Should you pay a School Tax?

[99'busa]

The parents are the GREATEST reason for the way kids are so stupid, disrespectful, and arragant today!

I'm about to rant. Parents today NEED to take a postive interest in what their kids are doing and learning in school.

I am very proud of my wife's active role with our kids school. She has a first name relationship with our kids teachers, helps with any volunteer work that is needed in the class, reads every paper that comes home, checks what ea. child has for homework and makes sure that they do it SOON AS THEY GET HOME FROM SCHOOL!

....AND SHE IS AN INTRAVERT. She is actually very shy.

THE BIG QUESTION IS WHY DO PARENTS NOT CARE ANYMORE

[Busa Jules]

WOW.. Okay... resident teacher here... school taxes.... Let's start off by saying this: The teenagers of today ARE our nation's future whether WE like it or not. These saggy panted, foul mouthed, mouth breathers (as someone called em) are going to be our new generation of drs., lawyers, even astronauts. What we have to do is to try and put them on a path of success... not harp on their failures.

Now... tax $$... I am 32 years old, teach 9th grade science and make $32000 a year. We are in a school whose roof leaks like a sieve. I also drive a bus (for an extra $600 a month) that is 14 years old. We are currently building a new school that is already not big enough for our predicted number of students. Schools are constantly trying to stay ahead of the game (in facilities and technology) and it is a hard job with all of the legal mumbo jumbo we have to go through. I never complain about the $$. I enjoy the holidays as I can use the summers for professional development (which as someone else said we are REQUIRED to do EVERY YEAR we are employed... there is no such thing as TENURE these days)

Our school board is run by a 60 something year old white tobacco chewing cattle farmer. The students in our school district are 80% black/ minority races with 75% of those students in low income environments. Tell me... you think he has their needs in mind?

Yes I am white too.... and I grew up on a FARM in Illinois.... but I try everyday to put myself in my student's shoes. It's called cultural awareness. Not so much putting my culture on them... nor is it accepting the UNACCEPTABLE behavior (ex. the N word) from their culture, but rather trying to teach kids in their environment. Understanding that they are being raised in a single parent home where they are facing the challenges of being raised by a parent who may have less education than their son or daughter.

There will be students we cannot reach... but I don't give up on them. Some of the meanest, hardest, most "ghetto" kids have become my favorite students. They know my classroom is a refuge, where they can put down the load they are carrying from their everyday life and learn something in my classroom (and no it isn't always SCIENCE.... it may just be how to treat another human being) that they will carry with them.

I guess what I am trying to say is that it comes back to the saying "It takes a village to raise a child" whether it is right that we have to take up the slack of the parents who can't or won't raise their own offspring is NOT the issue. They are still CHILDREN. The tax money you pay is your part of the "village" that helps educators, police, and some administrators raise these CHILDREN.

That is enough of a rant from me... sorry it is so long. Let me leave you with this.... If you can read this, thank a teacher, if it is in English, thank a soldier.

[99'busa]

WOW.. Okay... resident teacher here... school taxes.... Let's start off by saying this: The teenagers of today ARE our nation's future whether WE like it or not. These saggy panted, foul mouthed, mouth breathers (as someone called em) are going to be our new generation of drs., lawyers, even astronauts. What we have to do is to try and put them on a path of success... not harp on their failures.

Now... tax $$... I am 32 years old, teach 9th grade science and make $32000 a year. We are in a school whose roof leaks like a sieve. I also drive a bus (for an extra $600 a month) that is 14 years old. We are currently building a new school that is already not big enough for our predicted number of students. Schools are constantly trying to stay ahead of the game (in facilities and technology) and it is a hard job with all of the legal mumbo jumbo we have to go through. I never complain about the $$. I enjoy the holidays as I can use the summers for professional development (which as someone else said we are REQUIRED to do EVERY YEAR we are employed... there is no such thing as TENURE these days)

Our school board is run by a 60 something year old white tobacco chewing cattle farmer. The students in our school district are 80% black/ minority races with 75% of those students in low income environments. Tell me... you think he has their needs in mind?

Yes I am white too.... and I grew up on a FARM in Illinois.... but I try everyday to put myself in my student's shoes. It's called cultural awareness. Not so much putting my culture on them... nor is it accepting the UNACCEPTABLE behavior (ex. the N word) from their culture, but rather trying to teach kids in their environment. Understanding that they are being raised in a single parent home where they are facing the challenges of being raised by a parent who may have less education than their son or daughter.

There will be students we cannot reach... but I don't give up on them. Some of the meanest, hardest, most "ghetto" kids have become my favorite students. They know my classroom is a refuge, where they can put down the load they are carrying from their everyday life and learn something in my classroom (and no it isn't always SCIENCE.... it may just be how to treat another human being) that they will carry with them.

I guess what I am trying to say is that it comes back to the saying "It takes a village to raise a child" whether it is right that we have to take up the slack of the parents who can't or won't raise their own offspring is NOT the issue. They are still CHILDREN. The tax money you pay is your part of the "village" that helps educators, police, and some administrators raise these CHILDREN.

That is enough of a rant from me... sorry it is so long. Let me leave you with this.... If you can read this, thank a teacher, if it is in English, thank a soldier.  

I knew we'd be hearin from ya.

your the first teacher I've talked to now....so.....

Thank you Mrs. Busa Jules

[Copperone]

Thank You Jules, very well said...

[frisbee]

[SD1300]

I just wish that all the money I put into school taxes resulted in something more than some dopey kid with his pants hanging around his ankles complaining because he cant get a job...   He also can not read, do basic math and is busier trying to figure out how to defeat "metal detectors" at the school entrance..

This same kid will later be selling drugs or stealing from others to survive.

From there I will have to pay the taxes to keep the prison open for the same stupid kid too dumb to figure out that his best way out was an education.

Instead he will be screaming "discrimination" and trying to make out on the back of the taxpayer..

How about a poll for post natal abortion ??

Do I mind paying school taxes?  no.. I mind the job that the public education system is doing...shame the parents with the students do not help.. (they are the real issue)

What he said

Plus

I don't like paying for schools that cannot get rid of bad teachers (or under performing teachers) because of their union.

We are failing our children and need an educational overhaul. I would suggest getting rid of the union and let the cream rise to the top... then pay those teachers that deserve it according to a scale that fits their abilities. I have no problem doubling a teachers salary but only for the top performers, then use a scale for the rest.

Those in the bottom 10% get lopped off every year - automatically.

Someone needs to explain to me why so many parents have their kids in private schools......nevermind, it's because they are better, that's why.

Public schools are a joke and no amount of money thrown at them will improve them until we get on top of the unions that won't permit getting rid of under performers. And don't start on me about the current union-based termination schedules... it's nearly impossible to get rid of one of their members. School boards aren't much better.

I don't see a fix on the horizon...

And for those dedicated teachers, you have my undying gratitude. I couldn't do it given the state (lack) of parental involvement today.

[SD1300]

Busa Jules:

You fall into the top 5% of teachers in the USA. If all teachers had your insight, attitude and ability we'd be far better off.

I'm very grateful for what you do and I'm sure your kids are as well.

God Bless You.

Mark

[SD1300]

I keep hearing Teachers complaining about how little they make but I gotta say If I made 50K and got 3 months a year off I would be giddy!

Thats ignorant ! To make that kind of money you would have to have a masters degree and at least 15 years working as a teacher.

I have sales people making 300k a year.....They are top performers.

The bottom 10% lose their jobs at the end of the year.

They know their performance monthly and it's up to them to have a position the following year.

That's their chosen profession so the pressure of losing your job goes with it.

Some of these folks will have a really big year then lose their jobs the next... and we don't hire them back... that's the way it is.

Don't rag on teachers for their time off, most of them either go to school for higher education or are working to make ends meet. If the system was reformed, they might be able to make the money they deserve (the good ones that is).

I might add that these are mostly master degree folks that went to private schools their first 12 years. Coincidence, I think not. And the motivation has most likely come from involved parents.

[Mr Bogus]

Jules, you are part of the group that gets the 100% raise.. You are then moved to a unit that goes through and chops out dead weight... You put so well what I wish I could convey... I look at the kids as the future.. Without educators that can inspire and motivate, our next gen is going to be the prelude to a lot of bad things..

I know for a fact that we could keep pretty much the same budget and pay teachers more what they are worth.. I have no idea how much money is wasted in budgets but I think if we could bust the monarchy that seems to be many school systems, they could be improved... I have heard it a thousand times "paying teachers more will not make them work better" I say BS.... If you create a job and pay scale that makes people "drool" , have the ability to remove people that are not doing the job and replace them with people that can, I say big pay will result in big gains in education... Will not work by itself, it must come with a broom to clean house...

And thank you for doing what you do, your students are lucky to have you , whether they know it or not

[SAMBUSA]

I have always had a beef with paying a School Tax when I don't have any Children in school.

What say you?

r8

You're paying for my kids though. Or are they yours? They do kinda look like you

[UncleSteve]

Taxes should end at age 60 or 65, by this time we have paid enough. The remainder of your life should be tax free.............any thoughts?

[Vic_E55_2001]

You call it LOW?

[BlueHaya]

Taxes should end at age 60 or 65, by this time we have paid enough. The remainder of your life should be tax free.............any thoughts?

agree

[UncleSteve]

You call it LOW?

I probably should not go here but.....................

65k is probably low in there area.
I found a web site a few years ago that calculated the cost of living for any where in the country.
At that time I entered 40K for Oklahoma and a move to Washington state would require 100K to maintain an equal salary for the cost of living there. Granted it was the Seattle area, home of microsoft.
Ouch!!!!
Putting this way, 65K is not enough.
Here's a thought.........When athletes and actors are payed millions and the people educating our children are payed peanuts....should we evaluate our priorities?

[99'busa]

Jules, you are part of the group that gets the 100% raise..  You are then moved to a unit that goes through and chops out dead weight... You put so well what I wish I could convey... I look at the kids as the future..  Without educators that can inspire and motivate, our next gen is going to be the prelude to a lot of bad things..  

I know for a fact that we could keep pretty much the same budget and pay teachers more what they are worth..  I have no idea how much money is wasted in budgets but I think if we could bust the monarchy that seems to be many school systems, they could be improved... I have heard it a thousand times "paying teachers more will not make them work better"  I say BS.... If you create a job and pay scale that makes people "drool" , have the ability to remove people that are not doing the job and replace them with people that can, I say big pay will result in big gains in education...  Will not work by itself, it must come with a broom to clean house...  

And thank you for doing what you do, your students are lucky to have you , whether they know it or not

well put

[runeight]

I have always had a beef with paying a School Tax when I don't have any Children in school.

What say you?

r8

You're paying for my kids though.  Or are they yours? They do kinda look like you

 

Could be. I was drunk for a few years.

r8

[frisbee]

You call it LOW?

To get that she does a specialized job which requires extra days and time , she has a masters degree that SHE paid for and has 20 years in . What other proffession do you know would require that for 65k? and she HAS to take an extra 5 credits every year to keep her certificate.

[frisbee]

Taxes should end at age 60 or 65, by this time we have paid enough. The remainder of your life should be tax free.............any thoughts?

I really like that Idea but I don't think we could do it without cutting out all the gov waste!

[frisbee]

You call it LOW?

By the way i'm a high school drop out and I do comstruction . After 20 years I now make 56k. should a Masters degree + 90 credits be only worth an extra 10k. I think a doctor or lawyer would argue that .

[frisbee]

I have always had a beef with paying a School Tax when I don't have any Children in school.

What say you?

r8

You're paying for my kids though.  Or are they yours? They do kinda look like you

 

Could be. I was drunk for a few years.  

r8

Is that you in the avitar ?? If so my kids look kind of like you too !!!