I'm a runner, and before every race I write students' names on my jersey. "It's so I can take them with me," I tell them. "Because you keep me going."
As I attended President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night, I was not alone. I represented all of the teachers and support staff from across the country who are struggling with too few resources and too little support. This invitation was an honor, but my dedication to education is not exceptional or unique. Because, for all teachers, it is our students that keep us going.
That commitment to quality public schools is even more important during these tough and uncertain economic times. My school district, Chester Upland School District in Pennsylvania, has long had financial troubles. More than 70 percent of our students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. That's more than double the state average. Now, the district is in outright financial crisis.
The situation is so bad that in early January we were told that there wouldn't be enough money to pay us. We were all incredibly anxious and upset. I'm a third generation teacher, and to be told I might not be able to continue teaching my students was horrifying. We all have families to take care of, mortgages and bills to pay.
But our union leaders brought us together, and 204 teachers and 64 support staff decided unequivocally to keep working as long we were able to make ends meet. Our students had no contingency plan. They needed to be educated, so we intended to be on the job.
On Monday, Pennsylvania lawmakers announced an agreement with the governor that will make sure we will continue to receive our paychecks. However, for our school district and many others, the problem is far from solved.
Public schools and teachers need the basic resources necessary to effectively do their jobs. Our students deserve the best this country has to offer, and we all have a shared responsibility to make sure they receive it. However, too many politicians are balancing the budgets on the backs of students.
President Obama recognizes that addressing the crisis of education funding goes hand-in-hand with addressing the jobs crisis. We must provide high quality education equitably, to all students, if we are to fulfill our promise to their futures. We need more politicians to realize that quality public education is the way to economic recovery. Now more than ever we need to put the political bickering aside for the sake of our students and the nation.
My school district could be any school district. It could be yours. It is hard to acknowledge that unsettling reality without feeling pessimistic.
But I hope the response of my community can serve as an example. Parents and community members held candlelight vigils and rallied around our schools. Every day, teachers and support staff came to work prepared to teach. Every day, the students came ready to learn.
Addressing the problems facing our public schools will take hard work from all of us --- lawmakers, parents, and teachers. And we owe it to our students to keep going.
Reverend William E. Flippin, Jr.: Would Martin Luther Vote for Barack Obama?
Ms. Ferguson, I am glad you got a trip to the White House--but what about the teachers who are subjected to abuse by school administrators ---just ask the OCR and EEOC about the many claims!
The President doesn't have to negotiate with anyone to issue executive orders, and he hasn't issued a single one for the benefit of education, let alone the other critical points he promised during the campaign. What makes you think he's really committed to anything else than continue the status quo?
He's getting bolder at promising stuff... he now going to act to change the wealth disparity...
The fruit of his labor are the result of his real intentions... Look at the result; don't listen to words... I'm nearly 70 years old. Things have been going from bad to worse in nearly every aspect of life in America, for nearly the largest number of Americans.
So why is it continually penny-pinched ? OK - in my state with 60,000 teachers it's one of the largest budget items, so is continually under scrutiny for ways to cut back.
Politically ? hmmm - how about rulers retain power more easily if they keep their population uneducated - it works in North Korea, and seems to be working in the US ...
What I do not understand is why able bodied teachers do not think of the elderly retired teachers.
In Texas Rick Perry has never given the oldest retired teachers a raise in their paycheck.
A 80 year old man, with many illnesses, receives $1500 since 1999.. I wish the younger teachers would help those that cannot help themselves. I hear about teachers, never about those that have retired, the system is not broke.TRS is the 16th largest pension plan in the world with $113 BILLION not one dime to a retired teacher in 13 years. George Bush was Governor, the money is invested in
the same companies that give big donations to Perry & his wife's non profit organization.
A new retired Houston Teacher receives $36,000., the eldest, sickest over 70 -72 etc years old & older should get a raise for inflatuation.Teaching is a profession, educated person and Rick Perry's gardner makes more than a retired teacher. It was mandatory to pay TRS & SS/medicare when he worked 20 yrs in the private sector but because of the double dipping law ( no SS) Rick Perry can retire & draw retirement & still get paid for being governor. the Department of Justice should look into the pension plans of the retired teachers, police, firefighters &retired state workers.. they want to change it keep $113 Billion !
So what do you expect Ms Ferguson to do for you and your fellow Texans who actually voted for Bush and then Perry for governor of your state? What Ms Ferguson is saying is that in PA they are stealing the money from children who haven't had their first job yet and who do not vote for their elected officials--like stealing candy from a baby!
I'm sorry about your pension but either your union officials or your elected officials in TX are corrupt and your fellow Texans voted them into office so perhaps you should tell your elected officials, your union reps & your fellow Texans what is happening to the pensions. Your complaint is exactly what your TX politicians say is what is wrong with teacher's unions--they care more about their paychecks than their children & judging by your writing they are far short of the skills needed to be competent teachers.
Ms Ferguson on the other hand, cares more about her students & the quality of her work than her pay. Maybe you could learn something from these dedicated teachers that might help your cause. Good luck.
A group of teachers who put together the SOS March on Washington DC were asked by Arne Duncan if he could pleeeease meet with them before the rally. To their credit, they said no.
We are getting there.
I am appalled that the none of the Chester Upland School District district’s three school employee unions agreed to open their contracts and offer any concessions to help the district survive - who are the heart of the problem in the first place.
The unskilled are in the charter and religious schools who are not forced to hire accredited and educated teachers, exactly the places Corbett wants the money to go.
And if you think the teachers are unskilled, you spend a day fighting to teach inner city classes of 40 and get them to learn. Go to Chester sometime and count the masters degrees among the staff
Sad. The sooner teacher unions are gone the better.
These schools are known as charter schools and have alot less of the fat and problems as the "traditional" model of public schools in the US.
The top special interest lobbyists in the Nation (NEA - teacher's Unions) do not like charter schools because they do not get money from them.
Some Public School administrators do not like them, because the State takes money from them and gives it to these charter schools, which teach kids better and for less money.
Also - charter schools account for special needs kids more accurately - the number is often fudged by the traditional larger public school systems because a special needs kid is worth twice than a normal kid in funding. Traditional public schools calls a kid with brown hair "special needs" and milks more money from the system. Charter schools don't.
So that's it in a nutshell. All about money, as usual.
You mention special needs students? There are many kids in poverty who have special needs. A disproportionate number attend the charter school? You may ask why, given the staffing is non-union and inexperienced. You know why. Money. That's all it is. Working the system, like working the pentagon budget.
Charter schools seek to turn education into a "Business Model" that makes a profit. According to activist Jonathan Kozol, education is seen as one of the biggest market opportunities in America or "the big enchilada". Education historian Diane Ravitch has estimated, as a "safe guess," that 95% of charters in the United States are non-union and has said that charters follow an unsustainable practice of requiring teachers to work unusually long hours. IMHO, they're now a scam to redirect public education funds toward private profiteers.
But judge for yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_schools