No Win Situation

This week has opened my eyes as to what is going on around our lovely state of Utah. It all started off with a chat I had with my friend Delaina in our Church library on Sunday. Somehow we started talking politics which is a favorite for both of us. We were on opposing sides this time when we started talking Utah's budget. Now, we do not get heated and I love talking to Delaina about politics because she is very well informed and also very respectful to opposing views.

I digress. We were talking about Utah's shortfall in the budget and the need for the legislators to cut all agencies by 7.5 % this legislative session. I proposed that education should be held harmless by using the rainy day fund of cash that the legislators are holding onto for when times are hard. Now, you may be wondering why education should be held harmless. I will tell you that we are number 50 out of 50 in the United States for per pupil spending. We lose teacher candidates all the time from our colleges and universities because other states like Wyoming steal our best and brightest with their promises of a higher salary. Basically, our kids are getting the short end of the stick and so our the people who choose the noble profession of teaching.

Delaina disagreed with me and said that other agencies have already been cut left and right and it has gotten to the point where education will have to take a hit too. I still disagreed.

On Monday morning, I was at my school working when I was summoned into my Principal's office. I have a student teacher that is teaching full-time right now, so it was not unheard of for him to want us for a project or some insight about an issue. He sat me and another cooperating teacher down and told us that there was a principal coming to our school from another school that was in need of a teacher right away. He then informed us that the principal was coming to look at our student teachers to see if any of them would be ready to leave their student teaching 2 months early and take over a 3rd grade class at her school. Our jaws dropped. After we had picked them up off the floor and started firing questions and opinions at our principal, he explained that the Human Resources department had recommended that this situation be set up. I responded that I knew of a teacher that was newly graduated and looking for a job that would be happy to interview for the job. My principal dutifully took down the info. and said he would pass it along.

The principal from the visiting school showed up 10 minutes after I talked to my principal and watched all of our student teachers for 5 minutes, talked to us for a couple of minutes, lied to my student teacher about the U of U being okay with them leaving their student teaching early, and wanted to interview the ST that very afternoon.

All of the student teachers were rattled to say the least and none of them wanted the job. They did not feel ready. And by the way, the U of U had no idea what the district was trying to do.

You may be wondering why they were going after these kids when they weren't ready or certified. Turns out they were not going to pay them for the last two months of their student teaching as they worked in this new classroom. I can only imagine it was to with money.

In talking to my principal that same day before going home, I again forcefully stated my opinion that this was a very bad idea to throw our student teachers into this no win situation. We also talked about the staff for next school year. He indicated that he is hopeful that we will have 3 staff positions open next year so that we can qualify for teaching interns. Teaching interns? What are those you might ask. Basically, once a student who is studying to be a teacher is done with all of their classes, they are given a class of their own to run for the entire year on their own. They have not worked as a student teacher under the wisdom of a seasoned teacher for a few months. They are thrown in and expected to swim. Not only that, but they also pay this person 1/2 the salary. Cha-ching for the district and the legislators. Not so much for the students or the teachers. I of course told him how I felt about that plan too. Hated it! Picture the two gay guys that used to review movies on "In Living Color"

So you can see where things are going around the education world. Have a kid in the upper grades of any elementary school, junior high or high school? Does their room seem like it is busting at the gills with students already? Wishing your kid could have a little special attention? It ain't happening now and it surely won't happen in the near future.

Now, I know that Delaina is going to read this and think that I am being one sided on this matter. You would think that by reading my previous comments. I simply want my 2 readers to know what is going on around the education hood in Utah.

I reviewed the proposed budget today for the 2009 and 2010 FY. It does not look good. They took money away from silly things and I thank them for that. They also took money away from agencies that protect children. Their words. I finally got it Delaina. It is an impossible situation. I noticed that next year they want/need to cut 15% from all agencies. That is even more daunting. I don't know the perfect solution. I do want some of the rainy day money to be used to off-set the slashing of things that deal with people and their well-being; health care, children, public services. Not all, just some. If not this fiscal year then the next.

It may be that Utah will need to face the reality that we have too many children and not enough taxes coming in to pay for their education and other needs. I am not anti-big family at all. It is just simple economics. I don't know what a fair solution would be, but we have a unique lifestyle here in Utah that other states don't have and it may be time that we have to start paying a little extra for it. At least those that choose to have a big family. I just put it out there. Dare I ask what you all think about what is going on?