Hey Mom and Dad, What Worries You Most About Your Children's Future?

Bob February 26, 2013 at 12:40 pm

Our worthless president spending all their money before they are born.

Logansdad February 26, 2013 at 12:51 pm

Don't worry Bob, Dubya is out of office and has been for over 5 years now.

anonymous February 26, 2013 at 01:38 pm

Logansdad-after 5 years still blaming W-Prez BrO is nothing more than a much more extreme version of W.

anonymous February 26, 2013 at 02:09 pm

Patty H comment from above-from a tenured union teacher that works about half the year and is part of an educational system that always ranks low compared to most of the developed world you probably shouldn't be complaining-you should be more concerned about never getting that nice pension the broke state of IL promised you.

Logan February 26, 2013 at 02:50 pm

My Dad and people who think like him.

Jimmy February 26, 2013 at 03:40 pm

While the state pension system is a broken one, I hate to see the teachers that dedicate their lives to help raise and teach everyone else's family take the blame. The job of a teacher isn't typically one that is lucrative, of course there are exceptions and there are ones that take advantage of the system, but good teachers need to be rewarded and not be the punching bags they have been.
No intention on attacking anyone's views or opinions, but the benefit that a teacher earns is widely misunderstood. A teacher contributes their share, by law around 10%, into their pension fund. They are then required to work until the age of 55,which may not allow them to receive their full benefit depending on years of service. However they are now required to work until 67, who wants a 67 year old watching a room full of their kindergarten kids, or believes that a 67 year old is able to control a room full of teenagers? In addition to a pension they may not be able to maximize, teachers are not eligible to receive social security benefits that all other tax payers receive. As far as a teachers schedule and salary, having teachers as friends and family, I can tell you they are certainly busier than the 8-3, Monday thru Friday, for 9 months everyone gives them a lack of credit for. What isn't seen by most of us is the teacher going in early to prepare, staying late to help a struggling child or working with a parent, working on their class and curriculum before school is in session.

Kbell February 26, 2013 at 03:40 pm

Finding a job without at least a 4 year college education...moving out of the house before they are 30...ever being able to retire. I think as an adult we run into the same issues our kids are going to.

Jimmy February 26, 2013 at 03:46 pm

I'll also add that teachers that decided long ago that this was going to be their career path realized that they weren't going to get rich, that as hard as they worked there would be little room for advancement or raises. Those who don't work in the public sector have different opportunity, for better or worse. The measure of a teachers hard work is in the kids, not by the car they drive or the neighborhood they live in.

Kellita Jones February 26, 2013 at 06:42 pm

That one day my beautifully, brilliant kids will not be judged by the color of their skin first!

Melissa February 26, 2013 at 08:18 pm

A VVSD education.