Pinellas middle school teachers win: arbitrator orders return to old schedule

In a major victory for Pinellas teachers, an arbitrator has ruled that the district’s new seven-period middle school schedule violates the teachers’ contract. The district must revert to the previous six-period schedule when the second semester begins Jan. 20, Christopher M. Shulman, a Tampa-based arbitrator, said in a 10-page ruling.

The decision prompted a hastily arranged meeting this afternoon between district officials and members of the Pinellas teachers union.

District officials instituted a seven-period day this year in middle schools primarily as a way to save $2.2-million during a budget crisis, but also as a way to launch a reform effort. The change makes room in the schedule for state-mandated remediation courses and PE, plus more electives that, according to the district, will get students more interested in school.

But the Pinellas teachers union said in a Nov. 20 hearing at district headquarters that the schedule requires them to teach six classes instead of the five called for in the contract, without any extra pay. See some of our previous coverage here.

Shulman declined to award teachers back pay, saying they had only lost planning time. He also urged the district and the union to come together on a compromise schedule before Jan. 20.

“We can probably put something together within the next six weeks that’ll work, but it’s going to have to be on different terms,” said Jade Moore, executive director of the union. “The bottom line is that it should have never happened.”

Comments

School Board Meeting tomorrow! School Board is responsible.

[Fire Julie Jansen]

This is ridiculous. I got the Ron Stone email also. The contract says 5/6, the arbitrator agreed. Now the school board is ignoring a ruling that was made. How can this be allowed? Ron Stone and Julie Jansen need to be fired. PCTA needs to be reimbursed for the cost of the arbitration.

[Wan]

Stop being so lazy and get back to work.

[Pinellas Teacher]

I saw an excerpt from Dr. Janssen's letter to the Middle School Principals and rank and file (i.e. teachers). She says she can not in good conscience disrupt the schedules of the current Middle Schoolers to abide by the arbitration. She cannot "in good conscience"? It is the LAW that the PCSB abide by the legal arbitration!

Unreal! Jade Moore, who was cruelly bashed above, died of a stroke shortly after the arbitration was won- caused by PCSB stress, in my opinion! This only foreshadows the imposition of 6 out of 7 periods/day schedule for the high schools next year. The school board wants it so they can lay off teachers and therefore save money. I teach high school in north county- and am a union member. We have a "scheduling committee", but our principal is strongly pushing for 6 out of 7 periods. My guess is that we will be teaching 6 out of 7 next year with no say in the matter. PCSB is intimidating the rank and file and has been doing so for months- they just want us to feel grateful that we have a job--- any job---- next year. I'm not too sure that we will!

[Kori]

I am a middle school teacher. The letter was sent to PCTA as well as middle school staff members on Friday. Dr. Janssen stated that she would be directing principals to maintain status quo.

[BBMOM]

Kori - when did this happen?

Are you a teacher? and did you see a copy of the letter?

[Kori]

Despite the arbitrators ruling, Dr. Janssen sent a letter to PCTA and to all middle school teachers, informing them that even though they were ordered to, the district is refusing to change the schedules.

[John Louis Meeks, Jr. (Jacksonville FL)]

Let's face it, in Duval County, students who do not score well on FCAT are the students who lose their electives to intensive reading or math classes.
While I am a firm supporter of the whole student approach to education, I also can understand how intensive reading and math students need to focus on the basics.
As for teachers planning at home, I believe that teachers already do this. The problem is expecting that teachers (or anyone else) sacrifice their private lives to the point of burnout. This burnout is what leads to so many teachers leaving the profession within their first five years.
As for summer, winter and other holidays, teacher are only paid for the instructional time that they spend in the classroom. Their salary, for 196 work days, is supposed to support them and their families for 365.
I detect a lot of animosity toward educators on this thread and I hope that I can help set the record straight.

[publicschoolteacher]

To 8thgrader and sicker,

It is students demanding that teachers use their personal time to plan that is sickening. Yes we do it. We have to. There is not enough time in the school day to plan quality instruction, but 8th grader's sense of entitlement to the 7th period (which was a direct violation of his beloved teachers' contract) is what was so offensive.

He was not volunteering ideas.
"they can quit and go work at Starbuck's or something."
"hello? plan at home obviously."

You have to admit, coming from a 13 year old, that's pretty rude.

[8thgrader]

No, I honestly don't think I will stoop to that level in behavior.

[At home sick today, now sicker]

To "teacher" December 02, 2008 at 09:49 PM -

Shame on you. Shame, shame, and shame again.

Students are why we teach and educate and give of ourselves. Period. They are our job/career/avocation/ calling/raison d'etre/etc.

They are not "little brats," and how dare you call yourself an educator telling any student to "Suck it up junior." How vile.

Stop raging as an adult towards any child - it is abuse, pure and simple. In the classroom, it is felonious. On a blog it is cowardly.

8th grader, continue to learn, and never fear to engage in dialogue, no matter who supports or dismisses your opinions. Our country stands for inclusion of all ideas and you are well educated to have learned that lesson already. Do not stoop to the lower levels of some others though.

[8thGrader]

to the teacher that replied to my comment:
Well excuse me if I got a little lazy and didn't capitalize any words in my comment. But I have all HONORS classes thank you very much; but you wouldn't know that because people don't think before they speak. But whatever I'm not COMPLAINING like some other people did *cough cough* teachers *cough*. But the way I'm going through school I'll find a better job than working at the local Starbuck's. Because I'm a Straight A student. So think before you speak. Oh and another thing, shouldn't you be WORKING? Hmm.. my point exactly..

My daughter is a straight A student who happens to have a difficult time taking tests. Because of a low f-cat score she only has one elective because she is required to take PE (at least that is my understanding) and the required reading class. Her only elective is chorus which is what she loves. She continues to get straight A's but I wonder what effect it will have on her when she goes back in January and does not have her one elective. I am sick to my stomach over this. But I have no other option than to swallow the bitter pill and tell our children that they don't really matter all that much and hope they are okay. My heart goes out to the others who are also in this situation. Happy Holidays! FYI I teach in a private school and I get paid for 10 hours of planning a month and it must be done whenever I find time, usually at night or on a weekend.

[Mr. Concerned]

What is up with the person signing as the St. Pete NAZI Times?
Is this the same individual that also uses the alias the grammar NAZI and if this is the same individual? What is his infatuation with the word NAZI? Why does he empower such a negative word every time he comments on some ones post which is usually intended to criticize and other individuals? Furthermore, Does he believe he will be taking more seriously by signing his post every time with the NAZI as part of his signature? Also, as far as the times removing other people's post that is something I've never noticed before, and I visit this site multiple times daily.

[St. Pete NAZI Times]

Join the union and waste your money.
jade moore is a corrupt clown.
said Jade Moore, executive director of the union. “The bottom line is that it should have never happened.”
BUT IT DID AND YOU SAT THERE AND WATCHE YOU CORRUPT LITTLE WEASEL.

St. Pete times is a NAZI paper.
Stop erasing posts.

I love the seven periods I think they are great, I really do not want to go back to the six periods that means are classes are longer!! Nobody wants that I mean the students don't want that nor do the teachers !! Lets stick to the seven periods!!

[teacher]

To the student who posted above:
Please use your 7th period for the rest of this quarter to study the English language. After all, YOU will need it to get your job at Starbucks.

As for your sense of entitlement, well, if little brats such as yourself would actually study and do your homework, then you wouldn't be yanked out of your electives for intensive classes, and you wouldn't need a 7th period. Do not expect your teachers to put their lives on hold to plan at home because you've "grown to like having 3 electives." Suck it up junior. You'll be done with middle school in 6 months (or maybe not in your case...).

this just about upset many of the kids in my grade. as in about all the 8th graders at PHMS. i heard about this this morning from my friend and we're upset. extremely. ever since the teachers in 7th grade started saying we were getting 7 periods for the 2008-2009 year, sure we were complaining like crazy. but now its the middle of the school year and we've grown to LIKE having 3 electives. i am an 8th grader and when i say don't take away 7th period i mean it and so does everyone else. the teachers aren't at school to complain if having to work for another hour, just ONE hour, too inconvenienced for them they can quit and go work at Starbuck's or something. teachers are there to teach not complain about too many kids or not enough planning. hello? plan at home obviously. i don't take things lightly when someone says they're taking away something that i like. that all i have to say on this subject.

[Mr. Concerned]

To earlier comments: "They have summmers off (UNPAID-- most teachers either get a extra summer job or lived frugal all year to support themselves over the non-paid vacation); a two week Christmas break (again unpaid-- in Hillsborough 10% of a teacher's paycheck is held back each pay period via escrow whether we like it or not-- no CHOICE & no interest bearing for teachers, then we are paid with basically our own money); a week for Spring break (the same as Christmas buddy), a half-day off a month (in Hillsborough-- I can not leave per school board thoughts on the matter though it is a perfect time to go to the doctors and not loose teaching time with your students, the past two times I have attended a meeting with a parent and then a meeting on English planning) in addition to regular vacation and sick days (we are given 6 personal days and then 4 sick days that most do not use as we save them for future needs or extra money when we retire). The starting pay is in the mid to high 30K range (I agree the pay is not terrible compared to other government jobs, but I have never worked this hard and long for the government for so little, therefore, I probably get paid less per hour than previous government jobs-- if I had not earned my masters degree, I would not have been bumped up in pay that put my kids out of the range for free and reduced lunch. Thus, even the government does not think I am paid enough), their health benefits are cheap (comparatively speaking)(pardon me, I loose more money a month insuring my family than I did when I worked for the state even though I am free it cost me 400+ more for the whole family with crappy Humana vs Blue cross with the state) ( as a matter of fact the Hillsborough school district informs their employees about FL healthy kids-- a government program for the underpaid, which I happen to qualify for) and they participate in the Florida Retirement System( so does all state employees, most county employees, University and Community College--- the list continues you could have FRS if you wanted it and you would not have to be a teacher). Not bad for a PART-TIME job (If that were only the case, I bet I work more than you for less money, and paid more to have my job than you did. Thus, my job is not part-time though it is 200 days out of 365 (compared to the usual 250 out of 365), don't be a hater, try teaching sometime and let me know how it compares to your part-time job at MCDonalds)...

[Chicko Dicko]

I guess I'm the only teacher out there who enjoyed the 6 of 7. I'd enjoy it more if they paid us for it however.

To all the teachers on here complaining - get a life. This job is basic. You take it way too seriously. Obviously this is a basic job - the pay is basic and the expectations are miniscule. Why are you taking it so seriously? I'm sure the obvious answer is "FOR THE KIDS" but that's obviously a lie. Methinks you like to think your life is important so you make a big deal about your job.

The solution is simple- if you think you're overworked, work less. I'm supposed to be teaching right now!

[sjm]

Can't you all come up with some compromise -- it would be great to continue to have seven periods for middle school so that our children can take interesting electives. In turn, the teachers should not have to deal with difficult children in their classrooms or the mounds of paperwork from the district. Perhaps, we should revisit all the students that get to schools' via buses and give some of that money to the teachers or the hiring of assistants to help grade papers, etc. I really think most of the teachers work really hard for our children; HOWEVER, during our country's ecomonic difficulties, perhaps, it was not the best time for the union to present this when even our president-elect has asked us ALL to do a little more and that we all have to take a little more responsibility to make our country better. These times are tough for all let's not fight but come up with compromises and solutions that benefit our students, teachers, and the district. Just a thought.

[sjm]

Can't you all come up with some compromise -- it would be great to continue to have seven periods for middle school so that our children can take interesting electives. In turn, the teachers should not have to deal with difficult children in their classrooms or the mounds of paperwork from the district. Perhaps, we should revisit all the students that get to schools' via buses and give some of that money to the teachers or the hiring of assistants to help grade papers, etc. I really think most of the teachers work really hard for our children; HOWEVER, during our country's ecomonic difficulties, perhaps, it was not the best time for the union to present this when even our president-elect has asked us ALL to do a little more and that we all have to take a little more responsibility to make our country better. These times are tough for all let's not fight but come up with compromises and solutions that benefit our students, teachers, and the district. Just a thought.

[Carl]

What does it matter if you don't get a planning period? Do what they pay you to do...teach your subject...not bashing just saying this. If they refuse to pay for planning time then don't plan...use part of your paid time to plan, give the kids work at their desk(busy work) then do your planning. Do as much as you can on the contracted hours they pay you for. Stop doing all the extra stuff that you don't get paid for. People at other jobs do ONLY what they are paid to do unless they are trying to move up (brown nose) or they own the business (capitalism). Then as the powers realize that you only "do your job" as they have contracted you to do, they will start to see all the extras they were getting for free. It may take a decase and this may not be the best for kids but it may be the best for teachers until America takes education seriously.

They don't print enough money to make me want to be a teacher. All you teacher-bashers on here---Are you supposed to be WORKING right now??? Posting on the web and "playing around" on your jobs??? Or are you sitting home on your cans? Either way, your kids are the way they are because that's how YOU raised them. Don't expect someone else to raise them. If you want to know what's wrong with the schools, go take a look in the mirror.

[ex-teacher]

I am an ex-teacher for the very reason I stated, I grew weary of listening to teachers complain about having to actually teach. I am currently in law enforcement, and perform my duties under a PBA contract. But I don't worry about the contract as much as others. I understood that when I was hired, I was expected to do a certain job. I expected the same when I was hired to teach. Unlike many others, I understand that the job I have is not mine, it belongs to my employer, and as such, it is my responsibility to do what my employer tells me to do (so long as all my commands are legal and ethical). The problem with many teachers (and police officers, and in fact, many union workers) is that they feel the job they have is theirs. They are not our jobs, they are our employers. I worked as a teacher for a few years, worked as a DARE officer for a few years, and my wife is a teacher in a Pinellas County school, so I still have numerous contacts with teachers. I do not see dedication in the profession anymore. Anyone who thinks that this is the case is sadly misinformed. My wife brings home work every night, and I've never heard her complain. I sometimes bring home work at night, but I don't complain. We have a family we want to spend time with, but we both understand that their are more important things than contracts and working an extra few hours a night. We have a duty to serve those we are paid to serve. And sometimes that trumps what was negotiated in a contract.

And to Jack, if we're arguing grammar and semantics, we don't "cover" stress, we relieve it. It was simply a grammatical error I made. Often those who can't argue using reason resort to pointing out small typos (usually because their brains are small). Most times I take the time to proof-read my work, but since these blogs are not scholarly publications or important work documents, I don't bother.

[old school]

THE POINT IS: our contract is finally being upheld. The supervisors who were on the middle school re-design committe and those who allowed for 6/7 to be implemented all should take a pay cut or be sent back to the classroom. What a fiasco this semester has been!

The union is a joke!
Everyone in it is an idiot.
Jade Moore is a worthless flunky.

Good job Union, no back pay, and for allowing errr bending over and letting this happen in the first place.

[Tom]

I just want to know what can be done to limit the misbehavior in middle school classrooms. I wonder why the teacher(s) cannot control their students and if they try, the teacher gets in trouble, not the student. I wonder why the assistant principal does not assist. Where does the school board weigh in on this issue? Behavior is a big problem in middle school and it is time the teachers get our support. The taxpayers will never pay teachers "enough" money but we can do "enough" of the little things to make the job better, more fulfilling and much less frustrating. I think Jade Moore is worthless as far as the teachers union goes, he has the worst hindsight of any union person known. I suggest the new school board get pressured from all SPTIMES readers to work on the misbehavior issues and most of the above complaints will be ironed out.

So much has been written here to bash people. We always hear the phrase "Being Accountable" for actions.
The School board needs to be accountable for violating a contract. The teachers need to be held accountable for teaching students the necessary skills they need to be able to graduate. The parents need to be held accountable for raising their children properly. The students need to be held accountable also. It is their responsibility to come to school willing to learn. If all parties involved did what they were supposed to do there would be no breakdown in the system. Unfortunately, there is always someone that drops the ball. From the top on down to the bottom. Blaming one another does no good to fix the broken system we are in. If a contract wasn't violated this blog would not be here. In the business world if a contract is violated people would sue. In the real world there are parents that don't parent well, there are teachers that don't teach well and there are students that don't value the education they are getting. We all need to be accountable for our own part in the education of children. This would be a great start to fixing the problems that are out there and continue to haunt the educational system.

[Teacher4Kids]

I am a middle school teacher. I generally go to work at 8:15am and leave around 7:30pm. I am a certified special ed teacher as well, and have to do IEP's for students with special needs. I teach both gen ed and special ed classes. There are not enough hours in a 6 period day with 54 minute classes let alone a 7 period day with 46 min classes to teach the required curriculum and plan for classes. I stay late because I became a teacher so that I could teach and help students. I am glad to see that the teachers will no longer have to endure the grading of 175 papers several times a week,(kids aren't supposed to grade their own or others papers so it is up to the teacher to grade) that there will be enough time in a class period to actually teach material to the students. With trying to teach students how to take the FCAT not teach the test), cover all the required material, remediate as necessary, grade papers, have the lesson plan book up to date for principal review, all necessary copies made, discipline, etc. it takes much more time than a "non-teacher" can understand. I am also a parent of a middle school child. I have many mixed feeling about changing the schedule during the middle of the school year for the sake of the students. That will be a big transition for them, possibly getting different teachers, loosing out on electives, etc. So we all need to figure out what is best for the kids!!!!
p.s. Oh yes and as for "COFFEE BREAKS";I don't know what a coffee break is, I work in my classroom, pull students in for remediation,email parents, make copies, do plans, write IEP's, pull files. When I am at school, I am working. I am not there to gossip! I do spend about 15 min of my 30 min lunch with my co wokers, slamming down lunch and maybe discussing our famiies our other things outside of school, but the other 15 minutes I am working. I am there for the Kids. I believe that the large majority of teachers are there and stay in their profession for the students. I could get a job making a lot more money if I wanted, but I choose to be in the schools for the kids.

[ParentinPinellas]

Man, there are some really naive people out there. To the person who thought that the teacher was over the line with her characterization of the kids in class, go sit a day in her class! Oh, and I am not a teacher, and I work full time, oh, and I also spend every moment I can in my son's schools. (it's called vacation days) As for public vs. private, private has the ability to punish more harshly and expel those that don't conform to the stringent principles. Pulbic schools don't have that option! Stop carrying on here and go RAISE YOUR KIDS so our teachers and school administrators don't have to!

[Tim]

I'm so tired of the hearing about the underpaid teachers. They have summmers off; a two week Christmas break;a week for Spring break, a half-day off a month (in Hillsborough) in addition to regular vacation and sick days. The starting pay is in the mid to high 30K range, their health benefits are cheap (comparatively speaking) and they participate in the Florida Retirement System. Not bad for a PART-TIME job.

[Misty]

Middle schools have a principal for the school and another assistant principal for each of the three grades. Add on an "office" for each grade along with administrative staff and you have almost a dozen people that aren't needed. Each school has a full time "Bookkeeper". Multiply that by every middle school and you've saved a LOT of money. Take a good look at how private schools are operated. Not just religious, but all private schools. You will see a lean, mean operation which has its focus on academics as opposed to bureaucracy and extra headcount.

[Mike C.]

I went to Catholic school. We had 8 periods in high school and some how all the teachers -- making half of what their public school counterparts do -- managed to survive.

to Jack who critized ex-teacher's incorrect use of the word 'wine'. You used the wrong version of the word 'to'.

[sandy]

wrmsmth...what a pitiful excuse for a teacher you are. Not all children are bad and you should be ashamed of yourself for saying something like that. When I was growing up, there were bad kids, there were bad kids in the next generation following mine, this generation and there will be bad kids in the next. It is teachers like you that make all teachers less respected, you're teaching abilities show very clear in your post. Parents do have to work--JUST LIKE YOU--but I guess all teacher's children are perfect little students, none of them go through the changes most teens do and as far as that goes, there is little contact from the school teachers to parents, so no one can get a handle on things before they get bad, unless you have email or access to ParentConnect--you get NO info on your child. If you hate being with children so much--get another job, why don't you become a rent a cop--then you can spend your day voicing your opinion of the students. God help our children if all teachers are like you.

[Salleymae]

Are you out of your mind Jim? I'd like to see you just volunteer for one day in a school. You would be shocked at how the kids act in the classroom, cafeteria and especially toward teachers. Maybe that is why so many parents want their kids in a fundamental school. Teachers earn their pay.

[Jill]

Bottom line is if the State of Florida would give the schools the money they were supposed to give from the Lottery maybe schools wouldn't be in such a mess in the first place! Taxpayer's were really snowed with that vote, "money will go to the schools". Yeah right!

[Jim]

The truth if told is that teachers do not really work on their breaks. They gossip. They stay after because they use up their break time to play around.
Ask you kid what is going on in the classroom. They are given busy work. You know work that will keep them busy for the period if not the week. Like looking up each spelling word in the dictionary and telling what part of speech it is and its many meanings and examples. I bet you can not go to the school and sit in the class for five days. They do not want you to see or know what is really going on in that classroom. grading papers: many have one of their bright kids do that. Just how many graded papers do you see per week? Is the home work graded? Of does it just get a check. Yea, I know how over worked they are. Teachers did not go to school to help children. They went to school for four years to get a job. Teachers have complained about their profession since the beginning of time. If they are not pushed into something they will not work. They are lazy if the truth came out.

[matthew]

Thank god im a student 1 less class to deal with

[BBMOM]

I'm glad the right thing was done for the teachers in violation of their contract. I do believe back pay should have been included though.

My question is how do we switch from 7 to 6 classes in the middle of the year? Or in my kids situation from 8 to 6? Thurgood is on a block schedule and we have eight classes.

[embracechange]

Well put Wrdsmth! You rock!

[Tom]

Just remember it is ALL about what is best for the children. It is the Republicans that want to starve the poor little children and deny medical care to the sick and elderly. The Democratic lead Teacher's Union would never do anything that was not the absolute best for the children.

[MB]

Dear 4:00 pm: I am a middle school teacher, and bearly have the time for lunch with this 6/7 schedule. The day is hectic and unbalanced. I work late almost every night to catch up. I have never had the luxury of a coffee break, either. The planning time provided simply is not enough to prepare for 6 classes.

[Wrdsmth]

Pinellas County School Board violated a legal contract. Sadly, no comments have been directed toward this violation of business ethics. Hmmm...I question the business ethics of our school board, their attorney, and the others affiliated with this Board to knowingly conduct business so illegally and underhandedly. Today, teachers babysit and schools warehouse society's youth. Parents must work, send Johnny to school where Johnny can verbally and/or physically abuse others, teachers included. I wish I could teach my content area. Unfortunately my class roster is filled with ill-behaved teenagers who don't value an education, an educator, or the educational institution. The acorn does not fall far from the tree-THANKS Parents for raising such an academically and intellectually void human being and giving that person to my colleagues and me to try and educate. Perhaps more parents should home school their little Edisons. That's it--homeschool your darlings. Oh that's right - you didn't finish high school or college. Hmmmm... makes you want to rethink teacher bashing.

As for ex-teacher,
You must mean teaching in the early 1890's. The opinions in the breakroom aren't the cause of your failure as a teacher or the reasons behind your resigning from the teaching profession. As a teacher, I never have time to spend in the break room or to eavesdrop on other teachers' whining. Sounds like you had a lot of time on your hands to spend in the break room way back in the 90's. The effective teachers in your former school were the ones in the classroom. Unlike you, the effective teachers couldn't give one crap about the attitudes of the few in the break room or the opinions of any of the other teachers, for that matter. It's the kids and the curriculum that should have been your focus. It is painfully obvious that you quit teaching because you couldn't hack it in the classroom, buddy. You have way too much insight on the breakroom. Maybe you should call yourself "ex-break room lounger" instead of "ex teacher." Let's get real.

Regarding 4:00pm and 4:39pm
When teachers start getting paid $70.00 an hour to teach children as the auto unions demand, you can start criticizing the PCTA's demand for "coffee" breaks". Until then, just shut up and quit wasting readers' time with ridiculous, uninformed generalizations. I bet you wouldn't last five minutes in a classroom. You're an idiot. Enough said.

[tch]

Just today, in my 9th grade classroom, period one, I thought I was going to be able to teach the curriculum that I wrote on Sunday. Instead, I had to teach kids why you shouldn't hit others and throw markers across the room. Then some other kid, yelled at me, as he always does, because he doesn't like being told to sit down, stop hitting people, and do your work. He's just back from jail. I tried to engage my students about a project we were going to do, but half of them just sat there, backs turned, and talked to each other about their break. I am very sick right now- no voice virtually- so I didn't have the volume to overpower the misbehavior and eye-rolling. Of the 50 minutes, I probably got a good 20 minutes out of them. This ISN'T teaching; this is raising someone else's teenager. Now, take this experience and multiply it by six periods, equally 150+ teens a day. I have so many stories. I have been hit, threatened, pushes, cursed, and ignored.

I am glad the right thing was done. Now, I only wish Hillsborough could do the same thing.

People who hate teachers and stereotype them raise children that act just like them. That "culture" is ruining the system and chases the good ones away. I am degreed and certified in what I teach, and I am out the door oh so very soon. I didn't slave away for my MA to be treated so very poorly.

[Teacher]

I have read the comments from those who feel that teachers were complaining because they had to work an extra 15 minutes a day, if you believe that, then I have oceanfront property in Arizona to sell you. For the person who said we wanted coffee breaks, I say,"Are you nuts? We don't get to use the restroom during the day and caffeine is a diuretic". So what was it all about? It was about honoring a contract. It was about doing what is right for our students. I went into work early and left late all so that I could get work done. The success of my students is important to me, and I can attest that by 7th period both students and teachers alike were not at their best. Going back to 5 out of 6 is best for the kids who have been loaded down with homework from not 6 but 7 classes. Oh, and for the record on the 15 minute comment, unless they also decided to change the school start and end time, teachers will still be teaching longer than last year, but I can almost guarantee you won't hear anyone complaining.

[Jack]

To ex-teacher,

You are probably an "ex-teacher" because you could not pass the basic skills test. I assume this because you confused wine with whine. And no, I don't know to many teachers that whine, but I do know many who cover the extreme stress of teaching with excess wine on Friday nights. I don't necessarily think this is a good idea, but it is a coping mechanism.