One parent's opinion on teacher's strikes.

[karadinart]

Sure, if school closes for whatever reason, be it inclement weather or a strike, it's hard for parents to find a place for the kids - however - teachers ARE NOT BABYSITTERS - the purpose of free education is not to provide free daycare. While teachers are concerned about their work benefits being cut (as all of us do) their deepest concerns are to keep class sizes low, to provide the materials and infrastructure necessary for them to do their jobs.

The American public stresses a good education however they are not willing to fund it, and are pushed by pundits and politicians to resent the people who work at these jobs.

Let's start asking this question, not why are individuals in the public sector allowed to have (supposed) great benefits (I know teachers who've had retroactive wage cuts and had to work free days to make up for it) where did the benefits in the private sector go?

Comments

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Well said!

[karadin.livejournal.com]

I'm just getting pissed off at the continuing focus of new stories on, oh parents are struggling to find places for their kids to go, how about reporting on why the teachers are striking in the first place???

[margi-lynn.livejournal.com]

Here, here! *tips hat*

[goodbyemyfancy.livejournal.com]

Having the same fight here in Ontario and Toronto where the school teachers have had wage freezes, cut backs on sick days and all sorts of stuff - yet the schools still expect them to do the before and after school clubs with no compensation. It's a huge mess and a lot of tensions at the start of the school year. Teachers are refusing to do additional work like this, or wearing black armbands on Wednesday, others are refusing after school meetings etc. Teachers are already massively unpaid and not valued for the work they do and it just makes me sick.

Sorry for the rant - this was all over the news for us the last month.