[DESS]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

I had two favorite teachers in high school. Both band teachers...It inspired me in ways you cannot imagine. If you begrudge this example for making a paltry 59,000 a year for dedicating his entire life to that band program then why not enlighten us to what you think might be a better figure?

A couple of things. First of all, $59,000 is too low and I'm not sure where you got that number. My guess is that is an extremely outdated number for veteran teacher (maybe from the 1990s?). Here is what teachers actually make. In case you don't feel like checking the link, it is from that Alberta Teachers' Association website, item 3. A teacher with his/her Masters of Teaching (basic requirement for a teacher coming out of the UofC) with 0 years of experience makes $54,449/year. A teacher with 11 years of experience makes $82,999/year.

Secondly, even with a current pay schedule, maybe your teacher did deserve more. I know a merit-based system has been brought up - it would be nice to see these sorts of teachers rewarded to a greater degree than teachers that don't give so much.

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

So maybe he should work for free? Oh hell, maybe everybody who isn't completely miserable with their lives should work for free??? Would that make you feel better?

I can't figure out where you're coming from with this.

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Then go back to school and get at least a Bachelor degree in something you actually enjoy. Then find a niche and run with it. If you're irreplacable because you're super skilled, educated, AND a pleasant person to be around then generally you don't have to do things like quibble over "minimum vacation time allotments" and all that BS.

I have a degree and I do enjoy my job. Just because, as a taxpayer, I feel as though I'm getting a raw deal with the agreements we've made with teachers' unions and teachers as a result, doesn't mean I don't like my job.

And it's very insensitive of you to minimize "minimum vacation time allotments" (you used the derogatory word "quibble" and you lumped it in with "BS") and the effects these have on real people. I suggested that more than half of Calgarians do in fact receive the minimum, but actually I'm sure it's way more than half. I'm having a hard time finding Canadian stats to back me up, but this American link is at least food for thought - it shows just how little holiday time people actually get. The national average in 1996 for full-time employees was just 7.6 days of paid holiday time.

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

(http://www.law-faqs.org/wiki/index.php/L-vac-04)
What is the minimum vacation time that I am entitled to as an employee?

The [Employment Standards Code] provides for a minimum of two weeks vacation after 12 months of employment and a minimum of three weeks after five years of employment. Your employer can always agree to give you more than the minimum.

Well in the past few years in Calgary with the labour shortage a lot of us have done well, but the tables have turned and now employers are going to once again have the upper hand. There are a great many employers that offer this minimum. Yes, there are some exceptions that offer more (especially in the competitive labour market we've seen here recently), but still a great many people just receive the minimum.

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

EDIT: And just to clear up a loose end, the other band teacher decided that teaching in a high school wasn't for him anymore, and left to eventually become the entertainment director for the Calgary Stampede. I'm sure he now makes a lot more than 59,000 a year.

I want to reiterate that the $59,000 is highly suspect. I would imagine he now works a full year as well.