shut up

"Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.” 

-Aristotle 

i have a facebook "friend" that posted some ignorant status this morning about the Strongsville teacher's strike happening locally.  he pretty much alluded to the fact that teacher's are greedy, lazy union worker's that get paid way more than they should be paid because they get the summers off.  

it took every being in the body not to put my two cents in on the subject.  

however, i refuse to comment on people's political, religious or any other stupid controversial posts on fb.  because 1) it is facebook for gosh sakes; 2) it is not a proper forum to argue such things (in my opinion); and 3) you can't change stupid.

plus, i've got this neat-o blog thing that i can rant and rave on, in order to release my anger over such ignorance.  

and so ...my last post indicated that i would be taking a much needed break from blogging but this idiot's post changed my plans.

let's start by saying this man is an insurance salesman.  one step up from a used car salesman (again, in my opinion).  however, i don't knock him for his profession.  we all need to make a living somehow.  so short of drug dealers and prostitutes, i will never belittle someone for the profession that they choose.  we all do what we have to do.  

but, i find it very telling that someone in the profession that this man is in has the audacity to cut down and criticize what i see to be one of the most honorable and amazing professions a person can choose.  

teachers are wonderful.  teachers are humble.  teachers work hard.  teachers are inspiring and selfless and amazing human beings.  

& just like EVERY OTHER PROFESSION in the world, some teachers suck.  some teachers are not teachers for the right reason.  however, that is the exception to the rule.  

this man implied that the Strongsville teachers striking are just greedy people looking to flex their union muscle.  

ya know what?  my guess is that if insurance sales people unionized, this man wouldn't change professions because he doesn't like unions.  present teachers were not around when teachers unionized.  get over it.  

do i believe the teacher's unions tend to be a bit over reaching and stronger than most unions should be? 

yes.  

however, what if they weren't?

further, why shouldn't they be?

you pay for what you get.

if you want shitty people teaching, molding and mentoring your children.  pay them nothing.  give them shitty benefits and then see what happens to your child's mind.

if you want amazing teachers, pay them to be amazing.

the average public school teacher in America makes $51,009 annually.

is that a lot?  

no.

on top of this, most teacher's spend a chunk of their own money on school supplies that are not provided for them.

that means that teachers take home about $2800/month in their pocket.

that's if the teacher is single.

teachers with families added to their insurance plans probably take home about $200-300 less a month.

can you imagine paying for a family of four to live on $2500/month?

seriously?

teachers are not asking to be paid millions.

they aren't driving around in fancy cars.

they aren't wearing rolex watches.

they are trying to make your children into amazing human beings.

how callous of them to want their wages to be raised every so often.

what a horrible way for them to live their lives.

when did teaching become a profession not worthy of the highest respect from the public?

i don't have any teachers in my family and i don't have kids.

but i do have common sense, and teachers are amazing people that go above and beyond to help make our country a better place.  if they want to be paid a little more every few years to coincide with the rise of a living wage ... i'm fine with that.  

need i remind you all, not too long ago a certain tragedy in Newtown, CT where five AMAZING educators gave their lives to protect their children.  that's right, THEIR children.  because that's another thing about teachers that make them such awesome people...their students aren't just random kids to them ...they become their children too.

so shut up about "greedy" and "lazy" teachers because i don't see you jumping in front of bullets for your insurance policy holders, asshole.

sorry for the rant.

happy monday, ha.

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” 

William Arthur Ward

xxoo.