Careful what you wish for...you may get it | Eastern North Carolina Now

The floggings will continue until morale improves

    I still remember my first job. It was as a "carry-out" boy at a local grocery store. We took the customer's groceries to their car for them. Somewhat like the Piggly Wiggly still does. But my bossman required that we run back into the store once we had stashed the groceries in the car.

    I still remember his response when I politely pointed out to him that the store down the street let their carry-out boys walk back. He replied calmly: "Then you should go work for them." End of discussion. Lesson learned. Quitchabellyacin.

    I taught for 38 years. I, nor any other teacher I taught with, never felt we were paid what we were worth. I suspect many people reading this feel the same way about their jobs. But since the Republicans have taken over the Legislature the complaints from teachers seem to have amplified.

    WUNC published a legislator's response to a teacher who wrote legislators telling them she was ashamed to be a teacher because she did not make as much money as she thought she should make. Here's the story:

    Last week, Sarah Wiles, a science teacher in the Charlotte/Mecklenburg Schools with a master's degree and six years' experience, sent an email to every member of the North Carolina General Assembly with the subject line: "I am embarrassed to confess: I am a teacher." That email is below.

    Monday morning, Sen. David Curtis, a Republican from Denver, NC, replied (actually "reply all" as it went to every member of the General Assembly.) And it's a message that is sure to get some attention from public-school advocates.

    Here's what he had to say:

    From: Sen. David Curtis

    Date: May 12, 2014 at 9:46:57

    Dear Sarah,

    I have given your e-mail titled "I am embarrassed to confess: I am a teacher" some thought, and these are my ideas. A teacher has an incredible influence on students–for good or for bad. My teachers, coaches, and Boy Scout leaders had a great influence on my decision to go to college which was not a family tradition. My concern is that your students are picking up on your attitude toward the teaching profession. Since you naturally do not want to remain in a profession of which you are ashamed, here are my suggestions for what you should tell your potential new private sector employer:

    1. You expect to make a lot more than you made as a teacher because everyone knows how poorly compensated teachers are.

    2. You expect at least eight weeks paid vacation per year because that is what the taxpayers of North Carolina gave you back when you were a poorly compensated teacher

    3. You expect a defined contribution retirement plan that will guarantee you about $35,000 per year for life after working 30 years even if you live to be 104 years old. Your employer will need to put about $16,000 per year into your retirement plan each year combined with your $2,000 contribution for the next 30 years to achieve this benefit. If he objects, explain to him that a judge has ruled that the taxpayers of North Carolina must provide this benefit to every public school teacher. Surely your new employer wants to give better benefits than the benefits you received as a poorly compensated teacher.

    4. Your potential employer may tell you that he has heard that most North Carolina workers make less than the national average because we are a low cost-of-living- state, private sector workers making 87% of the national average and teachers making 85% of the national average. Tell him that may be true, but to keep that confidential because the teachers union has convinced parents that teachers are grossly undercompensated based on a flawed teachers union survey of teacher pay.

    I support the teacher pay raise but am very concerned that the teachers union has successfully presented to the public a deceptive view of total teacher compensation that is simply not consistent with the facts.

    Sincerely,

    Senator David Curtis

    And the original email:

    From: Sarah Wiles

    Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2014 6:47 PM

    Every year there is a debate on teacher compensation. This is only exacerbates during election years. However, nothing happens. As a sixth year teacher, I have only seen a pay increase once (and then again after plunging myself into debt by earning my Masters in Education). I have attended rallies, joined NCAE, petitioned, and worn red (or blue and ...

    Click here to go to the original source to read the rest of the story.

    If you are married and if you have been previously married I hope you don't constantly tell your current husband how much greater your previous husband was. Even if you've been married only once and even if you've never been married, I think you get my point.

    Perhaps you should consider that the NCAE has something to do with this predicament you see yourself in. How many Republicans has the NCAE ever endorsed and supported? How many of the current leadership in the General Assembly has the NCAE supported? You know the answer to that.

    The NCAE can't play the political game and lose and then expect to win what they want from those they opposed. You may see that as cruel, but it is just the way the game the NCAE chosen to play in is actually played. Then, to compound its errors the NCAE is constantly telling teachers how bad things are. What would happen if you did that to your classes, or any other group with which you are associated, or even your husband?

    Maybe your next email should be to the NCAE leadership and just maybe you should address how they might want to consider trying to build a better relationship with the General Assembly.

    But as a former teacher with 38 years of experience, I would humbly suggest that you have a duty to shield your students from your personal frustrations. Or do something else. You should either run back after carrying the groceries out or you should move on down the street. But I suspect you'll be just as frustrated there as you were before.

    It's not the circumstances we find ourselves in that matters, it's how we handle those circumstances that matters. Biting the hand that feeds you is not a particularly effective way to handle your frustration.

    Delma Blinson writes the "Teacher's Desk" column for our friend in the local publishing business: The Beaufort Observer. His concentration is in the area of his expertise - the education of our youth. He is a former teacher, principal, superintendent and university professor.