Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Good 'ole unions. Screw the kids...

A terrific opportunity for the students in Johnston down the drain.

The teachers unions show their true strips here: they could give a rat's butt about education.

It's all about them.

Parents of Johnston kids should storm city hall and demand this program.

This is unbelievable. Being chosen as the only school to participate in this pilot it is disheartening to hear. Ultimately who suffers--THE STUDENTS AT JHS! The town/school committee/union need to try to reach an agreement--Settle the contract!

That's the Johnston teachers! The worst of the worst when it comes to union piggishness.

No wonder so many in Johnston attend private schools...highest percentage in the state.

Yet another reason to substantially reduce teacher benefits and salaries when the contract is up for renewal.

Once again teachers, especially in the Town of Johnston, have made a loud and clear statement. They again have stressed that self preservation and is always placed ahead of their students and what is best for education. We wonder why we are in trouble!?!?

An Outlaw Josey Wales quote comes to mind. Too bad for the kids, but the politicians couldn't get it done.

so when the teachers say "it's about the students, not us" that's just a load of bull.Their contract doesn't call for it,so their not going to do it.thats work to rule.thats about themselves,not the students.

The children of Johnston are the ones who lose! Disappointed....absolutely.

The true colors of teachers and unions are showing now. Who can believe them when they say they have the students' interests at heart?

oh really? REALLY!? so you think the city can just do whatever they want and we are the bad guys? So if your boss cut your pay and benefits you would just roll over? OH PLEASE! What a bunch of sanctimonious hypocrites! Maybe, just maybe if you did a better job of raising your brats our job wouldn't so hard in that cesspool of a city. MAYBE I wouldn't have to be Mom, Coach and TEACHER! We're already underpaid and you have no idea how hard and dangerous our job is. Do you have police walking the halls where you work?
Give me a break. Work to rule is what the city deserves and what it will get! Oh and while you are at it, if you can read this, hug a teacher!

Typical Johnston. Yup, all about the kids eh? NO, it's all about the UNION HACKaRAMA that dominates that town. The only way you can get ANYTHING done is either through a payoff or Union membership. Do you continue to wonder why people are fleeing the town and the state?

This is an example of no self respect. How can this group refer to themselves as professionals. Thsi certainly not the action of an educated professional in a career position. What level of morality is in this arena. Do they have any self respect, even a small amount. How can they stand in front of a class of students. Especially the smart kids that thrive in the science arena. Good luck to Johnston resident and especially the poor students in the schoo system. Teachers hang you head in shame.

Maybe the Town should step up give what it agreed upon in the contract. I would not blame the union/teachers unless I knew both sides of the story!

These guys have not had a contract in five months plus. Perhaps negotiations should get going instead of fingerpointing at the teachers. Do you blame them for not doing anything extra when the Town doesn't even want to negoitate? Would you do the extra work? Only losers in this are the kids, but don't blame the teachers for that.

Educ8tor - You say "We're already underpaid" and yet, CNN/Money lists the median income for a Johnston family at $62,081 and the DOL&T lists the average elementary teacher salary at $64,130, middle school teacher salary at $59,640 and secondary school teacher salary at $60,640. So you are underpaid while making the same as the average family in the town, not individual, family?

A negotiation is just that.. its a two-way street between both parties.. how is it that the teachers continuuing to do their job, and to keep meeting with the school officials is viewed as wrong??? Should we stop doing are jobs? OHHH, wait... thats forbidden by law. Maybe we should stop meeting with school officials, OHHHH, wait... that's forbidden by law. Maybe, the school officials should stop meeting with us? OHHHH, wait that's against the law. Maybe the the school officials should should cut salaries, and change working conditions like the private sector? OHHHH, wait..... That's against the law too. So where are? YES... the students are in the middle and that is where they will stay.. by mutual decision and conditions on both sides. Public Schools are not businesses...they should not be subject to the ethics or immorality of a model; thet function for different purposes, societal purposes. Why would you want them, thier employees, their administrators, or the students ubject to such unpredicatble forces... That is what you will have if decision about relations b/w the union and the officials are allowed to be governed by suc market-driven rules. Do you really want that? REALLY?........... Many of you are correct "its not about the students", its about professional careers and the value of such; we are not steel workers, nor business consultants, nor brokers, nor real estate agents, why treat us that way? Nor are our school board members educational professionals, or finacial wizards (even though you would think that a ncesssity for the job). So yes, we're at an impasse, it will spread around the state and the nation get used to it. "The Science Grant" is a small issue, in a small state, in a small town. Bigger forces are at work than a dispute our a science grant. I'm sorry I don't feel the need to be dragged over the broken levee of our failing economy with you. I am as selfish and self preseving as all of you!.. Teaching may be a vocation...but my job is not to be your economic martyr.