From Marcie Frehner
Monroe
As I read the Monroe Times and talk to people on the street, I keep hearing the issue of teachers' salaries and pensions being raised. They say that "people in the private sector don't get full pensions, etc. Why should teachers, especially when these pensions are paid by the taxpayers?" This is such a frustrating argument because the teachers' union has agreed to cuts in pensions and salaries, they just don't want to lose their collective bargaining rights. Salary and pension is a nonissue in the movement going on at the state capitol.
In a USA Today interview, Mr. Walker stated he wouldn't budge on bargaining rights because school districts couldn't make the cuts they needed to make when they needed to follow union guidelines. What this means is that with union protection, our most educated and experienced teachers couldn't be laid off in order to balance the districts' budgets.
The union isn't perfect. We all know teachers who really shouldn't be protected by the union; people who really shouldn't be teachers, who don't have the passion, drive and expertise we would like. But most of us know more teachers who are dedicated, hard working and influence our children's lives in immeasurable ways.
Teachers' pay is determined by experience andeducation. If the bill is passed, teachers with the most education and experience would be at the most risk. Instead of hiring the best, districts would be forced to hire what they could afford, that being, the least experienced and least educated teachers. There would also be no incentive to better oneself by furthering one's education. Monroe teachers pay for their additional college credits. Why would they pay thousands to better educate themselves when doing that would put their jobs at risk?
Another argument is that this happens in the private sector. Machinists who have worked at car manufacturers for 30 years are being laid off because they earn too much, etc. This is true and tragic; but is it right? Teachers aren't building cars, they are educating our kids! Doesn't our children's and grandchildren's education have more value than what Mr. Walker is proposing? Public workers know and sympathize about the budget. They realize everyone needs to make concessions. If we are asking our teachers to work harder for less pay as a result of the enormous district cuts and reduced wages and pension, can't we at least respect them enough to keep their rights in place?
Monroe
As I read the Monroe Times and talk to people on the street, I keep hearing the issue of teachers' salaries and pensions being raised. They say that "people in the private sector don't get full pensions, etc. Why should teachers, especially when these pensions are paid by the taxpayers?" This is such a frustrating argument because the teachers' union has agreed to cuts in pensions and salaries, they just don't want to lose their collective bargaining rights. Salary and pension is a nonissue in the movement going on at the state capitol.
In a USA Today interview, Mr. Walker stated he wouldn't budge on bargaining rights because school districts couldn't make the cuts they needed to make when they needed to follow union guidelines. What this means is that with union protection, our most educated and experienced teachers couldn't be laid off in order to balance the districts' budgets.
The union isn't perfect. We all know teachers who really shouldn't be protected by the union; people who really shouldn't be teachers, who don't have the passion, drive and expertise we would like. But most of us know more teachers who are dedicated, hard working and influence our children's lives in immeasurable ways.
Teachers' pay is determined by experience andeducation. If the bill is passed, teachers with the most education and experience would be at the most risk. Instead of hiring the best, districts would be forced to hire what they could afford, that being, the least experienced and least educated teachers. There would also be no incentive to better oneself by furthering one's education. Monroe teachers pay for their additional college credits. Why would they pay thousands to better educate themselves when doing that would put their jobs at risk?
Another argument is that this happens in the private sector. Machinists who have worked at car manufacturers for 30 years are being laid off because they earn too much, etc. This is true and tragic; but is it right? Teachers aren't building cars, they are educating our kids! Doesn't our children's and grandchildren's education have more value than what Mr. Walker is proposing? Public workers know and sympathize about the budget. They realize everyone needs to make concessions. If we are asking our teachers to work harder for less pay as a result of the enormous district cuts and reduced wages and pension, can't we at least respect them enough to keep their rights in place?
