Throwing around figures and only talking about the teachers’ salaries is the easiest thing to do.
The teachers aren’t just striking for more money like many would like you to think. They are striking because some of the classes have 45 kids in them. That’s right, 45 kids in a class with one teacher. They even had up to 48 kids in a class and had to have the kids rotate sitting on the classroom floor so everyone got a chance to sit in a chair. Class sizes are a big issue.
And then there are the special education classes. The teachers are on overload and have to write a specialized education plan for each student (on the average it takes two hours for each one). From what I understand, the district does not want them to be compensated for this time. And, the aides to help these teachers are being taken away.
The parents support the teachers until someone skews the facts with numbers and rhetoric, making it look like the teachers are on strike for salaries only.
Maybe people should look beyond that to the more important things that the teachers are striking for – their kids.
Everett
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