So much for schools saving money

During the last school year, school districts all over Michigan, because of a state wide incentive, offered attractive buy-outs to the teachers at the top of the pay scale who were eligible to retire.  In the district I am in the teachers who accepted the buy-out will receive a bonus of $30,000.00, I believe to be paid in three $10,000.00 installments, and an increase in their retirement benefits.  Well if it saves the district money that can be used to benefit students and the teachers left to continue the educational journey of the students, then money well spent right?  The idea was that the highest paid teachers would be gone and the openings created would be filled by teachers who would be paid the entry level salary, this would be a great savings to the district.  In the district that I am in, about one hundred openings were created due to the buy-out, and because there are way more teachers than jobs, the district received five thousand applications!  Now this district I am in does not pay steps to a teacher coming to the district, regardless of years taught elsewhere, and the district has been proud of this.  I can't say that it has never happened, but it has been as rare as a steak fanned over the fire.  BUT with 5000 applications for 100 job openings this district that I'm in paid steps to new hires!  I can't say how many, but one is too many.  I won't be convinced that with 5000 applications for 100 jobs that the district could not find very qualified teachers more than willing to come in at the entry level salary.  If the candidate had a job elsewhere and  felt he or she couldn't take a pay cut, then stay where you are, and if the candidate had been laid off, then something is better than nothing!  I might not feel this way if things were different, but the buy-out was offered to SAVE MONEY, we are working without a contract right now, steps have not increased for a while, and the board is suggesting that we take a pay cut!  I don't get it and I am really mad about it.  I feel like I've been slapped in the face.  The bottom line is, it's just wrong.
Rosemary

Education legislation smells

I am in Education and something about it really smells.  Every time I turn around, I read about another proposal by the legislature or the department of education that simply is not good for students, no matter the age of the student.  Recent legislation has done nothing to improve schools for kids, nor has it made higher education easier to access by those who are not financially secure, or extremely capable.  Yet, all we hear is that everyone has to go to college if we are to compete in a "global economy".  I would still like to know exactly what that catch phrase really means, I don't get it.  It is a term someone threw out one day, that someone else latched on to and then more politicians began throwing it around because it sounds impressive, but what the hell does it really mean?  Why does every American kid have to get a college degree for us to compete economically globally?  Now I am reading about another "rule" that the department of ed wants to lay on us called "Gainful Employment"  It sounds positive doesn't it?  That's the game people in politics play, you have to be really good at marketing and advertising to remain in politics.  What I have read about "Gainful Employment" is not good for students, not good for the job market, and I dare to say, not good for competing in a "global economy" where I would think you would want all people to have access to career options that would allow them to earn money to spend.  So go to www.mycareercounts.org and see for yourself.  If I am wrong about this not being a good thing, please enlighten me.  If I am right that this "rule" simply is not in the best interest of society as a whole, but may very well benefit the wealthiest among us, who can afford to go to college for four, five or six years, and have the means to get private tutoring and maybe even bribe their way through life, then let me know that too.  All I am seeing in legislation that has anything to do with education is that it is making it easier for those who have to get more, while those who don't never will, under the guise of "leaving no child behind", and making college a possibility for all.  It's bullshit, and it's time someone said it, so I am.  Oh and by the way Arne Duncan is the Secretary of Education, I have read his bio, and never saw, "classroom teacher" listed. I don't get it.  I don't think any of the people in Lansing or Washington making decisions that affect education ever taught in a classroom, and worse when proposing things that have to do with educating the young people of this country they completely ignore educators and consult business people!  They make it all sound right, but let me tell you, it is so very wrong what politicians are doing to students, the bottom line is the almighty dollar for them not your kids.  Trust me, I'm in it, I see the results of the legislation every day, and it ain't pretty.  Most teachers truly care about kids, most politicians care about getting  reelected.  Okay, I'm done now.
Rosemary

????????

Once upon a time I was there and so were you.  You don't remember, do you?  Was I there?  Were you?  And what did we do, what did we talk about, how did we feel?  You don't know do you?  I don't either, because that was the time of innocence and that we have lost.  We have moved from the land of opportunity and hope and dreams to the land of  ugly and deception, and hate.  We are here, every day, and we are not meeting each other at all.  We are losing our goodness and our humanity because we have so much need.  The neediest have no recourse and those with the most don't care at all.  Most of us are stuck in the middle, are we here or there? When we used to be there, together, we talked about needs and took care of each other.  We felt something for each other, we talked about the future with hope.  Now we are here.  I don't know where we are, what's happened to us?  
Rosemary

It's been awhile

So it's been a while since I have been able to blog or have had anything I especially wanted to blog about.  I only want to say this tonight; if you have someone, hold on.  If you miss someone, weep and then move on.  If you are in pain and alone, pray and then get strong.  If you are angry, know that you must shed the feeling and find peace, blame will not heal you.  If you are confused, talk to someone.  If you are lost, then you really must stop and think about just where home is.  Once you know where you need to be to feel whole, you must get there, even though the journey may not be easy.  I wish you love and peace in your life, tonight and always.

 Rosemary