Addressing the Corporate Structure of Education in Florida [View All]

[John N Morgan]

It's about the kids.

In the truest sense of the phrase, their actions betray their words, I think the districts have lost touch with their mission. The most tragic affect of anti-labor, anti-government mentality, amplified in the last eight years by an order of magnitude is now focused on the teaching profession; there is no value in labor (the classroom teacher) and management is more valuable than any other part of the system: our school systems are failing.

I think the children in the schools and the parents of those children would certainly transpose that sentence. Teachers are not pluggable widgets; good teachers are a blessing to the community. In a perfect world, the school houses would be castles; and, classroom teaching positions would be the highest paid and most competitive. Now, from that ideal situation to the present, what is the compromise we are willing to accept?

Consider this article:
School districts opt not to cut superintendents' pay that reports about the Orlando area, but I would guess it's applicable locally as well. Are school superintendents really worth 5 to 7 times a classroom teacher. While I'm asking questions, what is the superintendent's secretary's salary compared to a classroom teacher?

Is it possible that the school districts are now operating like management heavy non-profit organizations where there is adequate money, but it is all soaked up at the top? Are school superintendents acting like CEOs and cutting teaching slots and programs in order to create room for administration pay raises?

In a fixed funding model outlays can only be reduced in two ways: labor and/or costs. Since the administrations claim the costs are fixed the only way to keep the salaries at the top is to deny kids and teachers the single activity the school system exists to provide.

Is there a morale problem in the teaching ranks? First, yes. Second I know they do not let it reduce the quality of their effort. I know classroom teachers are more likely to quit the profession than quit the effort while in the classroom. The old philosophy in attracting school teachers on low salaries to Florida was to "pay them in sunshine." But long gone are the days when they could pitch a grass hut on the beach and call it a lifestyle.

The administrations balance the cost for their overhead versus the cash flow to the classrooms and the teachers have lost. The latest insult to the teaching profession is the claim of an inadequate number of qualified teachers to fill the open slots; in short we are now too ignorant to teach our own children. The result is the practice of importing foreign teachers using H1 and other visa mechanisms at an even more reduced salary than they would offer an American. If you do not know about the H1-B guest worker program be aware it is the modern form of indentured servitude.

My first wife was a school teacher and we spent quite a bit of time and our own money making decorations and learning aids for her kids. I don't know of any other profession where giving up part of your salary is so expected. Yet teachers know you cannot deny a youngster in need. They are just too close to say no.
The advantage of the administration is that they are distant enough not to have to look into a child's eye's and say no.

Schools districts exist for the education of the kids. When the management of the buildings become more of an issue than seeing their graduates excel in life and perhaps accepted into prestigious universities and colleges, then we need a new administration guidelines.

Indeed these would be more county level issues that should be reported by the local media outlets. But of late the media tends to value access over real journalism. As a Representative I cannot force change, but I can shine the light. As a state Representative I get access, so there is no value in that commodity for me, so I can report without fear. Being accountable and responsive to the voters (without the $250/plate access fee) is my job.

Well these are my views that I speak in private and now in public. What say you District 82?
John Morgan Democratic Candidate For Florida House of Representatives, District 82