"Dan Abel" > wrote in message
>
> Massive teacher layoffs are predicted. Who's going to teach the kids?
> If money is cut by 5%, then more than 5% of the teachers need to be laid
> off, because it's strictly by seniority, and the teachers who get laid
> off are way down on the salary scale.

One of the problems is the teacher's union. They could get rid of the right
5% and never miss them. Every school system has some useless drones;
unfortunately they usually have to go by seniority and get rid of some good
teachers too.

In any budget crisis, they first threaten to get rid of teachers. Next is to
eliminate sports. Both cause some outrage but I'm not willing to have my
taxes increased so your kid can play football. You rarely hear that they
are going to lay off some useless school administration staff. If
teachers were allowed to discipline the students it would be a big help too.
I went to a school with 50 kids in a class and we were made to sit quietly
and pay attention. How many kids are in a typical classroom today? How
many have a teacher's assistant too?

My salary for the past two years is the same as it was three years ago. No
bonus for the past two years either because business is off. I have to live
on less because there is only so much money available. Governments have to
do the same.