Fri Moanin'

It was great to read about one of the Wall Street protesters, one joining in on the "fun" in Detroit. She admitted to being a "30-year teacher" in Detroit, but can't make ends meet. Huh? If memory serves me correctly, Detroit teachers were paid more than I was. I'm not saying that Detroit teachers, at least some of them, don't deserve what they get (and maybe a lot more than that!). But I don't feel a lot of empathy for them either. 40+ years ago, out to save the world, I tried to get hired to teach in Detroit. Ivy League (Amherst) degree, a year and then two of experience, leadership in several areas, etc. When I didn't get word with my first application, I even hand-delivered a second one to the adminstration building (the Stevenson Bldg, I recall) on Woodward. Still, nothing. Of course, my family and friends thought I was nuts, but, again, I was going to save the world or, at least, Detroit. My guess over the years is that nobody in the Detroit administration ever heard of Amherst College. And, to let them off of the hook a bit, I did send out about three dozen applications in Southeast Michigan--gaining two, yep two, interviews. And one wasn't even for a job; the principal just wanted to interview somebody from an Ivy League school! I was finally hired, but only because the assistant principal used to be a drinking buddy/opposing swimming coach for one of my football coaches/teachers. But, I've digressed....

Anyway, why can't this Detroit teacher pay her bills? She claims she's making now what she made ten years ago. Well, join the club. My wife is making less than she did ten years ago--and that doesn't include paying more for her insurances. Of course, if this Detroit teacher is joining the protesters, it's likely she just wants other people's money, even if they've earned it. And, no doubt, she "deserves" the money other people have earned.

Hey, I just realized she's making $20K or more than I get with my pension. Maybe I should join the protesters to get some of other people's money??????

BTW, have you listened to any of the protesters when they are interviewed? If they are college kids, maybe they should go back to school before opening their mouths. In fact, some of them maybe should go back to high school. What they say is almost always stupid ("My college bills should be paid for me because it's just what I want."), most often incoherent, and should not be taken seriously by anyone with any sense at all. Then again, why would anyone need college--or high school for that matter--if they are going to be given other people's money?

I've asked this before, but it bears repeating. What if the Tea Parties had acted like these protesters? Unless a lot of people are lying and my ears are deceiving me, it's not just protesting these demonstrators are doing. Profanity probably pales to the open sex in the park, huh? Open drug use is also pretty prevalent. And apparently the right to have "sex with animals" is also a demand of theirs. Imagine if Tea Partiers took dumps on police cars?????? Once again the LameStream Media have shown their colors--they are biased, hypocritical, and dishonest. As I've said before, I have rarely identified myself as a teacher, past and present, because I don't want to be identified with the majority of teachers. If I was a reporter right now, I'd feel the same way.

Some guy in the newspaper wrote a letter that asked what US Postal Workers (those who deliver the mail) do that is different from the pizza delivery boy. He cited that they make $80K more plus benefits. OK, that got me to thinking. I have nothing against pizza delivery boys (or postal workers for that matter), but why does Karen earn what (perhaps even less!) than the pizza delivery guy gets? She's an elementary school secretary. Anyone who knows what el school secretaries do know they run the buildings. Over the years, I've learned that el principals are out of the bldgs as often as not. So, who do you think runs the show half of the time? Yep, the ones making less that the pizza delivery guy. Who disciplines kids? Who watches students when teachers throw them out of class? Who takes care of problems on the playground? Who watches the budget(s) and often is miscast as the bad guy? Who takes care in illness and injury? Who answers the angry questions from parents about bad teachers, lousy bus planning, and who knows what else? Yep, the ones making less than the pizza delivery guy.
I don't want to know why postal workers make a lot more than the pizza delivery guy. I want to know why school secretaries make less than he does. Hey, why don't the Wall Street protesters ask that question, too?

Off to learn more about the fur trade....