And if you aren't inspired by the amazing everyday citizens fighting to save our state, then you're not breathing. Incredible courage.
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5/24/2012
I supposedly hate teachers...
Don’t you just love it when things come together? This is my 6th newsletter and I was a little worried, trying to decide what I would write about. I am never too sure what is going to peak the readers’ interest or drive a conversation; however, I found that life lends itself to good stories and I can always count on the unions to give me inspiration! This week’s newsletter comes from three different places, so let me give ya a little background first.
I was at a roadside rally in Kenosha this past Saturday with about 100+ other Walker supporters. It was a beautiful day and, during our two hours, we received a lot of honks, thumbs up, and waves. Of course there were a couple of middle fingers shared, but I expect no less from the unionistas. Later in the rally, there was a truck that pulled up to the stop light with a young man who thought I needed to be educated about the recall. He SCREAMED at me for about 15 seconds, telling me that I am an idiot, I hate teachers, teachers no longer have rights, and all teachers are going to make $25k a year.
Well, I let him know that he was completely misinformed and that I am a teacher who supports Walker. This kid then told me I was not a teacher and if I were I would know that teachers are underpaid. I am not the kind of girl who is at a loss for words, but I just stood with my jaw open as the light turned green, the driver pulled away and the young man in the passenger seat spat on me. It was pretty gross!
A dose of reality (from an apparent self-loathing teacher)...
Fast forward to this week; I am checking my email and EAG did a piece on the Janesville teachers’ union being upset that the public can view teacher salaries. Huh? If the taxpayer pays the bill, why should the union care if the public sees how much teachers make? I am wondering if the union is a little afraid to let people see teachers’ salaries in fear of not being able to claim “poor teachers do not get paid enough” just so the greedy union can justify its existence. Next, EAG put out a video basically letting public employees know that they are PUBLIC SERVANTS, not public extortionists.
Both of these pieces are fantastic and I will post a link so you can see what I am talking about.
This leads me to the meat and potatoes of this newsletter: My job and how much the taxpayer pays me!
*I have a Bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education
*I have a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction
*I have been teaching 14 years
* My salary this year is $64,695.02
* I work 7 hours a day and 188 days a year. This comes to $344.12 a day and $49.16 an hour.
The union takes $103.00 a month in dues (for what, I am still not too sure)
*I am given 90 minutes a day of prep time to grade papers, create lesson, and meet with parents. So, I really only “teach” for 5 hours a day (30 minute lunch).
*I get off of work every holiday, weekend and summer.
Please explain to me how I am underpaid. I know that the union will claim that my salary would be much worse if they were not there to “fight” for me; but let’s be honest, I would take home MORE money every month if the union would stop extorting dues to give to politicians. Furthermore, I previously worked in a Right to Work state and my salary was very similar. I leave you with this: I CHOSE to be a teacher; I CHOSE to make this salary; and I CHOSE the trade-off of making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year so that I could spend more time with my family. The next time a teacher tells you that they are “underpaid” simply smile and know that I shared the truth with you.
