Thompson: Why Teachers Should Support School Staff

When a teacher's job is saved, her paycheck is brought home to whatever neighborhood hor she lives in and his or her children who probably attend a higher-performing school.  When an inner-city security guard or cafeteria lady's job is saved, his or her income (and children) probably remain in the neighborhood. That's part of why classroom teachers should remember Dafney Tales' post in the Philadelphia Inquirer and protest when our co-workers in schools do not get equal respect as classroom teachers.  Supporting non-classroom staff is an indirect but important way of helping students. In fact, rather than proposing $30 billion to avert teacher layoffs, President Obama should promise the money to save school jobs.  Teachers should remind taxpayers of a key reason why all school workers should be valued equally. - JT (@drjohnthompson)Image via. 

Comments

[Jennifer]

Well put. All aspects of edudcation are under attack these days, and [at least] in Ohio it often feels like teachers are the ones who are constantly being examined under a microscope. Your post was an important reminder to myself and my colleagues that the future often seems glum to us when we know that we will definitely go at least 1 more year without a raise if not taking a pay cut next year. We have to remember those who are helping to keep our school running efficiently behind the scenes - the cafeteria staff, bus drivers, custodians, etc... They do this work with a smile each day and take home they're mediocre salaries usually without a complaint. They definitely could be role models to myself and those in education.