My summer has officially come to an end. Classes start today, and I’ve got a full load—37 students per class. That’s a far cry from what we had when I first started and classes averaged 27 (we were getting raises in those days, too. Haven’t had one in years now). But even as politicians and the public decry declining educational test scores, they make education more difficult by cutting budgets, forcing layoffs and more students per classroom. I am frankly not optimistic about our nation’s future.
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Good luck in school!
Is your top-line pay more this year than last? I don’t know the specifics of how teacher pay is structured in Michigan, but in most states (that I’m aware of), it’s based on a “steps and lanes.” [For readers unfamiliar with the concept, it’s similar to the “grade and step” scale of the U.S. Government: http://www.fedjobs.com/pay/pay.html%5D
I once went to a public meeting at which a local teacher complained that he had not received a raise in 3 years. When someone asked him a question, he allowed that he had in fact received longevity pay increases. What he had means is that the pay scale itself had not changed—though his pay HAD in fact increased.
In fact, this year, everyone in my district is earning 5% – 15% less than last year.
There has been nothing but pay and step freezes for several years.
Thanks for the clarification. How about layoffs?
More than a few. But mostly, it’s attrition. They don’t replace teachers who leave or retire. That’s why classes are up.
Meanwhile, central office keeps adding administrators.
More administrators. Of course. Politicians are good at wrapping schools in red tape.