I Support Striking Teachers

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By By Ken Schram

Summary

They deserve more money and they deserve increased benefits, and they deserve better then what they get from school administrators.

Story Published: Sep 9, 2002 at 12:05 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 12:48 AM PDT

I Support Striking Teachers
SEATTLE - Why do I support striking teachers?

I've gotten more than a fair share of e-mails asking me that question.

It's actually pretty easy to answer: Because teachers deserve support.

They deserve more money and they deserve increased benefits.

They certainly deserve better than what they get from school administrators, who don't fight hard enough for them.

And they deserve much better from the Governor and the Legislature who, if lip service were salary increases, would've made teachers as rich as rock stars.

Those who don't support teachers continue to send me what they think are clever formulas.

They take what they estimate to be the number of hours in a typical teacher's day (always underestimated), add in the number of days in the school year and PRESTO! come up with some grossly inflated hourly wage figure.

Those folks need to head back to a 5th grade math class and pay attention this time.

And while busy harping on the contrived numbers, they totally ignore other points.

They inevitably fail to factor in the level of responsibility teachers shoulder. That would include such 'mundane' considerations as preparing our children for the world out there.

They neglect to consider how teachers are dedicated, and how teachers weave encouragement into education.

Truth is, teachers could be making double what they now earn and I'd still support a strike if that was the only way to provide them with more.

Some say I should be embarrassed for thinking that way.

I think the embarrassment goes the other way.

Want to share your thoughts with Ken Schram? You can e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com