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Originally Posted by chubeyr1
Don't want more money? You want smaller class sizes? How does this happen? More teachers and spending more money? So in other words you want more money?I just took a 20 percent reduction in pay and my work load went up 50 percent. I am one of the lucky ones that still has a job. Maybe if I approached my boss like this it would work! I don't want more money, just more people to help me with my job? My boss would say that still costs him more money!Others will say "think of the children"! I am, Want Alberta families to be able to shelter, feed, and clothe their kids. Education means nothing if basic human needs are not met first. Families are suffering out there! Not you? Good for you, many are suffering. More money for unions to piss away that causes higher taxes especially right now is asinine.I want I want I want BS needs to stop in this economy from city workers and unions.Situation not ideal in schools? Suck it up! I work on 3 million dollar machines, I need $100,000 in parts on the shelves to do my job at all times. Got about $500 of parts on the shelves right now. Super tough to do my job. I make do!
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First of all I am hearing that you are very frustrated with your situation right now. I am assuming this a recent frustration for you and that you are venting somewhat with your attack on my position. I can relate to that.
Since starting teaching here about ten years ago I have seen a gradual slide in funding for my students. I have now taught over 1200 students, I have coached well over 800 more, and fundraised to put another 700 through leadership camps, helped about 4 get into post-secondary that normally wouldn't have and have one letter form a student and parent recognizing my role in helping them step back from some life altering decisions. To do this job I need thousands of dollars worth of text books, I need hundreds of dollars worth of pencils and pens, I use my own laptop and projector, and I need a room that isn't falling apart. Currently I do my job with less than one book per student, I can't offer pens and pencils to those that can't afford them anymore, I can't use my own laptop on the school's server and my projector was deemed a workplace hazard. On top of that I have to ask kids to rotate from sitting on the heating vents to desks as we are waiting for my 39th and 40th student's desks to come in. So can I relate to doing a tough job on limited resources, I think I can. Do I empathize that people are suffering, absolutely. That is why I feed kids at my school, that is why I buy grad gowns and suits for students who can't afford them, that is why I spend many evenings counting money in a casino and selling god damn chocolate almonds. So do I have a family to support, not yet but I am starting one. Do I hope they have a support network of teachers that care if I fall on hard times, absolutely.
I am sorry you got so angry at my request for no more money but if you understood the context in which I work you may understand that this is a plea of frustration, not one of bravado. I don't know how to fix million dollar machines, and I respect that you can with limited materials I just hope you can give the same understanding and respect to what I do.
When I ask for smaller classes it isn't so I can work less, in fact it would be the same work just better results. It would put more Albertans to work and put more food on more tables. By no means is 10 less students per class going to make my job easier, it will make it more effective. I can stop spreading myself around to 40 and focus on improving 30. I can mentor young teachers who are starting out to have careers they can be proud of and so they can provide for their families that are struggling as they bounce from sub job to sub job, temp position to temp position. If you think I am asking for help because I am lazy then I did not communicate myself clearly, and I apologize for that. I hope I added some clarity.