I hoped that it wouldn't happen. I hoped that funding would happen. It didn't. All Day Kindergarten will not be funded next year. I was doing the Math and it will mean reducing the elementary teaching staff in my district by forty certified teachers. That would be the number if there is not increased class size due to additional cuts or a drop in enrollment.
I hope that I will hear if I am cut sooner rather than later because I've got to start planning.
Tomorrow marks the beginning of fourth quarter. I'll go to work and try not to worry about all of that. Whatever the future holds, this job needs to be done now.
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Shiver Island
It is 1am and I should be in bed. I saw a somewhat unsettling movie (although much smarter than most horror films). Then, my friend, who went with me, called to tell me she saw a cat chasing a rat down my street when she was leaving. I was awake anyway, so I decided to do my taxes.
Somehow I made less money by being more experienced and doing the same job in 2009 than in 2008. I got a smaller refund (although I paid nearly 8,000 dollars in tuition fees) from the feds. I owe the state 180 dollars. Last year I think I had to pay them 60. I may just dream up my own fantasy world to cope with the experience of decreasing income, increasing taxes, and, well, let's face it, rats. I will live on Shiver Island. It will be the opposite of a hot, stupid desert that makes me pay them when they barely pay me to teach their schools. Yes, it will be an island for crazy people, but I will know how to deal with them. I have some work experience in that area.
Somehow I made less money by being more experienced and doing the same job in 2009 than in 2008. I got a smaller refund (although I paid nearly 8,000 dollars in tuition fees) from the feds. I owe the state 180 dollars. Last year I think I had to pay them 60. I may just dream up my own fantasy world to cope with the experience of decreasing income, increasing taxes, and, well, let's face it, rats. I will live on Shiver Island. It will be the opposite of a hot, stupid desert that makes me pay them when they barely pay me to teach their schools. Yes, it will be an island for crazy people, but I will know how to deal with them. I have some work experience in that area.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
True Life
I was using my time off productively yesterday (read: laying on the couch eating left-over birthday cake and watching MTV), and I saw an episode of True Life called I'm Moving Back in with My Parents. Sounds like a nightmare; I know. I have managed to finish college, hold down a full time job with benefits, acquire no debt, and finish my second degree (in dec); but in this economy, I am worried about that happening to me. I saw on the news today that some city in Kansas is closing 26 schools. I never considered when I was younger that finding work at all might be a challenge.
My roommate said something interesting to me the other day. She said that she thinks our entire age bracket will end up at the bottom of the work force permanently due to the economy being what it is right now. She said that just when our age group should be climbing the Career ladder, we find ourselves lucky to have a steady income at all. I don't know enough about economics to know if that is true, but it is an interesting thought.
My roommate said something interesting to me the other day. She said that she thinks our entire age bracket will end up at the bottom of the work force permanently due to the economy being what it is right now. She said that just when our age group should be climbing the Career ladder, we find ourselves lucky to have a steady income at all. I don't know enough about economics to know if that is true, but it is an interesting thought.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Career Ladder
I don't know if every state has a Career Ladder program, but if your state doesn't have a Career Ladder, I'll bet you have a Career Buddy or a Career Builder or a Career Time Waster...
Anyway, Career Ladder is a project you have to do if you want to make a little more money... I mean be a better teacher (or so they tell you). Part of the project involves writing a very long paper. It takes a lot of time (even for me and I am a very fast writer). I, like most teachers in this state, have accepted the fact that you have to do Career Ladder and put in these hours to make the money. The Career Ladder project has always been built upon the understanding that teachers will do x amount of work to make x amount of money. Of course, Career Ladder preaches that Career Ladder is just incentive for good teachers to do what they already do, but let's be honest: most good teachers do not voluntarily write a 20+ page paper in an extremely strict format.
This year, the contract has changed. Career Ladder has just informed us that we will still need to do x amount of work, but they will not be paying us x amount of money. How much have they reduced our "incentive"? They can't tell us. Not even a ballpark figure...
So, they're asking us to complete these insidious projects on the good faith that we'll be justly rewarded one way or the other. We do all of this work and they'll let us know how much we'll be paid at some point. It makes me mad because I wouldn't quit and be out 2,000 dollars; but if I'm already out 1500 dollars, is it worth all this work to make 500$ more over the course of they year?
Neat trick, huh?
Anyway, Career Ladder is a project you have to do if you want to make a little more money... I mean be a better teacher (or so they tell you). Part of the project involves writing a very long paper. It takes a lot of time (even for me and I am a very fast writer). I, like most teachers in this state, have accepted the fact that you have to do Career Ladder and put in these hours to make the money. The Career Ladder project has always been built upon the understanding that teachers will do x amount of work to make x amount of money. Of course, Career Ladder preaches that Career Ladder is just incentive for good teachers to do what they already do, but let's be honest: most good teachers do not voluntarily write a 20+ page paper in an extremely strict format.
This year, the contract has changed. Career Ladder has just informed us that we will still need to do x amount of work, but they will not be paying us x amount of money. How much have they reduced our "incentive"? They can't tell us. Not even a ballpark figure...
So, they're asking us to complete these insidious projects on the good faith that we'll be justly rewarded one way or the other. We do all of this work and they'll let us know how much we'll be paid at some point. It makes me mad because I wouldn't quit and be out 2,000 dollars; but if I'm already out 1500 dollars, is it worth all this work to make 500$ more over the course of they year?
Neat trick, huh?
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