DPS teachers too sick to teach, not protest
Monday, June 2, 2008Written by: Captain Haddock
And the latest in the ongoing DPS teacher salary war: a sickout. Yes, those beloved teachers of ours have decided that the next front in their war against high salaries and better pay for better teachers is to punish the students they serve. According to the Rocky, 21 of 30 teachers at the Denver Center of International Studies did not show up to work on Thursday, following the absences of 18 teachers at Sandoval and 12 at McGlone earlier this week.
A “sickout” telegraphs to the community the (incorrect) message that teachers are selfish and money-grubbing unprofessional who put kids last. The actions of these teachers, actions the DCTA union claims it does not support, give a bad name to the rest of the hardworking and kid-centered teachers throughout the district.
The bigger issue – and this might get a little bit salty — is that many teachers across the country have adopted a victim mentality. As they see it, they are freedom fighters waging a constant war against bureaucracy, standardization, and, God forbid, merit pay. Sadly, most teachers really do work hard, and few get paid what they deserve.
Actions like those of this week’s DPS sickos no doubt reflect the views of many teachers throughout the district. But their stubbornness is undermining their case, not helping it. Let’s hope that some brave, hardworking teachers stand up for professionalism and demand that they do, indeed, deserve higher pay for their high performance.
