Ferndale teachers vote to strike

davesea said on September 7, 2010 at 8:45 PM

Let them strike...more chance for them to boot the union when they lose their jobs to another teacher.

dprescot said on September 7, 2010 at 8:26 PM

You must be kidding me. The union does realize that they are negotiating with The People, right? This is a golden opportunity to get the union out. Aren't we a free society. This means that we, as a community, can set pay and benefits and set expectations as we see fit. You as a potential employee get to choose whether you want to work for our community, given what we're offering. You should never be forced to work a job you don't want and we should never be forced to adhere to anything we deem as unacceptable. Anyone who walks out should be let go the next day. Backfill the positions and never let the union anywhere near the schools again.

freshair said on September 7, 2010 at 4:44 PM

Teachers may actually have 10 ready to learn. As for tax deductions, I believe they were eliminated awhile ago, not a chance for tax credit. And really would you rather have credit or money in your pocket? Rusty, you don't understand what ready to learn is all about. It isn't being homeschooled, it is a child who has been fed breakfast, who has had enough sleep, who has finished their homework, and has been read to. These are just a few items that help send a child ready to learn. Teachers don't need homeschooled kids. Although many home schooled children excell many also have huge holes in their learning and now who is responsible for it. I am not a huge union fan, but I also know teachers need a common voice. It is often misunderstood that most teachers don't think of their "job" as "work" as they love what they do, but you can't live on love alone. Professions with higher ed degrees & continuing ed. classes get paid a lot more then teachers, and teachers do both.

rustyrebel said on September 7, 2010 at 1:55 PM

Freshair...so that's 20 students according to your figures. Salary's not too bad. At least you DO have medical benefits, sorry if they're not "Great". The items teachers purchase for their classrooms ARE tax deductible (and I believe there are even some Tax CREDITS!). Maybe the teachers could do their teaching jobs adequately if the parents send their children to your facilities ALREADY home-schooled! Sorry if teaching is a JOB. But that's how the rest of us get our money too - That's why they call it W O R K. Oh, yeah....so the unions DO BULLY the districts! Thanks for the confirmation.

freshair said on September 7, 2010 at 1:31 PM

Not finished..... Teachers fund many items in their classroom so students can receive and education they deserve and the state refuses to pay. When teachers aren't receiving basics like planning time, then they should get it. Health benefits and pay in this economy isn't likely to be great. Teachers deserve respect as the professionals they are. Until every parent sends their child ready to learn, until every community passes their levy's, until our state decides to fund education appropriately, then we won't need the union to bully the districts. A plus to that would be we would have high achieving students, great schools and a future full of ready workers.

freshair said on September 7, 2010 at 1:25 PM

Like to know what school has an average number of students at 19. The union does provide too much protection for teachers that need to move on, but I wonder how many of those who complain about teacher salaries would or could actually be a teacher. Let's think about it; you usually have a class closer to 30--19 is a bunch of bs. In your class you have 7 kids who didn't have breakfast, 5 that have and iep, 3 children on the autisitic spectrum, 2 or 3 who are gifted, at least 1 whose parents are going through a divorce and 1 who is probalby being abused at home. Times all that by making sure you meet all the state standards, teach all the subjects so that the gifted kid isn't bored and your lower achieving student can keep up. Try to sign up for enough clock hours to keep your certification, by the way you pay for those classes and take them after school or during that wonderful summer break. Make phone calls to parents who can't or won't show up for conferences.

rustyrebel said on September 7, 2010 at 10:56 AM

Average teachers salary in Wa. State: $46,000. Average number of pupils per teacher: 19. $46,000 plus benetifs, medical insurance, retirement account, and GREAT holidays (summers, winter and spring breaks). Student loans are cancelled for teachers. And the tax benefits are generous. I agree with Kameha.....qualified teachers who need jobs.....go to Ferndale. Time to legislate OUT public employee unions.

kameha said on September 7, 2010 at 10:08 AM

there are a lot of qualified teachers who need jobs, go to Ferndale.