Although the vast majority of responses to the March for California's Future have been positive, there have been a few folks who were less than sanguine about our 48-day march to Sacramento. One day last week as we marched by a farm in the middle of the vast Central Valley, a stocky man in a tractor stopped as we passed by and asked us why were marching.
"Against education cuts," I started in.
"They already get too much money," he interrupted.
I tried again with, "Actually, public education has been cut by over $18 billion over the last two years."
And he stopped me with, "Where do they get all the money for those fancy buses--the government? Is that where the money comes from? "
I tried to smile and said, "Yes, it comes from the government, but..."
"I think they should swat the kids!" he blurted out angrily. "And why do we feed the kids? Why do we have to pay for that? The parents should feed them. We should swat the kids! Swat 'em!"
I looked him in the eye and told him to have a nice day and continued on, but his story stuck with me because, in a way, that's what we're doing in California -- swatting the kids with cuts to education, cuts to health care and by closing the doors of opportunity for poor children as more and more of them are born into poverty.
I thought of the scene in the Grapes of Wrath where the tenant farmer comes out to confront another guy on a tractor who is just about to roll over his house. The farmer levels his gun at the driver, who tells him it's not his fault, that he is just working for his boss who answers to the bank in town who answers to other folks back east who answer to a system that is out of everyone's control.
The monster is not a man but a system that makes it nearly impossible for ordinary folks to know "who to shoot," as the farmer puts it. So we aim down (at the poor or the weak or the children) because we can't comprehend how to grapple with our faceless masters, those who have greatly benefited while most of us have suffered during this economic crisis -- the corporations who get tax breaks while we keep paying, the rich people who never seem to pay even when their economic behavior verges on the criminal.
This is the miracle of the Tea Party movement that has harnessed the same sort of populist anger that back in the '30s helped create the CIO and the New Deal. Today, the folks with the pitchforks are pushing in the other direction, however, hollering for policies that will benefit those who are most responsible for the economic crisis -- budget cuts, more tax cuts, less government, less regulation and weakened unions.
It's the anti-New Deal era in many ways, and in the Golden State we are pink slipping teachers, cutting aid to the most-needy, and downsizing our expectations for the future in the service of the notion that if we just shrink government, somehow the economy will work better for all of us. It's a perverse irony, but, for some, a new social Darwinism is the God's truth.
On the other hand, there was the woman who stopped us along the road to tell us she'd seen us on TV and supported our fight for education. She declared herself "very conservative," an Obama hater who wanted the government out of her Medicare, and a critic of immigration who taught migrant workers for over a decade. She gave us $15 for our march and told us it was time to take back California for working folks like her. We thanked her and went on our way. Ideologically incoherent as it was, it was better than "swat the kids." There's a long road ahead of us but we'll get there. We have to -- for the kids.
And a note to Corwin: spend a week in a classroom, plan the lessons, teach them, and take home the hundreds of essays and homework assignments to grade. Then deal with a constant bombardment of parents, politicians and people named Corwin who consistently tell you you're overpaid, underperforming, and lazy. Add to that trying to control a bunch of students whose parents lack of teaching discipline and respect results in the students simply not caring about their education as much as their iPods and cell phones. Then try disciplining one of the kids--no, not swatting him--and see what reaction you get from the kid and the parents. And finally, provide for your own family on that "far above the norm" salary.
After that, if you still think teachers are overpaid, by all means say so. Until, then, take your own advice and find some sound data and solid logic.
And,diffidently, I doubt if lesson plans vary much from year to year, nor do I believe you grade hundreds of homework papers.Although you left the time period vacant that was covered.
MIlton Friedman,a U of Chicago economist repeatedly stressed PS jobs should be classified as "Government jobs" . I understand one's desire to be paid as much as possible. BUt,you should understand your employer's (i.e. the Calif citizenry ) has a desire to get value for your services. And, howmany folks , who aren't adjunct faculty or relatives of such, such clamoring to tell of the great job PS teachers are doing for their kids? SInce I'm quoting fromvasrious fantasy sources, I'll use a quote from Vance's "The Green Pearl ". Change Utterly. It's your best chance.
Furthermore, you doubt I grade hundreds of essays? I teach five writing classes per semester with a total of of 160 students. I assign four major essays and multiple smaller assignments throughout the year. Do I need to provide you an "integer" or can you figure that math out yourself?
And as for the humanities being "less intellectually challenging," perhaps had you paid a little more attention you would have learned how to write correctly. If you're going to get into a battle over the value of an education, perhaps you should show evidence you have one.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/re/ht/bcrc.asp
The pension argument is an absolute red herring. Here are the facts:
1. Even if you froze pension benefits today, it would be nowhere near enough to close the budget gap. (Pension benefits that have already been accrued cannot be cut, by law. Applies to both private sector and public sector).
2. The typical public sector pension is only $2,000 to $3,000 a month. Most public workers do not get Social Security, so that is all they have to retire on.
What has bankrupted the state are the billions in tax loopholes and tax cuts showered upon the wealthiest individuals and large corporations.
California has a choice: side with kids, or side with millionaires. We know whose side Corwin is on.
Sci Fi Grandmaster Isaac Asimov once critiqued a story by (his friend) Harlan Ellisonas "All Emotion" as opposed to his-"All thought". Diffidently, I point out you're in the former.A few tidbits for you-from a site ,"I left my wallet in San Francisco.' Special nurse-$359K /yr. Municipal railway super;$325K etc....Over at the site,it also lists the UC compensation for the med school.Pretty high salaries (ANd this is a subject on which I'm well informed)
A little comment for you. Read. Think. ("I don't know Boss. This thinkin' stuff isn't for beginners")
Look. Your comment on
Things like this have bankrupt the state. Citizens have to decide whether the PS system is for the benefit of the employees or the students.,
By the way,where did the 18 Billion number originate?