Catch Up Time
I have woefully neglected my Hartland blog, in favor of my other blog, and so, in order to catch up, I'd like to offer a quick trio of observations and opinions. Three subjects have recently caught my attention. They are: (1) the recent legislative attacks on teacher's benefits, (2) the Japanese nuclear power plant crisis and (3) the NATO military attack on Muammar Gaddafi's forces in Libya.
There has long been an underlining jealousy on the public's part when it comes to teachers' working conditions. John and Suzy Q. Public have tended to believe that public school teachers have it too good with their summer vacations, regular pay raises and job security. Thus far, this jealousy has manifested itself as a demand for longer school days and extended school calendars. This "more work for the same pay" mentality has diminished somewhat recently as shrinking state budgets have necessitated smaller school budgets and, in many cases, shorter school years. However, the public (and by extension, their elected representatives on the various school boards and legislatures) have now instead focused their attention on eliminating teachers' tenured job security and regular pay increases. There has been floated around the widespread belief that somehow, if both tenure and regular pay increases are eliminated, the various boards and administrators will be free to fire whomever they wish, at any time they wish, and thus improve the quality of the instructors in the classroom.
There is, however, a big flaw in this thinking. In times of diminishing state education funds - such as we are experiencing now - administrators and boards will not necessarily "keep the best and fire the rest." The more experienced teachers are generally the more expensive teachers and those in power will tend to "fire the experienced and keep the inexperienced" (and cheaper) instructors.
One needs to keep in mind, also, that young people often enter the teaching profession recognizing that they will not make a great deal of money, but will instead have a degree of security when it comes to their jobs and their regular (albeit small) pay raises. If these benefits are eliminated, these same young people will choose other professions. After all, many if not most, will have student loans to pay off when they finish college and they will gravitate to other professions that offer more money and/or a regular and secure pay check.
It has been said that eliminating pay scales - such as those found at most public schools - that reward only education and experience keep the best instructors from receiving the wages they deserve. To those people, I have only one question: what do you believe the best teacher in your school should be paid? Ask that question to the next person you hear spouting platitudes about the need for elimination of tenure and current public school pay scales. I'm sure the answer will be interesting and illuminating.
As I've long said, you can offer 12 hour shifts at minimum wage to teachers and you will get someone to stand in front of your classroom and try to instruct. But, I'm not sure that will be the type and quality of person you want teaching your children.
On a different subject, the recent earthquake caused nuclear disaster in Japan cannot help but give one pause. As with Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, it appears that nuclear power's cost can easily exceed its benefits. I believe that the world's current state of technology is simply not up to the task of guaranteeing safety when it comes to nuclear power plants. That time is coming, and probably coming fairly soon, but until then the U.S. is much better off drilling for oil - a procedure that needs to be greatly expanded - and utilizing our massive coal reserves.
As for the United States' part in NATO's attack on Gaddafi's forces: I believe we need a quick clarification of goals on the part of our president. If we are trying to eliminate Gaddafit's reign, then we are obviously doing too little. If we are trying to maintain something resembling neutrality in what is obviously a civil war, then we are doing far too much. Maintaining a "no fly zone" by military means is an act of war and, in my opinion, should require a declaration of war by congress. A little explanation by President Obama is called for. Just what are we trying to accomplish in Libya? From where I stand, it certainly appears that we are devoting our rapidly diminishing national treasure and risking American lives in order to involve ourselves in a third undeclared war in the Middle East.
There has long been an underlining jealousy on the public's part when it comes to teachers' working conditions. John and Suzy Q. Public have tended to believe that public school teachers have it too good with their summer vacations, regular pay raises and job security. Thus far, this jealousy has manifested itself as a demand for longer school days and extended school calendars. This "more work for the same pay" mentality has diminished somewhat recently as shrinking state budgets have necessitated smaller school budgets and, in many cases, shorter school years. However, the public (and by extension, their elected representatives on the various school boards and legislatures) have now instead focused their attention on eliminating teachers' tenured job security and regular pay increases. There has been floated around the widespread belief that somehow, if both tenure and regular pay increases are eliminated, the various boards and administrators will be free to fire whomever they wish, at any time they wish, and thus improve the quality of the instructors in the classroom.
There is, however, a big flaw in this thinking. In times of diminishing state education funds - such as we are experiencing now - administrators and boards will not necessarily "keep the best and fire the rest." The more experienced teachers are generally the more expensive teachers and those in power will tend to "fire the experienced and keep the inexperienced" (and cheaper) instructors.
One needs to keep in mind, also, that young people often enter the teaching profession recognizing that they will not make a great deal of money, but will instead have a degree of security when it comes to their jobs and their regular (albeit small) pay raises. If these benefits are eliminated, these same young people will choose other professions. After all, many if not most, will have student loans to pay off when they finish college and they will gravitate to other professions that offer more money and/or a regular and secure pay check.
It has been said that eliminating pay scales - such as those found at most public schools - that reward only education and experience keep the best instructors from receiving the wages they deserve. To those people, I have only one question: what do you believe the best teacher in your school should be paid? Ask that question to the next person you hear spouting platitudes about the need for elimination of tenure and current public school pay scales. I'm sure the answer will be interesting and illuminating.
As I've long said, you can offer 12 hour shifts at minimum wage to teachers and you will get someone to stand in front of your classroom and try to instruct. But, I'm not sure that will be the type and quality of person you want teaching your children.
On a different subject, the recent earthquake caused nuclear disaster in Japan cannot help but give one pause. As with Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, it appears that nuclear power's cost can easily exceed its benefits. I believe that the world's current state of technology is simply not up to the task of guaranteeing safety when it comes to nuclear power plants. That time is coming, and probably coming fairly soon, but until then the U.S. is much better off drilling for oil - a procedure that needs to be greatly expanded - and utilizing our massive coal reserves.
As for the United States' part in NATO's attack on Gaddafi's forces: I believe we need a quick clarification of goals on the part of our president. If we are trying to eliminate Gaddafit's reign, then we are obviously doing too little. If we are trying to maintain something resembling neutrality in what is obviously a civil war, then we are doing far too much. Maintaining a "no fly zone" by military means is an act of war and, in my opinion, should require a declaration of war by congress. A little explanation by President Obama is called for. Just what are we trying to accomplish in Libya? From where I stand, it certainly appears that we are devoting our rapidly diminishing national treasure and risking American lives in order to involve ourselves in a third undeclared war in the Middle East.
posted by dlh | 7:17 AM
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