Schools need more money – I type from the keyboard of my 13″ district issued MacBook Pro. This MacBook is much better than the last MacBook Pro I had, thank god for the two year replacement cycle.
I don’t look at my laptop screen as I type. I’m looking at the image that I have AirPlayed onto the projector screen from the HD projector in my classroom.
The air conditioner has been working overtime – and I am clicking away on the keys. I hear the laughs of children out at recess as I work away. Wait a second, isn’t the air conditioner on, why is the window open? You may ask. My answer – we burn money up in this bitch.
I hear the ping of a new email echo over the surround sound speakers in my classroom. I leave them on all of the time. We have motion detecting lights – but this sound system is on year round.
I move to a new spot in the room, now I am too hot. Probably because I left the window open. I move next to the fan that runs 24/7 inside my Chromebook cart. It produces a nice breeze while it charges my 30 classroom Chromebooks.
Back to that email – it is a district announcement. There is a new administrator opening. District Administrator for Managing District Facebook Comment Section – starting salary $110,000. Oh man, that would be a difficult job. One day, with the help of district tuition reimbursement, I hope that I too can become an administrator.
Schools need more money – Teachers work their butts off year round. Well, I mean not quite. But we do. Most of the year. I work hard for my students 365 days a year.
Not actually 365 days. (Looks at contract) I work hard 198 days a year for my kids. Well now 197 days.
From Labor day through mid-June I work a demanding 8-4 job. I don’t get a break until Thanksgiving! Then I have to work late November through mid-December until I get an additional break. It is only two weeks long.
I bust my butt from January through mid-March, only then do I get another break. This one is only a single week long.
And then – the final stretch. April through mid-June. I have to work two and a half months straight, just to earn two and a half months off. Fully paid. (I also have 4 personal days and 10 sick days per year.)
Schools need more money – I am with my students 8 hours a day – creating future leaders.
Not actually 8 hours a day. I only get 30 minutes to prepare for my student before school starts, though. Then I am teaching the rest of the day.
Except for my 45 minute prep during the school day. Outside of my 30 minutes before school, and my 45 minute prep – I am with kids non-stop.
Also, I have my 40 minute lunch, and my 45 minute plan time after school. But that is it. I only get 2 hours and 40 minutes during the day without students.
Another ping, another email. District approves building ten new multi-million dollar schools – about time, those schools were almost as old as I am. And I am almost 30.
Schools need more money – How are we going to solve this budget crisis? My school district has a multi-million dollar deficit we are facing. Our central office is threatening to lay-off hundreds of teachers, leading to larger class sizes in 2019-2020.
– Buzz
