Most folk here in the Ole North State are somewhat sick of hearing about the behavior and actions of a certain group who met here in this city over the last six or so months. If that is the case with you then you just want to close this blog at this point.
Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am pretty much a "middle or the road" type with a conservative bend. I am just supposin' that we are what we are at heart and it is very hard to change our minds especially when you are old....I mean ancient, like me.
Lots is being printed and said now regarding the actions of this legislature just past due to legislation being put into place and a new school year looming not too many days away. As an educator my antenna is always tuned to "talk about education." One irritating issue is always the amount of money educational institutions receive as appropriated by the legislators. It would seem common sense to assume that as the cost of living rises each year so does the need to increase the amount of the appropriation to educational institutions. These folks must pay some of the same type of expenses we as individuals must pay to maintain daily life. It seems we would understand. There is so much opposition to increasing the budget each year.
This legislative year saw funding cuts for teaching assistants with the exception of kindergarten, funds withdrawn for extra pay for graduate degrees, funding cut and a program killed that funded education for academically gifted youngsters in exchange for a number of years of service to the state of NC, no raise or pay raise step for educators, and a number of other cuts.
The behaviors that just inflame one looking at these cuts is the knowledge that the governor and others (in his cabinet) have given their appointed cabinet members and some appointed state employees raises that sometimes totaled twenty thousand dollars or more claiming that this is needed to get the appointee to stay on the job or bring the pay up to a desired level all the while telling teachers you have no worth or need for more money thus not even a cost of living increase. Teachers start at a level and for some years their rate of pay qualifies them for food stamps and their children for subsidized lunches. Check it out. It is especially irritating knowing that in Wake County for instance a high number of teachers are not only certified by the state of NC but also have National Board Certification. This is evidently not important when you look at the fact that the legislature also passed a bill allowing charter schools to employee teachers without certification. One point used to rationalize this action indicated that there were people with skills from a trade or other vocation or field whose skills in math or some other subject could be used so --- why not---without certification as a teacher.???????? Go figure.....if it works for you...I would assume you are as they.
Another bothersome point to me has been the conversation from the governor and those in his cabinet and the legislature used to defend their actions. The words go along the lines of trying to introduce merit pay into the conversation rather than discuss why the cut to the various programs. The issues they are being asked about are as mentioned above ( i.e. cuts of assistant positions, lack of funding for graduate degrees, cut to pre-K programs, etc., etc.)
and these law makers want to defend with a conversation about merit pay.
Again, it is all lame. Their argument doesn't answer the concerns or questions.
I am an educator, it is in my blood. I love teaching and the teaching process, thus I care!
Again, my thoughts, not yours -- probably my opinion, not yours. And more importantly, my blog!
But I do wonder how other folks have filtered all of this.
*An after-thought.....I am beginning to note that the governor is sending his "boy-servant" out to run interference because he and his advisors know they have p_ _ _ the teachers and the entire education core off royally. He sat on his hands without challenging the legislature as they put all of those cuts in place. Not once was he known to have called them in or visited them to champion for students, schools, or educators. It has become evident with a display of educators that trouble is brewing for the next election. Will the teachers remember and keep their word on election day or will they be swayed by promises and "sweet talk?" Only time will tell about that.
**The BIGGER issue is whether something will be done do remedy cuts made to programs that impact students. That is the saddest part of cuts to programs. Some students really do need textbooks for learning. Those funds have been cut. Some students need the extra help teacher assistants can provide. Smaller class sizes really do make a difference.
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