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BY JEN CALANTONE
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Some New Jerseyans are up in arms after Gov. Chris Christie called for a pay freeze for the state's public workers – namely teachers – and they've taken their battle to a new medium: Facebook.
The group, "New Jersey teachers united against Governor Chris Christie's pay freeze" – written in all capital letters – has rallied about 51,000 fans on its Facebook page since it was created in mid February. The site calls for educators and non-educators to join and endorse its cause.
"Teachers do not think that they are or should be immune to the forces around us. But we should take the last hit, not the first. Find the money somewhere else – like the millionaires tax, tax breaks for massive corporations, the governor's own salary, and maybe his $62k/yr social networking guy. Who isn't even from New Jersey," the page says.
While the page is not operated by the NJEA, it has links to Web sites and information about rallies against the governor's proposed pay freeze. This method of protest and discussion is relatively new, and according to one NJEA spokeswoman, a good way to begin a conversation about the topic of education funding."It's an opportunity to talk about issues near and dear to our hearts in a different way," NJEA spokeswoman Kathyrn Coulibaly said.
The Facebook page links to NJ Kids and Families, which denounces Christie's plans to push for merit pay or a pay freeze for educators. The site provides a place to sign a petition against his plans as well as a form to contact elected officials.
I do not want to go on and on, but my point is if this continues dedicated individuals will no longer be able to afford to teach in NJ. Furthermore, the lack of funding to schools only hurts our kids and it means property taxes will most likely go up anyway. It's just ridiculous the way teachers are being treated like they are living the high life and have ruined NJ's economy.
You also chose your career in Adult Education. You made that decision knowing what the benefits of that job were at the time you chose it. Every teacher I know is thankful they have a job. Fact is that when the private sector was prospering and the rich were getting richer and the middle-class was "status quo" no one had a gripe. When all the CEO's and sales people in this nation of ours were "raking it in" no one cared what teachers were doing or making, or the fact that they didn't pay for their healthcare, or $5 for rx's, which is different district to district. Now that there is a downturn, and the sales aren't good and the CEO's are getting canned and companies are going under are teachers and all public workers and their "perks" as some call it, being scrutinized. Teachers sacrifice plenty. It's pretty much a safe bet to say that there aren't many people getting rich being teachers, especially when all the teachers I know reach into their own pockets to purchase supplies for their classrooms and for students whose families cannot provide them with essentials such as pens and notebooks...you get the drift. If these cuts and freezes become a reality, I am afraid that the impact will be on my children and the children of all other parents who are counting on our "teachers" to show them the way to become the future leaders of the country. No CEO or politician is going to teach our children how to do that.
That being said, why do teachers think they're exempt from helping in this crisis. I've spent almost 25 years training adults for new careers and don't get any of the benefits our teachers get, but I'm thankful I have a job. Why do they feel entitled and unwilling be just be thankful that they have jobs. It makes me and many others sick. I have a solution. If they don't like the way they're being treated, then they can quit and look elsewhere, just like the rest of us. Stop whining and start becoming a responsible citizen instead of a burden.