No Need for Extremism in Ely
November 16th, 2009 at 2:39 pm By John Fitzgerald
The third paragraph of this story says it all:
“The 2009-2011 (teacher contract) agreement is essentially 2007-2009 redux.”
Ely teachers agreed to work for the next two years for essentially the same salary they made the last two years. They are making a sacrifice to the sorry economy and the difficulties the state has with adequately funding education.
This measured response to an extreme situation bears some examination. Extremism is an ugly creature, and Minnesota’s corps of teachers deserves better than to be subject to the whims of extremist thought.
Extremists believe that teachers teach because they like having weeks off in the summer. They believe teachers are mainly motivated by job security through tenure. They believe teachers get paid exorbitant salaries.
The extremists are wrong. Their arguments are smoke with no fire. Undeclared overtime more than makes up for additional time off in the summer. The average pay for teachers in Minnesota is about $45,000. Staff cuts now mean that teachers with 10 years of experience are low on the tenure totem pole.
Extremist arguments divert us from the simple reality that teachers care not only for their students, but for their communities. Witness the above article in the Ely Echo. Teachers work with the school district to help balance the books on the backs of their salaries. No huge fuss, no gnashing of teeth or scourging of skin. The job was done simply and professionally by adults who have the best interests of the children in mind.
Thank goodness for sound, professional Minnesotans who take care of business. We don’t need extremists around here.
LikeTags: Ely, Schools, teacher pay
