expense of your neighbors!

[Lockport Opinion]

Lockport Leroy wrote:

<quoted text>
If anyone is going to wake up, it is you.
How dare you speak out against our fair, and reasonable benefits, afforded to over 90% of employed Americans. Teachers are on a level playing field, except one thing, we don't get social security! Funny how you failed to mention that!
How dare you criticize our pensions, our benefits, or our salaries. We work for fair salaries, equal to those of other people in our community. Look around.
In fact, we aren't on vacation during the summer, we are unemployed and 95% of teachers must find other work to make ends meet.
How dare you criticize our pensions.
I bet you are on board with trout's plans for an e-school too. You are clueless.

As usual, you are completely clueless. Teachers have what most people will never have and that is a guaranteed pension and a guaranteed job with tenure.

Their pensions are out of control. A family friend retired from the Chicago school system a long time ago and her monthly check for her retirement is well over $3,000. That is a pretty cushy retirement check and she also received social security benefits for other work.

I am a huge supporter of teachers, but it is time we took back control of our tax dollars and let the people we pay have similar benefits that most taxpayers have.

Tenure is a joke and has only created a culture of teachers that can be lazy and just doing enough to get by.

It is also time to stop giving teachers an automatic pay raise just because they went back to schoool, which in many cases, the taxpayers had to pay for too. We pay for them to go back to school and then we pay them more money for doing it. This is ridiculous.

Having more education does not necessarily make them a better teacher. Implementing what they have learned is what makes them better teachers. A teacher could continue getting more and more degrees to increase the pay scale, yet not change one part of their curriculum. This is a joke.

[teacher]

Lockport Leroy wrote:

<quoted text>
If anyone is going to wake up, it is you.
How dare you speak out against our fair, and reasonable benefits, afforded to over 90% of employed Americans. Teachers are on a level playing field, except one thing, we don't get social security! Funny how you failed to mention that!
How dare you criticize our pensions, our benefits, or our salaries. We work for fair salaries, equal to those of other people in our community. Look around.
In fact, we aren't on vacation during the summer, we are unemployed and 95% of teachers must find other work to make ends meet.
How dare you criticize our pensions.
I bet you are on board with trout's plans for an e-school too. You are clueless.

You are absolutely correct!! To those who want what teachers have should WORK FOR IT, just like teachers do. When the college education ends, and the teaching job comes, teachers do not work only during the school day and only during the school year. If you know any teachers then you know the time they put in planning lessons, grading papers, taking additional classes during the summer, attending meetings, buying supplies for their classrooms out of their own pockets. People who complain always seem to be those who don't know the facts and don't want to know the facts - then they couldn't complain.

Pay the teachers! They train the lawyers, doctors, accountants, and even the bullshitters who write on these blogs - thank a teacher for your ability to read, write, and state your opinions. And enjoy your social security which teachers do not get!

[Just Say No]

teacher wrote:

<quoted text>
You are absolutely correct!! To those who want what teachers have should WORK FOR IT, just like teachers do. When the college education ends, and the teaching job comes, teachers do not work only during the school day and only during the school year. If you know any teachers then you know the time they put in planning lessons, grading papers, taking additional classes during the summer, attending meetings, buying supplies for their classrooms out of their own pockets. People who complain always seem to be those who don't know the facts and don't want to know the facts - then they couldn't complain.
Pay the teachers! They train the lawyers, doctors, accountants, and even the bullshitters who write on these blogs - thank a teacher for your ability to read, write, and state your opinions. And enjoy your social security which teachers do not get!

More BS. Is this Leroy's wife? Over-compensated, Over-compensated. Dare I say it one more time, Over-compensated. What are you in it for? Money & Benefits or the kids. I remember when teachers were in it for the kids, but, today, it you didn't have the union, cushy pensions, summers off, 60 something holidays, many of you wouldn't even be in the profession. My children get a mediocre, at best, education from Lockport schools. It's their parents that have gotten them to where they are. If we relied solely on the schools for their education, they would be failures in life. Maybe scoot by and get that degree, but that's where it would end. You should take a hard look in the mirror and at your colleagues. Most of you should be ashamed of yourselves. Well, it's going to end. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next year, but eventually, we will say you have enough and there will be no more. You are the people who actually can't hack it in the private sector. Most of you barely have enough to get through in the public sector.

[homerian]

teacher wrote:

<quoted text>
You are absolutely correct!! To those who want what teachers have should WORK FOR IT, just like teachers do. When the college education ends, and the teaching job comes, teachers do not work only during the school day and only during the school year. If you know any teachers then you know the time they put in planning lessons, grading papers, taking additional classes during the summer, attending meetings, buying supplies for their classrooms out of their own pockets. People who complain always seem to be those who don't know the facts and don't want to know the facts - then they couldn't complain.
Pay the teachers! They train the lawyers, doctors, accountants, and even the bullshitters who write on these blogs - thank a teacher for your ability to read, write, and state your opinions. And enjoy your social security which teachers do not get!

When is the contract up? I have heard it is soon. What are the teachers hoping to get? Most of the people I know in the business world, that still have jobs, did not get a raise or took a cut in pay recently.

[teacher]

Just Say No wrote:

<quoted text>
More BS. Is this Leroy's wife? Over-compensated, Over-compensated. Dare I say it one more time, Over-compensated. What are you in it for? Money & Benefits or the kids. I remember when teachers were in it for the kids, but, today, it you didn't have the union, cushy pensions, summers off, 60 something holidays, many of you wouldn't even be in the profession. My children get a mediocre, at best, education from Lockport schools. It's their parents that have gotten them to where they are. If we relied solely on the schools for their education, they would be failures in life. Maybe scoot by and get that degree, but that's where it would end. You should take a hard look in the mirror and at your colleagues. Most of you should be ashamed of yourselves. Well, it's going to end. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next year, but eventually, we will say you have enough and there will be no more. You are the people who actually can't hack it in the private sector. Most of you barely have enough to get through in the public sector.

Do you know Leroy and me? If not, why do you think he is overcompensated? If you know his educational background and experience and salary, you may be right. Again - comments without facts. You are welcome to your OPINIONS! But the facts are that many teachers have lots of work in the private sector. Why would a teacher be ashamed to earn an honest living? Yes, there are some bad teachers just like there are some bad folks in the private sector, but to state that all teachers are in it for the money demonstrates your lack of facts. If your children got a mediocre education from the Lockport schools, perhaps they needed more parental support or other outside tutoring. Parents are your child's first teacher - teachers must work with what they are given - not every child is a good student. Without the FACTS about your children, I would not be willing to blame a school or a teacher - maybe yes, maybe no. I still defend a teacher's right to make a good living and pension. Many teachers worked many years and paid in to social security and never get one penny of social security back. Why doesn't that bother you?

[Lockport Opinion]

teacher wrote:

<quoted text>
You are absolutely correct!! To those who want what teachers have should WORK FOR IT, just like teachers do. When the college education ends, and the teaching job comes, teachers do not work only during the school day and only during the school year. If you know any teachers then you know the time they put in planning lessons, grading papers, taking additional classes during the summer, attending meetings, buying supplies for their classrooms out of their own pockets. People who complain always seem to be those who don't know the facts and don't want to know the facts - then they couldn't complain.
Pay the teachers! They train the lawyers, doctors, accountants, and even the bullshitters who write on these blogs - thank a teacher for your ability to read, write, and state your opinions. And enjoy your social security which teachers do not get!

I think teachers are great, but if you don't think they have it pretty good, you are delusional.

Don't you think other professions have to work overtime, take work home, spend time waiting at an airport, travel away from home and family, meet with clients after business hours, drive from appointment to appointment and still have to work an extra 60+ days a year while a teacher does not?

We don't want our pathetic social security either, but it is all we have and it will probably not be there when many of us retire because we don't have a GUARANTEE the way you do. The highest someone can get from social security is approximately $2,900 and that is if they work their asses off until they are 70. A teacher can put in a lousy 20 years and be eligible for retirement. Heck, if they work 35 years they get 74.6% of their final average salary.

Do you think that $2,900 is going to cover 74.6% of many peoples' final salary? That is less than $50,000 a year and only if they don't apply for their damn benefits until they are 70 years old.

[Lockport Opinion]

Just Say No wrote:

<quoted text>
More BS. Is this Leroy's wife? Over-compensated, Over-compensated. Dare I say it one more time, Over-compensated. What are you in it for? Money & Benefits or the kids. I remember when teachers were in it for the kids, but, today, it you didn't have the union, cushy pensions, summers off, 60 something holidays, many of you wouldn't even be in the profession. My children get a mediocre, at best, education from Lockport schools. It's their parents that have gotten them to where they are. If we relied solely on the schools for their education, they would be failures in life. Maybe scoot by and get that degree, but that's where it would end. You should take a hard look in the mirror and at your colleagues. Most of you should be ashamed of yourselves. Well, it's going to end. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next year, but eventually, we will say you have enough and there will be no more. You are the people who actually can't hack it in the private sector. Most of you barely have enough to get through in the public sector.

You are absolutely correct about a lot of it falling on the parents. I had at least 3 teachers respond to us with - what's wrong with average a C is average. I thought my head was going to spin off my shoulders. A C is not average in my house.

We have also had to deal with teachers that told us that spelling isn't important any more because there is spell check. That is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard.

I have a friend who's children are 3 years apart. When the younger one was doing her science homework the older one told her to ignore question 12 on the paper because it was written wrong when she had the exact same paper 3 years before. The lazy teacher never changed the paper, just kept cranking it out.

We have had teachers that use the same lesson plan for years and years until every kid in an entire family could regurgitate the homework. It is pathetic.

That being said, we have also had some fantastic teachers, but the problem is that the idiots get the same damn benefits as the excellent teachers.

There is not an honest teacher out there that doesn't know 1-10+ teachers in their school that are useless.

[Just Say No]

teacher wrote:

<quoted text>
Do you know Leroy and me? If not, why do you think he is overcompensated? If you know his educational background and experience and salary, you may be right. Again - comments without facts. You are welcome to your OPINIONS! But the facts are that many teachers have lots of work in the private sector. Why would a teacher be ashamed to earn an honest living? Yes, there are some bad teachers just like there are some bad folks in the private sector, but to state that all teachers are in it for the money demonstrates your lack of facts. If your children got a mediocre education from the Lockport schools, perhaps they needed more parental support or other outside tutoring. Parents are your child's first teacher - teachers must work with what they are given - not every child is a good student. Without the FACTS about your children, I would not be willing to blame a school or a teacher - maybe yes, maybe no. I still defend a teacher's right to make a good living and pension. Many teachers worked many years and paid in to social security and never get one penny of social security back. Why doesn't that bother you?

You're a teacher??? Hopefully, not in Lockport. You can't even read a simple post and decipher it. What do you teach, the fry station at McDonalds? First, I said MOST and MANY, not all as you so quoted me. And you missed the fact that my children are successful BECAUSE OF THEIR PARENTS. It was our involvement that got them to where they are today, not the self-centered teacher who rushes out the door at 3:01. I've put 3 kids through school and most of the teachers I encountered don't give a damn about the kids. It's the paycheck. Thank goodness I was willing to put the time in that the teachers weren't. Otherwise, my kids might be flippin' the burgers while your droppin' some more onion rings. Social InSecurity. You've got to be kidding me with that argument. I've reached the withholding maximum every year since 1996 and do you know how much I will see from Social InSecurity???

0 dollars and 0 cents. Every person and entity with half a brain that has studied this lunacy program has determined that it will be insolvent in the very near future. Doesn't take Nostradamus to figure that one out. So I get nothing. You get a pension, paid for with my tax dollars and I get nothing. Does that sound fair to you? Don't have pity on me though. I've amassed quite a fortune over the years and will retire with enough money wipe my ass with $100's.

[Trout]

teacher wrote:

<quoted text>
Do you know Leroy and me?

Yes we all know Leroy, just from his posts here! He is a total moron. A complete jagbag. He is a worthless pile of sh_t. zI'd love to take a hammer to his forehead and start beating the sh_t out of him.

As for you, you are a new poster to these forums, or a clueless f_ck who is indulging into an argument with the forum dumba$$. Tell me you are a new poster.

[Homer Glen Mom]

Clueless would be you, Lemont is laying off teachers so how can Lockport be skipped over.

Lockport Leroy wrote:

<quoted text>
If anyone is going to wake up, it is you.
How dare you speak out against our fair, and reasonable benefits, afforded to over 90% of employed Americans. Teachers are on a level playing field, except one thing, we don't get social security! Funny how you failed to mention that!
How dare you criticize our pensions, our benefits, or our salaries. We work for fair salaries, equal to those of other people in our community. Look around.
In fact, we aren't on vacation during the summer, we are unemployed and 95% of teachers must find other work to make ends meet.
How dare you criticize our pensions.
I bet you are on board with trout's plans for an e-school too. You are clueless.

[Homer Glen Mom]

Does it bother you that Social Security will not be there for future generations? Does it bother you that Obama is not even trying to fix it? Oh wait he has his Rahm it through healthcare summit to worry about. So ignoring the wishes of the American people.

teacher wrote:

<quoted text>
Do you know Leroy and me? If not, why do you think he is overcompensated? If you know his educational background and experience and salary, you may be right. Again - comments without facts. You are welcome to your OPINIONS! But the facts are that many teachers have lots of work in the private sector. Why would a teacher be ashamed to earn an honest living? Yes, there are some bad teachers just like there are some bad folks in the private sector, but to state that all teachers are in it for the money demonstrates your lack of facts. If your children got a mediocre education from the Lockport schools, perhaps they needed more parental support or other outside tutoring. Parents are your child's first teacher - teachers must work with what they are given - not every child is a good student. Without the FACTS about your children, I would not be willing to blame a school or a teacher - maybe yes, maybe no. I still defend a teacher's right to make a good living and pension. Many teachers worked many years and paid in to social security and never get one penny of social security back. Why doesn't that bother you?

[Lockport Leroy]

Homer Glen Mom wrote:

Does it bother you that Social Security will not be there for future generations? Does it bother you that Obama is not even trying to fix it? Oh wait he has his Rahm it through healthcare summit to worry about. So ignoring the wishes of the American people.<quoted text>

Does it bother you that you have been brainwashed by right wing nutjobs here on this website, and on Fox News?

Social securiy is backed by the full promise of the US government. I wish I could say the same for my pension. You don't know how good you have it, and I get nauseous by some of your posts.

Social security is fine and well. You are in the right spot, and social security will prop up a conservative fool like you during retirement.

[Just Say No]

Lockport Leroy wrote:

<quoted text>
Does it bother you that you have been brainwashed by right wing nutjobs here on this website, and on Fox News?
Social securiy is backed by the full promise of the US government. I wish I could say the same for my pension. You don't know how good you have it, and I get nauseous by some of your posts.
Social security is fine and well. You are in the right spot, and social security will prop up a conservative fool like you during retirement.

Thank you. You have proven to everyone the idiot you are.

[Homer Glen Mom]

Social Security is backed by the full promise of the US government, I am laughing hysterically now. Gee I feel so secure now about our Country's financial future......Get a Life!

Lockport Leroy wrote:

<quoted text>
Does it bother you that you have been brainwashed by right wing nutjobs here on this website, and on Fox News?
Social securiy is backed by the full promise of the US government. I wish I could say the same for my pension. You don't know how good you have it, and I get nauseous by some of your posts.
Social security is fine and well. You are in the right spot, and social security will prop up a conservative fool like you during retirement.

[Just Say No]

It's a brave new world. Kudos to this district. Let's hope it's adopted by many more.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587334,00...

[Lockport Opinion]

Just Say No wrote:

It's a brave new world. Kudos to this district. Let's hope it's adopted by many more.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587334,00...

Of course, the union is trying to find out what their legal options are too. Shouldn't the administration be fired also?

How about if the state just takes away their damn teaching certificates and while they are at it, they might as well just take over parental rights for the kids too. There are two groups to blame - parents and teachers.

It's about time someone starts fighting back. This is exactly what should be done at Fairmont too, but they should start there at the top and get rid of the administration first.