Cheering picketers welcome borough teachers back to school
Published Friday, August 15, 2008
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FAIRBANKS — People holding large signs and yelling things at the entrance of a school rarely means something good, but Fairbanks North Star Borough School District teachers were greeted with that sight.
But these demonstrators were yelling “Welcome back!” and held signs with encouraging messages such as “You Are the Greatest.”
The Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce held its annual positive picket for teachers as they entered their first day of in-service of the school year.
“We wanted to make the teachers (feel) welcomed and thank them for their contribution,” said Jack Wilbur, chairman of the chamber’s education committee.
More than 10 people started welcoming teachers back Thursday at 7:30 a.m. in front of Hering Auditorium as a steady stream of teachers showed their appreciation by waving and thanking the demonstrators.
Cynthia Henry, one of the picketers and a University of Alaska regent, said the turnout was stronger in years past. Henry has participated in the positive picketing before and said she stays involved because of her history with the school board and support of the school district and its teachers.
Craig Nicholia, a teacher at West Valley High School, said the demonstration showed the community values its teachers, the people who are entrusted with the future of Alaska.
“I see some kids who are going to be future governors,” Nicholia said. “They’re going to have an impact on society.”
The teachers will start the school year with encouragement, but they don’t have a contract yet.
Leslie Hajdukovich, school board president, was among the picketers showing their support for the teachers.
She said the contract situation is unfortunate, but she was optimistic a contract would be decided soon. The school district and the Fairbanks Educators Association will meet with a mediator Sept. 15 and 16.
“The situation isn’t optimal, but the process has to work,” she said.
Hajdukovich has participated in the positive pickets for the past three years and said it is a good way to show teachers that their hard work is appreciated. She was joined by fellow school board member Sue Hull.
Wilbur said the chamber’s education committee keeps up with educational news and issues in the city. The committee also reminds businesses how important education is for future generations.
“We want to make sure they know the community appreciates them,” Wilbur said.
Community Discussion
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Gee Mike, how about parents actually make their children study, do their homework, and not sign themselves out of school/class whenever they want just because they are 18. There is no mentoring outside of school.
Justme...think you could possibly quit spamming every comment section? It would be nice.
Mrs. Hajdukovich, standing outside holding a sign to "show your appreciation for the teachers" is fine. What we really need is for you folks to give our wonderful teachers a decent raise! Put your sign in the garage and do what is needed. The contract offered by the school district to the teachers is an insult!
It's wonderful to see the parents appreciating the people who teach their children!! Kudos to you all!
Teachers are under-valued, underpaid, overworked and the list goes on. They must meet state and Federal guidelines in their teaching. What is taught is directed by the ever dreaded 'TESTING' to ensure the kids are learning and the teachers are teaching. Teaching for the test is what I call it. I firmly believe if teachers were permitted to teach what is NECESSARY to function in society, the drop-out rate could be lower and grades higher.
Parents need to step up to the plate and be parents. Stop being their friend first! What good will beating a video game do for their future? Notice how grammar and spelling have declined? Maybe that is because of texting, IMing and email? Take the games/controllers, disconnect the internet for a while, de-activate the cable...give them a chance to learn, maybe even read a book??
Sadly teachers are made out to be the bad ones in all of this. What ever happened to having expectations of students? Seems logical that a student should EARN a grade, not be handed one because a parent raises a fuss. Students need to learn the grade you are given is what you get, instead of trying to get the teacher to 'change my grade'.
Regulations/standards need to be raised! Lowering them to make sure 'everyone is a winner!' only hurts the student. I feel,that sort of mentality is why teens have the 'poor me' syndrome so often. Can't have little Johnny or Suzy feeling bad about themselves. Stop holding their hands, giving them crutches and fighting their battles!
Used to be a high school diploma was worth something..but seems anymore, it's just a piece of paper! I am a parent and former school employee, however I choose not teach because:
a)I don't believe in 'teaching for tests',
b)dealing with Gen-X parents (give my prince/princess an A you mean teacher or you'll tarnish their self-worth),
c)the decline in expectations of our future! (woo hoo, you beat the game and failed English, but that's ok, you feel good about yourself!)
d)teaching requires too much paperwork...'No Child Left Behind' has left too many behind!
Mrs. Ward :-)
Call it 'rationalization' if you want BigMike. I encourage you to be a fly on a wall any given day in schools and see what educators deal with. think you might be surprised. school isn't the way it used to be. too much federal manipulation of our schools and 'feel good' experts.
BigMike, the rationalization is being done on an administrative level. Teaching is done in the classroom, by the teachers. The teachers I know, and they are many, pay very little attention to the rationalization and LOTS of attention to their students and what is going on in the classroom.
Seems like it was people running for office doing the cheering. What the picture showed was a handful of politicians probably out for the teacher's union support.
We all know teachers are nice people, this is not the issue. The issue needs to focus on the fact that the North Star Borough is entering an economic down turn. People are leaving, homes are not selling, prices are rising, foreclosures are happening,price of fuel is breaking people's backs and when government dollars dry up who will be left to pay for government funded school programs and salaries. With a mayor who has turned on his party I would expect that the school district will receive only what the state law allows.
Time has come to be realistic about this community and figure out some solutions. This is not teacher bashing. What good will a pay increase be for them if it goes towards their property tax bill.
Actually, BigMike, my children are receiving a wonderful education in the FNSB. We have a 55% dropout rate because there are a lot of people who choose not to parent their children, plain and simple. Those of us who are active, responsible parents know that our kids are surrounded by caring, wonderful teachers and support staff.
On the other hand there seems to be a large population of adults who view school as a daycare center rather than a place of learning. What exactly do you expect a teacher to do with a child who comes to school with no breakfast, no sleep, and no emotional stability? The odds are good that eventually that child is going to drop out, but let's place the blame where it belongs, on the parents. Our school system is doing a fine job educating our children, the rest is up to us.
Icyfeet is right. The teachers are not the problem, it is the drunk, addicted ignorant parents.
A perfect world for me would be: the kids who are not ready for the next grade would be held back, the emotionally unbalanced kids would be dealt with in a separate class, not mixed with the good kids to cause distractions, the parents who are too lazy to get their butts out of bed to prepare there child for school should have social services on their case, FNSBSD should cut frivolous spending... I could go on and on.
No Child Left Behind, is not letting my children get ahead.
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