TEACHERS AS SCAPEGOATS

A new breed of  elected Republicans have taken office and they have begun a crusade to further line the pockets of the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. Whereas Wall Street and many of the Big Banks  caused the current financial mess we now experience,  the middle class is not only forgotten when it comes to assistance but is being blamed for causing the mess. Public employees and especially teachers are the scapegoats. I am not familiar with the financial pension and pay arrangements in place in all 50 states; but in California and specifically the Fremont Unified School District where I taught for 35 years I am knowledgeable.

While teaching for the FUSD I paid 100% of my medical and dental insurance in addition to my monthly contribution to the California State Teachers Retirement System. The specifics: in addition to the usual deductions for federal and state taxes I also made monthly deductions of $108 for Medicare, $690 to Calstrs for retirement, $92 for dental insurance and $1066 for health insurance. The Calstrs retirement portfolio continues to be financially healthy because all parties continue to make their agreed upon contributions: employees 8%, school districts 8.25% and the state of California 2.017%.  Reports indicate that this shared retirement contribution plan is not the norm in all states. Furthermore, some states in teacher attack mode have not been making their agreed upon contributions to their state's teacher retirement system resulting in funding difficulties. Additionally, as a contributor to  social security for employment outside of education I was entitled upon retirement at age 62 to a monthly social security payment of approximately $1065. However; California like many states does not allow teachers to "double dip" , so my social security benefit payment was reduced by 66% (the offset) resulting in a monthly check of $355 ... not $1065.

As a career teacher I made sure I was fully credentialed, had the necessary degrees (BA & M.Ed.)  and the necessary post graduate units to be at the top of the pay scale for each year I worked. Obviously, salaries were higher in the private sector; but I enjoyed teaching and liked the job security that teaching offered. In addition to competency in my subject areas the ability to deal with 150+ 8th graders from various socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds was not every one's cup of tea. Having paid my dues both literally and figuratively I now enjoy a comfortable retirement.

The states that are now blaming public employees, especially teachers, for their current economic difficulties are in this economic mess for a host of complex reasons; but have chosen to go after a segment of the middle class in an attempt to get out of the red. As the facts and motives become more transparent it is obvious that this is a Republican strategy to go after selected unions that traditionally support the Democrats. The budget problems although real were only a means to the end the Republicans desire ... busting the unions and ending collective bargaining.

Just a few months ago various groups and individuals lamenting the state of U.S. education were calling for better pay for teachers, the immediate need to hire more teachers as baby boomers continue to retire and the absolute necessity of improving the overall quality of education for all students. Now a few newly elected Republicans with twisted personal and party agendas have chosen to ignore these warnings and want to cut teacher pay and probably cause many to think twice about teaching as a career. Now that education has become even more politicized it will become  even more dysfunctional, further damaged and a dismal failure for far too many students.

Parents, students, teachers and  American taxpayers deserve so much more from their schools and especially  from the their elected officials who control the funding.