Tue
Jun 18 2013
08:06 pm
Knox County educators to host roundtable discussion on teacher pay schedules
By: R. Neal

What: Knox County educators to host roundtable discussion on teacher pay schedules
When: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 2:00pm
Where: Time Warp Tea Room, 1209 N Central

TNDP: Rep. Johnson Opposes Destructive Changes to Teacher Pay Schedule

KNOXVILLE -- State Rep. Gloria Johnson and Knox County educators will discuss 2 p.m. Wednesday an anti-teacher proposal being considered this week by the state board of education.

The roundtable discussion will be at Time Warp Tea Room, 1209 N Central St., Knoxville.

Under the proposal, the state minimum salary schedule would collapse from 21-steps to four and collapse the levels of advanced degrees from four to one. The changes would reduce earning potential for veteran teachers and educators pursuing advanced degrees.

The Tennessee State Board of Education will consider the proposals Friday at a meeting in Nashville.

From recruiting teachers who value lifelong learning to supporting Tennessee's veteran educators, these extreme changes would have short- and long-term consequences that shortchange student achievement.

Topics:
R. Neal's picture

The state BOE can do this?

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2013/06/18 - 8:09pm.

The state BOE can do this? Where does this stuff come from?

Stick's picture

Thanks for reporting on yet

Submitted by Stick on Tue, 2013/06/18 - 8:32pm.
(in reply to R. Neal)

Thanks for reporting on yet another horrible idea. If you take a look at the BOE [appointed by the governor] then all becomes clear.

Min's picture

What's wrong with the State Board of Education in a nutshell...

Submitted by Min on Wed, 2013/06/19 - 9:23am.
(in reply to Stick)

The law only requires one educator to be appointed to the Board by the governor. Currently, there is one retired teacher on the Board, and she is barely even tolerated by the other members of the Board.

Michael D.'s picture

There has been an all out

Submitted by Michael D. (not verified) on Wed, 2013/06/19 - 3:35pm.
(in reply to R. Neal)

There has been an all out attack on teachers and public education since the governor and Republican legislature took over in 2011. I just left the education forum held by Rep. Johnson. From what she says, it is obvious that the attack continues and is supported by most of our local leaders with only a few exceptions.Mayor Burchett was correct in his recent comments criticizing the treatment of teachers. I hope the people of Tennessee will wake up and force our state leaders to reconsider these actions that will eventually destroy public.

mld

Min's picture

This is Haslam and Huffman's baby.

Submitted by Min on Wed, 2013/06/19 - 9:20am.

The state board is just along for the ride. The changes to the salary schedule will cost a teacher with a doctorate $200,000 over a 30 year career. It's all part of Huffman's TFA/educators as disposable temporary workers strategy. The legislature has already undermined the stability of the pension. The salary schedule was the next logical step in screwing teachers over and making sure that Tennessee has the cheapest teaching force possible.

The real question is...how is Tennessee going to staff its schools in 5-10 years, when we offer literally nothing to entice people into the profession.

fischbobber's picture

5-10 years?

Submitted by fischbobber on Wed, 2013/06/19 - 10:10am.
(in reply to Min)

Hell, there wasn't anything to entice people into the profession thirty years ago. It didn't pay enough to raise a family then. Teaching is a hobby for the wealthy or an activity for those living on entitlements, and the way we treat this profession as a society is just plain wrong.

bizgrrl's picture

I'm pretty sure thirty years

Submitted by bizgrrl on Wed, 2013/06/19 - 10:36am.
(in reply to fischbobber)

I'm pretty sure thirty years ago having a relatively secure job was a reason to go into the teaching profession. A steady income in a fairly clean environment is an enticement.

Min's picture

I have to slightly disagree.

Submitted by Min on Wed, 2013/06/19 - 10:38am.
(in reply to fischbobber)

Thirty years ago, teaching was still respected as a profession in most communities. In fact, in rural communities, because teaching had status and a regular salary, it was considered a highly desirable job, particularly for women.

Now, it's a whipping boy.

fischbobber's picture

30 years ago

Submitted by fischbobber on Wed, 2013/06/19 - 11:13am.

I spent a couple years substituting trying to figure out if teaching was for me.

I loved the work and some would say I was good at it, however, the starting pay was only about 3000 dollars a year more than a part time union dockworkers wages (my night job) for a job that took about sixty hours a week. (The teachers I admired spent about that.) It worked out to about working fourteen months a year for a little more than half of what I could make driving a truck.

If I wanted to advance in pay and stature, I could go to school on my own dime in the summer.

Even at the time, it was obvious that the master teacher program was more about seeing who would jump through bureaucratic hoops than it was improving education.

Cleanliness is a school to school issue, sometimes classroom to classroom.

Union work provides (or did) secure work at a higher wage than teaching. I've worked for the same company for thirty-six years. Most people would consider that a secure job.

gonzone's picture

Speaking of unions, you have

Submitted by gonzone on Wed, 2013/06/19 - 4:50pm.
(in reply to fischbobber)

Speaking of unions, you have hit upon the key factor in the push to destroy public education. ALEC and Michelle Rhee's group aren't about improving education, they're about destroying teacher unions and privatization. Basically they oppose an equal opportunity for children of poor or racially denigrated backgrounds. If that means destroying education and the economy then so be it, so long as the "right people" are the only ones who benefit from tax dollars.

Short sighted ans stupid? Yup. We get what we vote for. Never seen a Bubba yet wouldn't cut his nose off to spite his face, so long as the minorities don't benefit. (SKB excluded of course when I say bubbas)

lonnie's picture

Commissioner Huffman is

Submitted by lonnie on Thu, 2013/06/20 - 12:02am.
(in reply to gonzone)

Commissioner Huffman is proposing substantial reductions in teacher pay requirements from the state, especially funds for improved salaries for teachers with a master's degree and above. Also, he is proposing that the state not recognize teaching experience beyond 11 yrs. of service. The state is doing everything possible to get rid of experienced teachers. Experienced teachers are intentionally being given lower evaluation scores in many areas as well as being discriminated against because of age when it comes to being promoted to administrative and other positions. The morale of teachers in Tennessee is sinking daily as the governor and legislature continues their attack on public education. The number of teacher retirements, I am told, have increased dramatically in the past two years.

In addition to this attack on teachers and public education, the governor and his cronies want to use the voucher system to get their hands on millions of dollars of education funds at the expense of our children.Their plans will destroy public education in Tennessee.

Michael D.

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