I've been pretty shocked and disgusted by the news of AIG doling out retention bonuses to its workers. The laissez-faire management of the financial industry from the Regan 1980's through the roaring 1990's until this lastest most devastating crash holds a large measure of the blame for the current economic state of our country.
Average Americans (and not so average following the Bernard Madoff Ponzi Scheme scandal) are struggling to secure their financial futures and meet ends meet. A Philadelphia resident described it best when she said to a local news reporter, "Its hard out here for everyone right now." Job loses, foreclosures, retirement deferrals, medical insurance claim denial are killing the uniquely American dream that motivated immigrants like my parents to migrate here:
So, why in the world do the business tycoons and financial industry workers that created the United States' worst economic recession since the Great Depression deserve saving and bailing out? Well, I think I buy the Obama administration's argument that the financial industry must be salvaged with government support. Over the past few decades, the backbone of our economy has become closely linked to market security and technological innovation. With that said, I, like many Americans, am frustrated by the kind of reverence and luxury that society allows financial industry workers to indulge in despite failure to perform. In this context, I measure societal reverence in terms of salary and benefits.
As a teacher, with the low level of reverence that society places upon the education industry it disgusts and hurts me personally that we as professionals are castigated, measured, censured, and penalized despite our efforts to work towards the future of our nation. I hope that Arne Duncan (the new education secretary), Barack Obama, and the School District of Philadelphia have a real plan and the gumption needed to right this serious error in prioritization.
Teachers matter!
Teaching Matters!
So I ask, where is my retention bonus?
1 comment:
I agree! I have been a teacher for almost 20 years (after abandoning the law school path) and am consistently amazed at how, in poll upon poll, teachers are lauded as one of the most trusted professions (well above lawyers, for example) and yet are the first to be attacked, sacrificed, and abandoned by administrators, parents, and government. Recently, 24 teachers in my son's district were let go (fired) to close a $2 million budget gap: not one administration post was similarly cut: I ask, who would close the gap better, faster? A teacher making 30,000 a year or an ass. principal making 95,000?
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