**Disclaimer: I FULLY SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS AND APPRECIATE ALL OF THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THEY GIVE OUR STUDENTS** and I realize that as parents we don't have all the information necessary to form a truly educated opinion.....but here is my opinion from what I have read and experienced!
Last week I noticed how the teacher/government negotiations or lack there of are affecting my children's education. Mostly my daughter who needs support in staying on track and encouragement to keep working hard. Due to the political situation the teachers are not posting marks on the student tracker so I cannot see her progress. This has been essential to her success for the 1.5 years she has been in high school. Also, she has weekly tutoring support to prepare for Grade 10 Math. Math is like a foreign language to her. Due to the political situation she has been prevented from doing her tutoring in the school after hours. These are MAJOR issues that can make or break her success in Grade 10.
I know the union wants me to blame the government and the government wants me to blame the teachers. Well honestly I think you are all missing something. There is always a way to negotiate and come to a compromise without leading to unrest like this. It is not fair to the students and the government and union are both to blame.
Last week my friend; who is also my son's teacher posted this to help educate parents http://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/monitor/putting-students-first-doesnt-mean-putting-teachers-last#.UPNOQD4n8nQ.facebook . I really appreciated the information. It helped me understand the situation a bit better. Here are my thoughts:
1. Teachers should be hired because they are dedicated to the profession, not because it is a secure, good paying job. I love my job and senority is not something I even think about, I just do my job and appreciate how lucky I am. I respect that some would be concerned with senority.
2. If they really pay out of pocket for their sick time, it's theirs nobody has a right to take it away. They get to keep it. If it is sick time accrued monthly just for working......the employer gets to negotiate it. I get 10.5 hrs per month just for going to work, it's free and I don't abuse it, I am lucky to have it. If I were paying for it I might be more inclined to use it.
3. 3% for cost of living annually? Who gets that? I think my husband (a truck driver...essential service to our economy) has recieved 3% in the past 10 years of his employment with the same company. If he is sick, he doesn't get paid, if he takes time off he doesn't get paid....he is paid out vacation pay twice a year. This is a benefit that I believe teachers work hard for however they are very lucky to have it.
4. Teachers have one of the toughest jobs there is....they should be well compensated and appreciated. They also need awareness of the situation other Ontarians are living and appreciate the level of income and security they have. Maybe there is room for negotiation.
5. Putting children first is not happening on either end, both sides are cheating our kids and these kids are the future of this province. What are we teaching them? If we don't get what we want we just stop working/we impose rules that limit rights? We can treat our employers/employees poorly and ask for others to support us?
6. Saving two billion dollars? This one makes me laugh....like a full on belly laugh. Lastnight I read Macleans magazine....99 ways the government wasted our money in 2012.....they gave over $800,000...THATS EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND...to Cargill Meats to try to make a NON EXPLOSIVE SAUSAGE and said that this was essential to the future prosperity of our province. Seriously, give the money to the teachers, they are essential to our future prosperity.
I know that there are teachers out there that just want to work and are so tired of this process. They really want to just teach our kids in a way that supports the very best outcomes for them.
I pay my taxes, I want the best education for my kids. The government and the union owe us that. Both government and union are saying they are putting our kids first....they are both lying. They are putting their pocket books first. They need to visit schools and talk to kids about this issue, they need to live in our homes and see the struggles. Start walking the walk, not just talking the talk.
And that's my opinion.
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