Ah, to clarify - my problem with the aforementioned "American Dream" is that it's an assembly line worker wanting the second home and boat. Education should equal perks. Like in the paper today, a man stated he wasn't going to take the $35,000 buyout that Delphi (GM) is offering because, "I could make that in 3 months." Well, hard to make it when your job is being liquidated, I fear.
I was asked about teacher's unions, which, unfortunately, I am a member of. The reason I remain a member and do not, because of personal beliefs, pay dues is because of the line of work I am in. I am a dues-paying member of the PCEA for one reason only - because the clientele I work with could damage my entire professional career with one complaint. I greatly fear one wayward comment by an angry or revenge-seeking 12-year-old and I would have no defense but my good word. And we all know that historically, accusatory children are given more preference than a teacher.
So if it weren't for that, I would have no need for my union. I went to one union meeting for a contract renegotiation and had to walk out to calm down, I was so angry with the spewing. I'm of the firm Republican belief that you rise and fall based on your abilities, and you succeed based on your own hard work, not by any assistance from a union. I do not use my health care, Doug's is better. I do not plan on my pension as a given - Doug and I assume there won't be any Social Security by the time we retire, so a pension is not on my radar. It's nice to have my breaks, but I work close to 60-70 hours a week (even including breaks and summers!) anyway. I teach because I love working with the kids and I love the subject matter I am talking about.
Now, historically it was important to have standardized pay, hours, and work atmospheres for factories and the like, and I support that. But teaching is a strange lot; anything run & paid for by the people through state government should not also be unionized.
I was asked about teacher's unions, which, unfortunately, I am a member of. The reason I remain a member and do not, because of personal beliefs, pay dues is because of the line of work I am in. I am a dues-paying member of the PCEA for one reason only - because the clientele I work with could damage my entire professional career with one complaint. I greatly fear one wayward comment by an angry or revenge-seeking 12-year-old and I would have no defense but my good word. And we all know that historically, accusatory children are given more preference than a teacher.
So if it weren't for that, I would have no need for my union. I went to one union meeting for a contract renegotiation and had to walk out to calm down, I was so angry with the spewing. I'm of the firm Republican belief that you rise and fall based on your abilities, and you succeed based on your own hard work, not by any assistance from a union. I do not use my health care, Doug's is better. I do not plan on my pension as a given - Doug and I assume there won't be any Social Security by the time we retire, so a pension is not on my radar. It's nice to have my breaks, but I work close to 60-70 hours a week (even including breaks and summers!) anyway. I teach because I love working with the kids and I love the subject matter I am talking about.
Now, historically it was important to have standardized pay, hours, and work atmospheres for factories and the like, and I support that. But teaching is a strange lot; anything run & paid for by the people through state government should not also be unionized.
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