Teachers: To Furlough or Not To Furlough

Earlier this week, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue voted for teachers and other state employees to take 3 unpaid furlough days before the end of the year in an attempt to cope with the state’s growing budget shortfall. The cries of “No Fair!” could be heard state wide as the news spread of teacher’s already small salaries being docked by another 3 days. I have been following this story through news articles and seeing the response of not only teachers but the community as well. Seemingly, the general consensus is that teacher’s salaries should be the last one’s touched. Teachers are overworked, underpaid enough already, and in charge of educating the future of our country. Can’t the cuts come from somewhere else? Why does the education department have to suffer? On the flip side, though, I have seen several teachers post in response stating that they are thankful to still have good jobs and benefits, and understand the struggling economy is affecting absolutely everyone. If cuts are being made in the education department indefinitely, cutting 3 days of work for teachers statewide is better than cutting a certain amount of teachers out of the equation all together.

I suppose I can see both sides. I hate, hate, HATE the fact that cuts even have to be made in the education department, and frankly I would not be happy about being docked another 3 days off my salary. But the economy is in such despair, it seems like something has to be taken from everyone to try and make it through this mess.

Most school districts – while not happy about the furloughs – are already planning which days to put them into effect. Cherokee County could be taking 2 of them as early as next week. Cobb County, however, said “No Can Do, Governor Perdue” and has decided to use $10 Million from their district’s reserve fund to pay the state so their teachers don’t have to take the furlough days. Way to step up to the plate Cobb County! I’m sure teachers in neighboring counties are wishing their districts would take the same initiative.

Now if Cobb could just decide what to do about the proposal to cut 11,000 school bus stops…but that’s another post :-)
 

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