You would think that's common sense, right?
Especially if you have a job that pays a MIDDLE CLASS salary, that allows you to afford a middle class home (in places like Mililani, Kapolei, Hawaii Kai, Kaneohe, etc), your own personal automobile, and travel to exotic locations.
But certain members of the Hawaii State Teacher's Association (HSTA) think they should be immune from the effects of a slowing economy. They refuse to compromise with reality and accept a pay-cut!
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20110709_HSTA_mounts_legal_challenge.html
They think we should charge higher taxes on the rich! But the rich can leave at anytime, and when they do, they don't have to pay any taxes. You can't tax your way out of every problem. Sooner or later, those who do the hiring (that'll be the "rich") and leave for greener pastures that have lower taxes. That means less taxpayers and less taxes in the long run!
Look, you price something too much, less people would buy! And you'll see less money in the long run!
You keep raising taxes, less people will stick around! And you'll see less money in the long run!
HSTA needs to understand that! The private sector in Hawaii has faced major declines. They're not able to afford more employees!
So, being that there's less money, there's only 2 realistic choices when it comes to spending on teachers' salaries 1) give them a pay cut or 2) lay off some teachers.
Sometimes in life, you gotta take lesser of 2 bads. Pay cut it shall be!
Of course, teachers will cry poverty!
NONSENSE!
I work as a substitute teacher and a para-pro tutor in our public school system. I've listened in to conversations involving full-time teachers. In those conversations, those teachers talk about living in places like Mililani, Kapolei, Kaneohe, Kailua and even upper-class Hawaii Kai. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING GHETTO ABOUT THOSE PLACES! Those teachers are NOT living in places like Kuhio Park Terrace, Kam IV or Mayor Wright's!
Nearly every Full-Time teacher arrives to school in their own personal car! THAT'S NOT POVERTY!
I also hear full-time teachers talk about trips to Las Vegas, California, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Europe, etc. You can't afford those trips (involving plane tickets, hotel reservations, etc) while living under the poverty line!
If there's anyone who is truly under-paid in this business, it is the substitute teachers and para-professional tutors. As a substitute teacher, your work hours are NOT guaranteed! You could have weeks where you work 5 days a week, and the next week - NOTHING! It all ebbs and flows. And getting called to work the first and last few weeks of the semester is RARE!
As for par-pro tutors, you only work if the student you're assigned to shows up to school. If he/ she is absent (and especially your student is a chronic absentee), you're only getting paid the first hour of the school day, and you're sent home!
You want to buy a middle class home with a substitute teacher or para-pro tutor salary? You want to buy a car with a substitute teacher or para-pro tutor salary? You want to afford vacations to exotic locations with a substitute teacher or para-pro tutor salary? You might as dream about purple oceans and pink dirt while you're at it!
Yes, some of my thoughts are envy related! But that "envy" is what made me want to enroll in a master's program that could qualify me to be a full-time teacher. (if all goes to plan, I'll start that program in late August)
I respect that teachers are working hard! That was why I was reluctant to become a full-time teacher when I first started being a substitute! But being a substitute is nowhere as profitable as being a full-time teacher, so that's why I want to change directions!
But even with all that, the HSTA and its members need to look at the big picture! The state is going broke! Full-time teachers make a middle class (NOT poverty) salaries. If it comes down to a pay-cut or a layoff, they should just take the pay-cut already and save themselves (or their colleagues) from getting laid off!
