The perfect money stream for education
By Ray Stubblefield
I am a public school teacher, and I am not the enemy. I have been teaching for 31 years, and in all that time the economy, the political climate and public mood have never been nastier.
Those responsible for the economic mess we are in have never been held accountable. No lists of names, no hearings, no trials — no justice. The message is loud and clear. They are too big to fail, but we are not.
Stubblefield is an physics/astronomy teacher at Franklin County High School.
April 28, 2012 - 8:23 AM
Another teacher article about wanting more of our money. The Montgomery County School Board recently said they were going to have to layoff a few employees from a staff of some 1700+. According to their web site there are about 9500 students in the Montgomery system (easy to do the math) with a 15 student to 1 full time teacher ratio. It seems like its never enough for government. An article in the RT the other day reported on some guy charged with something like a DUI and substance possession jumping out of the courthouse window trying to make his getaway. To recapture such a dangerous individual he was chased down by 15 local police, some state troopers and 2 dog tracker teams. Rambling on, I was watching this reality based tv program the other day about these 2 Dade County FL employees chasing snakes in a swamp. They addressed each other as “Major” Jones and “Captain” Smith. They used to be called dogcatchers. I guess their salaries match their titles. Oh well.
wayne, actually, your math is faulty. Not all of the 1700+ employees of the MCPS system are classroom teachers. The average high school class size is approximately 24 students.
I too am a classroom teacher (of 13 years now). I don’t “want more of your money.” I went into the profession because I love working with young people and I truly believe that the future of our great country lies in an educated body of citizens. I want to be fairly compensated for my labor, and I would appreciate some modicum of gratitude for my efforts (as anyone who works hard does).
Those who can, teach. Those who can’t whine about their tax dollars. Good day to you sir.
Thanks for that devotion Mr. Stubblefield! The students are lucky to have you and so is society, even if we do not have the sense to know it. Oddly, it is expected for energy, food, clothing, vehicles, and every other thing on the planet to cost more for a good outcome, but education is always blamed for their cost and their outcomes because, well because so many have been so happy to demonize them for so long it is just expected. Public schools are a bargain that no one seems to notice, but everyone needs. Any idea how much a nice boarding kennel costs?
Wayne, What would you beleive to be a decent salary for teachers and police officers? Do believe that our country has benefited from an educated and safe society? What is that worth to you?