Without collective bargaining
• Starting salary: $13,000
• Class load: 213 students
• Class size: 48 students
• Class preparations: five subjects
• Inclusive students: no aide
• Evaluated on a class with 12 active probation students only
With collective bargaining
• Starting salary: $25,000 (same education/experience)
• Class load: 180 students (maximum)
• Class size: 32 maximum
• Class preparations: three subjects
• Inclusive students: aide
• Evaluated on different classes
At one school I was not rehired because the district needed a basketball coach. I replaced the “Teacher of the Year” who quit after being given all challenging classes. (The football coach had all the advanced classes.)
I have been given a poor evaluation because I had approximately 30 percent failure on classes made up of all the students who scored the lowest on a math placement test. (I started with all the failures.)
I am paid a salary for 180 to 190 days. My duties have included classroom instruction; lesson plans, including more than 100 state standards, and plans individualized for IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and 504 students; 150-plus parental contacts; grading (more than 6,700 assignments this year); planning class projects; extracurricular activities; restroom and cafeteria duties; professional development; faculty meetings; and public service. All required.
I do not get paid for: The summer; classes I must take to keep my teaching certificate (some may get some reimbursement); classroom items (usually $300-plus, but do get a $250 deduction on taxes); and any extra time to accomplish my duties over the school day.
In the 1990s, Gov. George Voinovich sent a person to ask inner-city school staff to explain what would happen with merit pay (your salary is based on student performance). I told him that inner-city schools would be filled with beginning, inexperienced staff. The students in inner-city and rural areas may not have the advantages of other students.
Since prayer and corporal punishment were taken out of the schools, I have dealt with more lying, stealing, cheating, lack of self-responsibility and work ethic. Beginning teachers will find this all beyond their education.
I had a student who had 20 percent attendance, was failing, slept in class, refused to work, did no homework, and was disrespectful. When he got in trouble, the judge said attend and get a “C” average. The same student — with the same teacher (me) — had 95-plus percent attendance, a “C” average, was attentive, did class and homework, and was respectful.
I have been physically assaulted and have permanent nerve damage. My car has been vandalized and stolen, and my personal items have been stolen and used without my permission. I put myself through college without financial assistance, received my master’s degree, and earned my National Board certification. I have earned the right to be called a master teacher. A probation officer said I was lucky to be alive.
However, I have been called names I can’t put in print and treated disrespectfully by students, parents and administration. My salary is determined by the public. We don’t get to vote on the salaries of doctors, lawyers and garbage collectors. I wish I could vote on my congressman’s salary (they vote their own raises and benefits). Public servants — fire, police and teachers, etc. — are the only occupations over which voters have any say. Voters, including myself, are upset with rising costs.
SB5 is not going to help. Charter schools do not have to take discipline problems or handicapped students. Teach for America adults are not highly qualified teachers. School boards will get rid of who they want by giving that educator an impossible class and evaluating them only on that class. Been there.
Teachers are intelligent enough to know rural and inner-city jobs are impossible and will not apply for those positions. Beginning-level classes will receive only inexperienced teachers because we know their scores will be lower and so will their salaries.
Our education system isn’t perfect, but answer me one question: When Japan had a nuclear disaster, why did they ask America for advice? My answer: We have the best education in the world. I have taught many creative, inventive, intelligent young men and women in the rural and inner cities. That’s why.
As a teacher, I want everyone to have facts so they can chose the best future. Gov. Voinovich got facts before making a decision that would affect the future of education. I think we should do the same.
Kathleen I. Straub, a resident of Liberty Twp., has taught for 27 years.