Column 77 for April 8, 2001

Recently I wrote a little bit about the projected growth in our area and, of course, we have all seen the proposals for the new schools in our county. The route we take to handle this growth will be determined in large part by our ballots on tax issues in the near future.

There is one area not addressed by the things I’ve read in the papers about the many new schools proposed in our county. Where are we going to get the teachers to staff them? Will we attract them with our high unemployment rate? Or maybe with our unusual geological strata? Our inexpensive housing? Or maybe our fresh water surplus? I think not.

If we want to attract (and retain) the brightest and best teachers for our children, we have to acknowledge the old saying, "you get what you pay for." Today it is a "sellers" market and the local officials better realize that fact when it comes to teachers. Quality does not come cheaply, just as in any other business.

We can’t just create teachers out of thin air. Fact is, Georgia is not training enough new teachers to handle the growth within our state. The local school boards must currently hire many teachers from out of state too. Our state (and especially you, Governor Barnes!) did a great injustice to our children when we (he) did away with the fair dismissal laws. (Many of you call it tenure.) Teachers from outside Georgia don’t look here for employment. Why should they? Poor salaries (considered nationally) and no employee rights mean weak contracts, written from an employer’s position only.

Vickie Spence, assistant superintendent of Gordon County Schools says, " As the base salaries on the state level increased, our (local) supplement did not. That made it very difficult to attract new teachers." Some other Georgia systems are acknowledging this problem. From the Rome News Tribune I get the following information: Gordon County has gone from a flat supplement of $1700 up to 7% of a teachers state base pay. Marietta schools offer a $6000 supplement along with a laptop computer, paid graduate studies, and a cellular telephone (teachers here in Carroll County get "written up" for using cell phones at school…, I know, it happened to me) The Cobb County teachers supplement for this past year was over $5000 plus a $1000 signing bonus for new teachers. Bartow County raised its supplement almost $1000. Etc. etc.

Where does Carroll County stand on this issue? Our teacher supplements have been "frozen" for many, many years. According to "legend" they were instituted in the first place to take care of insurance benefits that the county no longer paid, so the teacher would be happy. As the cost of these benefits to the teacher skyrocketed, the supplement remained frozen. It's no wonder that the governor's "teacher pay increases" mean little for local teachers.

As for me, moving from industry to teaching back in 1987 was not that easy. Sure the time off (all the holidays) was great, but the decrease in salary was quite a sacrifice too. I do, however, consider myself to be a professional, and expect to be paid appropriately for the services I render. I am not a volunteer. I may love what I do, but I do what I do for a living. Like you, all I want is a fair shake, and a competitive salary. Hint. Hint.

Peace. tomiswho@mindspring.com