HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? By Deeply Frustrated

Here was our CEO's solution [Bonnie Copeland], she layed off 1000 employees back in October (mainly administrators). However their lay-offs have indirectly impacted us teachers, because when we want to call to our area office, no one is able to help. This past January she gave us several more propositions: 1) to lay off another 1200 teachers, 2) to cut our salaries by 7%, or 3) to furlough us for 8 days!

How is this possible? What did us teachers do to deserve this treatment? Our city currently has approximately 6,000 teachers...that would be 20%...that would mean doubling up classes, disrupting behavioral management, teacher-student rapport, etc... And of course messing with our measily checks is not the answer....many of us worked hard to climb to the steps we currently have.

We want an investigation. However, many of us are so frightened to REALLY speak out. We are not allowed to go on strike [b/c the Union messed that up several years ago ...and the students would miss out], and those teachers who do talk - feel as though they might be the next to go!

Many teachers are ready to leave this system. We are treated poorly. At my school we don't even have access to the copier machine...so we end up going to Kinkos/Staples and spending a fortune (20%) of our paychecks on dittos or pamphlets.

I would love to leave too, however my contract won't allow me to "quit." And then I would hate to leave my students mid-year.

Everyday is a struggle going to work, because you never know if your name will be on the infamous list for layoffs. Several teachers have already been let go....and it happens at any time (in the morning, at lunch, after school)...

I'm only 25 and I feel like I am developing an ulcer and going gray! It pains me to see new teachers crying their eyes out over a situation that is not even in their hands. I remember what it's like to be a new teacher [because technically I still am]. My teammate who has been teaching 30+ years said if she had began teaching now, she would have quit in a heart beat.

Last Friday the city held a "sick-out" to protest the decision to layoff teachers. 600 teachers took off, and the impact was felt. We've already missed 2 days, due to having to go to voting polls.... [it goes on and on....]