The Soap Box April 20, 2008

As the years have gone by, I wish someone would de-mystify the job search process and nepotism in regards to hiring.  I know…you have to be in the right place at the right time and say the right things and dress for success.

I also wish large school systems would create simple misssion statements that specify their priorities.  (I am referring to basic supplies, security issues, salaries and benefits.)  For example: We believe all trailers should meet certain health and environmental standards.  We can’t lock school doors when we have trailers.  Therefore: We will insure your security and the security of the students by doing X,Y & Z. We believe all teachers should receive these important benefits and these salary upgrades.  We believe students deserve: paper, soap in bathrooms, doors on stalls, school security officers….library books…) We hope to maintain our staff by doing these things to promote and support teachers.  

It has come to my attention that school librarians no longer exist in California and are going extinct in Arizona.  We are on the chopping block in addition to instructors of the Arts.  How sad- over and over again.  This discussion is not new.

So we can pay over one trillion dollars a month to blast people in an oil rich area, but can’t put soap and toilet paper in our school bathrooms, can’t fund secruity officers? Can’t fund the Arts?  Can’t fund librarians?

Yes, I should be illustrating this post with me standing on a soap box; possibly blowing bubbles with messages in them.

Looking in the Employment Ads today and remembering a large highway billboard in Maryland recently advertising for teachers in a certain public school system, I have to chortle at the saying “What goes around…comes around”.  It used to be so hard to get a teaching job, and now systems are begging for us.  Treat us right and we may jump on the bandwagon once again.  Treat us wrong and we will glare at your false promises.  Recruiters going en masse to colleges looking for eager grads-  pffft.. ..We are right here.   And we have experience and wisdom.

If you can read this, Thank A Teacher!  Let’s Get Our Priorities Straight!