How else to keep valuable teachers?
To the editor: After reading the venomous attacks on teachers in the Daily Herald, it's no wonder that more and more aspiring educators seek districts other than 211 at yearly job placement fairs.
As an English teacher at SHS for 27 years, I am stunned by the lack of understanding about my profession. Four members of my department are taking graduate classes at UIC after school; over 35 years, I have also taken courses there.
The community seems outraged by experienced teachers' salaries, yet what is the quantifiable remuneration for three decades of teaching and multiple college degrees?
Others in my department are studying at neighboring universities. My peers immerse themselves in extracurricular clubs and sports. I hear them talk about leaving practices or coming back from meets at 10 p.m. during the school week; this does not include the countless activities and games transpiring over the weekend.
When is there time to grade the 50-60 papers coming in from some classes, while juggling homework assignments and class preparation for the other ones? What about the many letters of recommendation that teachers write or the college essays that need to be proofread?
Do you think that these are done during our "free" periods? What free periods?
As for those of you vowing to never vote "yes" for school referenda in the future, you might as well kiss the worth of your homes goodbye. I live in a community that routinely supports school referenda -- in stark contrast to the myopic concern some of you have about a nominal property tax increase for your schools, for your children.
The respect given to other professions, such as doctors and lawyers, will never be given to teachers in a society that devalues education.
Instead of deference, the Daily Herald just prints derision. I have worked numerous jobs in the "real world"; none are as taxing or as rewarding as my current profession.
The wealth of a community is judged by many criteria, not the least of which is its school system; continue to harp on deserved salary increases and ultimately be ready to accept how pedestrian District 211 will become.
Dennis Murawski
Oak Park