Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[cheevers]

People always say how teachers make such great money and what a great cushy job it is, but if they ever tried it they would probably fail at it. It is a job where you really need a certain skill set both learned and natural to be successful. Cue all the anecdotal responses of that one teacher who every apparently knows who is just in it for the money.

I always find it sad how many people look down on teachers and teaching. I work an office job in oil and gas and a good half of the people in my office could be replaced by new people and within 3 months would not be a huge difference in productivity. Meanwhile I could never be a teacher, in fact I did a year of it in university and knew it was just not something I could do.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Not an easy job, especially having to defend themselves at every turn for the “perks” of their job.

[Eric Vail]

I have a child who wants to be a teacher, but I don't know if she should stay in Alberta. It may be better for her to go to a province that doesn't hate teachers.

There are too many Albertans who feel like Silver here.

[puckedoff]

I think people of all provinces hate teachers, I don't think its exclusively an Alberta thing.

[Mr.Coffee]

I don't really give a #### if teachers make up to 90 or even 100k, that's fine. From a salary perspective they're most probably worth it.

It's the:
-guaranteed incredible cushy retirement (absolutely world class pension)
-complete absence of any job risk

that make being a teacher worth it.

Also, I am quite comfortable paying teachers well. I think usually most of them deserve it, you probably get better quality people doing it, and educating youth is obviously extremely important as I sit here observing what is happening in the United States...

My ONLY comment would be we need to have better mechanisms to incentivize or be able to fire the bad ones.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Yep. And they only work 3/4 of a day and 2/3 of a year. They can supplement that by working in the summers if they want to do the same hours as most other jobs.

i know this is the common refrain; and while i am sure there is a co-hort of teachers that this statement is true - i feel like the majority of teachers put in some extra time in evenings to get things done.

also, some of them buy supplies and what not with some of their own money.

To me the only real big upside of being a teacher is a nice DB pension plan and i suppose the extra time off in summer, christmas and a spring break - otherwise, they are likely working just as hard as someone making a similar salary in private sector

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

I have a child who wants to be a teacher, but I don't know if she should stay in Alberta. It may be better for her to go to a province that doesn't hate teachers.

There are too many Albertans who feel like Silver here.

Push her to be a University Prof. That's got to be the greatest gig ever from a work/life balance perspective?

[Canadianman]

Everyone who bitches about teachers is just jealous and their right-wing ideology prevents them from noticing/acknowledging what a strong union can do for workers.

[Mr.Coffee]

Haha I think there’s truth to jealousy of the enshrined job with zero risk and guaranteed retirement absolutely.

[Ozy_Flame]

Union-busting sentiment in Alberta scales up during hard times. When oil prices fall, people sharted their anger towards teachers, nurses, public employees, and anyone else who chose job security and predictable employment during the golden years.

It happened in the 90's, it happened in 2009, it happened in 2014 and it will happen again.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Canadianman

Everyone who bitches about teachers is just jealous and their right-wing ideology prevents them from noticing/acknowledging what a strong union can do for workers.

If someone asked me if I’d rather be a garbage man or a teacher I would pick garbage man.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

i know this is the common refrain; and while i am sure there is a co-hort of teachers that this statement is true - i feel like the majority of teachers put in some extra time in evenings to get things done.



also, some of them buy supplies and what not with some of their own money.



To me the only real big upside of being a teacher is a nice DB pension plan and i suppose the extra time off in summer, christmas and a spring break - otherwise, they are likely working just as hard as someone making a similar salary in private sector

Your 'otherwise' amounts to way more vacation than almost anyone and a pension that is literally worth 7 figures.
No small potatoes.

I don't begrudge them for that and think the decent teachers are more than worth it. Unfortunately the useless ones reap the exact same rewards.

Also, totally CP that a stupid Daniell Smith vote grab circled around to the age old teacher debate.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Yoho

If someone asked me if I’d rather be a garbage man or a teacher I would pick garbage man.

And our future students are forever grateful .

[The Fisher Account]

For the ladies in the back

PENSIONS ARE DEFERRED WAGES

They're not cushy perks or added bonuses.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Pensions also fund things like business, and private enterprise, but those teachers can #### themselves.

[you&me]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Pensions also fund things like business, and private enterprise, but those teachers can #### themselves.

And FTX, and SBF

[jayswin]

I can't believe Sliver successfully started another of the same teacher discussion we've done dozens of times. Please not here, guys, our provincial politics thread is super important right now. I (and I assume many) are coming here for updates on the biggest threat to our province in a long time.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Yoho

If someone asked me if I’d rather be a garbage man or a teacher I would pick garbage man.

You're already a garbage man, it's just that garbage is an adjective.

[Harry Lime]

Being a teacher has become one of the worst Job's in alberta. Not only is the workload out of control, the students are disrespectful monsters and parents are helicopter Karens. I wouldn't suggest anyone become a teacher right now.

I agree, take it to the silver thread.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

You're already a garbage man, it's just that garbage is an adjective.

Now he has a place to put all those garbage tweets he posts.