Saturday, January 16, 2010
Two Sides
I received both positive and negative comments about posting the the Weiser salalries. Hit a nerve and I guess I didn't realize it was such a big deal. Salaries are public info and sharing them shouldn't bring shame and anger. Although most of us feel our work is important if you read some of the comments on the blog it is obvious some people feel their work is over and beyond what the rest of us do for a paycheck. I also got a sense that some feel they need not produce what they are paid for. What I have learned from the post is that if my child doesn’t learn it’s my fault no matter what salary someone is being paid to teach them. Oh, and my job, cooking and caring for the elderly, just isn’t as important as being a teacher. How sad that some of them feel they are worth so much more than the rest of us. I received an email stating it was my fault if my children didn't learn how to balance a checkbook or write neatly. Ummm I am sending my children to school for an education. I have always been very involved in their schooling and found the statement very self serving. I did teach them these things even though teachers at Weiser were being paid to teach them. Sending my son to college at $60,000 a year I would expect teachers to teach him. I am not checking up on everything he does and I don't feel it's my fault if a teacher can't teach him. It is their job! When you are paying the amount of taxes we pay to have our children attend safe schools where they are suppose to be being taught they shouldn't walk away undereducated. If I don't do my job I am held accountable for it. I can't just blame family members or co-workers. I also got badgered about my life. I have been very honest and forthcoming in the Our Robesonia about all aspects, good and bad, of this life I live. I assume most people know us and know the facts. But it was more an issue to some if I am married or divorced, how much money I earn, what I own, how much money Dennis earns...I tried to answer and correct those issues. Nothing to hide here. I am also gathering the info on local salaries including mine to post and prove there is no comparison. Where some of the remarks came from is beyond me. I clearly stated my issue was more with administration than with teachers. I know quite a few teachers in the district and I admire what they do and how they do it. Sorry to be honest but not all teachers at Weiser are good. Some need to retire and others I believe truly don't want to teach. It is a paycheck. They may be few but my sons both managed to have to sit through their unproductive classes. I did complain about them but nothing was ever done. Guess that is why more and more kids are home schooling. I do believe we could employ a much more effective and less costly administration. All around us people who think they are unreplaceable are being replaced by lower paid and much smarter people. It is 2010 and things are back sliding. We take pay cuts, are refused pay raises, have no health insurance and are afraid the market will eat up our retirement. As realistic as I see all this I will continue to get pounded by those who are always on higher ground and just don't get it. They'll call me names and berate my talents but I will still continue to tell it like I see it.
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you have to remember that doing a checkbok is simple addition and subtraction--if your kids cant do that after high school i think it might just be them---and after all of this you still wont tell what you and your live in bf make a year--wonder why
ReplyDeleteNo actually keeping a chekbook is entering every transaction, ATM-purchases-interest-fees, and reconciling with each statement. Simple as it may seem if you are not taught how to do it, which I was in school, you need to be shown. Basic and important everyday living things have been replaced by more complex, lessons-they will never use-concepts. Handwriting classes are taught in grade school then just overlooked and not corrected. And, if you read Two Sides you would have learned that I am gathering information on local salaries including mine, to be posted when tax returns are proof of income. Why don't you post yours? I am interested to see what the comparisons will prove. We have nothing to hide and are not ashamed nor do we care who knows what we earn. Why everyone thinks we are rich we cannot figure out. We surely don't live a wealthy life. We don't drive new cars, we don't travel, our home was a mere $120,000 13 years ago, Den's home was a huge $12,000 25 years ago, I shop at Goodwill, we don't eat out, and like most "normal" people we are struggling to stay afloat and are WORKING to do it. If we came close to the $40-60,000 plus a Weiser employee or wealthy person makes I guess we could be ignorant and self absorbed. I can assure you my income has not topped $12,000 in years and I have lost income. I will not be getting a raise and I make a wopping $8.00 an hour, so I'm guessing this year I'll be lucky to make $9000. Wow, I think that's near poverty. Don't forget the school district wants $4000 of it for taxes! So what is your salary?
ReplyDeleteHow about all of the RV's Den's talks about Boat, Camper, Cabin, etc) or are they a business expenses? Those, to me, are a wealthy man's toys and luxuries.
ReplyDeleteNever owned a boat or a camper. The cabin he bought 25 years ago it's in Lock Haven cost $12,000. The RV he bought 11 years ago from a friend, WORKED, and paid it off. Den has worked for 37 years, everyday, sometimes 15 hours a day. If he has boy toys he worked for years to own them. No business expense, personal toys. He deserves them.
ReplyDeleteI w as just wondering if your sons ever took a home economics class? I know for a fact the teachers that were at Weiser when your sons were there taught them how to do that. I know they do now for sure. I also wonder how you can see 40000 a year as wealthy. I am all about the working man and woman but what about the 4-6 years of school that teachers have to go through and pay back the loans for? Or the continuing education they are required to go through. I ask you to spend one day as a full time teacher and your ideas might be different about teachers doing "their" job. Its a 3 way street between the student, the parents and the teachers. Weiser is the 3rd lowest paid school district in the county. I ask you too look at a job where someone worked for 35 years that took them that long to get to the top of their earnings.
ReplyDeleteYes both my sons took Home Ec. They were taught how to shop, plan meals and cook. It was a very good class. When most of us are earning $8-11 per hour with no benefits $40,000 is wealthy. I respect the job most teachers do but too many children are graduating without the simple skills they need in real life. Since this posting I have asked several parents with Weiser graduates if their children can balance/keep a checkbook. I didn't get one yes. I asked if they can read their childs handwriting again, they all said no. While my boys were in school I was very involved in the classrooms and I attended every parent friendly event. If there was a problem I addressed it only to learn that by bringing issues to the schools leaders you are put on the "shut her up list." This blog and my paper have given me the opportunity to tell it as I see it. It also gives everyone that cares to speak the chance. I can tell you that I have family that retired from companies after 35 years of year round service in top management and do not make near the salaries of some Weiser employees. My focus was that now is not the time to ask for raises. It's time to be thankful for what you are making and cut the taxpayers a break.
ReplyDelete