MJ wrote on Mar 4, 2008 11:46 PM:Long ago and not so far away (in San Jose) when I was in high school, we had one principle, one vice principle, a dean of boys and girls and the rest were full time teachers; some doubled as guidance counselors and coaches ... one teacher for each science .. freshman, physics, chemistry and biology, and one for each language (two for Spanish) .... all classes were 30-35 students .... no "AP", and honors only for math and english .... if you wanted, you could attend a class at the local JC if you were really smart .... there were lots of latinos but no bilingual education ... yup they all spoke english at school (amazing ...and many had Spanish (or Japanese, or Chinese) speaking parents at home .... you know, somehow we turned out several Ph.D's, doctors, lawyers, scientists, military officers, hollywood and broadway stars, and given it was the early 70's, more than a few silicon valley billionaires ..... how could that possibly be!-

Ever notice wrote on Mar 5, 2008 6:10 AM:how the adminstrators won't take a pay cut in order to keep some of the teachers to teach the tax paying students? Are admistrators really needed or is this something we the tax payers can out source? -

snuff wrote on Mar 5, 2008 6:54 AM:yeah i agree with mj-

Me Too! wrote on Mar 5, 2008 7:21 AM:Hey, MJ! Sounds just like my high school experience. I think you peeked at my high school biography. The difference between then and now is, back then our education system was focused on education, not on providing jobs for unionized teachers.

Fewer wrote on Mar 5, 2008 9:49 AM:teachers should equate to fewer admin! Think that will happen....NOT! Also I agree with Ever Notice but not to keep teachers. Take a pay cut in these hard times to help the tax payers.

teacher aid wrote on Mar 5, 2008 9:55 AM:All teachers should be tested every couple of years to assure tax payers
their money is not being spent on complacent teachers who don't continue to aquire new skills, adapt new concepts and stay up on new eductaion technologys just as medical professonals do.

Ray wrote on Mar 5, 2008 1:19 PM:Ever notice, try doing the admin job.....Administrators won't take a pay cut because they do not make as muchj as you think.

And you think you wrote on Mar 5, 2008 1:39 PM:have it rough! Members of the Popular Assembly of Oaxaca, APPO, clash with police during a protest in Mexico City, Monday. Thousands of teachers from Oaxaca state took to the streets of Mexico's capital to demand the release of some of their members by police in 2007.

If the district was wrote on Mar 5, 2008 1:52 PM:a company operating in the real world (not a union hack job racket), the list of teachers to be let go would start with the underperforming ones, not the ones with least tenure. Maybe our education problems could begin to be fixed if we keep the good teachers, regardless of tenure, and let the bad ones go. But I guess that just makes too much sense

Bobby wrote on Mar 5, 2008 3:16 PM:Figures they cut the English teachers, It's a dying language here in California anyways.

FRED wrote on Mar 5, 2008 3:37 PM:Just glad I went to school inCanada. Never heard of a teacher being laid off. Its time we in this country made teaching a priority. Lets lay off soldiers first

Rocco wrote on Mar 5, 2008 3:43 PM:Why is it that people want first-class education, but are NOT willing to pay for it? The reason why good teachers leave the profession is because they get frustrated with non-sense policies and mandates from Sacramento. In order to run for public office it should be required to have worked in a public school for at least a year, so they can truly understand how public education works. By the way a new teacher out of college makes about $34,000 a year, try to live on that salary in San Diego.

Rocco wrote on Mar 5, 2008 3:45 PM:Oh Canada! You are a funny dude Fred.

to mee too wrote on Mar 5, 2008 5:13 PM:There were teacher unions back in the 70's too. Teachers were able to focus on education and developing critical thinking skills because, politicans and parents stayed out of educational policy. Now politicans decide what teachers should teach and decide what will be tested and when it will be tested.

Stephen wrote on Mar 5, 2008 5:49 PM:This is what it is going to take to solve the overspending problem that has been going on in SAC. Higher taxes would only make the situation worse!!!

Sickofit wrote on Mar 5, 2008 6:24 PM:This will lead to more classroom overcrowding, which is a shame. If teachers were not so over-compensated with salaries and benefits, then there would be plenty of money to keep these teachers and the classroom sizes small.

Karl wrote on Mar 5, 2008 6:39 PM:Maybe the Superintendent ought to give back the $5,000 raise he was just awarded - a real leader would take the lead in sharing the pain of tough times! At three TIMES the average teacher salary, he and the District administrators can afford to help fund the teaching staff.

Coastal Eddy wrote on Mar 5, 2008 7:38 PM:Yesterday, Senate leader Don Perata promised that Democrats will reject any budget that includes less for education next year than this year. Put that in the bank and do not issue the layoff notices.

Bill in Escondido wrote on Mar 5, 2008 8:05 PM:And yet, they want to build a new school? C'mon guys, get with reality!

Dane wrote on Mar 5, 2008 8:09 PM:Why layoff the new teachers? This is a prime opportunity to get rid of some of the poorest performing teachers and there certainly are some in the Escondido district. Actual companies that are required to be efficient and turn a profit use layoffs as an opportunity to get rid of some of the deadwood - not fresh talent just because they happen to be 'new'. In addition, the new teachers don't cost as much as the more experienced teachers so the cost savings is less. Keep the good ones and get rid of the bad ones - regardless of how long they've been teachers.

Ashley wrote on Mar 5, 2008 8:59 PM:I am one of the teachers who will receive a pink slip. I'm not able to look for employment because most districts are laying off teachers. It is very frightening. I have a home mortgage and a son and all the normal expenses of life. I am not sure how the schools will manage students and their education. Right now there aren't enough educators to properly teach the students. I think the budget cuts will create a major change in the system (not for the better). How it will play out is dismal. I'll be working at McDonalds, so no worries for me!!!

Sell Some Assets! wrote on Mar 6, 2008 6:59 AM:Our school district owns many parcels of land in town that are not suitable for school sites. They should sell one to pay for the teachers.

Juniormom wrote on Mar 6, 2008 8:03 AM:All of you who are complaining about how much teachers make and their benefits must not have any school age kids. The impact of teachers on our children's lives is huge and lasts a lifetime. My children have been so inspired by the many excellent teachers they have had. Unfortunately some of the most inspiring teachers they have had are among those who are receiving pink slips. Retain teachers based on excellence and merit rather than tenure.

What? wrote on Mar 6, 2008 8:10 AM:"Sickofit" wrote that teachers are overpaid. Please explain that one to me. It just shows the ignorance with which many people operate. Think about what you pay your babysitter for one kid. At minimum, and it's a low estimate, it's $5 an hour. Now teachers are educated and do much more than babysit. But, let's work from that low, babysitter number. 35 kids in an hour long class. $5 a kid. 5 classes a day. If a teacher were just a babysitter they'd be getting $1,875 a day. Our kids are in school for, on average, 22 days a month for 10 months, about 220 days a year. Multiply that by your babysitter salary and you get $412,500 annually. Which is more than ten times the average starting salary for a teacher in California. Tell me again teachers are overpaid.

Richard wrote on Mar 6, 2008 9:07 AM:California teachers are the highest paid in the nation, averaging over $63,000 a year. This according to the NEA's recent (12/07) report, available on their website. Our teachers make over 4% more than the second highest state, Connecticut.

And after avoiding the sack for 2 years, CA teachers get DE FACTO tenure, which in essence prevents them frombeing fired for substandard performance.

Either pay 'em less, or end the anti-education tenure program.

Or both.

Make them pay wrote on Mar 6, 2008 9:34 AM:How about charging all the illegals for educating their kids?That would pay for the teachers.The education system is so messed up.Look out for the 96 million bond coming up next.The money is not free we all pay.Enough already with the over population of illegal immigrates.Make are teachers jobs easier send them back.

Concerned parent wrote on Mar 7, 2008 5:27 PM:With all the belt tightening and no one from the top taking a hit in their pay or a reduction in benefits...Pray tell then why do we here in Escondido support TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS?? We should at this time COMBINE the EUSD K-8 and the EUHS 9-12 into one district. Why pay for two superintentdents and two of everything else from HR to secretaries and repair departments? The last place cuts should be made is the classroom and it's students who incidently never contributed to this mess any way!!

Rachel S wrote on Mar 12, 2008 11:30 AM:Another reason I homeschool my kids.
What a mess this is!