I am not a teacher, but there are things that I find odd that teachers, the Teacher's Union, Principals, School Boards, & the ministry have no answers for include:
- Why do retired teachers on a full pension get to "double dip" by being at the top of substitute lists or working at private schools? (young teachers at the start of their careers complain this keeps them out of work)
- How much are the union dues? These unions have boatloads of cash for strikes and pensions. Seems to me, lowering the dues would equal real wage increases.
- Is vacation time really vacation time? Do teachers spend spring break grading papers or on a beach? I think they are required to be in school the week after last day and the week before first day.
- How is prep time calculated and monitored?
- Is kindergarten teacher a $100k job?
- Why not disband school boards and separate boards and wrap it all into the ministry?
- These agreements from late 1800's & early 1900's are not set in stone. Other provinces have worked around them (or in QC, ignored them). I don't think AB will quit confederation or be kicked out over dissolving the Catholic school board. I don't think there is anything in the agreement that says it has to be equally funded.
-What is the monetary value of having so much time off?
-What is the monetary value of having gold plated benefits?
At the end of the day I am sure teaching is a good and fulfilling career.
I just wish the economics were a bit clearer considering education spending is just below health care spending in most provincial budgets.
(In ON, one thing that always bothered me is that the provincial tv channel is funded through the education budget. The highest paid employee in the Education budget is the lead anchor on the TV channel @ $350k.)
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