I'm gonna play devil's advocate on this one: Who says that your proposed curriculum is better? And even IF it is better, how does breaking the law justify your beliefs?

I remember that most of what we learned in college was just textbook knowledge with some smidgens of real world experiences tossed in by our professors. How are the freshly minted teachers going to be any different?

You know what would be funny? If your students got together once school started and decided to "strike" because they didn't like the curriculum...you would be a hypocrite to punish them.

"It's because we don't want to live like poor college students forever--how is that so wrong?"

How is $80k considered poor? Yes, I know it takes a few years to earn that, however, EVERY college grad pretty much starts with a crap pay scale. It took me quite a few years to make a decent income and I sure didn't start at the $39k like the teachers in Bellevue (caveat: This was what I heard on one of your sound bites, so that person could be mistaken) You guys are no different, you just have the union to protect the weak and lazy of the herd.

In the real world, you go tell your boss you expect a COLA + 11% over 3 years and watch him/her toss you so fast you bounce across the parking lot to your car.

You can tell me that it’s not "about the money" ad nauseam, but we both know it is.

Well, if the only remaining issue is the "curriculum", how about we at least get off the picket lines and teach our children while working thru the courts to change the curriculum because I sure don't see how penalizing a child is teaching. What curriculum are you teaching the children right now?

Are you planning on paying everyone's? I'm so happy for you that you can afford the extra cost.

Besides, there's nothing like telling people its OK to break the law as long as the ends justify the means, right?

... (had to split my post)

And please don't preach about your "long hours", I would hazard a guess that a far cry more of the parents of these children work significant hours as well. I leave for work when it's dark and I usually arrive home near dark...and I know I am not alone with this work structure because I see others on the road with me.

Wake up and smell the lattes...you are far from the only ones suffering in this economy. Let's just drop the pretense of it being for the children's sake and call a spade, a spade...you want a guaranteed COLA + 11% (over the next few years).

As a final salute, here is the link to the Governor's site where you can submit some comments to help stop this illegal strike. I already submitted mine.

http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/default.asp

I'm pretty sick of this drivel being flung upon us by the teachers.

If it's not about the "money", perhaps the teachers can forego a paycheck for each day they are striking and/or donate to a textbook/supply fund for less fortunate children?

If it's not about the "money", perhaps they can stop crying about not being able to live within the Bellevue school district. I work in the Redmond area, but I live an hour's commute (each way) away from work. I would love to live closer to work, but the rest of us live in this world called reality.

If it's not about the "money", perhaps we can stop about the "$500" training that they must endure. Quite a few professions require continual training/certifications to advance or even tread water on the corporate ladder.

If it's not about the "money", perhaps they can stop pointing out that the new teachers only make $39k (I believe that was the quote I heard on their propaganda sound bites). I know when I left college, $24k was a god-send for a starting salary.

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