FUCK the Education System (765 hits)
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Rating: 1.77 on 34 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by kaos-king (antius777) (View user info) at 2006-07-07 06:31:25 EDT
I'm so fucking angry, I don't even know where to begin...
Okay, so it seems that after 33 years of teaching, my father is going to lose his job. This is only two years before he could retire with full benefits. After serving as a Marine in Viet Nam, going to college and receiving a dual bachelors as well as his masters degree, and then helping to raise 5 boys with my Mom - he's only going to get a fraction of his pension in his elder years.
My father has a BA in Education, a BS in Industrial Arts and a MA in Technology. He had been a wood shop teacher in the system for decades, first at the middle school then at the high school. He also had become an associate professor at a Kent State University regional campus, teaching a technology class and a lab class for Occupational Therapy. (I still don't understand this one.) He only made about 35 thousand a year at the public school, about 20 thousand teaching for the University. It's not as if my parents are loaded, especially after having 5 kids.
It started a few years back, when the school system he works for, my alma matter, fucked up all their finances in a ridiculous power struggle between the board members. High level administrator were fired, lawsuits were hurled, and the state finally had to step in. The state reps began to release people at whim, having no concern for how it would affect the students. Award-winning vocational programs were dismantled and extracurricular activities were suspended. Except for sports, of course... we couldn't do away with Friday night football!!!
They called my Father into the office late in the last spring semester and unceremoniously told him they were doing away with the wood shop. Stunned, he listened as they told him he would only be teaching a few mechanical drawing classes and watching study hall the rest of the time. By Ohio state law, all schools must have Industrial Arts available in their systems, but mechanical drawing? How exactly were the Prom committee, the Thespian troop, the art department and various other programs going to function without the wood shop? Nobody seemed to know or care.
My Dad accepted this, somewhat grudgingly. He was in his mid-60's and he was ready to retire. As much as he would miss the wood shop, he knew that perhaps it was best for his health in the end, that he was removed from there early. Since he had, oh, about 250 sick days saved up, I told him to take them all in a row at the end of his tenure and give a big middle finger to the high school. He laughed it off.
On Monday, he received a letter - A Fucking Letter - telling him that all Industrial Arts had been suspended, a move perpetrated my the new, state-throned Superintendent. They had found some loop hole that allowed them to by-pass state law and wanted to save a bit of extra cash.
They are offering him nothing. No buy-out on his remaining two years, no financial compensation. The Teacher's Union sits back in fear, saying their hands are tied. Bluntly... after 33 years of teaching hundreds of thousands of young people, he has been fired. To make matters worse, because of some OTHER state laws, he has to officially declare he is retired, then must wait 60 days before working again. This cuts into his job at the University. Had they even bothered to tell him a month ago, he could of filed the paperwork, and moved on...
All this because the school board is run by a bunch of publicity-starved, power-hungry politicians who couldn't balance a check book. Of course, it would have never made it that far had my hometown bothered to pass a school levy in the last 5 years. Granted, the alumni can throw the biggest all-class reunion in the state of Ohio, but god forbid they care about the current student body or their former instructors.
So now what? What do I do, how can I help? I want to go into the administration office with a baseball bat and bash some skulls in, but I think that might have an adverse effect on my father's future plans. Are all school systems around the country this fucked up, or just the one in my hometown?
User Reviews
Submitted by Sockster (user info) at 2006-07-08 17:00:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I go to an arts school. And from what I hear (see too sometimes) it's gone to shit, and it gets worse each year.
Submitted by matrix2681 (user info) at 2006-07-08 15:22:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You know what else sucks, is when college teachers get let go for being too good at their job. My old calc teacher got fired because he didn't pass enough people and made the school look too difficult. It's calc--it's supposed to be tough. But they'd rather make money instead of turn out trained students. Every time I hear stories like these I want to punch a baby.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2006-07-08 10:33:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You have a powerful wasy with words. Start writing to every media organization.
Everywhere. Let this be heard by every joe schmoe working class and their reps.
Tell everyone who can pick up this story and fly with it.
What good is a union if it doesn't pretect its members from shit like this?
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-07-08 00:31:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
It's everywhere.
Jeffco Schools (the district I went to school in here in Colorado) hasn't had any in-school vocational training for damn near 15 years.
You wanna take woodshop? Go to Warren Tech, after regular classes.
And pay $350 a semester.
All band and choir is totally funded by drives and student fees.
Yet no school must pay for their sports uniforms.
At all.
ever.
Submitted by HHH (user info) at 2006-07-07 20:23:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-07-07 20:08:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Some young prick of an administrator is fucking an old guy just so
said administrator can get his bonus. I think it's spelled bone us.
I'm damn near your dad's age, I'll be 57 in October. They have had layoffs
for the last three days at my workplace, a total of about 50 people.
That equates to about 10% of the workforce there. I survived, but next
time, who knows? The upper eschelon makes asinine decisions based on
"business reasons," caring less than dogshit about those who made the
workplace what it is today.
Hourman gave excellent advice: take it to the media and maybe even to
an attorney. Canning someone two years before full retirement is not
a coincidence. . .
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-07-07 16:03:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Maddog (user info) at 2006-07-07 08:35:30 (#)
Ranking: 2
Well, at least he has the skills to make a really good "Will work for food" sign out of a nice piece of poplar or mahogany.
----
ahh, that's some good Uber.
Submitted by BigD (user info) at 2006-07-07 11:59:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
lawer...i definitley went to publik skools
Submitted by BigD (user info) at 2006-07-07 11:57:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
publik educasion teached me so mutch. How can you be dissing on skools?
Seriously though, I would raise hell if I was your dad. He should get a lawer or someting, can he get an office job or something, finish out his career teaching Drivers Ed or something?
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-07-07 11:37:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-07-07 10:16:15 (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't know if this is juat a "shitting on teachers" matter.
Well in this case it may be, I don't know Kaos dad, he may be a great teacher.
But all of us have had horrible teachers who regurgitate the same stuff for 10, 20 , 30 years don't try, don't engage the students, don't change but still keep their jobs because of tenure, teachers unions etc. I think this is more the exception than the rule for stuff like that.
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absolutely, but that's because american society doesn't base compensation on individual merit unless you're selling something. and even then it's easy to have your 2% or whatever stolen.
then again the american education system is pretty much based on regurgitation. the fact that all the programs based on personal creativity and learning how to think for yourself (ie art, music, and in this case industrial arts) are being phased out completely pretty much proves we don't churn out thinkers we churn out parrots. i can't really think the last time i was required to think and not just memorize to pass or even ace a class.
i really enjoyed woodshop when i was in school. and home ec. it was nice making things, you learn from a pattern and then you come up with your own projects. now it's mostly you memorize a glossary and spit back the answers on command. even in college. this is why my brain feels dead.
mostly.
Submitted by dove666 (user info) at 2006-07-07 11:22:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
He should have been an assistant coach on the football team.
Tough break, but he can't possibly lose THAT much of his pension.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2006-07-07 11:06:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
We did whoop your ass to get to the Motor City Bowl dammit.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2006-07-07 11:05:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You can't expect much from "Can't Read, Can't Write, Kent State" can you?
That does blow though.
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2006-07-07 10:18:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2006-07-07 10:18:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Your dad should be across begrudgingly accepting things in Ohio, case in point:- the Browns.
Blame Bush.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-07-07 10:16:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't know if this is juat a "shitting on teachers" matter.
Well in this case it may be, I don't know Kaos dad, he may be a great teacher.
But all of us have had horrible teachers who regurgitate the same stuff for 10, 20 , 30 years don't try, don't engage the students, don't change but still keep their jobs because of tenure, teachers unions etc. I think this is more the exception than the rule for stuff like that.
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-07-07 09:28:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i love how we're one of the richest countries with an easy lifestyle compared to most of the world. we're also a big society full of inventors and innovation. and we're fucking idiots. no wonder we haven't had any big technological advances coming out of this country in the last 50 years or so, we shit on our teachers.
call the papers and the news. if they're going to do it at least make it painful for them.
Submitted by no_one (user info) at 2006-07-07 09:18:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
this is why 401k and Roth IRAs are important. We can't trust our employers to provide us with retirement, we must provide for ourselves. I think it's terrible that they wouldn't offer him a portion of his retirement though.
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-07-07 09:12:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
YES!!!! *pumps fist* I GAVE VALID ADVICE!!
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-07-07 09:04:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
What hourman and Method said.
Ooh, this burns me so bad.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2006-07-07 08:43:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I wish I could say this surprised me.
Submitted by ubetidid (user info) at 2006-07-07 08:43:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
bastards.
definitely what hour-man said.
is the school board elected?
maybe your dad ought to think about running for a seat!
bet he could shake things up a bit.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-07-07 08:35:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That blows, Hour-man has some good ideas. I would keep applying preassure to the union as well. This is what they should be there for.
It is sad but all too common in the US now you can't count on keeping a job forever, or having your pension. I hope it doesn't get worse as we get older, but I am socking away money just in case.
Submitted by Maddog (user info) at 2006-07-07 08:35:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well, at least he has the skills to make a really good "Will work for food" sign out of a nice piece of poplar or mahogany.
Seriously though, it stinks he got canned like that.
Submitted by retrospect (user info) at 2006-07-07 08:00:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
oops, i didnt read the part where you said the union says their hands are tied. what a pansy ass union. the guy paid dues for 35 years and now they're just gonna let him down. thats bullshit!
Submitted by retrospect (user info) at 2006-07-07 07:57:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
id ask my union for help, not my mentally disabled son :(
Submitted by Beano312003 (user info) at 2006-07-07 07:51:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
My father has a BA in Education, a BS in Industrial Arts and a MA in Technology. He had been a wood shop teacher in the system for decades, first at the middle school then at the high school. He also had become an associate professor at a Kent State University regional campus, teaching a technology class and a lab class for Occupational Therapy. (I still don't understand this one.) He only made about 35 thousand a year at the public school, about 20 thousand teaching for the University. It's not as if my parents are loaded, especially after having 5 kids.
-----------------
For such a bright guy you'd think he might have planned better for the future.
EASY....?!??!?!
It sucks, you are right. Schools are starting to be run like businesses nowadays, teachers treated like starndard employees and laid off when they or their departments 'cost too much'.
It's bullshit.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-07-07 07:08:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Hourman has some good points.
This sort of thing shouldn't be allowed to happen. Strong unions are the key, something we don't have following Thatcher.
-Dave
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2006-07-07 07:07:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Don't underestimate the media. Start calling up news stations.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-07-07 07:04:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Does he not get a redundancy payout under US employment law?
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-07-07 06:49:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
What Hourman said
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-07-07 06:39:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
To be honest my advice would be to send an article to about every paper you can. Get some testomonials from Kids and parents and then send that shit out. Who knows someone might want to talk about the adverse effect taking these sorts of classes out of schools would have. I used to be a journalist....*snigerrs* ok i did one year of journalism but it's got alot of potential in todays world. SEND THAT SHIT OUT. Write it out and be respectful.
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-07-07 06:37:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I feel sorry for your Dad. On the other hand he sounds like the sort of man to pick his shit up and skate it off. There is no prroffession more deserving than the one which educates the future.
Submitted by beeltea (user info) at 2006-07-07 06:36:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yes, all school systems are this fucked up. In fact, some are worse.