Maybe they can discuss this at the next chug and budget.
Not up much on the teacher pay issues but If you get 3 months off a year, holidays, spring break, vacation, sick days and whatever else time off a teacher would get would be a part time job. Right? Wouldn't an educated person becoming a teacher know what the pay is before they accepted the job.
Teachers, like our military, first responders, etc., respond to a calling to improve our world. Yes, there are members of these groups that give a bad rap to the rest of the members. Not unlike those who misuse firearms do to most of us.
Our state legislature has done a very poor job, for many years, of managing state finances. Oklahoma isn't unique in this. Look at all the stupid, low impact bills that get introduced each session, and then in the final couple of weeks they begin to discuss a budget, and once again teachers, and other state employees, are ignored.
So why strike? Why during the school year? Because they must to get the attention not only of the legislature, but the general public. Just look at some of the opinions expressed on here. There are so many people who have NO idea of the seriousness of the issue.
We have several teachers on this forum. The ones that I have met are super people, and I would gladly have my grandsons in their classes.
I spent most of my career negotiating and managing union contracts, and generally have a low regard for union tactics, however, I SUPPORT THE TEACHER STRIKE!
Give them the respect they deserve!
Our state legislature has done a very poor job, for many years, of managing state finances. Oklahoma isn't unique in this. Look at all the stupid, low impact bills that get introduced each session, and then in the final couple of weeks they begin to discuss a budget, and once again teachers, and other state employees, are ignored.
So why strike? Why during the school year? Because they must to get the attention not only of the legislature, but the general public. Just look at some of the opinions expressed on here. There are so many people who have NO idea of the seriousness of the issue.
We have several teachers on this forum. The ones that I have met are super people, and I would gladly have my grandsons in their classes.
I spent most of my career negotiating and managing union contracts, and generally have a low regard for union tactics, however, I SUPPORT THE TEACHER STRIKE!
Give them the respect they deserve!
Its been 11 years since any state employee has had a raise. Not just teachers.
Think of an over worked prison guard who makes less than the guy at 7-11 who sold you your coffee this morning (yes this is a fact), or the guy whos designing your highways. Inflation over 11 years alone creates around a 30% deficit in pay alone.
Just for grins--and without looking it up--does anybody know what fraction of our state budget is spent on education? I looked up the numbers yesterday and was stunned. I'll post the budget here in a little bit, but I'd like to see what people think we're spending.
It's over $3b of $7b if I remember right.
Though that is likely a lot of higher ed. I am not sure how the $3+b is spent between primary and higher ed.
IMHO teacher raises are a drop in the bucket of how much we're spending on other crap that could be cut to fund some pay increases.
Well, never been much of a follower and all my fun stuff has been gone for a long time.
You are so right. I am thinking that all the teachers in Oklahoma should find a different job that pays their bills, and allows them to have a life that is appropriate to their liking. Any Oklahoma teacher that wants to teach will have to go out of Oklahoma to make a better salary and to teach.
Just because your kids get off 3 months and holidays doesn't mean the teachers get the same amount of time off.
Oklahoma Schools have 181 Days of school a year, teacher report 3-5 days before school starts and 1 day after.
They Work 37 Weeks a year. With 17 Weeks Vacation.
A seven hour day including a 1/2 hour lunch and 1 hour planning break
That makes for a 5 1/2 hour work day.
They Work 37 Weeks a year. With 17 Weeks Vacation.
A seven hour day including a 1/2 hour lunch and 1 hour planning break
That makes for a 5 1/2 hour work day.
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