'Sign of Unity': 90 Staffers Gather Outside RBR Tuesday

Concerned March 12, 2013 at 02:49 pm

Nice John, way to buy into Christie' negative portrayal of teachers. RBR staffers do a great job.

MissesM March 12, 2013 at 03:12 pm

If they don't stand up for themselves, no one else will.

Dulce Feito-Daly, LLC March 12, 2013 at 03:33 pm

If John A. knew anything about the teachers of RBR, he would know that they put in far more then 7 hours a day. Many hours are spent before and after school including weekends helping their students not only academically but personally. They are truly committed individuals.

Mad RBR Fan March 12, 2013 at 07:08 pm

The teachers have absolutely nothing to complain about. In a perfect world everyone would be getting large raises and big benefits. However, in this economy the teachers are lucky to even have a job. There are no jobs. So be happy you are working.

Dentss Dunnagun March 12, 2013 at 07:18 pm

John ,you directing you anger at the wrong group ,It's the unions and the government that keep cost so high .it teaching jobs were put out for competitive bids every few years so our kids could be taught by the best teachers available not someone with tenure that's been teaching for 15 or 20 years .Unions have brainwashed teachers into believing that are worth every penny and deserve 2 months off every year .It's a tough job yes but thanks to the way the government has it set up it's overpaid . I know of quite a few teachers with degrees that work as in Starbucks that would teach for a lot less than most teachers are making .But that fact is lost on most because of tenure .

Fred RBPatch March 12, 2013 at 07:32 pm

Not that I can agree with John's statement. But the 3 posters immediately following his, all sound as if "teachers" are way superior than any other worker. For those of us who are lucky enough to have jobs, MOST of us "do a great job". MOST of us don't have someone else to stand up for us. And MOST of us put in a minimum of 8 hours a day/5 days a week/50 weeks a year. And MOST of us are committed. So please, you want sympathy? ...stop being so righteous.
Oh, and "Concerned", not ALL RBR staffers do a great job.

PatchReader March 12, 2013 at 07:32 pm

I commend the teachers for speaking out in a way that doesn't affect the students' education.

Fred RBPatch March 12, 2013 at 07:43 pm

I agree with PatchReader 100%! Kudos to the teachers.

Nicole Martin March 12, 2013 at 08:16 pm

No one is asking for a large raise, and they were not striking. They were out there before school began. No one has missed a second of their classroom duties. Most of you have no idea what you are talking about, and this "things are tough all over" apathy is what is wrong with the world. If you are suffering at your job, you have my sympathy, and I would help in any way I can. If a teacher can't feed his family after 13 years of teaching, a Master's degree, and numerous other part-time jobs, because his teaching take home pay is under $4200 a month for ten months ONLY out of the year, he can go to hell? How about a teacher who gets nominated year after year for teacher of the year and works in a school that was ranked 3rd highest in the county and among the best in the country? Is that enough evidence that he and his colleagues are doing their jobs and then some? The animosity teachers face today is disgraceful and some of the comments here are so misguided it's disgusting.

Judy March 12, 2013 at 09:17 pm

Fred, I don't know where you got the idea that teachers or their supporters are "way superior" to any other worker. My daughter has been teaching at RBR for a decade. She is there at 7am and doesn't leave until after 4pm every day. She brings work home with her almost every night and grades papers and plans lessons after her young children have gone to bed. She also writes between 15 and 20 letters of recommendation for her students each year - a very time consuming task that she completes on her own time. And each summer (while she is not being paid) she works on curriculum and takes professional development courses so she can bring her students the most up-to-date lessons. She works harder than I ever did at my old 9-5 job. She and her colleagues deserve better. She knew she would never get rich at this job but hoped she would make enough to support her family. She doesn't. If things don't change, she and some of her co-workers will have to leave education and go back to working corporate America. It will be a great loss for the young people of the RBR district. It's not about being righteous, Fred - it's about being fair.
Judy

MissesM March 12, 2013 at 09:28 pm

I think you should spend just one day in a classroom to experience the challenges teachers face today. You might rethink your position.

Dentss Dunnagun March 12, 2013 at 10:22 pm

Unfortunately teachers are paid by taxes ,and the three classes of people are woefully unprepared to keep paying salaries and benefits to people making more than they are .Seniors are being led to the slaughter with o.o1% interest rate One-third of retired households are entirely dependent on Social Security. On average, that's only $1,230 per month.In LS that would just about cover the avg property tax bill with enough left over for a can of cat food a day .So now we have the wage earner, today's worker is enjoying paying for substantially costlier goods with a materially devalued income – that is, if they are fortunate enough to have an income Millennials at Risk of Becoming a Lost Generation ,loans no jobs and perhaps living with their family .but yet we have one class of people demanding these taxpayers fork over more .

Fitz-er March 12, 2013 at 10:48 pm

I have worked as a substitute teacher in RBR in past years and know many of these teachers personally and how hard they work. The students and parents of these students are lucky to have such a professional and dedicated staff. Keep up the great teachers and staff!!!

Ali B March 12, 2013 at 11:59 pm

Very sad to see how some value educators. If you decide to comment on someone's job, you should REALLY know what you are talking about. I am proud to be a teacher and made my choice. It's ashame I have to beg and plead to be paid fairly. The fact I even respond to this is another smack in the face. Get your facts straight. By the way, I work ten months, I do not get two months off.

Bonnie Winters Akey March 13, 2013 at 01:13 am

It's apparent that the people who are making negative remaks about teachers don't know any teachers. They certainly don't know the remarkable staff at RBR who have prepared thousands for college, trades, employment, and life. I have known many staff members at RBR as a parent and grandparent of attending students. It's sad that so many individuals find it appropriate to comment on people and subjects about whom/which they know so little.

Nicole Martin March 13, 2013 at 02:38 am

Exactly Ali B. The summer is NOT two months paid vacation. It is two months of unemployment when most teachers work a second job. Some people are delusional about what actually happens in teaching. And for the record, teachers did not crash the economy. That was a private sector magic trick. And while yes things are tough all over now, back when they weren't for everyone else, teachers were still making nothing. If you are a teacher, it has always been a recession.

Nicole T March 13, 2013 at 12:40 pm

It's so nice to read all the support for educators, thank you all! I think John A must have spent a lot of time in detention to be so mad about teachers he knows nothing about. RBR teachers haven't had a raise in 2 years and are now paying health benefits. This has meant a significant decrease in paychecks, but no decrease in the bills that need to be paid at home. I'd like to see how you would feel if that was the case at your job. Dentss, you better believe that your teacher friends at Starbucks got THEIR annual raise. I actually worked at Starbucks while teaching to support my family and let me tell you, you can't compare making lattes to educating teenagers! Mad RBR Fan, teachers aren't lucky to have a job, parents and young people are lucky to have teachers. It's amazing how people can be so angry based on media propaganda against teachers. We are not to blame for the economy. Look at Trenton and their irresponsible spending before Christie took office. Look at Washington, our increasing debt and impending inflation crisis. Look at your neighbor or perhaps in the mirror for voting to continue the spending spree in Washington for another 4 years. Please people, get your head out of the clouds and direct blame where it is deserved. It's not just teachers that need to be united, we all need to be united and committed to being a better America. Lets not let the media, personal woes, or disdain for the NJEA pit us against each other.

John Anderson March 13, 2013 at 12:57 pm

I hate when I hear teachers complaining about having to grade exams! Here is a little hint to help you..... YOU HAVE THE ANSWERS!

John Anderson March 13, 2013 at 12:58 pm

Exactly! 10 months for $80k not a bad deal for them. Horrible deal for the taxpayers.

John Anderson March 13, 2013 at 01:00 pm

OMG you have to pay 1.5% of your health care cost now for your $5 copays. What in the world are you going to do.

RbMom March 13, 2013 at 01:43 pm

We're arguing over minutae, it's the entire socioeconomic system that should go, along with the fat cats that enslaved us with it. Check out the Venus Project for an option that's at least got a little thought put into a system that works for everyone everywhere.

Judy March 13, 2013 at 05:47 pm

John A, you obviously don't keep up with current events! At first the state required that BOEs took 1.5% of a teacher's SALARY to pay for their health care costs. Now each year they take a percentage of the health insurance premium. By year 4, it will be 30 percent of the premium. For example, if a teacher's premium with Horizon is $23,000 annually, that teacher would be responsible for $6,900 of it. So while you are under the delusion that teachers are looking for "big raises," you might look a little closer and see that each year a teacher is making less than the year before. Do a little research before you judge others!

Nicole Martin March 13, 2013 at 09:50 pm

John Anderson, you misinformed man, try $61k (after 13 years in and a Master's degree) and I have the pay stubs to prove it. Get your facts straight before you sound off. God I hope you are not someone I know in this town. And what would you suggest we do for the children and education, without our excellent teachers? Although based on your ignorant comments I'm guessing you were never a very big fan of school.

Fred M March 14, 2013 at 11:08 am

I am amazed how teachers are always picked on..Do you people realize that Teachers are needed to educate our kids? Don't pick on the teachers.We need them..Who do you suggest teach our kids ? Nobody? How many times do people give teachers any credit for doing what they do? Last I looked RBR is top rated school. The Teachers made this possible...

Dede March 14, 2013 at 05:10 pm

I am so fortunate to live in a town with excellent schools. My oldest child is heading to RBR in the Fall and is blessed, yes, I said blessed, to have been accepted into the Studio Art program in the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at RBR. I have two more children who will likely head to RBR as well. I am also fortunate to know Scott Martin and his family and I cannot say how grateful I am to them for their sacrifices in furtherance of the education of our children. I do not yet know any other teachers at RBR but I have heard plenty enough about them to know that I am going to be as thrilled there as I have been at both Point Road School and Markham Place School. Thank you to Scott and all the other teachers and staffers at RBR for all they are going to do for my children.

Jamie Walsack March 14, 2013 at 11:59 pm

John A, name a job more important?

Carol March 15, 2013 at 03:38 pm

Great assesment John A. What do you do for a living besides being ignorant?

Cindy Burnham March 15, 2013 at 06:27 pm

John Anderson, Isn't your wife a teacher? The answer don't help when grading an english paper. You have to read each one.

Fred M March 31, 2013 at 09:45 pm

When I was on airplane last week, the only important persons to me was those Pilots landing that plane..Nobody else was that important at those Two hours in the air..

j r March 31, 2013 at 09:59 pm

I Haz gude teecherz ,
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