response to: "teachers wonder, why the scorn"

Alex Nelson

Eng 102

Response to: “Teachers Wonder, Why the Scorn”

            The main idea from this article in the New York Times is to discuss the barrage of challenges that teachers in America are facing for lawmakers at local and state levels; as well as from the public.  The article highlights several main challenges for current teachers, which are: mass layoffs, loss of collective bargaining rights, pay cuts, loss of benefits, and other policies that will make their jobs more difficult.  It also discusses how public opinion of teachers and the rights they should have is split, and that both sides of the issue feel very passionately about their position.  This year there have been heated arguments in several states and cities that have created headlines, and have shined a massive spotlight on this issue and the impact its having on our nation’s teachers.

            The most notable battle that took place this year was the one that took place in Wisconsin, where the state government wanted to strip away collective bargaining rights from public employees, including teachers.  “Ms. Parker, a second-year teacher making $36,000, fears that under the proposed legislation class sizes would rise and higher contributions to her benefits would knock her out of the middle class.”(Gabriel)  This quote expresses the concerns that Ms. Parker and many other teachers in Wisconsin, have over the anti-union laws that Wisconsin was trying to implement.  Since the fight over collective bargaining and teachers’ rights in Wisconsin, this same issue has spread to others states, as those governments attempt to balance their budgets.  “Republican lawmakers in half a dozen states are pressing to unwind tenure and seniority protections in place for more than 50 years.”(Gabriel)  This extensive battle has even trickled down to the local and city level.  “Mayors are threatening mass layoffs, including in New York City and Providence, RI, where all 1,926 teachers were told last week they would lose their jobs.”(Gabriel)

            Public opinion on this matter and on the profession of teaching in general is mixed.  A recent New York Times poll indicated showed that 60% opposed restricting CBA rights for public employees, versus 33% who were in favor (Gabriel).  Though it has been shown that the majority of the public supports teachers, some on the other side of the argument view them as a bunch of liberal whiners, who have insignificant jobs and are just trying to get more money.  These feelings are shown in the statement; “Oh you pathetic teachers… You are glorified baby sitters who leave work at 3pm. You deserve minimum wage.”(Gabriel)  Comments like this are bringing down the morale of teachers across the county, a profession that already has an attrition rate of 25% of teachers leaving within the first three years.  Destructive government policies and negative public opinion have teachers fighting with their backs against the wall, and feeling as though they are being treated unfairly and that people don’t care about them.

Works Cited

Gabriel, Trip.  “Teachers Wonder, Why the Scorn”.  The New York Times.  2 March 2011