What other occupations in our entire United States enjoy the concept of “TENURE”? Under this outrageous concept, the jobs of incompetent and under-performing teachers are protected to the detriment of both students and taxpayers. Unions claim that tenure is required to protect good teachers from unfair termination. What kind of administrator would arbitrarily fire a good teacher? On the occasion that such an event might take place, teachers have the option of obtaining legal representation, just as you and I would be required to do.
One teacher, during protests in Wisconsin, stated that she was willing to take a pay cut and to pay more for her pension and health benefits. But, she stated further that she was extremely worried about the loss of “protection” afforded to her by her union. What protection! Why does she worry so about a need for union protection?
If teachers, like the rest of us, are doing what is expected of them, why do they need a union at all? Don’t they claim to be “professionals”? Short answer: Union threats, intimidation, strikes and propaganda result in contracts for salaries, benefits and pensions that are unavailable to those of us who foot the bill for their unrealistic demands and expectations. Teacher unions “win” those things by holding our children hostage. So-called public school professionals need unions for only one purpose… to take more money from taxpayers.
Teacher unions represent teachers. They DO NOT represent parents or students. Teacher unions represent ONLY the interests of teachers and their union organizations. Note the infamous philosophy of former American Federation of Teachers (AFT) union mogul, Al Shanker, when he stated emphatically; "When school children start paying union dues, that's when I'll start representing the interests of school children."
As a further selfish and arrogant benefit, many states do not require retired teachers, and many other public employees or legislators, to pay state income taxes on retirement benefits. Shortfalls of tax revenues are made up by the private sector taxpayer.
Teachers, and many other public employees, are making substantially more money [on average] than the taxpayers who foot the bill. Teachers, who pay very little or nothing toward their pension and healthcare insurance costs, receive far better retirement pensions and benefits than those of us in the private sector who pay far more for lesser programs. In addition, teachers in Michigan for instance, are allowed to “buy” additional years... allowing them to retire earlier and at a higher level of compensation. Where, in the private sector, are you and I allowed such an excessive opportunity to collect retirement benefits for years that were never worked?
Yet, teachers continue to whine and moan about how poorly they’re treated and how valuable their work is to the futures of our children and our country. Keep in mind that teachers have been asked to ante up only a fraction of what you and I must pay for our retirement and benefits.
98% of Michigan schools conducted classes fewer than 180 days in 2009 while the rest of us worked 253 days, less our individual vacations. Couple this fact with the fact that American students no longer place in the top 20 of countries participating in international student assessments of math, science and reading skills. Teachers are required to participate in “professional development” programs and they may also pursue higher education. Many of us taxpayers do the same. However, we are not provided 70 working days off with pay to do it.
Making matters worse, the Michigan Education Association has been lobbying the state legislature to transfer responsibility for 10s of millions of dollars of unfunded healthcare liabilities to Michigan taxpayers. Michigan school districts pay extremely excessive rates for MEA-provided health insurance and state pensions. Why then, does the MEA find itself unable to meet its obligations to retired teachers? Where is the money [your money] going? The MEA had $174.5 million in retirement liabilities and just $66.3 million in dues in 2008-09, according to the Education Intelligence Agency. In addition to union dues collected from Michigan teachers, Michigan taxpayers are required to pay 20% of every teacher’s salary to the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS). Again, teachers are allowed to “buy” additional years to increase their retirement income.
HOW MUCH BETTER COULD WE POSSIBLY TREAT TEACHERS… IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING A SECOND-RATE EDUCATION UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF THESE SELF-SERVING WHINERS?
Yes, I know. There are some very excellent teachers in our public school system. They should be compensated as very excellent teachers. All of our teachers should be compensated based only on performance. Our schools are not producing capable students, in spite of all of the claims made by educators, administrators and state officials.
If you want an example of the sense of entitlement, greed and lack of professionalism among teachers who will do anything to protect their power over taxpayers and government, look no further than Madison, Wisconsin. Shutting down public schools to protest the governor's plans and causing 100s of thousands of dollars damage to the state capital building, Wisconsin teachers represent a sorry lack of professionalism while ignoring the interests of students and taxpayers. Are they representative of the kinds of folks we want "teaching" our children? I think not.
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