I don’t know what to think about the Chicago teacher strike. I love my kids’ teachers, so I’m inclined to support them. But in Chicago, I’m not so sure. I mean, their signs talk about fair pay and benefits, but good heavens, if I worked nine months out of the year, was already paid an average of $76,000 a year, and was offered a 16% pay raise over four years, I’d be all over that.
They don’t like the evaluation process. I didn’t much like the process either, but I knew if I got a bad evaluation, I’d be canned. I don’t know of any job where that isn’t the case. And I don’t think their principals are any bigger jerks than some of the jerks I’ve worked for. So it’s hard to feel like they should get something I never get.
And they don’t want to work an hour and a half longer per day. Again, they get summers off. Seems like an easy tradeoff.
I don’t know. Nine-month workload, $76K a year and a 16% raise during the worst recession of our lifetimes? I’m having trouble feeling much compassion.
alisaacarter