Many readers responded online to Tim Steller’s Oct. 11 column “Underpaid and disrespected, state’s teachers flee.” Here is a sampling of the comments.
Lise Spangenthal: l have been a teacher for more than 30 years. The last 12 in Arizona. Took a pay cut when I moved here. By comparison, the benefits are mediocre at best and 3-4 months off is laughable. I barely make over $45,000. Have a masters and I am a national board certified teacher. Just reinstated my Washington state credential. Tired of the low pay and the disrespect. All you have to do is read some of the comments here to know why AZ will always be 49th or 50th in per pupil spending and why business won’t move here.
Rachel Irene Harrell: So sad, my daughter is a teacher here in AZ, she also will be leaving the state at school year’s end.
Victoria Estrada Barajas: Yes, our teachers are leaving and students pay the price. If you wonder what I mean, consider how much learning a student misses out on when an uncertified sub is teaching. We appreciate our subs, but often they are temporary and don’t have any experience other than having been students in a classroom themselves. We need teachers in AZ. The state needs to recognize the value in educating our kids.
Stephen Gmys: I blame the kids’ parents. Teaching used to be a respectable job. Now parents side with kids saying your teacher is wrong. How can kids respect teachers when parents always side with their perfect little angel. Education reform starts with the parents.
David Julian: What do you expect when conservatives and reactionaries constantly blame the teachers for everything.
Denise Fuchs Meeks: Once upon a time, before I became a college professor, I spent a short time between jobs as a substitute teacher in Tucson. It was a nightmare. One school wanted me to come back a second day, and I said absolutely not. Some of the kids were like wild animals, and it was obvious that their behavior was due to a lack of discipline at home. Teachers shouldn’t have to be baby sitters or disciplinarians. Parents need to do their jobs.
Jennifer White Simon: This is what happens in a state that doesn’t value education. They’re so shortsighted that they can’t see that poorly educated kids do not make for a good future economy. They’d rather slash education funding and build more of their immoral private prisons. It’s sickening.
Mel Etherton: No surprise! Unless you’ve ever taught in a public school you have no idea what a difficult and stressful job it is!
Patti Waltz: Who can blame them? I’d leave too. This state regards our public school teachers as second-class citizens.
Bruce Metzger: When I came to Tucson in 1986 I was certified by most states in HS science — biology, ecology all the way up to human anatomy and chemistry. Arizona didn’t recognize any other state reciprocity for specialty. I moved here from Connecticut and only taught for three years and left. Yes, I blame the liberal, undereducated public at large. The schools at the time (1986) were nationally ranked pretty much where they are now. Home schooling is/can be good if the person doing it is educated enough to know what are expected goals and outcomes.
Michelle Saunders: In all my 36 years,I’ve never felt disrespected by families or my principal. I’m fortunate to still have support from my parents. We all occasionally have the challenging child. Underpaid, absolutely! In my 30th year I finally made what my dear friend made as a beginning engineer in 1980. Respect is appreciated but doesn’t pay the bills.
Nancy Johnston: And yet people who work at McDonald’s think they should make $15 an hour...
Brenda Kenfield: If the money was spent the way it should be, I wouldn’t mind. Way too much is wasted.
John Wayne Denton: This is not an Arizona problem. This is a nationwide problem. When are legislators going to understand they know nothing about education?
Cindy Graybill: So glad both my sons went to University High School, which does value teachers, but they are still grossly underpaid. As a school bus driver we see the lack of respect kids and parents have for us. Glad both my sons are college educated — MIT undergrad and master’s and University of Arizona grad. Thank you to the teachers and counselors that were there for my sons.
Graciela Aurora: That’s why I decided to not finish my teaching degree. Now I’m doing something similar but not quite the same. Teachers are so underrated.
Douglas Cervantes: Keep voting in the crazies to the state Legislature and the governor. You are winning the race to the bottom. Kansas, Indiana, Wisconsin and the other phony Libertarian run states are right there with us. Keep starving education, keep shrinking government. It is working so well.
Maryelizabeth Hart: Distressing and valid response.
Laura Lowe: TUSD needs to broken up and separated into another district. TUSD has enough administration to choke a horse and needs to take some of the bloated staff and put them in the classrooms.
Patrick Day: Red state blues.
