Just caught up on all the respnses (aka nonsense)
Random thoughs for people to ponder:
For every good teacher, the one that puts in the extra time, there are those that don't. I have witnessed first hand (at the "best" middle school( teachers trotting from the parking lot in the moring to beat students to the classroom. In the afternoon i have seen the reverese, teachers exiting the building hot on the heals of the little vermin. I've tried to schedule meetings with teachers, and staff, with the only time being during their day. But I also know of the opposite, teachers that stay late to work with students or meet with working parents.
I know of several teachers who were not prepared for class, who were more disorganized than the students. One teacher would give an assingment, then read the paper and fall asleep. Students would sneak in and out of the room while they slept.
In short, there are those who behave professionally and those that don't. Those that don't are protected by tenure. If an employee in the private or government sector can be evaluated than so should teachers and administrators.
Generally speaking we (in St. Mary's Co.) don't pay the teachers very well. It's a crime that a veteran teacher with a family of 4 is eligible for food stamps. Embarresing when their kids are eligible for free or reduced lunches. Worse, the administrators are paid so much more. I call BS when a principal is making twice what a veteran teacher is making. Compensation is out of line.
Also, don't pretent every teacher that stays late for an after school activity is there out of love. There is compensation for these activities and unfortunately for some teachers it's that little extra money that gets them through. Don't just assume it's "good will".
But before we start paying people more, maybe we should concentrate on basics, like having schools not falling down in disrepair, having books for every student.
Maybe the county should spend more, the problem is the BOCC has to juggle roads with reading. Report in the paper yesterday on the poor condition of Rt 4. County government, citizens and indepent assessments say yes, SHA says no. So who funds the repairs and upgrades. Without infastructure the jobs will leave. Like I've said before, take everything the BOE says with a grain of salt (okay a pound maybe) At the end of the day they can play on your emotions for more money, but when your taxes go up and the roads aren't fixed it's not their name you will be taking in vain.
desparately...but with no success.
about teachers being off... Teachers are contracted to work for 190 days a year. Whine about snow days all you want, but they have to be made up and kids get out plenty of days teacher don't, but the contract is for 190 days. Their salary is based on that 190 days. The agreement made between the teachers and the school board is for 190 days of work. Whine all you want about how they get off so much time and how they are getting over on the system, but everyone who signed that contract knew it was for 190 days of work.