Dabo Sweeny inked a 93 million dollar contract with Clemson University. Good for him.
He’s a great coach that produces outstanding results.
As for the university – WTF were you
thinking? You wasn’t! $93,000,000 is an obscene power ball
lotto-like amount of money to pay someone to coach, not discover the cure
for cancer, not develop a clean reliable and renewable power source, not
for negotiate world peace – he gets $93,000,000 for coaching F-ing football, and
it’s not even pro ball – it’s F-ing college football.
Of course the
university swells will justify the expenditure saying that the lion’s share of
the money will come from non-university non-tuition sources, the expenditure
will ensure the continued success that will keep Clemson front and center in the
public’s mind and producing many times the cost of the contract in “free” or in
kind advertising and recruiting benefits for the university.
Well if
outside sources are providing the funds, who the hell is the coach responsible
to and if you’re shelling out 93 mill is the advertising really “free”?
So now the
race is on. Every college coach in the top-tier
will have Sweeny’s contract to point to in future negotiations. That kind of money is also going to put
pressure on the elite programs to "just win baby." If a national championship or two gets you 93
mill, what are you going to be willing to do to make a run at that payday?
Today’s JG rant the joy
of teaching
Playing the victim card is never a good look for highly motivated successful people. That card of desperation is usually reserved for underachieving, woe-is-me, Eeyore, sad sack types trying to explain away failures. I don’t think highly motivated and successful teachers who love their job walk around complaining about being “targeted” (by whom?), feeling “depleted” and “insulted.” I would worry if my child was expected to spend the day being taught by such a person.
Playing the victim card is never a good look for highly motivated successful people. That card of desperation is usually reserved for underachieving, woe-is-me, Eeyore, sad sack types trying to explain away failures. I don’t think highly motivated and successful teachers who love their job walk around complaining about being “targeted” (by whom?), feeling “depleted” and “insulted.” I would worry if my child was expected to spend the day being taught by such a person.
Teaching is a calling.
I know. I tried it for a
time. I could not do it. I saw teachers of all types. I saw teachers show up early with an arm load
of props for the day’s classes. I
watched others enter the classroom at the last possible minute and look forward
to nothing other than their free period, lunch and the end of the day. What I cannot say is how successful either of
these two models were at imparting the knowledge they were expected to relay to
their classes.
While my temperament was not well-suited for the classroom, I
never once had to fake my enthusiasm for being there. I never once made a half-hearted effort. I never once blamed my circumstance, which I
entered into voluntarily, on anyone but myself.
I chose to leave the profession before I ever did.
I love good teachers and even average teachers who are like
happy warriors. They look forward to
every day as a day to make a positive difference. They assess their own performance and make
changes where needed. They learn from
others. They adapt and overcome for the
good of their classroom.
As far as compensation goes consider the following. The average pay for a teacher in Indian in
2017 was $50,714 a year. For that the
taxpayer gets a college educated teacher expected to be in the classroom for 9 months
of the year (which includes a pretty generous holiday package) for on average 8
hours 5 days a week teaching a class of between 17 – 30 students.
By comparison, the basic pay for a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine
Corps is $38,369 a year. For that the
taxpayer gets a college educated death defyier on duty 24-7-365 ready and willing
to leave everything he loves for worldwide deployment including combat zones to
lead his platoon of about 40 Marines.
Who’s getting screwed?
Public's help is vital
in ending teachers' plight
In 1996, I became a
part of a profession that I felt was admirable and respected, but lately, that
feeling has rapidly deteriorated. I am a teacher.
I love what I do. I
have had kids leave my class and become upstanding community members. I have
taught children who are in every profession out there. I am a teacher and,
lately, I am depleted.
Indiana legislators
are working hard to dismantle public education. We have had evaluations thrust
upon us that judge standardized test results. Our contract negotiations are so
strict that our rights are virtually gone. We have seen a 16% decrease in
salary due to inflation increase, making Indiana last in
salary to inflation increase in the nation. Many teachers are working two
jobs to make ends meet.
Most legislators in my
area have voted against public education by restricting our funding, limiting
our ability to protect classroom conditions and funding private schools through
vouchers. They aren't listening to teachers, administrators and superintendents
anymore.
We need you to
help support teachers. If you believe we are doing what we need to do to
get your child ready for life after graduation, help us.
Vote for legislators
who defend public education. Contact your legislators and ask them to support
public education. Wear red on Wednesdays and announce on social media why.
Encourage people to get involved. That is all we ask for.
Like many of my
friends, I am a teacher. I love my job. I am good at it. I am tired of being
targeted. I am tired of being depleted and insulted because I am a public
education teacher. Something needs done to make a change. Please, help us.
Jennifer Wells
Kendallville
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