Suffering Through Summer from the Strike
Well, it is mid-June, and the children in the Dallas School District are STILL IN SCHOOL. That is because the teacher strike last fall used up all of the allotted time that the union was afforded for the strike. Then, even with multiple cancellations due to snow days, the state won't allow the district to extend the school year past June 30th. But wait! It gets more interesting...
Parents were notified last week that the last three days of the school year will be half days. What? I'm sorry; did you say less learning in addition to missing 30-ish days because of the strike? How does that make any sense? No, really. I'm asking someone to explain how that makes any sense.
Teachers are educators because we believe in instilling a life-long passion for learning. What kind of message does it send when the teachers are giving up when there is still so much to do?!? Ethan's class stopped learning math last week. There are still two weeks until the end of school - why in the world would they stop learning so early?
Oh... I know what you're thinking. Every kid gets antsy and loses focus toward the end of the school year. I'm a teacher - I see that happening in my classes, too. BUT... if the DSD teachers chose to strike - and keep the kids out of school for part of the fall - then they should be responsible for dealing with the repercussions. And that includes finding ways to keep these students engaged and interested in learning through the END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!
How dare an educator take away the opportunity for my child to learn what he is supposed to learn in second grade. Ethan is fortunate that he loves school and enjoys learning new things. What about the children who don't? What about the special needs learners who rely upon a routine to stay focused and interested in school? What about the part-time workers and classroom aides who rely upon the school year to earn a pay check? What about the parents who have to take time off from work to accommodate the lack of time in school, or needed to pay for child care coverage during the strike? All because of $25 per pay to help cover the cost of health care premiums, which the teachers' union says is a ridiculous expectation.
I'll tell you what is ridiculous - hearing that the union plans to strike AGAIN and delay the start of the school year in the fall.
Parents were notified last week that the last three days of the school year will be half days. What? I'm sorry; did you say less learning in addition to missing 30-ish days because of the strike? How does that make any sense? No, really. I'm asking someone to explain how that makes any sense.
Teachers are educators because we believe in instilling a life-long passion for learning. What kind of message does it send when the teachers are giving up when there is still so much to do?!? Ethan's class stopped learning math last week. There are still two weeks until the end of school - why in the world would they stop learning so early?
Oh... I know what you're thinking. Every kid gets antsy and loses focus toward the end of the school year. I'm a teacher - I see that happening in my classes, too. BUT... if the DSD teachers chose to strike - and keep the kids out of school for part of the fall - then they should be responsible for dealing with the repercussions. And that includes finding ways to keep these students engaged and interested in learning through the END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!
How dare an educator take away the opportunity for my child to learn what he is supposed to learn in second grade. Ethan is fortunate that he loves school and enjoys learning new things. What about the children who don't? What about the special needs learners who rely upon a routine to stay focused and interested in school? What about the part-time workers and classroom aides who rely upon the school year to earn a pay check? What about the parents who have to take time off from work to accommodate the lack of time in school, or needed to pay for child care coverage during the strike? All because of $25 per pay to help cover the cost of health care premiums, which the teachers' union says is a ridiculous expectation.
I'll tell you what is ridiculous - hearing that the union plans to strike AGAIN and delay the start of the school year in the fall.
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