the TRUTH about being a college professor...

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/video?clipId=7664692&topVideoCatNo=237008&autoStart=true

i was going to make this a facebook status, but as you can see, it went on for far longer than is appropriate (says me) for a facebook status, so here i am. and i hope that all 6 of you faithful readers watch the above video and then read what i said. because most of the 6 of you ARE dallas county residents, albeit not homeowners, but still. one day this may affect you and i want you to have the other side's perspective.


i am so flabbergasted at the ridiculous and IGNORANT things some of those people had to say. it is suggested by one man that the tax increase is akin to giving an alcoholic a bottle of jack daniels. give me a break, dude.  what you obviously don't know is that:

1- there has not been a cost of living increase in pay in this district in almost 5 years. in the PRIVATE SECTOR, a lot of workers are fortunate to get a CPI adjustment EVERY YEAR. but see, being an educator is, and has always been, a PUBLIC SERVICE. and unfortunately, public servants in this country hardly ever get paid on the same scale as other works.

2- these individuals are obviously laboring under the misconception that because my business cards say "professor" on them, i receive handsome and significant compensation. i don't. i know FOR A FACT, that some school districts in DFW start their first year teachers with a higher salary than i make. on the college level.

3- the money that these proposed increases- $20 more in taxes annually for homeowners and $7 more a tuition hour for students- would bring to the district is earmarked for more than just raises for teachers. the district is is DESPERATE need of building renovations and in some cases, upgrades in technology. FACT- my office FLOODED- and i mean, i was waiting for noah and the animals to come out of somewhere- and about 50% of my stuff was RUINED because the roof at northlake is in THAT BAD of shape. there are trash cans in EVERY HALLWAY to catch rainwater. and i am confident that this is probably a commonality across the district.

4- another citizen suggested innovation and not taxation is the solution. honey- this district has innovated the shit out of just about every nook and cranny they can to spread money as far as they can. i am the first full-time professor in my department because THE COLLEGE THOUGHT THE MONEY WAS BETTER SPENT in other areas; they were ok with the job always going to an adjunct. and i am fortunate that my dean pushed for a full-time faculty member. but the thing is, this happens in EVERY DEPARTMENT. the district cannot afford to pay a salary and benefits to that many full-time employees, so they have a majority of very important subjects being taught by adjuncts each semester that do not have the ability or incentive to truly give this job what it needs and deserves.

because this job IS hard. last semester alone i had a MR student who would not disclose her disability to me and presented a significant challenge in my classroom, i had multiple students trapped in marriages and relationships with significant instances of domestic violence, students with addictions to every substance and bad habit under the sun and the list goes on. i share a classroom with the photo lab. the PHOTO LAB. i have to set up desks before every class. this district has made "making do" an art form; we do not waste, we do not overindulge and we do not complain. we do the best we can with what we have. but every now and then, it might be nice to have an office that is dry and a classroom all my own. but until that day, my colleagues and i, will make do.

5- the people that were interviewed almost spit venom at the district as if they are some abhorrent entity trying to take their money without just cause. what these people do not get, however, is that this district is one of the best ju-co districts IN THE COUNTRY, and has programs in place specifically designed for job training and placement that is good for the economy and the community.

6- owning a home comes with great honor, but also, great responsibility. and those responsibilities are clearly defined before any contract is ever signed. my parents paid a school tax- and still continue to- for public schools in mesquite that i never attended. every american pays taxes that fund programs they do not use or even support. but that comes with the territory and it isn't going anywhere. your indignance at this notion is downright ridiculous.

what i guess makes me more sad than anything is that these people think that employees of this district are undeserving of FAIR (not exorbitant) compensation for their work...especially if it means an increase in their taxes of $20 a year. how many years ago was a comfortable household income nothing more than $14,000 a year? prices go up and the cost to live in a society where prices go up does as well. i guess i should just have to suck it up and take my salary as is, never expect or be granted any kind of raise and just be grateful. and even though prices will and costs will increase, i need to just grin in bear it even if it causes me economic hardship... because the citizens of dallas county think that allowing my employer to compensate me for the increase in the cost of living is akin to enabling an alcoholic.
ouch.

(and to be clear, the raise i would get annually would only be about $4000. before taxes. which, when spread over 12 months, comes to a cool $300 more a paycheck.)