Monday, June 10, 2013

Misguided priorities put teachers in a bind ... By Susan E. Kiley

I have big decisions to make today: how to spend my $107 on classroom supplies for my next year's third-graders. Let's see. So if I splurge on crayons and lined paper and a few packages of colored construction paper, then I can't get each of my students a student planner (which is such a great way to teach my kids how to be organized).

Should I splurge and get a ton of pencils so I won't have to start buying them myself until January? Decisions, decisions. Skip the rulers. I will wait until the August Office Max flyers start coming out. Rulers might be 5 cents each.
And if I load my own kids into the car, each with a friend (because the limit is three per customer), maybe I'll get 30. Erasers? Yeah, we all make mistakes. I'll get a few boxes of those.

I have sat with this supply order for days now — making changes, crossing things out. Maybe the New Bedford School Department should stop creating positions for people who don't contribute anything to the system. Maybe we should look into the many employees who wander around the halls all day doing nothing. Maybe we should allow the real people, the teachers, to do their jobs with basic supplies. Maybe we could spend some money on a few pencils.

9 comments:

Ms D said...

That's funny Sue, I had the same dilemma! Well, said....Thank you for sharing this sad situation with our community.

Anonymous said...

how many pencils can one buy with the money spent on next years raises?

Anonymous said...

what raise! Let's see, I have a master's degree that I was required to obtain to keep my job. 1.5% raise I make 20 extra in my paycheck. My check doesn't even cover my master's loan. I work easily 70 hours a week- would you work overtime and not get paid. Well we do!

Anonymous said...

Gee, I don' t think that innovative school has that problem-$4000 a head for each student-the only problem they should have is sleeping guilt free at night.

Anonymous said...

this is cute: " Maybe we should look into the many employees who wander around the halls all day doing nothing."
as a non classroom nbea member i gladly go to bat for our teachers but they never fail to attack others if Bob Unger gives them a chnace. lost all respect for this person.

Anonymous said...

Who is the troll that keeps talking about raises? I'm broke (as it is now) trying to meet the rigorous standards by purchasing essential educational supplies. I don't know how I'll meet them next year. Still don't have enough texts in Math or Reading--should I buy those too?

Anonymous said...

how do you lose respect for someone who speaks their opinion and signs their name to it? maybe you don't see these "wanderers of the halls".....it's pretty frustrating to those of us who can barely get to the bathroom.

Anonymous said...

According to Ungers new favorite, non classroom employees are not "real people"?

Anonymous said...

At least you are getting a little money for supplies. We were told whatever we have left from this year is what we have to use next year and we are a level 1 school. Don't do it! Once you become a Level 1 school, they pull all funding and extra help away, so where do you think we're headed? Some reward for working our butt off to bring up the scores. Supplies are a thing of the past!!