Fury over Detroit News Article!

Reading this article has me FURIOUS.  If you haven't read it, read it below and then let me get on my soapbox for a few moments.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdetnews.com%2Farticle%2F20101118%2FMETRO%2F11180420%2FHigh-teacher-salaries-under-scrutiny-in-Michigan&h=ea967

How many teachers REALLY only work 9 months? Let's be real. We have 10 weeks of summer between school years during which we attend and PAY FOR OUR OWN professional development courses and workshops and plan for the next year and SPEND OUR OWN MONEY purchasing school supplies so that we can teach the next year.




Unlike most companies that fly their employees, business class no less, to all parts of the world for fancy seminars and conventions, all expenses paid including food and drinks. Unlike most companies that offer employees bonuses, often equal to double their yearly salary, for jobs well done.



And, I am appalled that they are comparing my PROFESSION with blue-collar jobs. I went through 4 years of undergraduate university for my Bachelor's Degree, did 1 full year of unpaid student teaching, and earned my Master's Degree. I did not just waltz out of high school and into a factory. I worked damn hard for my education, paid a lot for said education, and every teacher earns every single penny we make for educating the future of our society.



It is time for people to stop comparing kids to auto parts. We can live without fancy gadgets and cars. We cannot live in a world where we have uneducated children. It is time to value education and stop complaining about teachers' salaries. If it weren't for well-educated teachers our society would have no future. The only way MI is going to rebound is by people getting skilled at jobs other than factory work. Guess who teaches people marketable skills? TEACHERS.



Parents, should be proud to live in an area that pays it's teachers decently. It means that your child is getting a good education. Especially, if in your district your teachers are paid decently, have smaller class sizes and have parents who actually participate in their child's education by volunteering and attending conferences.