Denver Public Schools struck today. It’s just so simple. The people who control the money don’t want to give it to teachers. They have it but won’t give it. It’s about enough salary to live on.
They are offering an additional $2.5 million and we want $8 million. That’s for 5,700 teachers. It’s not a lot of cash so that now Denver teachers are having to drive into the area from bedroom communities 20-30 miles away because they can’t afford to live near their schools.
How complicated is all this? Do taxpayers want teachers working two jobs? It’s normal around here. I went into Barnes and Nobles the other evening and the cashier was a fifth grade teacher here in Jefferson County.
It just broke my heart. I tried to keep a smile to match hers but I didn’t do very well with it. I just kind of shuffled out of the building, wondering where all this is going, how this fine young bright and cheerful person was going to get through a career that is punishing enough without an evening gig to further muck her mental health up.
Greed is one thing, but corporate greed is another. DPS acts like a corporation with ties to many corporations like textbook companies. It’s like a big robot with a really big head (district office) and a really small body (teachers).
Yet is has plenty of money because it is one of the eight Gates metro beneficiaries – it is awash in money – but they build data collection wings at the district office instead of hiring more teachers while hiring high priced lawyers to beat the teachers union down.
1 thought on “Denver Strikes”
Argh! We have another set of charter schools currently on strike here in Chicago. They’re in their second week of striking. It’s only 4 schools. It’s gotta feel intimidating going up against the Man when you’re only 4 schools.
Yeah… I totally agree it’s not cool that teacher has to look for second job to make a living wage. Now that I have a couple of kids, that’s even more real.
Sending good vibes to all the teachers in DPS!