Dear Mr. Corbett,
As I write this to you, you've just been projected to be the winner of the state's gubernatorial race. I congratulate you on your win. You've made a great Attorney General, and I'm sure you can bring much to the table as our new Governor. Your education plan certainly has some promising Attorney General-inspired ideas, such as cracking down on school violence.
However, you've seemed to go out of your way to ignore those of us experienced in the field of education. Why? Who would have a better understanding of what our schools require than those who give to the schools day in and day out? To show us teachers how little you appreciate our efforts, Mr. Corbett, you have shown yourself to be against teacher pensions and in support of using our testing scores to determine teacher pay. To address the latter first, doesn't any of the scholarly research, which proves that such “incentives” forced upon teachers do nothing for the students, mean something?
As far as teacher pensions go, your position, made clear in your alliance with Governor Christie, is insulting. Teachers consistently earn some of the top spots in “worst-paying college degrees.” Teachers have more germs on their desk than any other profession. Teachers are expected by the IRS to contribute $500 a year in supplies back to the school (Quite a bit of money in a school with 60-100 teachers, eh, Mr. Corbett?). Teachers in Pennsylvania are required to receive enough additional education to be just a few credits shy of a Master's degree. Teachers receive additional training every year for their jobs. Teachers are expected to work twice the amount of time on their contract. And, most importantly, Mr. Corbett, teachers are the key to the future of Pennsylvania. They are the ones who will deliver to this state an educated, intelligent workforce.
But enough about your policies for now, Mr. Corbett, as I plan to make this an ongoing discussion. I want you to understand who I am and I want to let you know what to expect in these updates from this lowly teacher. I am in my fifth year of teaching. Already, I have received recognition from one of the professional subject-based teaching associations. I have a fancy piece of paper on my wall from a tiny, liberal arts college with a strong academic tradition (not much different than your own from LVC, mind you). If I hadn't worked so diligently in high school to earn scholarships, Mr. Corbett, I would have had to pay $120,000 for that education. As it is, I still have plenty to pay off, and will for the next two decades, most likely. I am finishing up a Master's degree, as well, so there will be closer to $150,000 hanging on my wall by next fall, Mr. Corbett. What do I get for that? While only 22% of Pennsylvanians have so much as a four year degree, according to the 2000 census, I'm making far less than the state's median income.
To help cover the bills, I rely upon a side job in which I teach high school and college students to take standardized tests (thus my understanding that standardized tests actually measure nothing). My part time job certainly takes away a few hours I could spend on being a teacher and has forced me to cut back on the number of activities that I volunteer to do at school, but I would like to make sure that I can afford to live where I do (I moved away from home because I felt that I could make an impact where I am now).
I did not enter education because I failed at anything else. In fact, my grades in my previous majors were higher than many of my colleagues who stayed in those majors. I made the conscious decision to enter education because I felt that I could change lives, and I do everything in my power to do so. There isn't a sporting event I don't see, there isn't an activity I haven't aided in some way at my school. For about 10 months, I work myself into the ground. When I have time at home, my wife refers to me as a stranger.
Since, Mr. Corbett, you seem out of touch with teachers, I hope that these weekly updates will bring to you our perspective. As I provide a weekly record, Mr. Corbett, of my unpaid hours, I hope that you will realize, first of all, why public school teachers need their pensions: by the time we actually retire, we've given most of ourselves away to the society that once, decades ago, respected our contributions without question.
Sincerely,
Nately Scott
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