Re: Teaching in Moscow...

[Daniel Kronemann <kron4155@uidaho.edu>]

I agree with Archie.

Same argument has been used in Gay rights and Human Rights in general.
"If you don't like it then leave."  Apparently if we can't just go with
the flow, can't keep the boat from rocking, can't live with being treated
like crap then we don't deserve to live here or to live at all.

Daniel



On Sun, 9 Jun 2002, Archie wrote:

> I have heard this argument my whole life.  Teachers knew they were
> getting into a low paying career, so they should shut up and live with
> it.  My perception has been that this argument is put forth by folks
> who don't understand because they do not value quality education.
> The argument is based on the premise that there will always be someone
> who will staff the classrooms it for less. They view education as
> daycare.
>
> The fact is thousands of very good teachers have left because of low
> pay, and other did not enter the profession to begin with.
> Classrooms all over the country, especially in low income areas (e.g.
> Idaho), are without teachers altogether or staffed with teachers
> without credentials.  That is what this argument fails to understand.
> It's not the individual teacher complaining about his or her low pay,
> but a person who cares about kids pointing out that good teachers are
> not appreciated, and they are leaving.
>
> > This is the part that really confuses me.  The great majority of
> Moscow > teachers are "maxed-out" on the salary scales due to years of
> service and, I > understand, openings are really hard to come by.
> Teachers obviously knew > what the pay was when they started, yet
> constantly complain about being > underpaid while staying with the
> job.  I just can't get over feeling that if > it isn't worth it, quit
> it.  If it is worth it, quit complaining. > > Walter Steed >
>