Teachers riled over prospect of no pay raise
He didn't even ask, and that's what hurt the most, said many Baltimore County teachers who attended a public hearing last night in Towson to prevail upon the school board for a pay raise that they say their own boss --- Superintendent Joe A. Hairston --- should be seeking on their behalf, but apparently isn't. (See my story in today's paper.)
They say they are working harder in a system that is expecting more of them every year. What really had them worked up last night was that not only is a raise not in the offing, but many of them are facing a decrease in take-home pay because of increasing contributions to health care and pension costs. Without an across-the-board raise, union leaders say that 20 percent of their teachers --- the most senior --- will receive no raise at all. An additional 20 percent --- the newer teachers --- will see a pay cut because of higher pension and health care costs.
Starting salaries in the county ranges from $42,000 for 10-month positions to about $49,000 for 12-month teachers.
Talking with me last night just outside the gymnasium at Ridge Ruxton School, longtime teacher Ann Ritchey's feelings seemed representative of many of the educators who streamed into the building to appeal to school board members.
Ann was the first speaker of the evening. After giving her statement, Ann stopped to talk to me in the hallway. The 63-year-old fifth-grade math teacher and team leader from Bear Creek Elementary in Dundalk talked about why she felt compelled to show up last night.
"I'm insulted that a person with 42 years experience is being overlooked," Ann said as her eyes welled up with tears. "I arrive early. I stay late. The sad thing is my superintendent, the Board of Education, and the county in which I live, work and play, do not find me valuable enough to give me a raise. A piece of paper says I'm highly qualified. But I'm also highly offended."
Cheryl Bost, president of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, also spoke during the public hearing. Among her comments, she rattled off some statistics that she said she hopes will help them decide to seek a raise on behalf of the county's teachers:
Baltimore County's "first step" of the bachelor's scale is ranked 7th in the state. Veteran teachers with the "greatest level of certification" are ranked as low as 15th in the state on the scale. Teachers in neighboring counties, including Howard and Arundel, are anticipating raises in the range of 4 percent to 6 percent. In 2002, education made up 48.1 percent of Baltimore County's overall budget, but by this year it made up only 37 percent.
"At Mars Estates in 1989, five new teachers were hired. I am the only one of those five who is still employed by this system. I love my profession, but as professionals we deserve a fair and competitive professional salary," said Bost, a former Teacher of the Year.
What do you say? Do the county's teachers deserve a raise?
Categories: Around the Region, Baltimore County, Teaching
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Comments
Mr. Hairston did not have a problem getting his raise, but that is the new American Way. I don't know how any self-respecting CEO, company president, Superintendent, or any person running a large company could take a big fat raise and watch his/her employees get the shaft. Oh wait... I said self-respecting. Now that explains it.
Posted by: Susan | January 16, 2008 7:44 PM
The heck with the American way for pay raises. Teachers will always be undervalued and underpaid. In the United States, teachers are still paid as though we are all unmarried, childless women without a life of our own (think LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE) and schools are funded accordingly. Even though salaries have vastly improved since I began teaching, most teachers are underpaid given the training and certification requirements that we must all adhere to. Also how many other "professionals" would allow themselves to be cursed at, hit, and generally mistreated at the hands of their clients? Not many, I can assure you. When teachers are actually paid what they are worth, we will then have a society that values education instead of paying it lip service.
Posted by: Joan | January 16, 2008 10:29 PM
State and County officials need to remember who got them elected. Without the endorsement of the teachers, many of these elected officials would not be in the position they are in. Campaign promises are souning more and more like hot air and teachers feel as if they have been left out to dry. Why is it that teachers have to BEG for a pay raise? If you weren't at the recent BCPS budget hearing, you missed a show- teachers begging, social workers begging, athletic directors, representatives from the infant and toddler program- all begging the BCPS board not to cut their program, and to increase their funding. Politicians talk a good game when it is an election year- but where are they when it comes to really taking action on something? Where are these elected representatives when push really comes to shove? When is someone (other than the teachers themselves) going to take a stand and speak up against this hypocrisy? Please- continue to post to this blog, write to your officals, communicate with the Board of Eduction, get the word out- keep on talking or else nothing is going to get better.
Posted by: Jamie Zellers | January 22, 2008 7:51 PM
It seems that the teachers keep forgetting whom they elected, much as those elected forget about teachers when it is time to compensate them.
The union should be embarrassed at the job they have done, too. Teachers pay into the fund that has union executives getting substantial salaries while the teachers continue to slide down the comparative scale.
The union has no qualms about directing teachers to support party agendas while doing nothing to help the teachers.
I suggest that the teachers ask all of the challenger candidates for congressional seats what they intend to do to right the wrongs of incumbents. Vote for challengers who will represent you and tell them and the incumbent how you are voting and why. If none of them suits you, vote for the challenger least likely to be elected. Don't forget to tell the congressman-elect what you did and why. The next election is only two years away.
In 2010, do it again! Tell the incumbents that they failed to earn your support to represent you. Find the best challenger for your primary election vote, and be sure to communicate with the incumbent and the challenger what you are going to do and why. Then do it. Send the current representatives back to the real world in which you live. Ask others to represent you, not your union - your needs are truly different.
Posted by: Bruce Robinson | January 23, 2008 7:30 AM